Felipe barely had time to react. When he tried to quietly leave the convenience store with his bottle of water, Diegola stood up. His eyes burned with that sadistic gleam, and his friends quickly surrounded Felipe like hyenas around prey.
— Gonna just walk past us like that? — Diego said, crossing his arms. — Thought you were in a hurry… or were you heading to see someone?
— I don't want any trouble… — Felipe murmured, trying to stay calm.
But it was already too late.
Caçapa gave him the first shove. Alberto grabbed Felipe by the shoulders while Diógenes laughed like it was the best show of the day. Then Diego stepped closer and, without warning, landed a solid punch to Felipe's stomach, dropping him to his knees.
— That's for messing with what's mine — Diego whispered in his ear.
The group continued, hitting, shoving, taunting. Then, as if it were some twisted ritual, they dragged Felipe to the dumpster next to the gas station. With one last kick, Diego threw him inside, among stinking trash bags and soggy cardboard boxes.
— Trash belongs in the trash, Felipinho — he said, laughing loudly as he walked off with the others.
The sound of their motorcycles fading into the distance was the last thing Felipe heard before everything fell into silence.
But the silence didn't last long.
— Oh my God… are you okay?
It was a young woman's voice. Soft, but firm.
Drica, the gas station attendant, looked down at him with a worried expression. Her honey-colored eyes held genuine concern.
She helped Felipe out of the dumpster, wiping his shoulders with a makeshift cloth.
— They show up here all the time. They shouldn't, but… no one has the guts to stand up to them — she said, clearly holding back anger. — Come on, I'll show you where the bathroom is. It's back there, near the garage.
Felipe nodded, still dazed. He walked to the bathroom, washed his face, tried to scrub the stains from his clothes, and looked at himself in the mirror. He was a mess — inside and out.
When he returned, Drica was still there, waiting with a fresh bottle of water in her hands.
— Thanks… really — he said, his voice cracking.
— You didn't deserve that. No one does.
There was a moment of silence. Then she spoke again:
— I've been beaten too… by a guy who said he loved me. — She looked down, then met his eyes again. — I suffered for months until I had the courage to leave. I got this job, and now I'm independent. I still have a hard time trusting men in relationships, but… at least I've learned to protect myself.
Felipe was moved. A spark of admiration lit up amidst all the pain.
— You're really strong, Drica.
She gave a small smile.
— So are you. You just don't see it yet.
Felipe took a deep breath, walked back into the store, and returned minutes later with a small bag.
— Here… a gift.
— For me? — she asked, surprised.
He handed her the box: a pair of headphones from the brand she always talked about with the other attendants, but never managed to buy.
— I heard you mention them once. I thought you deserved them.
Drica smiled — a real, warm smile that lit up her whole face.
— You're really something else, Felipinho. Thank you… truly.
— No, thank you — he replied, getting ready to leave. — But I need to go… I have a date with someone special.
— Going to see Marina, right?
Felipe smiled, a bit shy.
— Yeah…
Drica smiled again and watched him hop on his bike and ride down the avenue. When he disappeared from view, she remained there, holding the gift in her hands… and Felipe in her thoughts.
Across the city, Dr. Joana Albuquerque knocked on Chief Roberto's office door.
— Come in, Doctor — he said, standing to greet her.
They sat down, and she pulled her notebook from her purse.
— My first encounter with Jandison was… disturbing — she began. — He's completely disconnected from reality. Doesn't speak, just rocks back and forth, like he's trapped in some sort of trance. But when I left the room, he slammed his hands against the glass and looked at me with a smile… a twisted, almost animal-like smile.
Roberto listened in silence, arms crossed.
— So, you believe he's insane?
— Technically, yes. But that doesn't make him less dangerous. Quite the opposite.
The chief cleared his throat and took on a more serious tone.
— Doctor, I need to share something. For weeks now, we've been receiving reports of young people disappearing in the outer neighborhoods. So far, we haven't been able to connect the dots, but… there's a pattern. And we're beginning to suspect that Grilo didn't act alone. He might've left behind a disciple. Or an accomplice.
Joana's eyes widened.
— A… follower?
— Maybe someone he manipulated. Or someone he trained before getting caught. The fact is, the disappearances have increased since he was transferred here.
Joana took a deep breath, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation.
— I'll help however I can, Chief. If he still has influence outside those walls, we need to act fast.
At that moment, Roberto's phone rang.
He answered, brows furrowed, and hung up a few seconds later, silent.
— Doctor… it happened again.
— Another disappearance?
— Yes. Another young man just went missing. And the scene… it matches the previous ones. Want to come with me to the location?
Joana stood up immediately, courage in her eyes.
— Yes. Take me there.