Chapter 35: Gabe — Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens with Raúl regaining consciousness in a dark, cramped apartment. He is held down by Gabe and Tavo while Bimbo and Paul aim guns at him. Bimbo, speaking in Spanish, threatens Raúl with a slow, painful death if he does not answer questions quickly. Raúl initially tries to appear unafraid, but Bimbo's intensity—described as a transformation into a man named Andrés—makes clear that this is not a bluff.
Bimbo asks Raúl if he remembers killing a woman outside the club Lazer. Raúl denies it, then admits he remembers, and insults the victim by calling her a “fat bitch working the door.” This provokes Bimbo to attack him, beating Raúl with the grip of his gun. Bimbo then forces the gun barrel into Raúl's mouth, sobbing as he reveals that the victim was his mother, María. Raúl, broken, confesses that he drove the car while El Brujo pulled the trigger.
Bimbo, exhausted and emotional, tells Gabe to take over. Gabe punches Raúl repeatedly, each blow tied to a grievance—for María, for Xavier, for his own mother, for Bimbo's sister, for the pain caused to Xavier's parents, for Henry, for the veve painted on his door, and for the general destruction of the world. During the beating, Gabe's thumb slips into a hole in Raúl's neck. After stopping, they examine Raúl and discover openings on both sides of his neck—unnatural, flap-like slits.
Bimbo demands El Brujo's location. Raúl initially warns that El Brujo is supernatural—he sees everything, doesn't sleep, has no shadow—but when Bimbo retrieves a knife, Raúl gives in and reveals that El Brujo lives in a red two-story house next to a chapel. Gabe then asks about Xavier's murder and what is in the water, but Raúl denies any knowledge of Xavier and refuses to answer the water question. Bimbo stabs Raúl's thigh to force compliance, but Raúl remains silent on that topic. Throughout the scene, Gabe sees Xavier's ghost standing near Paul, a silent witness to the violence.
Key Events
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Raúl wakes in a dark apartment, held by Gabe and Tavo, with Bimbo and Paul pointing guns at him.
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Bimbo threatens Raúl with torture and demands a confession about the Lazer killing.
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Raúl admits to the killing and insults the victim, prompting Bimbo to attack him.
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Bimbo forces his gun barrel into Raúl's mouth and reveals the victim was his mother, María.
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Raúl confesses that he drove while El Brujo shot María.
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Gabe beats Raúl, and his thumb slips into a hole in Raúl's neck.
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The group discovers openings on both sides of Raúl's neck.
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Bimbo demands El Brujo's location; Raúl resists, then reveals a red two-story house next to a chapel.
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Gabe asks about Xavier's murder and the water; Raúl denies the first and refuses the second.
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Bimbo stabs Raúl's thigh.
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Xavier's ghost appears to Gabe throughout the scene.
Character Development
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Gabe undergoes a profound shift. He moves from a reluctant participant to an active, brutal enforcer. His internal monologue reveals that each punch is a release of accumulated grief and rage—not just for María, but for Xavier, his mother, and the broader destruction around him. The violence is cathartic, but it also marks a loss of innocence; he notes that his youth is buried under the weight of loss. His ability to see Xavier's ghost suggests a supernatural connection, possibly tied to his grandmother's blood, and he interprets Xavier's presence as that of an avenging angel.
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Bimbo transforms into “Andrés,” a colder, more vengeful version of himself. His sobs and shaking hands show that his rage is rooted in deep pain, not just anger. He is willing to torture and kill, but he draws a line at harming children or women, emphasizing a twisted moral code. His confession that his sister is doing drugs because of María's death adds a layer of collateral damage to the revenge narrative.
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Raúl starts as a defiant professional but breaks under torture. He tries to bargain using his daughter, then becomes a sobbing, pleading mess. His confession about El Brujo's location is a betrayal of his boss, but it also reveals his fear of El Brujo's supernatural power. His refusal to answer the water question suggests he knows something dangerous, even at the cost of further pain.
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Paul is visibly terrified, sweating and shaking, and nearly vomits. He is the least committed to the violence, and his plea for Gabe to stop is the only voice of restraint. His cowardice is contrasted with Tavo's quiet loyalty—Tavo holds Raúl down without anger, only pain.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Revenge vs. Justice: The chapter blurs the line between justice and vengeance. Bimbo seeks confession as a form of validation, but his methods—torture, threats, and mutilation—are clearly vengeance. Gabe's internal question, “Was it worth it?” is answered with a resounding yes, framing revenge as a necessary, albeit destructive, act.
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Violence as Catharsis: Gabe's punching is described as a litany of grievances. Each blow releases a specific pain, and the physical act becomes a way to process grief. The chapter suggests that violence can be a form of emotional release, but it also leaves Gabe physically and emotionally scarred.
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Ghosts and the Supernatural: Xavier's ghost appears only to Gabe, reinforcing the idea that the dead linger and that Gabe has a unique connection to the spirit world. The ghost's silent presence serves as a moral witness, and Gabe hopes Xavier is proud of him, indicating that the violence is partly for the dead.
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Sacredness of Mothers: Bimbo's rage is fueled by the universal rule that mothers are sacred. Raúl's insult to María is the trigger for the brutal beating, and Bimbo's tears underscore the depth of the violation. The chapter suggests that harming a mother is an unforgivable crime.
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Ripple Effects of Violence: Gabe reflects that María's death has rippled outward, affecting Bimbo, his sister, Xavier, and now Raúl's daughter. The chapter emphasizes that violence begets more violence, and that innocent people are often caught in the waves.
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Supernatural Body Anomalies: Raúl's neck openings and his filed, pointy teeth are unnatural, hinting at a world where the supernatural is real. These anomalies connect to the broader mystery of El Brujo and the water, suggesting that the characters are dealing with forces beyond the ordinary.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the revenge plot. It delivers the long-awaited confession about María's murder, confirming that El Brujo was the shooter and Raúl the driver. It also provides the first concrete lead to El Brujo's location—a red two-story house next to a chapel—setting up the next phase of the mission. The chapter deepens Gabe's character, showing his capacity for violence and his supernatural connection to Xavier's ghost. It also introduces the mystery of Raúl's neck openings, which ties into the larger supernatural elements of the story, particularly the question of what is in the water. The chapter forces the reader to confront the moral cost of revenge, as Gabe and Bimbo cross lines they cannot uncross.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Bimbo demand a confession from Raúl before killing him?
Bimbo wants verbal acknowledgment of the crime, not just the act of killing. The confession validates his grief and gives him a sense of control. He says he wants to hear Raúl say it so he can kill him with a smile. The confession also serves as a form of justice—Raúl must admit what he did before facing consequences.
2. What does Gabe's internal monologue during the beating reveal about his motivations?
Gabe's punches are each tied to a specific grievance: María, Xavier, his mother, Bimbo's sister, Xavier's parents, Henry, the veve, and even the general state of the world. This shows that his violence is not just about revenge for María but a cumulative release of all his pain and anger. It also reveals his fear of the unknown, as he punches “because I was afraid of whatever was next for me.”
3. How does Raúl's description of El Brujo affect the group's understanding of their enemy?
Raúl warns that El Brujo “sees everything,” “doesn't sleep,” and “doesn't have a shadow,” implying he is supernatural. This raises the stakes for the group, suggesting that El Brujo is not an ordinary criminal but a figure with otherworldly powers. It also explains the strange phenomena Gabe has witnessed, such as the tall figures in the water and the veve on his door. The group now knows they are hunting something more dangerous than a human.