Four kids total. Two in each van.
All of them too quiet.
Nico whimpered—a tiny, broken sound. Goblin whined low, vibrating with distress.
Bones didn’t flinch, but something in his jaw cracked.
Legend blew out a breath, voice hard with fury. “Grace. Bring Nico. Slowly.”
Voodoo was out of the driver’s seat and opened my door before I unbuckled. Then I was sliding out with Nico clinging to me like I was the only solid thing left in the world. Goblin hopped down, planting himself at Nico’s side.
“Está bien, mi cielo,” I whispered into his hair. “No estás solo.”It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re not alone.
When we reached the first van, the children shrank back, flinching at movement, at sound, at everything.
So I dropped to my knees.
Nico didn’t hesitate—he let go of me just enough to kneel too. Goblin pressed between us and the open van door, tail low but not threatening, just present, grounding.
Softly, I spoke to the nearest little girl. “Hola, mi amor… estamos aquí para ayudarte, ¿sí?”Hi sweetheart… we’re here to help you, okay?
Her lip trembled. She nodded once.
Legend muttered quietly behind me, “Hell.”
Bones’ voice was quieter still, meant only for our team. “Get them out. Gentle. Quick.”
The kids came out like shadows—tiny hands reaching, legs unsteady. Some clutched blankets. One boy carried a stuffed toy missing an eye. Another little girl looked at Goblin and burst into tears—silent tears, her chest shaking.
Goblin stepped forward and licked her wrist. She folded over him like he was the first safe thing she’d felt in days.
Bones swallowed hard. His voice stayed level. “Load them in our SUV. Grace takes point.”
Legend moved fast but gentle, lifting the youngest with care. Voodoo picked up another who couldn’t quite stand. Bones handled the last two, guiding them with slow, deliberate movements, like they were made of glass.
I kept Nico’s hand tight in mine, guiding him and Goblin back to the SUV.
“Todo está bien,”I whispered to the group, switching between English and Spanish.“Están a salvo. Los tenemos.”
Everything’s okay. You’re safe now. We’ve got you.
We loaded them in—middle row, third row, stuffed animal reunited with trembling hands. Goblin crawled right into the center of them, letting them hold onto him, six small hands gripping his fur.
Nico stayed pressed to my side—but he was watching them now, eyes big and worried instead of terrified.
Then AB came back on comms—this time not frantic, but furious.
“Guys,” he said. “You need to move. Now.”
Bones climbed into the passenger seat as Voodoo slid behind the wheel.
“What’s coming?” Bones asked.
“Backup,” AB said. “Heavy. Fifteen minutes out. But?—”
He paused.
“But what, Alphabet?” Legend snapped.
