After he responded, he went to a room and took out a small bag of carrots.
"What are you going to do with that?" Mr. Barret asked.
"Nothing, I'm just going to feed Uzoori, that's all," Candado said as he left the kitchen with the sack.
"Who is Uzoori?"
"That's Candado's horse," Mrs. Barret answered.
"Horse? You have a horse?"
"Of course, we have one; otherwise, why the hell would we have a stable upstairs?" Mr. Barret said.
"Wow, I'd love to see it, if it's not too much trouble."
"Oh, of course, dear, you can see him," Mrs. Barret said.
Hammya stood up and then headed to the second floor, following Candado without him noticing. When he opened the door, Hammya hurried and entered behind him. Interestingly, despite being a stable, it didn't smell like one, but rather like perfume with a hint of roses. Hammya hid behind a mound of straw. Candado still hadn't noticed her presence. The girl approached a bit more and could see him giving carrots to a beautiful white horse with a black mane. Hammya decided to get even closer, hiding behind a nearby wall. When she was at a good distance, Candado began talking to his horse.
"I'm sorry, Uzoori, I was very busy today. I promise I'll take you out for some fresh air tomorrow."
Candado took off his white gloves and began to pet the horse's head. Playfully, the horse took off his beret with its teeth. Candado tried to retrieve his beret, but he couldn't due to the speed of the horse, which had him moving from side to side. Finally, Candado stumbled and sat down on the ground. At that moment, Uzoori placed the beret on his head, but upside down. Candado adjusted the beret and then hugged the horse. When he finished hugging him, he started to smile. Hammya, on the other hand, decided to make her presence known.
"Wow, I think it's the first time I've seen you laugh."
"No, I didn't," Candado denied with a cold expression.
"Yes, you did," Hammya asserted.
"No, it wasn't like that," Candado denied again.
"Of course you did," Hammya insisted.
At that moment, Candado unsheathed his dagger and put it to Hammya's neck.
"No, I didn't," Candado said with the dagger at the girl's neck.
"Yes, you're right, you didn't laugh or smile," Hammya said, scared.
Candado withdrew his dagger from Hammya's neck and put it back in its sheath. Then, he took a brush and began to delicately clean the horse's back. Hammya just watched as Candado "cleaned" Uzoori.
"You have a beautiful horse, Candado."
"Beautiful? It's not beautiful, it's handsome," Candado clarified.
"How did you get him?"
Candado stopped brushing the horse for a moment, looked at Hammya squinting his eyes, then lowered his gaze and continued brushing.
"I got him from my grandfather; he gave it to me when I turned six," Candado said.
"Your grandfather had a horse?"
"No, when he was wandering through the impenetrable Chaco, he found a dead mare with her foal injured. He healed and raised him."
"Why is he named Uzoori?"
"My sister named him that, even though I didn't like it. When she passed away, I decided to leave it that way."
"Why did your sister die?"
At that moment, Candado stopped and remembered his sister in the hospital, how she slowly faded away due to that illness. Candado placed the brush on the floor and looked at Hammya. She could only say:
"I'm sorry; I shouldn't have asked."
Candado stood up and left without saying anything more, while Hammya stayed for a few brief minutes feeling guilty for asking something so painful. Then, she headed to the stable and closed the door behind her.
She went to her room with her head down, full of guilt. She sat on the bed and looked around the room. After a few seconds, her gaze landed on a book on the shelf that caught her attention because it stood out from the others being poorly arranged. Hammya got up and took the book. Then, she sat back on the bed. The book had the shape of a notebook, was green with white polka dots, and had a label that said "LA INSPECTORA" (THE INSPECTOR). Hammya wasn't very interested, as she also used nicknames or aliases when she was a child. When she flipped through the first three pages, she got the impression that the notebook was empty until she saw the fourth page. On it, she saw a photo that occupied the entire page. In the photo were a baby Candado and his family, including Mrs. Barret holding a baby wrapped in an orange towel. Mr. Barret was also seen sitting beside his wife, with a long and neatly groomed horseshoe mustache. On the floor, a girl Hammya didn't know was sitting, with long blond hair and blue eyes. Behind the armchair stood six people: Candado's grandmother and grandfather, Mr. Hipólito, the police officer Adolfo she had seen at the police station in his uniform, and Candado's other two grandparents.
After looking at that photo for a few minutes, she turned the page and found another picture of the same girl who was sitting on the floor next to Clementina. This time, the girl was carrying a sleeping baby and kissing him on the forehead. The photo had the title "Mi Candadito Hermoso" (My Beautiful Candado). The title and the photo filled Hammya with grace and tenderness.
"Her name was Gabriela; she loved doing these kinds of things," Clementina said, leaning on his shoulder next to the door.
Hammya, surprised and relieved at the same time, said:
"Gabriela? Nice name."
She continued:
"What happened to her? How did she die?"
Clementina closed the door behind her, approached, and sat next to Hammya. Then, she turned back to the previous page.
"This photo was the first one Miss Gabriela showed me when I moved here. When I saw it for the first time, I felt joyful. Joyful to see what Candado looked like as a baby. Now it seems that's the only time he looked so peaceful."
"Ah, well," Hammya said, confused.
"You see, Miss Gabriela was very ill; we never knew exactly what, or why, unfortunately, it happened."
"What was she like when she lived?"
Clementina smiled for a while, but then she lowered her head, and her smile disappeared. Apparently, it hurt her to remember, so much that she began to feel a sharp pain in her throat.
"The best human being that ever existed," Clementina said with a sad smile.
"I didn't know you had feelings," Hammya said as she hugged Clementina.
"It's not like that; I've always had feelings since Mr. Alfred assembled me, that's why I'm unique," Clementina said as she wiped tears from her eyes.
"Tell me, how was Candado before Gabriela's passing?"
"He was different, a cheerful, charismatic, and sociable boy. He always admired his sister, just like me, but when she died, that cheerful boy died with her, turning him into what he is now."
"You described Gabriela as 'The best human being that ever existed,' in what sense?"
"In every sense, she was kind, gentle, intelligent, and affectionate. You didn't see me, but I was somewhat 'Creepy' before; I didn't have skin like you, not like now, I had a white face, looked like a robot from those movies, had no hair, just wires on my head, my eyes were black with red dots, but she never feared me, even tried to get along with me. She was always kind, always. She was incapable of mocking or doing harm to another being. I remember once, we were walking through Resistencia, and we saw a couple of teenagers shooting slingshots at a bird's nest, and Gabriela jumped to hit them both. I remember seeing those brats run away from her. At that moment, I didn't understand, 'Why is she so kind, when she gains nothing in return?' The kids were afraid of her for being serious, when in reality, she never was; she was only like that at school."
Hammya turned the page again and saw two photos. One was titled "The Birthday," showing Candado in his father's arms blowing out a cake candle with his relatives. Gabriela was not there. The other was titled "Inspector's 8th Birthday," meaning her. In this photo, Gabriela was blowing out the birthday candle, but with Candado in her lap.
"This is very curious, the same photo, but with one difference, the birthday person," Hammya said.
"Yes, because the young master and Miss Gabriela were born on the same day, but in different years. Gabriela was born on November 12, 1992, and Candado on November 12, 2000. Strange coincidences like that only happen in the Barret family."
"I don't find it curious, rather it's something... strange."
Hammya quickly skimmed through the notebook. The following pages only had small photos of her and others with her family and friends until she reached the last page. It had a large photo, almost covering the entire sheet. In it, Candado was already grown, as was his sister. In that photo, the family and their friends were in the garden of the house. Gabriela was a teenager, Candado, Clementina (now with skin), baby Karen in Mrs. Barret's arms, a shaven Mr. Barret, their four grandparents, Police Officer Adolfo, Hipólito, cousins, and friends.
"This photo has no title."
"Yes, Gabriela said there was no need to give it a title because what's in it is so beautiful that it doesn't need one."
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Hammya stared at that photo. She was moved to see Candado's entire family with smiles on their faces, including him.
At that moment, outside the room, footsteps were heard approaching. Clementina quickly grabbed the notebook and hid it under the pillow. Just then, Candado entered.
"I was coming to tell you that... Oh, Clementina is with you too."
"Yes, young master, I'm talking with Hammya."
"Clementina, one of these days, I'm going to tear your gears out."
"I don't doubt it, but it would be funny if you tried."
"Well, I just came to say that dinner is ready. As for you, Clementina, I want you to get your damn plushies out of the shed NOW!"
"Well, I'll go right away."
Clementina left the room, covering her mouth due to the laughter. Meanwhile, Hammya stood up and hurried to the kitchen, not because she was very hungry, but because Candado frightened her a lot. He didn't understand what was going on because he never realized that his anger caused fear. Before Candado descended, he looked at the room and the bed for a moment. For him, it was very strange that the pillow was wrinkled in a small part. But before he could inspect what it was about, he heard his mother's voice calling him. So, he turned off the light and decided to go downstairs.
Candado descended and sat in the center, next to his mother and Hammya. The dish was baked chicken with vegetable salad. Since the table was rectangular, everyone could fit around it.
"Shall we begin?" asked Hipólito.
"No, we still have to wait for Clementina," said Candado.
"Then why did you send Clementina to...?"
As Hammya was about to finish her sentence, Candado pinched her thigh, making her scream in pain.
"Hammya, are you okay?" Mrs. Barret asked.
"Yes, no problem, it was just a mosquito, nothing more," said Hammya panting.
"So, where did Clementina go?" asked Hipólito.
"I sent her to wash her hands, that's all," answered Candado.
"Yes, that's right," added Hammya.
"Why are you still here, Hipólito?" Candado asked.
"Oh, how silly of me, I forgot to tell you that starting today, I'm going to live here," replied Hipólito.
"That's fine, that's fine," said Candado.
"Really?" inquired Hipólito.
"No."
"Son, don't be rude," Mr. Barret said.
"Well, sorry."
Just at that moment, Clementina arrived, shaking her hands and with a smile on her face. She sat at the corner of the table, next to Mr. Barret.
"Well, you took your time," Mrs. Barret remarked.
"Heh, something like that," chuckled Clementina.
"Okay, now that everyone is here, we can start eating," said the grandmother.
"I'm with you, Mom," said Mrs. Barret.
Thus, everyone began to eat in peace, but unfortunately, that only lasted a few minutes because his mother said something she shouldn't have.
"I heard that you hit Mr. Andrés' son," Mrs. Barret said.
Candado, who had the fork near his mouth, slowly lowered it and placed it on the plate.
"What exactly did you hear?" Candado asked.
"What you heard," replied Mrs. Barret.
"Yes, but who did it?" Candado asked again.
"Why? Why hit him for telling on you?"
Candado closed his eyes and said with a smile, "Yes, I did. He was bothering the girl."
"What you did is fine, but you know very well that Andrés is the sheriff of the town," Mrs. Barret said.
"Sure, it was better to let them bother her just because he's the supposed 'sheriff's son.'"
"Don't get like this, Candado," Mrs. Barret said.
"Always the same, 'don't get like this.' What do you know about how I feel?"
"Son..."
"Son?" he shouted, "NOW I'M YOUR SON! NOW I'M YOUR SON!?"
"DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME!" Mrs. Barret shouted.
"YOU'RE NEVER HOME, AND WHEN YOU ARE, YOU JUST COOK AND GO TO BED! YOU ONLY TOOK EXTRA HOURS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO FACE THE FACT THAT GABRIELA HAS DIED! YOU ONLY WANT TO SPEND AS LITTLE TIME AS POSSIBLE IN THIS HOUSE BECAUSE EVERYTHING REMINDS YOU OF HER, EVERYTHING!"
At that moment, Mrs. Barret threw water in his face.
"Go on, yes, just run away."
Candado didn't say anything more; he just withdrew and went to his room. Clementina was about to go with him, but Mr. Barret signaled her not to. Instead, he went himself. It was time to act like a father.
Mr. Barret went to the door of the room, knocked, and asked, "Son, it's me, can I come in?"
"Go ahead," Candado replied.
Then, Mr. Barret entered the room, saw Candado lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Can I sit down?" Mr. Barret asked.
Candado didn't say anything; he just nodded. When he did, Mr. Barret sat on the bed.
"Dad, sometimes I feel like she never wanted us to be born, Karen and me, she just thinks about Gabriela."
"No, that's not true; she loves both of you."
"I would like to believe that, but she makes it very difficult."
"Candado, your mother loves you; never doubt that."
"Sorry, but I still don't believe those words."
"Son, do you remember when you were sick?"
"Yes, I remember, it was the first and last time."
"Who was the one who stayed by your side all day to bring down your fever? Your mother. Who was the person who bought you those luxurious clothes you wear? Your mother. Who was the person who taught you how to cook? Your mother."
"The last one wasn't necessary."
"Sorry, but you know she loves you. Never think otherwise because only your parents will be there for you through thick and thin."
Candado stood up and then embraced his father. Understanding his son's pain, Mr. Barret hugged him, soothing his distress and consoling him. Candado looked at his father with sincere and sad eyes but without tears.
"Dad, I want you to spend more time at home. Please, I'm asking you."
"Son, it won't be easy, but I promise I'll do everything I can."
Candado tilted his head in disappointment, then stood up and approached the door. Not without looking at his father, he spoke in a soft and calm voice.
"Sometimes, I wish you'd say 'Yes, I promise' instead of telling me 'I'll do everything I can.'"
Afterward, Candado left his room without saying anything else, leaving his father alone. His face reflected the guilt of not being able to do more for his son. He was right; since she died, they had only been escaping reality and hiding behind work. Feeling sad and without any reason to get up, he picked up a book from under the bed and opened it. Inside were photos of the family. Arturo nostalgically looked at the moments they spent with their beloved children.
Candado descended the stairs and headed to the garden through another door. When he stepped outside, it was dark; only the light from the kitchen and the stars provided considerable illumination. With his hands in his pockets, Candado sat under the tree, his favorite tree, although it was the only one. Once seated, he gazed at the stars in peace. But as he was enjoying the tranquility, Tínbari manifested himself next to Candado, sitting and looking at the sky.
"Ahhhhhh, it's incredible that humans feel calm just by looking at those stupid lights," Tínbari said.
Candado gestured upward with his eyes and said, "You stopped being human a long time ago, and I understand your hatred for humanity, but would you mind stopping being insensitive?"
"I'll do my best, but I make no promises."
"Heh, 'best'... 'best.' Ahhhhhh, how I hate that word. Sometimes, I wish I could unleash all my fury and incinerate the whole world."
Tínbari looked at Candado with confusion and bewilderment.
"Well, whatever you say," Tínbari said as he pulled a bag of grapes from his pocket.
"Tínbari, where did you get that?"
"I bought this at a greengrocer's."
"What? That's impossible."
"Heh, nothing is impossible for me."
Before Candado could continue arguing, he fell silent and reclined.
"Tínbari, have you ever fought with your father?"
"I never knew my parents; I was raised by my uncles," Tínbari replied.
"But, putting that aside, have you ever fought with your uncles?" Candado asked.
"Yes, but it was only once, when I was sixteen. I had to go to a party with one of my classmates, but my uncle didn't want me to; he said it was dangerous. So, when my uncle lost sight of me, I sneaked out the window. I went to the party, had fun, and then returned when the sun was rising. When I came back through the window, my uncle was waiting for me, furious. We started an argument that lasted more than three hours."
"But, did you ever regret it?" Candado asked.
"Yes, but despite apologizing to him, I still feel guilty," Tínbari replied.
"Mmm, I understand. Some things aren't healed with apologies. That much, even I know."
"Anyway, why am I talking about this with you?"
"Nothing, forget it; I'm just rambling, that's all."
"Great, another one of your woes," Tínbari complained.
Candado looked at Tínbari discontentedly. It seemed that comment bothered him, although with Candado, everything annoys him down to the smallest detail.
"I don't know why I put up with you; I could easily fire you."
"But you can't, because you need me, and besides, you would never quit me, because humans always seek power."
"Stop talking as if humans were trash; you were one of us."
"That's in the past; thank heaven I'm no longer one of you."
"How can you hate the human race?" Candado asked.
Tínbari looked at him seriously and said, "The human race had no problem taking away my parents and uncles. They also had no problem sending me to a war they had started, and they didn't hesitate to take away my son and wife. The same humans I went to fight for in their war, and to top it off, it was also those same humans who kidnapped, tortured, and murdered me. Yes, it was that cockroach race that made me go through all those troubles."
"Yes, it's true, but to say that all humans treated you that way is simplistic for a narcissist rhyming with nihilist."
"What?"
"I mean that the human race didn't do that to you. No, it was a bunch of idiots who harmed you because of the government system of that time. Make it clear, Tínbari, not all of us are the same, not all of us commit murder, not all of us think alike, and not all of us are heartless."
When Candado said that, Tínbari burst into laughter and gave him a playful smack on the head. According to him, he did it affectionately, but being smacked by a demon was painful.
"Kid, your way of seeing the world makes me laugh and proud."
"Yeah, well, let me go already."
Tínbari released him but left Candado all disheveled, and in a comical gesture, he put Candado's beret on backward.
"You're an adult, for the love of Isidro Velázquez, behave."
"Fine, whatever you say."
While Candado and Tínbari were talking, Clementina appeared with two glasses in hand.
"Hello, Clementina," greeted Candado.
"Wow, you two are inseparable, like peas in a pod. Oh, and don't worry, it's soda," said Clementina as she handed over the glasses.
"Screws is right," Tínbari said while drinking.
"Don't call me that; I have a name, and it's Clementina."
"Do you see, Clemen? Do you see how I feel when you call me young master?"
"He's right, young master."
"SHUT UP!" Candado shouted, annoyed.
"Haha, this is fun, a kid who thinks he's an adult and a girl who thinks she's human."
"Quiet, idiot," both Clementina and Candado said.
"Well, kiddos, I have to go. Thanks for the drink, Clementina, although it would have been better if you gave me beer instead of soda," said Tínbari as he disappeared.
"Well, now that Tínbari is gone, would you mind coming in, sir?"
"Sir? Mmm, I like that," said Candado.
"Of course, maybe someday I'll start calling you that, or not."
Candado entered the house with Clementina, but instead of going through the same way he had left, he decided to enter through the kitchen since his parents were no longer there.
"It looks like mealtime is over," said Candado.
"The bosses have gone to sleep; tomorrow they have to work."
"Who works on damn Sundays?" Candado asked.
"Oh, well, their parents do."
"It was rhetorical, Clementina, re-tor-i-cal."
"Well, sorry, I don't read minds."
"Clementina, I don't want you to say anything else, don't make me angrier than I am," Candado said, gritting his teeth.
Clementina didn't say anything more; she just smiled and left the kitchen, not without taking a loaf of bread from the table. When Clementina left, Candado used his powers to wash the dishes. He lifted the silverware, glasses, and plates. With his left hand, he began to rinse the dishes with a sponge. Once he finished that, he lowered the sponge and the detergent in the same place. When he was done, he used his power to turn on the tap without getting close to it, and water began to flow. Candado started to pass the plates in a row, putting each washed one in a drawer, and so on until he washed them all. When he stored the last plate, his magic subsided. But out of nowhere, he started coughing blood. Candado put his hand over his mouth to muffle the sound; after a few seconds, he took his hand away from his mouth and looked at it, seeing the palm of his white glove stained with drops of blood.
"Haha, it's been two days since this happened; I'm rotting slowly," Candado murmured.
He took off the glove and threw it into the trash next to the refrigerator, then turned off the light and left the kitchen. He headed to his room with his hands in his pockets, but Candado didn't realize that Hammya had seen everything. When he locked himself in his room, Hammya took the blood-stained glove from the trash. It was worrying for her, but for Candado, it seemed normal. Hammya was petrified at the sight of that bloodstained glove.
"What's happening to you, Candado?" Hammya asked while looking at the glove.
Hammya went to her room with the glove in her hands, lost in thoughts about the incident she had witnessed. Would that be the reason Candado is always in a bad mood? Or would it be something else? Apparently, she was trying to find an answer to Candado's behavior, trying to understand why he spat blood.
Hammya sat on the bed, staring fixedly at the bloodstained glove, until Clementina interrupted.
"Hello, Hammya, I just wanted to wish you good night."
"Good night, Clementina," Hammya said as she put away the glove.
"Rest well, miss," Clementina said as she closed the door.
When Clementina closed the door, Hammya kept looking at Candado's bloodstained glove. It seemed like he had another being within him.