Haecceity | Oscar Diaz

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Oscar 'Spooky' Diaz

She was smiling up at me. A baby girl in her arms with a head full of curly hair. Cesar was patting me on the shoulders while Jasmine stood taking pictures of her and the baby with Sad Eyes posing at the bedside holding a small bandana that said 'Santos'. Everyone was happy. Everyone was smiling.

Then they weren't. Darkness fell upon us. A baby's wail could be heard. A blanket covered in blood. Everyone was gone. I stood in a graveyard. Wet earth beneath my feet.

Black roses lay atop a grave as the heavy rain poured from the angry sky. The earth shook as the thunder shook the earth with its mighty roar. A cold chill ran down my spine as I read the name on the grave before me. 'Gabriella Ramirez', my breath hitched. A hole formed in my heart. The wailing of an infant growing louder.

I sat up in bed with a start. The bed was cold. I was alone. Where was she?

I climbed out of bed and quietly walked out of the bedroom. I could hear voices whispering amongst themselves before there was yelling. I peeked into Cesar's bedroom, finding his bed empty. My heart pounded wildly in my chest as the voices only seemed to grow louder. I walked into the kitchen where I found I found a scene I never wanted to see.

There he stood. My baby brother that I have been raising and wanted better for. Holding a gun to a girl's head. What the fuck did I just walk into? Everyone looked so unsure and scared. They were kids doing shit they had no business doing. Kids who could do better than any of us and deserved that chance to.

"Ces, Riel, what's going on?", I asked taking in the scene before me.

"Oscar, I'm giving them a chance", she responded coldly.

I do not trust a lot of people. I never have. But I trust her. I trust Gabriella. I trust her to keep my brother safe.

"Baja la maldita pistola ahora, César.", Gabriella barked. (Put the fucking gun down now, Cesar.)

I watched as my brother hesitated before lowering the gun. I quickly snatched the gun from his hand, placing it on safety before tucking it in my waistband. At the same time Gabriella took the gun from Olivia completely breaking it down with ease before placing it on the counter. A loud groan was heard, grabbing all of our attention. We turned, a look of surprise crossing my face at the sight of Latrell clutching his bleeding neck with his body propped against the lower kitchen cabinets.

"What the fuck is going on here?", I asked again incredulously.

"Your ass sleeps like the dead is what's going on here", Riel responded with an eye roll as she walked past me towards the bathroom where we kept the first aide kit.

I slapped her on the butt for being a smart ass. To which she responded by sticking her tongue out at me. Even in a situation like this, she still managed to ease the tension. To calm me. To be my sense of peace. This woman was truly something else. She is something special.

"Tell me the plan one more time", I said.

Gabriella sighed. "Oscar, please put your thinking cap on. I am not repeating myself. Does anyone else have anything relevant to add?", she replied.

I rolled my eyes. I just wanted to make sure that all bases were covered. This was not an easy everyday task to complete. We were helping Latrell and Olivia escape the Prophets. I hate them but we all live by one singular code. Once you're in, you're in for life.

There is no walking away from this life unless you're being carried out in a body bag or a pig is walking you to prison. There are no happy endings for gang life. These kids deserve a chance. A chance that Gabriella seems dead set on helping them take.