The sun had long set when Felipinho and Marina lay together in her bed, naked under a white sheet, wrapped in each other's arms as if trying to freeze time.
The ceiling fan spun slowly above them, moving the warm air around the room. Marina rested her head on Felipe's chest while he gently ran his fingers through her soft hair.
— If you could travel anywhere in the world… — she asked softly, almost in a whisper — where would you go?
Felipe thought for a few seconds.
— Japan, maybe. Or Iceland. I've always wanted to see the northern lights… or visit ancient temples.
— I'd go to Italy — she replied, excited — just to eat homemade lasagna and drink wine in a hidden village surrounded by vineyards.
They laughed.
— And have you ever thought about swimming in those crystal-clear rivers? Like in Jalapão or the Chapada?
Felipe smiled.
— Yeah. But now that you mentioned water… it reminded me of something.
His expression grew serious for a moment.
— Before I came here… I stopped at the gas station to buy some water. And I ran into Diego. He was furious. You could see the jealousy all over him.
Marina sighed.
— I've known Diego since high school. He wasn't always like this. Back then… he was different.
Felipe turned to her, curious.
— What happened?
— His mom disappeared years ago during a Japanese cultural event here in town. Nobody really understood what happened. She worked as a prison guard at the forensic psychiatric hospital. His dad went crazy trying to find her. Did everything he could… but found nothing.
— And then he lost himself, huh?
— Yeah. His father buried himself in work. And Diego… ended up being raised more by the house staff than by his own family.
Felipe was silent for a moment.
— That explains a lot… — he murmured. — In a way, I even respect his pain. But it doesn't justify what he does to others.
— You know he likes me, right? — Marina asked, looking into his eyes.
— I figured…
— He's liked me for years. But I've never been interested. I don't like guys who try to control everything. I've never liked bullies.
Felipe let out a sigh of relief without even realizing it. Marina laughed softly.
— Anyway… — she changed the subject — my friends and I were invited to a party. Cássio's party. The biggest one on campus. It's this Saturday.
— Are you going?
— I am. And I wanted to know… would you like to go with me?
Felipe smiled.
— Of course I do. With you? No second thoughts.
Night had already taken hold in front of a run-down bar on the edge of the city. The sidewalk was covered in broken glass and cigarette smoke. Diego and his friends stumbled out of the bar, laughing loudly and tossing their empty bottles to the ground.
They climbed into Diego's 1967 Cadillac Eldorado, still shiny despite the road dust.
— We messed that loser up! — Diego shouted from behind the wheel.
— Hell yeah, Diego! — Diógenes cheered.
— He got what he deserved — added Alberto, more serious, but still drunk.
Caçapa lit another cigarette and blew the smoke out the window, laughing like a maniac.
Álvaro, quiet in the back seat until then, finally spoke up:
— You went too far with the kid.
Diego clenched his jaw and shot him a furious look through the rearview mirror.
— What's this, Alvie? You turning into his little buddy now? First my mom, then Marina… and now even you're gonna leave me?
Álvaro stared back firmly.
— I've never betrayed a friend.
A heavy silence settled in the car. Then Diego raised his beer bottle.
— Then let's toast… to friendship!
They all raised their bottles. Diego gave a dark smile.
— I know just how we're going to celebrate… let's cause some chaos.
The car took a dirt road until they reached the old power substation on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by trees and tall grass. In the distance, the faint glow of the forensic psychiatric hospital could be seen — the place where Diego's mother had worked before she vanished.
They parked among the bushes. Diego popped the trunk and pulled out a rusty iron rod.
— What are we doing here? — Álvaro asked, suspicious.
— Chill, it'll be quick — Diego replied with a crooked grin.
Caçapa laughed uncontrollably, taking a drag from another cigarette.
— Hurry up, Álvaro — muttered Diógenes.
Alberto looked visibly uncomfortable.
They waited until a truck exited through the gate, then slipped in like shadows.
Diego marched straight to a high-voltage box.
— This one'll do.
He smashed it with the rod, forcing it open. Then he took a full beer bottle, stepped back a few meters…
…and tossed it inside.
BOOM!
A burst of sparks lit up the area. Suddenly, all the lights went out.
— DIEGO?! — Alberto shouted. — Are you crazy?!
The substation alarm blared. Everyone started running in panic.
— GO, GO, GO! — Diógenes yelled.
They jumped into the car. Diego, still laughing like a madman, slammed his foot on the gas and sped off into the darkness.
Inside the psychiatric hospital, patients were eating dinner quietly in the cafeteria. The Grilo sat at the back, eating slowly, his eyes blank.
Then, suddenly, the lights went out.
— What's going on?! — one of the patients yelled.
Chaos erupted. Patients got up, trays clattered to the floor. Staff rushed to contain the confusion.
Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a security door unlocking echoed through the corridors.
— START THE BACKUP GENERATOR, NOW! — a guard shouted into the radio.
The emergency lights flickered back on. The staff regained control. The door closed automatically.
— Headcount! Now!
One of the guards checked the list, scanning the room.
— One missing.
— Who?
— The Grilo.
In the forest, the Grilo ran barefoot, laughing hysterically, arms stretched out like wings, eyes gleaming like a wild animal.
The city loomed ahead.