Three months before the gates appeared, Carlos was sitting in a bar tapping his glass.
Damn, I need to get a good job sooner rather than later. It's been weeks, and I haven't received a single call back for any of the job applications I sent out… I can't support Maelle as a taxi driver forever; I'm barely able to pay rent and student loans as is…
That's when he felt someone grab his shoulder. "Well, hey there, handsome… What are you doing here all alone?" It was an older woman who looked to be in her 30s.
Oh, she's not that bad looking. Sadly, though, I don't have time for this… But maybe…
Carlos flashed a smile. "Could say the same thing to you, beautiful. Want to have a drink with me? Name's Carlos, by the way." They shook hands.
She smiled back, "Why, of course! My name's Jules." She sat down on the stool next to him.
This woman doesn't look so bad; maybe she can help me out if I play things right… Although there is a possibility that she's just doing this to get free drinks…
The woman leaned in closer to him so that her blond hair scraped his arm. "So what brings you here tonight?"
She's a bit pushy…
Carlos leaned back and smiled, "Doing what any old and lonely man does in a bar. Drink my worries away. As my pops always said, 'La cerveza lo cura todo.'"
Jules rested her arms on the bar table and placed her head in her hands. "Ohhh? What does that mean?"
Carlos chuckled a little, "Beer cures everything."
She let out a snort, "Ah, one of the many truths of the world."
Carlos chuckled again. "So, Jules, what do you do for a living?"
She paused for a moment. "I'm an online content creator. It doesn't make much, but it gets us by with some left over for other things."
Us? Does she have a kid too?
Carlos pulled a bit away from her. "Us? You have a kid?"
She looked like she made a terrible mistake. "Ah, well, yes, I do. His name is Max, but he's already out of high school, though…"
The mood on her face shifted. "That damn kid is such an ass. I do so much for him, yet he's not grateful at all! I fed him, raised him, and made him the man he is on my own! You think I would get a thanks by now." She started to get angrier as she continued talking.
I can't tell if she is overreacting or her kid's an asshole like she said… Anyway, opportunities like this don't happen often…
Carlos gave a polite laugh. "Yes, kids can be tough. I have one of my own as well; her name is Maelle. She is only in elementary school, though, so I haven't experienced the teen years yet like you."
She took her glass and slammed it down. "You better be ready; girls are even worse when they reach that age…"
They continued talking through the night.
...
They both looked slightly drunk when they were done talking. Jules waved the bartender over. "Bartender! We're done… Here you go, keep the change."
She's paying for me too?
Carlos got up, "No, no, I can't let you pay fo—" He was cut off.
Jules shoved a napkin in his face. "It's fine! It's fine! Here, take this and call me when you have time."
Guess she's a lot nicer than I thought…
They both walked out of the bar. That's when Jules stopped him. "You know what else is a cure to everything?" She pulled a joint out of her bag.
Carlos raised his hand. "Ah, no, I don't do that sort of thing."
Jules spoke in a mocking tone, "Whhhhat? Really? But you should at least try it once, just to see if you like it at least."
Carlos and Jules went back and forth, but eventually Carlos gave in. If he could see what would come from this decision, he never would have made it.
...
Two months before the gates appeared, Carlos was putting Maelle to bed. "Dad, you smell stinky."
Carlos chuckled. "I know, I'll take a shower later."
He was about to leave the room when Maelle spoke in a quiet voice, "Dad, are you okay?"
This made him frustrated. He was not okay; he was still having a hard time finding a job and couldn't afford both weed and the bills. To top it all off, he was going to have to mooch off of a woman that he actually started to like.
Carlos gave a fake chuckle. "Estoy al límite. I'm all right; now go to sleep." He left the room and closed the door.
Carlos opened a window and layed down on the couch with a blanket. He reached under it and grabbed a small bag with already-rolled joints inside. He pulled one out, lit it, and tossed the bag back under the couch.
Man, this shit's the best. I feel like everything is so much easier because of this. The only problem is that it's draining my funds too fast… It's nice that Jules pays for all the bills when we go out, but… if only I could get one of those tech jobs I applied for…
He stared at the ceiling until he was finished. "I don't want to burden her more, but for Maelle's sake..." He picked up his phone.
He scrolled through his contacts and clicked Jules, then sent a text: Hey, I was thinking that maybe it would be good if we met together with my daughter. So that I can introduce you too.
It was a while before she responded: Sounds good; maybe I can see if I can drag Max over too.
Yes, that would be good. Does Sunday at 6 p.m. work for you? She responded with a thumbs-up.
...
Later that weekend, Jules was getting out of the car with Max in front of a restaurant. Max sighed and looked at his mom. "Looks like you fully roped in another one. What does that make now? 10? 20?" Jules slapped him on the head.
She was angry. "I want you to be on your best behavior. He needs the extra support right now since he still can't get work with the degree he's got."
Max glared at her, "And what does that have to do with us? Plus, he also has a daughter with him; that's more problems we can't afford."
She scoffed at him, "Says the freeloader who can't get a job? Also, didn't I tell you he has a degree in computer science? He is going to get a tech job, and we are going to move out of that house."
Max scoffed, "Yeah, I'm sure he is… And if he was going to, I'm sure you'll ruin it somehow, or he'll notice how bad you really are. Did you tell him how you actually make money? Selling weed to-"
She smacked him again. "That's separate; he doesn't need to know what I do for us. Now let's go inside and eat dinner."
...
As they entered the restaurant, they saw the two waiting near the front door. Jules was the first to speak. "Hello, Carlos, this is my son Max."
They shook hands. "Nice to meet you. This is my daughter Maelle."
Maelle was behind her dad, holding his left hand. "Ah, hi."
Max smiled slightly and waved. "Hi, nice to meet you." His mother did the same.
He doesn't seem that bad of a kid, Carlos thought.
They were seated at a booth; Carlos and Maelle sat across from Jules and Max. Carlos started the conversation. "So Max, your mom told me you were done with high school. Do you have any plans for college?"
Max smiled in response. "Ahhh, no, or at least not now; Mom wouldn't be able to survive without me—" There was a clear thud under the table.
Did she just kick him?
Max coughed. "Ah, anyway, I just don't want to leave my mom all alone, is all."
This prompted a response from his mom. "I would be happier if you got a well paying job and a place of your own…"
The waiter came over. "Can I get you guys something to drink?"
Both Maelle and Carlos had water, which for some reason irritated Jules. Their discussions continued, touching on various topics. Max and Maelle mostly just answered when spoken to.
...
After finishing the meal, the waiter brought the check. Max noticed his mom was paying for their portion too. Carlos offered to cover his share, but Jules refused: "You guys ordered the cheapest things on the menu, so it's not a big deal."
Well, I knew you'd do this; that's why I picked the cheapest item… I need to get that job…
Carlos gave in. "Okay, thank you again for all your hospitality."
Jules gave a genuine smile. "No problem."
Carlos paused before finally saying, "I was actually hoping I could rely on it some more."
Jules kept her smile. "Sure, whatever you need."
Carlos took a deep breath. "Ah, you see, the place we were staying at just increased its rent, and I won't be able to keep living there soon. I know we haven't been together that long, but… I was hoping we could stay at your place until we find someplace cheaper."
Jules' smile cracked slightly. "Sure, I don't mind, but my place is a bit of a wreck, so I hope you don't mind. Carlos, come here." She pulled him close and kissed him.
Here's that controlling personality of hers, Max thought.
Carlos was a bit shocked but shrugged it off, and they went their separate ways.
...
One month before the gates appeared, Carlos and Max were moving boxes of Carlos' and Maelle's things into the house. Carlos looked over at Max.
The way Jules talked about him made him seem like some angsty teen, but he seems like a good kid… Maybe she has some of her own problems she's not telling me.
Carlos spoke first. "Ah, thanks for letting Maelle use your bed; hopefully I can find someplace soon."
Max replied in a flat tone, "It's no problem; it would be bad if I let the kid sleep on the floor. Sometimes rats get in, so it's for the best."
I can't tell if he meant that sincerely or not…
Carlos' phone buzzed. "Hello, this is Carlos speaking."
His face lit up. "An interview?! When... Yes, that works for me... Yes, I'll be ready. Have a good day to you too… YES!!!"
Max looked surprised. "So, one finally called back? When is the interview?"
Carlos smiled. "Next week Tuesday at 4 p.m. I might need to have your mom pick up Maelle from school that day."
Max looked hesitant. "I don't think that's a good idea. Mom doesn't like things she has no control over. Plus, getting an interview doesn't mean you'll get the job. I can pick her up."
Things she has no control over?
Carlos' excitement dimmed slightly. "Yeah, it might be best not to ask her unless I actually land the job… And thank you for the help, Max. I'll let Maelle know." They continued bringing in the boxes.
…
Two weeks before the gates appeared
Carlos stood in front of a mirror in the apartment's cramped bathroom, wearing a button-up shirt that was just slightly too tight around the collar.
Alright, Carlos… this is it. One shot. Don't screw it up.
He adjusted his collar, took a deep breath, and checked his phone for the time.
Its time…
Outside the tech company office, Carlos stepped into the building's lobby, clutching a folder of his printed résumé like it was his last lifeline. The receptionist gave him a polite smile.
"Hi, welcome. You're here for the 4 o'clock?"
"Yes, ma'am. Carlos Velasquez."
"Great, go ahead and take a seat. Mr. Hammond will call you in shortly."
He nodded, sat down, and tried not to bounce his leg.
God, I hope I don't smell like anything.
He ran through what he'd practiced in his head.
I'm a fast learner, I work hard, and I don't complain. Just tell them what you can do. They don't need to know you live in a dump and smoke to sleep at night…
…
Inside the waiting area, a tall man with square glasses and a dark blazer entered the room.
"Carlos Velasquez?"
Carlos stood quickly, offering a handshake. "Yes, sir."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Mr. Hammond. Thanks for coming in."
They both sat in the Interview room.
"So," the interviewer began, flipping through Carlos's résumé, "you have a degree in computer science, finished about four years ago, and… you've been driving for a ride-share company since then?"
Carlos tried not to sound defensive. "Yes. After graduation I needed to provide for my daughter immediately. The job market was rough at the time, and I prioritized stability."
Mr. Hammond nodded, but didn't react much. "Understood. What kind of work are you hoping to do here?"
Carlos leaned forward slightly. "Ideally software QA or technical support. I've been keeping my skills fresh in my free time — I've built some personal tools, basic scripts, and a scheduling app I use to manage my daughter's appointments and school activities."
That earned a brief smile.
"Well, we like initiative. Tell me — how would you approach troubleshooting a network bug that only appears intermittently?"
Carlos's heart rate picked up.
"First I'd try to reproduce the issue under different conditions. If I couldn't, I'd log environmental factors, time, user load, system status, and isolate what's different when it fails. If the data points to nothing obvious, I'd review logs and try targeted simulations."
Mr. Hammond raised his eyebrows slightly. "Solid answer."
Carlos forced a smile.
Please let this work. I can't do another month of nothing…
The interview continued for twenty minutes. There were questions about team dynamics, past leadership, and where he saw himself in five years. Carlos kept his tone calm, humble, and earnest.
…
At the end of the interview, Mr. Hammond stood. "Thank you, Carlos. We'll be reviewing applicants this week, but I'll be honest, your answers were strong, and we're looking to move quickly. You should hear back soon."
Carlos stood and shook his hand again. "I really appreciate the opportunity, sir. Thank you."
He left the office with a breath he didn't know he was holding.
I think that went well… I hope it did.
His phone buzzed as he stepped outside. A text from Jules: How'd it go? Also pick up more paper towels.
Carlos chuckled to himself and typed back: Think it went good. I'll grab them.
Then he stared at the phone for a moment longer.
Please… just let something finally go right.
…
A moment later inside the office, Mr. Hammond stepped out of the interview room and approached the receptionist, rubbing his chin.
"What did you think of him?"
She looked up from her screen. "Honestly? He nailed the questions. Seemed humble. But…"
Mr. Hammond raised an eyebrow. "But?"
She leaned forward slightly. "He smells like weed. Not overwhelming, but it's definitely there."
Mr. Hammond sighed. "Damn. He'd be perfect otherwise. We've got other strong candidates, so it's not the end of the world. it's a shame, but we can't take that risk with someone who might not be fully dependable."
…
Outside the building, Carlos was heading down the sidewalk, hopeful but anxious. His phone buzzed again. This time, it was a call from Maelle.
He quickly answered, smiling softly. "Hey, sweetie. Did you make it home ok?"
"Yes! Although Max didn't really talk much on the way back."
Carlos laughed a little. "Well, maybe you two will get to know each other better."
"Hmmm, I don't know. He seems like he doesn't want to."
Carlos's face shifted. "Was he at least nice?"
"Yes,"
Carlos smiled, "Well that's good?"
"So why did you have Max pick me up today? Max didn't tell me why and said it wasn't his business. Are you finally going to get that job you talked about?"
Is it all right to tell her?... no.
"Sadly no, but I feel like I'm close. I just had a dentist appointment."
"Okay! I told my teacher my dad is gonna work with computers and she said that was cool."
Carlos felt his throat tighten slightly. "She's right. It is cool. And I'll do my best to make it happen, okay?"
"Okay! Love you!"
"Love you too."
He put the phone down, looked up at the cloudy sky.
Please... just give me one break, just one.
…
10 minutes before the gates appeared
Carlos and Jules were laying in bed together. The room was dark and quiet aside from the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Carlos stared at the ceiling, his thoughts racing.
They said I'd hear back soon… It's been over a week. Did I mess something up?
Carlos sighed and sat up slowly. Jules stirred beside him.
Max had already gotten up earlier. He hadn't said where he was going.
Carlos stepped into the living room and grabbed his phone. He scrolled through his emails.
"Are they ever going to call me back? If I didn't make the cut, they should have at least told me by now…"
Jules walked out in her nightshirt and sat beside him on the couch. "Can't sleep?" she asked softly. She reached for the remote and turned the old box TV on, keeping the volume low. The local news was still running.
Carlos looked up at her. "Sorry for waking you, Jules. I just… I can't believe no one's called me back yet. I need the money, and I can't rely on you forever."
Jules leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his. "You can rely on me… In fact, I might have an opportu—"
Suddenly, a loud buzzing noise erupted, sharp and overwhelming. Both of them instinctively covered their ears.
"Ahh! What the hell?!" Carlos yelled.
Maelle's voice echoed from the back room. "DAD!! What was that?!"
Carlos bolted up and rushed to her.
Jules turned up the TV volume. The news anchors looked just as shaken, fumbling over their words. They didn't seem to know what had just happened either.
If they're confused, then they must have heard it too… and they're downtown…
Maelle clung to Carlos as he entered her room. "What's happening? What was the loud noise?"
Carlos knelt beside her bed. "I don't know, sweetie, but we're okay. That's all that matters right now."
He glanced around and suddenly froze. "Jules! Max isn't here!"
She said something back, but Carlos couldn't hear her clearly over the TV.
Maelle tugged at his collar. "I heard him get up and say he was going to get snacks at the store."
Carlos frowned. "At night? Why would he…?"
Maelle shrugged nervously.
"Carlos, come look at the TV!" Jules shouted from the other room.
Carlos rushed out, heart pounding.
On screen was a helicopter view of Milwaukee. Dozens of car pileups lined up the highways. White flames burned like torches all over the city, some in parking lots, others in intersections.
"What the hell is going on…?" Carlos muttered.
Jules was frantically redialing Max's number, but it went straight to voicemail each time. "Damn you, just pick up you little shit!" she muttered, her fingers shaking as she sent a text.
Then the Emergency Alert System blared over the TV, cutting through the broadcast. A monotone voice repeated:
"This is an emergency message. All citizens are to remain indoors or find shelter immediately. Do not enter the streets. Await further instructions from your local authorities. Repeat: this is not a test…"
The alert looped for over a minute before cutting back to the anchors, who were visibly rattled.
Carlos stared at the screen, his arms crossed tightly.
Max… where the hell are you?
Carlos didn't have long to wonder. Just then, Jules's phone buzzed loudly on the couch.
"It's him!" she exclaimed, answering the call.
"Where the hell are you?! And why haven't you picked up my calls?! I was worried sick!"
Carlos could hear Max's voice faintly from the other end.
"Worried? I didn't know you could feel such an emotion," Max replied.
"Don't give me that bullshit! Do you have any idea what's going on?! You heard that loud buzz too, right?! And now white fires are popping up everywhere!"
Carlos looked at the news that now had a close up with the white flames, "Yeah, shit's getting crazy!"
Carlos leaned in as Jules put the call on speaker.
"Yes, I heard it," Max said. "And something else happened to me too…"
Jules shouted, "What happened?! Are you okay?!"
Carlos could tell she was panicking. He moved closer to comfort her, but she waved him off.
Max sighed. "Never mind. You wouldn't believe me until I come over and show you."
"Just tell me what happened!" Jules snapped.
There was a pause. "Fine, fine. I'll tell you. I'll tell you…"
Max explained what had happened to him, his tone serious and flat.
There was a long silence.
Jules finally responded, "Yeah, you're right. You've gone damn lost your mind."
Then Carlos heard Max again. "Try saying 'Status Window.'"
"You think I'm that stupid or something?!"
"Just say it."
She rolled her eyes and sighed. "'Status Window'…"
There was a pause.
THUD.
Jules dropped her phone onto the coffee table, eyes wide in disbelief. "Carlos… Carlos! You gotta try this!"
Carlos looked at her with confusion, then stood.
He took a breath. "Alright, fine. 'Status Window.'" From this, all his worries about before were gone.