Then Carlos saw that Raphael wasn't aiming the gun at him, but at himself.
Just like Hector, over a decade ago.
Carlos's eyes flew wide open.
Raphael shoved the barrel of the gun into his own mouth. Tears streamed from his eyes, rolling down the young face that bore a strong resemblance to Hector's.
"Mom, Mom, Mom, I'm sorry, Mom..." he mumbled, his whole body trembling. "Mom, Mom, I'm scared."
In that moment, Carlos's mind went blank.
He saw Hector.
Over a decade ago, in this very room, under the same lights, Hector had been across from him.
They had faced the same agonizing choice.
In the end, Carlos had squeezed his eyes shut, let out a roar, turned his gun, and pulled the trigger.
And now, he calmly faced his own doom, realizing that for two generations of father and son, it was the same room, the same decision.
Kuchilo said human nature is evil.
Kuchilo was wrong.
"NO—!!!"
