Gabriel sat in silence, his face still streaked with tears. His father, noticing the weight of his son's sorrow, stepped into the small kitchen. A few minutes later, the rich and familiar aroma of home-cooked food filled the apartment.
"Te hice algo que te gusta, hijo (I made something you like, son)," his father said in his usual calm tone. The man was carrying a plate.
The plate was filled with Gabriel's favorite dishes—tender carnitas, fragrant rice, fresh tortillas, and a side of guacamole that his father always prepared with extra lime, just how Gabriel liked it.
He had good taste.
"Papá... you didn't have to..." Gabriel whispered, feeling just a tad bit overwhelmed.
"Cállate y come (Shut up and eat)," his father added with a soft laugh. The man set the plate down in front of him. "Trabajé tanto para enseñarte a no dejar que la comida se enfríe (I worked so hard to teach you not to let food get cold)."
Gabriel hesitated for a moment. Here he was, about to give up altogether, and his dad, once again, was there as a beacon of hope.
He controlled himself, making sure not to bawl his eyes out.
His father's reassuring smile helped him move forward.
He picked up a tortilla, tearing a piece before savoring the first bite.
As he took the first bite, the food tasted incredible, just like he had remembered it.
His father watched him with pride etched deeply into his face.
The joy in his expression was present for the whole world to see. "Así me gusta, hijo (That's how I like it, son)."
"It's the best," he said with a smile. As he spoke, Gabriel raised his hand, and the food on his plate began to levitate.
Small chunks of carnitas floated in the air, twirling gently around him as if they were being pulled by something.
The guacamole followed suit, spinning like a tiny green whirlpool.
Gabriel was unaware of it... but he was using his Fullbring, though he himself had no idea of the danger such an ability brought.
His father chuckled, clapping his hands. "¡Mira nada más! Mi hijo tiene talento (Would you look at that! My son has talent)."
Gabriel grinned, feeling his father's approval. This felt nice.
He, however, began to feel a very uneasy sensation. Something felt off. Something about this felt very off.
And then he heard it—a distant, guttural roar that sent a chill down his spine.
Gabriel heard something dark, something that made him freeze. He felt dread as the primal roar grew louder.
His father did not seem to have been able to hear any of that noise.
Before he could move to tell his father to get out of the house, to get away from that scream—
The wall behind them exploded.
A massive Hollow burst into the room, its grotesque mask gleaming in the dim light. Its clawed hands were outstretched, and its insatiable hunger was palpable.
This beast was odd, having what seemed to be a hole...outside of his body
"¡Papá! (Dad!)" Gabriel yelled. Panic gripped him as the creature did not give him time to react before lunging at him.
Before he could move, the Hollow's claws swiped toward him.
Gabriel shut his eyes tightly. He was scared. This felt like the end. He decided to brace himself for it.
One second passed... then two... then three... then five...
Gabriel felt no pain. Instead, he felt warmth... something wet trickled down his cheek.
Opening his eyes, the sight before him utterly terrified him.
His father stood in front of him, blood streaming from a deep gash across his torso.
"Papá..." Gabriel whispered, his voice trembling.
His dad couldn't be dead... his dad had promised him he'd be there until he married...
His father could not be dead... there was no way.
His father turned to him. The man coughed up a lot of blood. The Hollow, as if to mock Gabriel's weakness, removed its claw from his father's stomach... before pointing at its own Hollow hole.
Oh... that bastard...
His dad, however, just gave him a proud, gentle smile.
"Estoy... orgulloso de ti, hijo (I'm proud of you, son)," he rasped, his voice weak but filled with love.
Before Gabriel could process the horror, the Hollow grabbed his father, ripping his soul from his body. The man let out a brief cry before the Hollow devoured him.
"¡NO! (NO!)" Gabriel screamed, his entire being consumed by anguish.
It was as if the Hollow had been waiting for his dad to say goodbye before devouring him.
Hate...
Fueled by rage, he threw himself at the Hollow, cocking his fist back. He unconsciously gathered all of the Reiryoku he had.
He threw a punch at the beast's massive frame.
"¡Dámelo! (Give him back!)" he screamed, his voice breaking with desperation.
He wanted his father back... this bastard would puke him out. He wanted him back.
The Hollow, however, ignored the boy's pleas. Gabriel was just a weak insect.
As Gabriel staggered to his feet, the creature lashed out, its claws tearing through him.
Pain erupted from Gabriel's chest as he witnessed himself being ripped away from his body.
He watched as the creature shattered those chains with its massive jaw.
Almost on instinct, he knew that he was dead... this, however, didn't matter to him.
He fell to his knees. He was in so much pain... but his eyes had a fiery aura to them. He wouldn't let this creature leave.
He would get his father back. If they died on the same day... at least he would rather go with his dad.
Not... watch him be devoured by that thing.
Getting up, Gabriel did not hesitate to rush at the creature.
The Hollow tried to swipe at him and smash him into a building. Gabriel, however, being the nimble person he was, ducked under the blow.
"GIVE HIM BACK!" he practically roared.
Jumping into the air, he cocked his fist back. His hand began changing, unaware that he was using his Fullbring... He began pouring every ounce of energy he had left into one blow.
Aiming directly at the creature's mask.
A roar came out of his mouth... the roar sounded eerily similar to that of the Hollow. However, he did not care, nor did he care that the chain seemed to be eating itself.
Gabriel cocked his fist back... and punched the beast with all of his might... right on the mask.
Crack
Gabriel's body fell to the floor, limp... drained of any form of Reiryoku (Spiritual energy).
The Hollow's body fell a couple of feet away... the Hollow had begun crumbling away. Its mask had been fully shattered by the blow.
A few minutes later, as Gabriel finally got up, he saw a ghost... his father's body looked pale... wait... no.
His father smiled weakly, his form flickering like a dying flame. "Vive bien, hijo (Live well, son)," he said softly. "Come buena comida, encuentra una buena mujer... y sé orgulloso de quién eres (Eat good food, find a good woman... and be proud of who you are)."
"Don't leave me!" Gabriel cried, holding him tightly.
His father's voice grew fainter. "Nunca me iré de tu corazón (I'll never leave your heart)."