Chapter 4

Luis' pov Camila has an undeniable effect on me; I can no longer deny it. She has been with the cartel for some time now, yet I still can't figure her out. There's something special about her that stands out among the others, not just in terms of intelligence or how quickly she understands tasks given. Indeed, she possesses a unique quality. She's dangerous. I keep an eye on every move she makes and every decision she makes, trying to understand what motivates her and understand what motivates me as I watch her closely; yet the more I observe, the more I question whether she will eventually control or mold me instead. At first glance, her mission seemed straightforward: get close to a gang leader and gather information. However, as I observed her perform her first task, I noticed she stood out among her peers; she did not hesitate or question my orders before plunging right in, pushing boundaries she hadn't known existed until that moment. That was the moment I understood her workings. Her eyes were sharp, calculating; her instincts far outshone my expectations; she wasn't just another pawn; she could become something much greater and dangerous. "How did it go?" I inquired later that evening. Her face was still tense and unreadable as I leaned against the doorframe, watching her, trying to understand what was happening with her. "I did what was asked of me," she replied in her low voice, as her hands trembled ever so slightly; luckily, I caught it. "No," I replied as we moved closer. "You did more than that and are becoming skilled at this process." "This isn't what I signed up for!" She exclaimed with some confusion. "Camila, this survival game is precisely that." She had to do what was necessary to survive and have any chance of passing. I studied her closely as my gaze drifted over her and continued its path toward me. "You signed up for survival when entering this competition there is no other option!" I spoke directly into Camila's mind as we discussed what needs to be done to survive this endeavor. At first, she didn't respond; she just looked at me with uncertain eyes. Despite her hesitation, I sensed her discomfort with the request. I knew doubt would grow without me being mindful. That was how the world worked: people changed, became soft, then broke down completely. My next task for Camila was harder. She'd completed the first successfully, so now was my opportunity to assess her commitment. Cartel rivals were becoming too bold. I had to see if Camila could remove them as threats to our cartel. "Make sure the message is heard clearly," I told her before bedtime. "Don't do a half-assed job." She nodded firmly, her gaze fixed upon the ground. She believed she was prepared for whatever came her way or at least thought so. "Once in, take control and collect intel," I stated. "Don't leave anything behind." She gazed directly into my eyes and questioned, "What if I don't?" As tension increased in the air, I issued an ultimatum: either we do it now, or else no one comes back." My voice dropped into danger. "Do it, or else I won't come back." I could sense her struggle as soon as she stood, yet she wasn't showing signs of fear. An alarm bell should have gone off for me. This young lady believed they could take care of this task alone and wasn't going for help from anywhere. I needed to make sure she comprehended her role in this larger plan. As she made her way out, I intervened. "Camila," I reminded her. Her eyes met mine. Her lips pressed together tightly. "I haven't forgotten." I wasn't sure if she had, but everything I thought I knew about her started to change. I watched as the hours passed slowly by. My mind went over every detail of Camila's mission in my head: what could go wrong, how she would solve problems, but also knowing she could do it despite my misgivings; however, I hadn't completely trusted her yet. As she returned, her expression was indecipherable and unspoken. I walked with her into the room, needing to see her face. "What has happened?" I inquired with firmness in my voice. She paused, taking a deep breath. "It's done." "Did it work out?" I repeated, moving closer. I could tell she was hiding something, but what could it be? Her gaze met mine, and for an instant there was an underlying feeling of uncertainty, fear that was briefly present before quickly passing by before I could process it properly. "They're no longer a threat," she assured. "I made sure of it." Not yet; something about her was odd to me, and I couldn't place my finger on what it could be. "So," I replied while trying to maintain an impartial tone of voice, "you did what was required of you." She nodded, but I noticed how she tightly clasped both fists at her sides. "Did you enjoy it?" I posed as a test, hoping to push her further along her journey. She flashed dark eyes, and I thought for a second she might break, but instead just shrugged off my attention with a nod of her head. "No," she answered softly as though lying to herself. What mattered was that she had fulfilled her responsibilities, that she had shown herself capable. That was all that mattered. Or so I thought. The next few days were fraught. My cartel's war with its rival gang escalated quickly, heightening tensions further and leading to seemingly every action leading somewhere more significant. Camila could prove helpful, but becoming too strong could threaten my control. One night, when she stood at the window with her back to me and her gaze toward the cityscape beyond, I found myself staring again. No idea what she was thinking, but I knew exactly what mine were: she stood staring directly back into mine as I stared from across. "You are too precious for us to let go," I spoke up abruptly, breaking the silence. "Don't turn around," she replied without turning her head back. Something had changed between us. Her voice had become fainter and almost softer; something seemed different between us now. As I neared, standing just behind her, I could feel her presence and their pull. Yet I managed to maintain a safe distance despite feeling like I was becoming vulnerable. "Camila, you are beginning to slip," I warned in my lowest voice, with serious intent. "You're getting too close to me and everything around her. Don't come close anymore." She turned back towards me with eyes filled with fury. "I'm just doing my job," she declared with a steady yet defiant tone of voice. But I knew. I could see it in her eyes that the task wasn't simply another job anymore. "Is it only a job?" I inquired, my voice barely audible above a whisper. She didn't answer, because it wasn't necessary. The air between us had become thick with something neither one of us was willing to admit; she was becoming someone I couldn't predict, someone beyond my control; this fact alone terrified me more than anything else. She was too dangerous for me to trust yet too dangerous for me to let go. Will I continue pushing her into the depths of this world or become devoured by it myself? And more importantly: Will she become my greatest ally or my downfall?