Saturday August 8, 2026 [8/8 +0]
Barcelona, Spain
Hugo Moreno held up the bright orange bell pepper for close inspection, nodded and gathered a half dozen of the vegetables for purchase.
He loved going to La Boquerià marketplace on Saturday with his eldest daughter and her two little children. A lifelong resident of Barcelona, Hugo was a robust 57-years-old and had the firm opinion that he was in the prime of his life. He cast about the marketplace for some fresh tomatoes.
The afternoon was hot but dry, just the way Hugo liked it. A group of young American tourists were posing and taking pictures nearby. Locals were browsing the brightly colored fruit stands. His young grandchildren were running circles around him trying to catch each other.
Hugo beamed. He was definitely in the prime of his life.
Hugo caught something out-of-the-ordinary in the corner of his eye. A young man—definitely a foreigner—was furtively looking about. He was sweating heavily and wearing far too much clothing for the summer weather, including a strange-looking dark cloak draped over his shoulders.
Who on earth dresses like that in this weather? Definitely a foreigner, Hugo thought.
He turned his attention back to the sun-ripened tomatoes in front of him. He held up a plump fruit in front of his eyes for scrutiny.
His gaze happened to align with the strange, over-dressed young man, who was now staring at the American tourists.
Suddenly, the foreigner threw off his cloak to reveal the AK-47 assault rifle that was hidden beneath it. He took aim at the group of young Americans.
Hugo immediately dropped the tomato and grabbed both of his grandchildren, shielding them with his heavy-set body and pinning them against the vegetable stand next to him. He felt his daughter cover him with her body—he immediately snatched her slim frame and shoved her under his body as well.
CRACK – CRACK – CRACK
Silence. Then screaming.
Hugo whipped his head around. The young assailant lay prone on the ground a few feet away, his deadly weapon lying beside him in the dirt.
The group of American tourists were spattered with blood and were screaming. A young woman in their group was lying on the ground, her face shattered apart by the bullet that had torn through her head.
Another young man in the group was in shock, clutching his bleeding arm.
A couple of local men jumped on the assailant and pinned him to the ground. Hugo looked at the killer’s face. He was passed out cold, though clearly still alive.
Hugo’s daughter and grandchildren were crying beneath Hugo’s considerable frame. Gradually Hugo picked himself and his family members off the ground.
Hugo stared at the unconscious assailant, then at the dead young woman a few feet away. He made the sign of the cross with his right hand.
What on earth just happened?
