[[Until We Become Lions]]

Chapter 55

The next day.

    It was early the next morning when Danijela awoke. She did not remember falling asleep, only that the entire camp had stayed up most of the night waiting on a sign that Julio was okay. Everyone seemed to hold onto that hope, the same way Danijela had held onto the idea that Amaia could be a good mother one day. Eventually, sometime during the night, they all let go.

    Danijela had slept in Juan's so-called bunker that night. With everyone so uptight and worried about Julio, she thought it best if the face of Castillo's fiance did not make an appearance - for there was an unspoken thought that the lion had snatched up an easy victim. Danijela couldn't help but feel partially responsible in the same way she felt guilt over Lita's fate. She could have done more, but what could she have possibly done that wouldn't have gotten her killed too?

She remained still for a few more minutes, wishing more than anything that she could have a cigarette to smoke right now. Her body was wrecked from the previous night's attack but, as much as she just loved laying on Juan's couch with whatever material was spilled on it, she had a promise to keep. As did Clara. Danijela exited the bunker, greeted by the orange-tinged sky. This new day did not have the same promise following their victory over the blockade. It brought anxiety of the unknown, and the looming reminder that she had already spent too much time away from her sister and Diego. She gathered what little things she had which really consisted of three items: her backpack, Amaia's journal, and her machete.

    Guapo followed her out of the bunker, the look in his eyes anticipating her to tell him where they were going next. She didn't have the heart to look at the massive beast. He was actually kind of growing on her, but her time had come. She spotted Juan and Clara just ahead, standing on the dock. She began walking towards them, her eyes honing in on the piece of garbage that was floating in the water. That must be the boat Clara promised her.

    ...Great, she'd be lucky to make it to Esperanza in that thing.

    As she got closer, she noticed Juan was showing Clara something on his phone. Clara's face looked ambivalent, unsure of what emotion to express, but teetering on anger and disgust. Danijela's footsteps caused the dock to creak and groan. Both Clara and Juan looked in her direction simultaneously, drawn in by the noise.

    "What's wrong?" Danijela asked as she approached.

    "Julio checked in." Clara replied.

    Danijela focused on Clara but the Libertad leader turned away, facing out to the open water with her hands planted firmly on her hips. Juan approached Danijela, halting her progress down the dock as he presented the image on his phone to her. Danijela had no idea what she was looking at. The image was so dimly lit, at first glance it looked like an animal had been pulverized into ground beef. Upon closer inspection though, she saw the black hair matted with blood and the puka shell necklace that she had come to associate as a staple feature of Julio's wardrobe. Her heart dropped straight into her feet and she wished this dock would collapse under the sudden weight so she could knock herself out on the way down.

    Anton...why...

    Danijela mimicked Clara's movement as she moved away from the photo and looked out across the sea. You could just barely see the tip of Torre de Leon in the distance. She wondered briefly if it was possible to see it from space, where she felt her hopes and dreams had suddenly flown off to. She did not want further evidence to support that Anton truly was the embodiment of the monsters she had been running from her entire life. Because if it was, did it make her a monster that she still loved him even now? The hypocrisy made her sick. She had condemned Amaia for her murderous actions - but could humor the thought of turning around and forgiving Anton on account that his cock had filled her on more than one occasion and that he made her feel special and dragged her and Evee out of poverty.