Blood of Gato

As part of the classes came to an end and William found himself with a free minute, he decided to finally figure out why some students suddenly seemed like walking zombies.

"This is so stupid, to be honest. Just recently, I complained about wanting to go back to being a quiet person, and now I'm rushing to investigate some murky story. The dean's office, I'm sure, would handle this just fine," William scolded himself. He was contradicting himself, but an uneasy anxiety nagged at him, suggesting that he couldn't just stand by.

"On the other hand," he tried to calm himself, "I have nothing else to do anyway, and lately, any strange occurrence in the city somehow always ends up involving me…" With these thoughts, he headed to the university rooftop, where those looking to smoke, relax, or simply escape the professors usually gathered.

Opening the heavy iron door, William felt as if he was crossing a boundary between two worlds. Before him sprawled the roof, the realm of the so-called cool kids. Here, under the low gray sky, a thick, spicy scent hung in the air, immediately revealing the nature of these gatherings. Someone was laughing, recounting how another celebrity had gotten into yet another scandal; nearby, two students were arguing about conspiracy theories, trying to convince each other that triangular slices of pizza were a hidden signal from secret societies that had divided the world among themselves. Someone else sat quietly on the ledge, staring at the sky as if searching for answers to internal questions.

But one thing united everyone present: they were either already high or were about to embark on their little journey beyond the mundane.

One might wonder—why the roof? Didn't they fear being caught? But the answer was surprisingly simple: they hid in plain sight. Gathering in groups was prohibited in the dorms—there was strict oversight. Other places were either too far or too "in view." The roof, however, was both a secluded spot and part of the university, where no one suspected anything. For thrill-seekers, it was the perfect compromise: a quick ascent, blending into the crowd, doing their thing, and disappearing unnoticed.

The door to the roof was almost always locked, and most students never even thought that someone held gatherings here every day. Only one person had the key—the janitor, Gary. This middle-aged man with a perpetual smile and a faded tattoo on his neck was the living embodiment of the hippie era, though he carefully hid his nature from the administration and was quite successful, as he had been hired at such a respectable university. Only those who became part of such gatherings were privileged to see Gary's true face.

William had never been part of such hangouts before. He didn't know the taste of cigarettes or the smell of marijuana—everything existed for him in some other, cinematic world. However, his friend Max was a regular on the roof. It was Max who had told William how to get up there, when to come, and who belonged and who didn't. Max had tried numerous times to drag William along, but he always found a hundred excuses—classes, tiredness, or simply reluctance to intrude upon someone else's company.

And now the day had come when William finally found himself among these people. There's always a first time for everything.

He couldn't just approach one of the stoners and directly ask, "Hey, dude, do you happen to know why students have been wandering the university hallways lately like soulless dolls?" If he dared to blurt something like that, he would likely be cursed out and then tossed off the roof—just to avoid standing out. No, the approach had to be subtler: blend in with the local crowd, become a shadow, observe, and listen without raising suspicions. Fortunately, he had sharp hearing and vision like a hawk.

He settled slightly away from the main group, choosing a spot with a better view where he could see everyone while remaining almost unnoticed. Pretending to have already taken a hit, he theatrically parted his lips and stared into the infinite distance, as if his thoughts were drifting somewhere beyond the horizon. For added authenticity, he even let some drool trickle down his chin, like many of those around him. In reality, the smell of weed gave him more of a headache than pleasure: his heightened sense of smell picked up every molecule, and it felt like a fireworks display ignited in his head.

"If I sit here for even an hour, I'll become one of them for real," he struggled to resist the urge to pinch his nose and run away.

At that moment, a cheerful, slightly hoarse voice rang out on the roof, filled with sunny carefreeness: "Children of the sun, I ask you to gather closer! Today is not only a day for meditation but also a day for collecting donations!"

The crowd immediately stirred, as if on cue, and began to flow toward the center. William raised his head and saw that everyone had surrounded Gary. The janitor now stood in all his glory: his tanned, lean torso was covered with numerous strange tattoos, his hair hung down to his shoulders, and he wore only baggy pants. He stood with a Buddha-like smile, arms outstretched, appearing to be both a guru and a shaman, with just a hint of madness.

William noted immediately that only Gary had a truly clear gaze among this crowd. Everyone else had cloudy eyes, half-smiles, and slack expressions; only he and William remained sober. "Is he not high? But why? It's unlikely the leader of such a gathering advocates for a clear mind. Or is it much more complicated?" William pondered, keeping his eyes fixed on the janitor.

Gary began to chant a mantra, melodically intoning something like, "Om, sun, cleanse our hearts; om, moon, fill us with light…" Around him, students swirled, each trying to touch his shoulder or hand, as if waiting for a blessing. The mantra gradually transitioned into a melodic chant, and in the air, mingling with the aroma of weed, floated an atmosphere of absurd unity. People began to pull out bills, coins, even badges and bracelets from their pockets, piling everything at Gary's feet like offerings to their idol.

"Wow, this is a real cult…" William realized with astonishment. In that moment, he joined in their singing to avoid standing out and even fished a copper coin from his pocket, tossing it into the pile. "If I dance with them now, it won't be long before they're making sacrifices. It'd be great if you had a bonfire, kids, for peace and enlightenment!" he thought with a snort.

He watched the scene with genuine shock. At Gary's feet lay a decent pile of money, lighters, various trinkets, and even a pack of chewing gum. The mantra faded, and silence descended. For several seconds, everyone stood with their eyes closed, as if capturing a moment of revelation, and then they all exhaled in unison.

"Come on, now say something about how harmful money is and that it should be burned for purification," William thought with a slight smirk, preparing to hear the usual cult nonsense.

"Brothers and sisters, you have brought many gifts and offerings today! Mother Earth is grateful to you and wishes..."

"...that you give me all of this, and add even more," William mentally completed the thought, crossing his arms over his chest.

"...to cleanse you and your belongings. Take them back, children of the sun," Gary said with a smile, "and rejoice: you are once again on the positive side of the universe!"

William nearly jumped in surprise. He couldn't believe his ears; Gary didn't take a single penny—instead, he returned everything.

"What!?" he almost shouted. He stared at the unfolding scene with the expression of someone who had just seen a talking cat. Everything was going according to script, and at the last moment, the guru shattered it all with his altruism. William watched in astonishment as the students tucked their belongings back into their pockets, laughing and hugging, now feeling closer to each other and to the cosmos.

"He just gave the money back, and everyone looks so happy," William thought, watching as the crowd, which had just thrown their valuables at Gary's feet, now dispersed with a sense of excitement. The people didn't appear empty or deceived. On the contrary—it seemed they were filled with energy. There was none of the lifelessness he had encountered among the frozen, sullen students in the campus corridors. Here, everyone was relaxed, as if they had just enjoyed a long rest, yet remarkably vibrant.

"Maybe I was wrong about the drugs?" he pondered, studying their faces. "The true source of some students' lifelessness might not be here at all."

William didn't know what to do next. His previous strategy of merely observing now seemed less effective, but he was in no hurry to leave. Gary still appeared suspicious to him: a con artist, a manipulator extracting money from naive rich kids and getting them hooked on weed. But now, as Gary smiled and handed back their possessions—without even touching the money—the scheme seemed much more complicated. Moreover, the attitude toward weed here was not that of a commodity: no one was hiding Ziploc bags or whispering in corners. On the contrary, everything was surprisingly open.

"Take and praise Mother Earth for her gifts!" Gary enthusiastically proclaimed, waving a clear bag filled to the brim with fluffy green buds. People approached him without hesitation, smiling, and took the weed; some immediately began rolling joints, while others pooled together to share.

William noted a strange, almost familial atmosphere. Two guys who had just been arguing loudly suddenly embraced, leaning against each other and excitedly recounting how glad they were to be brothers. A girl with blue hair quietly sat singing a strange song while her friend braided her hair. Even those who merely stood aside seemed part of the collective flow—no one was alone.

"Maybe weed really does turn people into mindless zombies?" William thought, noticing one guy with a blissful expression stroking his hair, while another examined his shoe as if seeing it for the first time.

William couldn't stay on the sidelines any longer—curiosity and irritation won out. He gathered his courage and headed straight for Gary, trying to look as exhausted and confused as a typical student on the brink of an emotional breakdown.

"Hi..." he began, stumbling over his words. "Um, sorry, I'm new here. I don't quite know how to say this... could you help me with something?"

Gary, still smiling, looked at him attentively, as if trying to read an invisible aura.

"Oh, I see!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "I was wondering why there's such a strong surge of energy today. Mother Earth has brought me a new child! Don't be afraid; you're among friends here. Share what's on your mind, and you'll get all you need," he said, and without asking for permission, gently touched William's shoulder with both hands.

William barely restrained himself from pulling away. The touch felt too personal, almost intrusive, but there was no hint of aggression in Gary's eyes—only a strange, humble joy.

"If it weren't for decorum, I'd break your fingers right now," a fleeting thought crossed William's mind.

He feigned exhaustion, clenched his fists, and spread his arms. "I just... well, it's been tough lately. All this—exams, deadlines... Sometimes it feels like my brain is about to boil over, you know? I'd like to... well, forget everything, turn off for a couple of hours."

Gary nodded understandingly, his expression growing serious. He beckoned William a little closer and lowered his voice.

"Oh, I sense a storm within you, child! Anger, fatigue… it clings to you like mud," he said, shaking the bag of weed as if offering a magical talisman. "Take the gift of nature, meditate with us, and feel the heaviness lift. Here, no one will judge you."

William pretended to hesitate and quietly added, looking down at his feet, "Thank you, but… what if I need something stronger? You know, something that works right away. Maybe you have something pharmaceutical? A pill, powder… something I can just swallow—poof, like it's gone, without mantras or dancing?"

He raised his eyebrows questioningly, indicating he was looking for a more traditional way to relieve stress.

Gary studied William's gaze for a moment in silence. Then he placed his hand more firmly on William's shoulder, tilted his head slightly, and whispered, "We have no place for heavy substances, brother. Only nature, only purity. Pills are a path to destruction, and we are here to build and heal. If you seek an easy way, it always deceives. But if you want to try something truly new, stay with us. Trust me, it works."

He offered William a small rolled-up joint and smiled almost fatherly. "Trust the process. Sometimes, to find peace, you just have to let go of everything unnecessary."

Taking the joint from Gary's hands, William instinctively rolled it between his fingers, assessing its weight and density—really just buying a moment to gather his thoughts. But before he could say anything more, a woman appeared beside them. With fiery red hair and piercing green eyes, she seemed to materialize out of thin air, gently placing her hand on Gary's shoulder and addressing him in a soft, melodic voice:

"Guru, I see you have a new follower. Would you introduce us?"

At her touch, Gary seemed to melt for a moment—his shoulders relaxed, and a happy, almost childlike smile spread across his lips. Even his voice became softer and higher.

"Of course, Leticia…" he began, suddenly flustered as he turned his gaze to William. "Sorry, my friend, you didn't tell me your name…"

William smiled a bit wider than he intended, stepping forward to extend his hand to her.

"My name is William. I was invited here by my friend Max," he said deliberately cheerfully, trying to mask the growing tension within him.

Leticia's touch was not what he expected. Her palm was surprisingly cold, even in the heat of the day. As soon as their fingers touched, something inside William seemed to howl. For a fleeting moment, he felt a wave of panic, anger, and disgust rise in his chest—instinct warned him: this was an enemy. His whole body tensed, the inner beast clawing to escape, demanding immediate defense.

"Ah, here's the source of all troubles," flashed through his mind. He barely held back from yanking his hand away, but Leticia released him first—slowly, as if savoring the touch. Her grip was strong, slightly painful, as though she wanted to leave her mark on him.

Leticia looked deeply into his eyes, as if she might uncover everything hidden within. Her smile was too wide, too prolonged, and in the gleam of her pupils flickered a predatory spark. Her words rang like a song, but William heard the false notes:

"Gary, you've found a magnificent specimen for your flock. His aura is a true rainbow. Honestly, I haven't seen such a strong glow in a long time."

She slowly traced the tip of her tongue across her lips, and her eyes sparkled with an unnatural emerald light for a moment. William felt unprotected.

"I didn't think so, but if you say that…" Gary replied uncertainly, looking at Leticia with almost childlike admiration. "His friend Max is much more positive… Maybe you should meet him? This guy, I fear, has issues with his inner chakras; it's hard for him to relax."

Leticia clasped her hands in a display of sincere sadness:

"How tragic! We must help this young man, Gary!" she exclaimed, momentarily placing her hand to her lips.

They seemed to forget about William entirely as they began discussing his "case," exchanging mysterious glances and half-hints. Only when William deliberately cleared his throat did both turn their attention back to him.

"William," Gary said, smiling in a conciliatory manner, "Leticia has recently joined our gatherings, but she has already become a true mentor and muse for me. She has studied under various masters for many years, even meeting Ram Dass himself. I believe she can help you better than anyone."

He gently ruffled William's cheek and stepped back, making way for the woman. Leticia, keeping her piercing gaze fixed on him, stepped closer, took his hand in both of hers, and spoke softly:

"William, I promise to help you shed all your fears and worries. Tonight, I will host a special cleansing session at my home, in a more intimate and peaceful atmosphere. Here's the address," she quickly wrote something on a scrap of paper and placed it in his palm. "You must come. Everything will be fine; I'll be waiting for you."

Her voice was gentle, yet it carried a strange, commanding note that sent a chill through William. She smiled even wider, her eyes sparkling with hope and a hint of hunger.

"Of course, I'll definitely come," William quickly replied, not allowing himself time to think.