The night was warm, and the sound of cars arriving echoed through the entrance of Cássio's mansion. Colorful lights lit up the garden, and water jets danced in the central fountain. The pool reflected the glow of the forest that surrounded the property like a natural fortress.
Marina and Felipinho arrived hand in hand. The mansion was stunning: modern, spacious, with marble columns and spotlighted gardens. Cássio appeared at the entrance with a wide, excited smile.
— Welcome to the paradise of madness! — he laughed. — Come meet our DJ!
At the edge of the main hall stood a young Black man wearing a flat-brimmed white cap, sunglasses, and a big grin on his face.
— What's up, legends! Tonight, we're turning this place upside down! — he greeted them with pure energy and street slang.
— Did we get here too early? — Marina asked, looking around.
— Just a bit. I was finishing up the final details. And this year… I want to do something special. — Cássio's eyes lit up. — I'm setting up a VIP lounge just for the most famous faces on campus.
— Need our help? — Felipe asked.
— Exactly! I have to grab a few special items in town. Let's go?
Marina and Felipe agreed, and the three of them drove off.
Meanwhile, at the police station, Roberto called Joana.
— Doctor, we got a report. Someone said they saw a suspicious man in the forest park. Want to come with me?
Joana didn't hesitate.
— Of course. I'm on my way.
Back in town, Cássio, Marina, and Felipe came out of a market carrying boxes of champagne, which they loaded into the trunk of Cássio's red Mustang.
— This car is amazing — Felipe said, admiring it.
— Style is everything, my friend.
— Are we going back to the party now? It must be packed — Marina asked.
— Almost. Just missing one thing… the grand finale — Cássio replied with a mysterious smile.
Shortly after, they stopped in front of a small, dimly lit esoteric shop with a dark and eerie atmosphere.
Felipe shivered.
— This place gives me the creeps…
— I love it — Marina said. — It has a mystical vibe.
The black-painted walls were covered with shamanic items, little elf figurines, tribal cloths, and pentagrams. No one was at the counter.
Cássio rang the bell, and through a beaded curtain appeared a short old man, cadaverous in appearance, bald, with a long white beard, bright blue eyes, and a wooden cane.
— Xarunm! — he greeted in a raspy voice.
— Good evening — said Cássio. — Do you have any special game? Something to liven up our VIP lounge?
— Hehehe… I have something perfect for the occasion — replied the old man with a mischievous smile, disappearing into the dark room.
— I've got chills — Felipe muttered.
— Relax, love. It's just for fun — Marina said, kissing his cheek.
The old man returned carrying a black wooden box. Inside, there was an old board, glass figurines, two candles, chalk, black dice, and an aged scroll.
— The instructions are on the scroll — he said. — But the most important part is the opening phrase.
— And what is it? — Cássio asked.
— Asvette deschie!
— Sounds like a spell — Marina said, fascinated.
— In a way, it is — the old man replied with a subtle smile.
Cássio loved it. He paid for the game, and the three left the store. As they walked out, Felipe caught the crooked look and faint smile the old man gave before closing the door.
In the forest, Roberto and Joana arrived at the park and were greeted by an elderly woman with her granddaughter on a bicycle.
— Were you the one who called? — Roberto asked.
— It was the guard who called, but I saw it all. I was biking with my granddaughter and felt like someone was following us. When it started getting dark, I took her to the bathroom and saw someone watching us from the woods. I ran and told the guard. He shone his flashlight, but the person disappeared.
— And where's the guard now? — Joana asked.
— At the security post. Since there are few guards at night, he asked me to meet you here.
Roberto grabbed his flashlight and began searching the area with Joana.
Back at the mansion, Felipe, Marina, and Cássio returned and were greeted by Drica, stunning, with makeup on and a white purse.
— So glad you came, Drica! — Cássio said.
— Thanks for the invite — she replied.
Felipe lit up and greeted her.
— Hi, Drica!
— Hi, Felipe… — she replied shyly, stealing a quick glance at him.
Marina noticed… and felt a hint of jealousy.
Before things got tense, Diego and his crew arrived.
— Well, well… if it isn't pretty boy Felipinho! — Diego mocked.
— Diego! So glad you made it. Let's head to the main hall! — Cássio called.
— Let's dance, Felipe! — Marina said quickly.
The party was wild. Students were jumping into the pool in their underwear, others were drinking nonstop. Security guards in black suits and white masks roamed around. The DJ was spinning upbeat tracks.
Drica danced near the DJ, Marina and Felipe kissed passionately in the middle of the crowd.
Diego saw it. Furious, he smashed a bottle on the floor, ran over, and shoved Felipe.
Felipe pushed back. Diego punched him.
— Hey, hey! That's enough! — Alberto shouted.
— Chill out, Diego! — Diógenes said.
Marina rushed to Felipe.
— Diego, you're such an idiot!
— ENOUGH! — Cássio shouted. — How about we go somewhere more private?
— The VIP room? — Marina asked.
— DJ, bring Drica and come with us — Cássio added.
Outside, near the pool, a tall, strong man emerged from the forest. Two girls noticed.
— Wow… I must be seeing things.
— Let's go to the bathroom.
The man followed them. A security guard tried to stop him.
— Hold on, buddy…
The man shoved the guard into the men's restroom, which was empty. He smashed the mirror, grabbed a shard of glass, and stabbed the guard in the neck, dragging the body into a stall where he finished the job with multiple stabs.
It was Grilo.
He put on the guard's uniform and mask… and walked out like nothing had happened.
Another guard, unaware, approached him:
— Go accompany Cássio and watch over the VIP room guests.
Cássio, Marina, Felipe, Drica, the DJ, and Diego, followed by the disguised Grilo, headed to the VIP room. When Alberto and the others tried to join:
— Invite-only — Cássio said. — Security, block them.
— You're going with them, Diego? — Alberto asked.
— Sorry, Alberto. I'm not leaving Felipe alone with Marina.
Inside the VIP room, Cássio handed out champagne glasses.
— Pop the bottles! It's game time!
They sat on the couches. Cássio opened the black box, set up the board, the glass figurines, lit the candles, drew the circle and the pentagrams.
He read aloud from the scroll:
"Make a chalk circle around the players, draw two pentagrams on the walls with charcoal, light two candles, place one glass figure per player on the board. The first must roll the dice and recite the opening phrase…"
— So… who goes first? — Cássio asked.
— Felipinho! — Marina and Drica shouted.
Felipe picked up the dice, rolled them… and said:
— Asvette deschie!
Suddenly, Marina screamed:
— Cássio!
The "security guard" removed his mask, slit Cássio's throat, shoved his body out of the circle, and grabbed Marina.
He was about to stab her neck when—
The lights went out.
In the forest, Roberto and Joana were returning when they found the elderly woman.
— Did you find him? — she asked.
— Unfortunately not — Joana replied.
Roberto's phone rang. A police officer informed him of an emergency call from a mansion near the park.
Joana froze.
— That's where Marina went!
They ran to the car.
At the mansion, chaos reigned. Teens were crying and running. Roberto and Joana were led to the bathroom — where the body of the security guard was found.
— VIP room! — Joana shouted.
They ran.
When they arrived, they found only chalk marks on the floor, strange symbols on the walls, an ancient board, scattered dice, cracked glass figurines…
And Cássio's lifeless body.