POV: Antonella
The phone vibrated in my hand as I climbed the stairs of the small boarding house where I was staying. The walls smelled of damp, but at least the place was discreet. I didn't come to stay long. Just long enough.
I turned on the desk lamp and sat down at the table. I pulled out the notebook where I'd written down everything I knew: names, dates, the warning that Santiago was nearby. I need allies, but no one trusts me. And for good reason.
My fingers hesitated before opening Mia's contact. We hadn't spoken since before I left, when the rumors of my mistakes were still burning bridges. She was one of the few who tried to understand me. Maybe she'll still listen.
I took a deep breath and dialed.
—Hello? —Her voice sounded cautious.
—Mia… it's Antonella.
Silence. All I heard was the rapid beating of my own heart.
—I wasn't expecting to hear from you —she finally replied, tense—. What… what do you need?
—I don't want trouble —I clenched the pen between my fingers—. Just information. It's important.
—That depends on what it's about.
I swallowed. Don't ruin this. —It's about Saval. And Semiel. And… Santiago.
Another silence. This time, I sensed a shift, an alertness.
—What do you know about Santiago?
—That he's here. Or he will be soon. A contact warned me. And Xavier is… too close to everything.
—Xavier has always been unpredictable —she said, almost to herself.
—I need to know how Saval and Semiel are doing. If they've noticed anything strange.
—Why do you care now? —she asked, with a hardness that made me shrink back.
—Because even though everything that happened between Saval and me was my fault, I don't want them to get hurt. Not them, not any of you.
The line went quiet. I heard a soft sigh on the other end.
—They're… distant —Mia finally admitted—. There have been problems, and not just because of Santiago. But I don't understand why I should trust you.
Because I'm not lying this time. —I'm not asking you to trust me, just to listen. Santiago wants revenge. And Xavier… he enjoys the chaos. If they team up, Saval and Semiel could get hurt.
Mia took her time responding. —I'll have to talk to David. And with them, when it's safe.
—That's all I'm asking.
Another pause, less tense this time. —Antonella… are you really not here to cause more damage?
I closed my eyes. —No. I've done enough. I just want to prevent the worst.
—Alright. If I find out anything, I'll text you. But don't approach Saval without warning me.
—I promise. Thank you, Mia.
I hung up slowly, placing the phone on the table. I don't know if it'll be enough, but at least I took the first step.
Night crept in through the open window. The murmur of the street drifted in faintly, like an echo of the past still chasing me.
Maybe I don't deserve a second chance, but I can at least try to make sure no one else suffers because of my silence.
I closed the notebook decisively. Tomorrow, I would seek out my contact to learn more about Santiago. If the danger was real, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
This time, I won't run. This time, I'll face whatever comes.