**Chapter 1: The Sacrifice**

Gracie's world went dark as she fell to the ground, her left eye throbbing in agony. She had saved Zatz from certain death, but the cost was steeper than she had anticipated. As she came to, she found herself in their small village, surrounded by the thatched roofs of their homes and the familiar sounds of the jungle. Zatz was kneeling beside her, his face etched with worry and relief. "Mí corazón, Gracie, I'm so sorry," Zatz whispered, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I owe you my life, but at what cost?" Gracie's gaze drifted to her left eye, and she screamed. The socket was a mess of blood and torn flesh, a jagged piece of bone protruding from the midst of the gore. Zatz quickly assessed the damage and began to work on cauterizing the wound. "Mi amor, I have to clean this," Zatz said, his voice firm but gentle. "Hold still." Gracie bit down on her lip, trying to stifle her cries as Zatz carefully probed the socket with a searing hot instrument. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and Gracie could feel the heat radiating from the wound. She screamed again, her vision blurring. Just then, their two-year-old son, Jorge, appeared at her side, his big brown eyes wide with fear. "Mamá!" he cried, scrambling onto her lap. He wrapped his small arms around her, holding her tight as he began to sob. "Ay, mi hijo, it's okay," Gracie whispered, trying to comfort him despite her own agony. "Mamá is okay." Zatz worked quickly, his hands moving with a precision that belied the turmoil in his eyes. Gracie could feel him sewing up the socket, the stitches uneven and haphazard. It was a messy job, but she didn't care – she just wanted the pain to stop. As Zatz worked, Jorge continued to cry, his tiny body shaking with sobs. "Pobrecita Mamá," he whispered, kissing her cheek. Gracie's vision began to tunnel, and she felt herself slipping away. Zatz's face hovered above hers, his eyes locked on hers. "Gracie, stay with me," he urged, his voice low and husky. "I need you. Jorge needs you." Gracie nodded, gritting her teeth as Zatz finished the suturing. She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, and then everything went black. When she came to, Zatz was holding her, Jorge snuggled up against her chest. The room was quiet, except for Jorge's occasional sniffle. "¿Cómo estás, mi amor?" Zatz asked softly, his eyes searching hers. Gracie took a deep breath, her gaze drifting to her left eye. The socket was a closed, but it was a crude job, the stitches puckered and uneven. "I...I don't know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Zatz's face softened, and he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You saved me, Gracie. I'll take care of you. We'll get through this together." As Gracie looked up at Zatz, she knew that her life would never be the same. She had given up a part of herself to save him, and now she had to come to terms with the new reality. But for now, she just lay there, surrounded by the people she loved, and let the darkness wash over her.