The police car drove down the dirt road that led to one of the city's farthest neighborhoods. Dr. Joana Albuquerque gazed out the window at the passing landscape while Chief Roberto reviewed some notes on his phone.
— This is it — he said, pointing to a simple but well-kept house with a low gate and a small front yard.
An elderly woman with gray hair opened the door before they could even knock. Her red, puffy eyes betrayed her desperation.
— Mrs. Maria? — Roberto asked gently.
She nodded and, without saying much, led them inside. The furniture looked old but was clean and well-organized. The smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the tension in the air.
— My boys… my sons… — she murmured, guiding them down a narrow hallway.
She stopped in front of a half-open door.
— They're eighteen. Twins. So full of life... They brought home a game that their school friends showed them. Said it was like an RPG… but the board was strange. Looked like one of those spirit-invoking ones. Like a Ouija board.
Joana exchanged a serious look with Roberto.
— Please, go on, Mrs. Maria.
— They stayed in there for hours. I thought it was just some silly game, but after three hours without hearing a sound, I went to check on them… — her voice broke, and her eyes filled with tears. — And when I opened the door… they were gone.
Joana cautiously stepped into the room. The air felt heavy and cold.
On the floor, two circles were drawn with white chalk, side by side. Strange symbols were scribbled on the walls with charcoal. In the center of the room, a dark board with golden markings, ancient letters, and geometric shapes. On top of it, two small, cracked glass figurines with hollow, human-like faces.
Next to them, two extinguished candles, their wax dried into hardened pools.
Roberto shivered and rubbed his arms.
— You feel that? A chill.
Joana nodded. The air there was colder than the rest of the house.
While the other officers consoled Mrs. Maria and promised to do everything they could to find her sons, Roberto approached Joana and spoke in a low voice:
— That board… it's shown up before. At almost every location where someone has disappeared.
Joana frowned.
— Coincidence?
— I don't think so. There's an old legend in this town. They say the city's founders… — he paused — …were obsessed with board games. But not regular ones. Games involving rituals, witchcraft… dark stuff.
— And no one ever took it seriously?
— Until now, it was just folklore. But it's getting harder to ignore.
Joana took a deep breath.
— We need to investigate this game more deeply. Someone is using it for something dangerous.
Roberto nodded silently, and the two returned to the police car.
Meanwhile, in a quieter part of town, the doorbell rang.
Marina ran down the stairs, heart racing. She wore a loose T-shirt and comfy shorts, her hair tied back casually — yet still naturally beautiful.
— It's him! — she whispered, smiling to herself.
She opened the door with excitement, but her smile quickly shifted to concern when she saw Felipinho standing there, still dirty and clearly embarrassed.
— Hi… — he said awkwardly.
— Hi! What happened to you?
— Long story… involves a dumpster and a bunch of idiots.
She tried not to laugh and pulled him inside.
— Come on, you can shower here. You can borrow some clothes from my brother. He's studying abroad in the U.S., he won't even notice.
— You sure?
— Absolutely. Go on, the bathroom is at the end of the hallway. Towels are in the cabinet.
Felipe thanked her and headed to the bathroom. He carefully removed his clothes, stepped into the shower, and let the water run over him. Finally, he could breathe. The filth, both physical and emotional, began to wash away.
From outside the door, Marina's voice called playfully:
— Missing anything in there?
— Actually… the shampoo. Just leave it at the door and I'll grab it!
Felipe closed his eyes and lathered soap on his face. As he reached out to grab the shampoo, he heard the shower door open slightly.
Before he could react, he felt soft hands touch his back.
And then, warm lips kissed his neck.
His heart raced.
He turned slowly. And there she was — Marina, with intense eyes, partially undone hair, and parted lips.
— Marina… — he whispered.
— Shhh…
She pulled him closer.
Felipe looked deep into her honey-colored eyes. One second stretched into eternity.
And then, their lips met.
The kiss happened.
Time simply stopped.