A Little Traitor

- Changing the subject, what do you think of those who were following us? - commented Liam.

Aren looked at him as if he was somewhat surprised that the boy confessed that.

-Don't pretend you don't know ... at least, I'm not dumb enough not to notice this. 

- ... It looks like there are at least three of them. - Aren commented.

- Yes, but ... Why did they stop following us? Do you think they are the ones we ran into in the morning?

- I'm not sure, but it looks like they followed Glen and Renato.

- So you think the same as me ... do you think we should go?

- No ... they're probably waiting for us to leave so we can leave the boy alone.

Liam smiled.

- It's good to have someone to talk to.

The two young men were silent after this as they waited.

The response from the two young men was instantaneous, no hesitation, no hesitation. Within seconds, the three armed men were lying on the ground. One of them was with a twisted wrist, another was clutching his right leg, while the last one was kneeling looking up, as the edge of the sword on his neck only allowed him to be in that position.

- W-Who are... you? - commented the kneeling man fearfully.

- That should be our question. - answered Renato.

- Th-That brat should not ... have the ... protection of someone ... after what he did ... then how? - the man kept talking.

Meanwhile Glen had thrown away the men's weapons as a precaution and grabbed another one of them to question him in a corner.

- What do you want with that boy? 

- Y-You ... monster ... are not ... human ... - was the only thing the man with the twisted wrist answered.

- Stop talking nonsense and answer, you don't want me to break your other wrist, do you?

As if it was difficult for him to breathe, the man gasped in pain without answering.

Meanwhile, Renato was able to make his hostage talk.

- P-Please don't kill me... we were just following orders..." replied the kneeling man.

- Orders? Affiliation? What is your group? - Renato asked.

- ... S-Sotomayor ...

As if the atmosphere had become cold and threatening, Renato spoke again.

- If you are lying ... this is where it will all end.

The man's fear did not reflect any trace of his former confidence.

- C-Casa Sotomayor! That's all I can say! - the man exclaimed.

It was then that Glen realized something, immediately left his hostage and ran to the door to enter the hospital. Renato sensed it seconds later and followed Glen.

There was no noise; however, suddenly it was observed how the trajectory of a bullet reached the head of the kneeling man who had confessed, then there were two more shots that reached the heads of the other two men.

At that moment, Glen and Renato hurriedly entered the entrance and positioned themselves next to the wall surrounding the door. Immediately two bullets came through the door and hit the floor.

Yes, there was a sniper somewhere.

Before they could react, they both heard an alarm inside the hospital, but it was not because of the shooting, it was because of a patient.

Paramedics had entered a room where there was a child whose vital signs were dropping.

Liam and Aren were concerned and tried to see what was going on; however, they were not allowed in. They could only wait at the reception desk.

It was almost ten minutes later when Daniel accompanied by Glen and Renato were reunited with Aren and Liam.

- What happened? - asked Daniel.

- ... It seems that the boy's condition is getting worse ... we have been told to wait ... What about you? Did you hear anything about the insurance? - commented Liam.

- Ah... about that..." replied Glen.

The answer was obvious, but no one said anything.

The minutes passed until it became hours, the afternoon arrived and only Aren and Daniel were at the reception, since the rest had gone to get food.

A few moments later, a doctor came out asking for the boy's relatives. Only Aren and Daniel went to talk to him. Certainly the situation was critical and the comment was definitive: he would only resist until tonight.

Although he was a little more stable, the doctor only allowed one person to see him, the one who was his legal guardian, so to speak.

- I will go. - Aren said.

Daniel said nothing, just nodded.

After a few minutes, the rest had arrived with lunch or maybe dinner and only found themselves waiting at the reception for Daniel.

- What about Aren? - asked Glen.

- ... He went to see the boy. - replied Daniel despondently.

The rest could sense what was going on and just stood silently handing him one of the lunches they had bought.

- Did you have any problems when you left? - asked Daniel as he ate.

- No... nothing..." answered Glen.

To tell the truth, with the matter of the attackers, they were somewhat apprehensive about leaving the hospital; however, they met someone on their way.

He was a man in a white coat, young and tall. He appeared to be another doctor; however, his gaze was cold. This man was standing by the door of the hospital exit, it was as if he was waiting.

The three young men noticed him and stood still. Within seconds that man came out to meet them and they had a little chat.

- So they got out unharmed, huh? 

Glen and Renato understood that he was one of the attackers.

- What do you want? - asked Glen.

- Calm down... we won't do anything to them.

As Liam and Renato said this, they realized that there were some people inside the hospital who were staring at them.

- They don't seem to be what they look like, do they? ... As far as I know, you have just met Marcelo, haven't you?

- Yes ... and what does he have? - Liam replied.

- Look, guys ... we don't really want to involve you in this ... as you can see that kid is about to take his last breaths ... just don't intervene any more in the matter, you know what I mean?

Unlike last time, Glen and Renato's attitude was more reserved, as they were aware of that sniper. That is to say that whether inside or outside the hospital, they were in enemy territory; but, at the same time, they were aware of the insistent request of those men not to let the young men interfere.

- Hey, are we going to risk it for someone we have just seen? - Renato said to Glen.

- ...

- I feel the same way ... it is not convenient for us to have enemies for someone who will unfortunately pass away soon. - argued Liam.

Being influenced by the two of them, Glen gave up.

- All right ... but at least let us accompany the child until his last moment. - Glen made a request.

The man in the white coat smiled.

- That's all right. It's good that we can communicate in a civilized manner, don't you think? That being the case, you can leave now. Nothing will happen to you.

As he finished speaking, the man entered the hospital, passing by the young men with a smile on his face.

Having remembered that moment, Glen remained silent. This was strange for Daniel and for this very reason he had asked that question.

Inside the room where the boy was sleeping, a young man who was sitting in front of the bed watched him silently.

After a few seconds, it seemed that the dying boy began to wake up from his sleep and when he opened his eyes he began to look around until he saw the silhouette of the man who was sitting next to him.

For a moment he reacted with fear; however, the young man's words reassured him.

- Don't be afraid, Marcelo. I am not here to harm you.

The young man took a good look at who he was and saw the figure of a graceful-looking, long-haired man with intense crimson eyes watching him peacefully.

- You... who are you? - was the first thing Aren heard the boy say.

- When you stumbled upon me this morning while running away, I'm part of the group you ran into. After that we brought you to the hospital when you fainted.

- A ... hospital ...

- ...

- What did ... the doctors say? - said the young man who despite a young age seemed similar to Liam's mature demeanor.

- ...

- Tell me the truth, please.

- ... Just until tonight.

- I see.

They were silent. Minutes passed and something could be noticed on the little boy's face. 

Tears were beginning to appear under his eyes; unutterable moans and sudden sobbing was what was showing on that child.

Then a single word was heard to be uttered from his mouth.

- S-Sorry ...

Aren was a bit confused... Sorry? Who was that child apologizing to?

- P-Please ... forgive me ...

Aren did not interrupt the boy's confession.

- I-I was just... I was...

The long-haired young man could not understand who he was referring to.

- S-Miss ... Emi ... please ... please ... forgive me ... in the end I wanted to ... but I couldn't ...

As if he could not find comfort, the boy was drowning in his wailing as he covered his eyes. However, he could feel the warmth on his forehead. Aren's hand was laid upon him.

- You are forgiven, Marcellus. - Aren said.

The sound of the life waves that had been disturbed was beginning to stabilize.

- Is there anything I can do for you? - Aren asked.

The boy, who had begun to wipe away his tears, reached out his hand to a table with papers and a pen.

Aren understood the message and took them.

Suddenly, trying not to stutter, the boy began to say a series of words:

Calle Rosvelt, lote 53, Mz. C, Cipreses.

Then he added.

The handles ... their numbers match with ... the keys.

When he finished saying this, he remained silent. 

Aren wrote all this down without asking the reason.

The boy watched as the sky began to set through the window next to him.

- Do you think... I will be able to go to heaven? - Marcellus asked.

The young boy did not answer.

- I don't think... I won't go. - added the boy.

- Do you want to go there? - said Aren.

- Yes... I think mom and dad are over there. - As if the child's maturity was transforming into the innocence of someone his age, the boy's voice became more and more childlike.

Little by little, the sound of the waves became slower and slower.

- And what keeps you from going to where they are? - Aren asked.

- ... Because ... I'm bad ... - answered the boy.

- ...

- Do you think God will accept me? - asked the little boy again.

- God... do you believe in him? 

- Yes... maybe... when I go I will know...

Aren smiled slightly with kindness and with his right hand that had previously touched the child's forehead he put it back to caress him.

- Well, then you will go there. - Aren affirmed.

The boy stopped looking out the window and, as if he was hopeful, looked up at the long-haired young man.

- Really?! - As if the innocent happiness of a child was expressed with that question, the boy was filled with hope.

- Yes, but tell me... don't you want to live anymore? 

The boy stopped smiling and looked down.

- No ... I don't want to be ... here anymore.

Aren understood the child's feeling and closed his eyes.

- I understand... now go to sleep, I will take care of what you told me. Another day we'll talk. - Aren said.

As if the child had forgotten his condition, he happily went to sleep peacefully.

After a few seconds, the sound of the waves began to stop until a steady beeping sound was heard.

Marcelo had passed away.

Within minutes, a nurse who had come in to take care of the boy was stunned to see that the patient was no longer in this world. She quickly went to notify the doctors who soon came to see the boy's body.

That day Marcelo Quispe's death was confirmed.

The men took Aren out of the room and carried the body of the infant on the stretcher.

The records indicated that they had no relatives or anyone to help him except for a guardian who accompanied him in his last moments.

Upon leaving the boarding area, Aren was shown in front of the rest of the young men who were waiting for him.

Daniel, Glen, Liam and Renato wanted to ask what had happened; however, when they saw Aren's face they knew what was happening. His face reflected nostalgia.

Everyone was silent and did not ask questions; that group left the hospital having done their best.

Whether it was something to be sad about or not, only one of them knew.