Rain in Bloodstone was very common, as were the nearly flooded roads created by it. Dan was trying to walk on the spots where the water was shallowest, as stepping in a puddle was quite dangerous in this city.

"You can never be certain of the depth of a puddle," his father used to tell him back when they still spoke to each other, when Dan was still in school.

In his hands, he was holding a small box with two holes on the top, and was trying to protect it from the rain while giving furtive glances to its contents.

He wasn't sure if what he was feeling was joy or worry. It was probably a mix of the two. His palms were sweating just by thinking about all the things he had to say to his friend Jón.

Jón was the only person who had managed to get close to Dan. They had been friends since they were six years old, back when they raced each other in 100-meter sprints. Since then, they had started sharing the same dreams, which all had the same destination; a destination far away from Bloodstone and anything else that connected them to it.

"We can do it, Dan, as long as we reach the first three ranking positions," Jón used to tell him, panting after every training session they had together in Bloodstone’s deserted sports stadium.

Dan's facial expression changed every time he recalled that period of his life. Jón was like a small beacon of hope for him.

When he reached Jón’s apartment building, he came face to face with the neighborhood's famous Mrs. Berta. She greeted him with a big smile, as she had known him since he was a little boy.

"I just gave your friend some hot food; you should have some too! You have lost a lot of weight!"

She was wearing a robe and slippers, as if she were standing in the middle of her living room. When he was younger, she used to give him candy when she saw him with Jón. She was definitely the most eccentric person Dan had ever met, but she had a special place in his heart.

"Thank you, Mrs. Berta!" Dan replied with a big smile, as if he were ten years old again and had received yet another one of her candies.

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The rain had started pouring harder as he walked up the building's iron stairs. The raindrops were hitting the stairs with such force which created a very loud sound. His friend's apartment was on the third floor.

When he reached it, he took a peek inside through the window that looked into the kitchen. Jón was sitting cross-legged in the living room on one of his sofas, reading a small book. He had his tiny eyeglasses on that he only wore at home. When Dan rang the bell, Jon threw them on the side table next to him and ran to the door.

"I heard that Berta brought you food. What are we eating?" Dan said as he walked into the house, taking off his soaked shoes. He placed the little box he was holding carefully next to Jón's eyeglasses.

"I saved you some; it's soup," Jón answered, looking towards the box that Dan had just set aside.

"I will open it after telling you the whole story first!"

"Then sit down!" Jón answered, pointing to the empty space beside him on the sofa.

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Past...

"I am Iris," said the young woman, encouraging him to follow her to the back of the shop, where there were two doors. One had a sign "Do not enter," while the other one was half open.

Jon's eyes lingered a little longer on that door, something that was not unnoticed by Iris.

"This way, please!" she commanded him, placing her hand on his back and almost pushing him in the direction she wanted.

"Sorry for the mess!"

The room they had just entered had books and paper scattered everywhere. There was a desk with a man's bust on it under the window with the half-opened shutters, and the light was playing tricks with the angular face of the bust, casting shadows that revealed only half of its features.

"Sit," she urged Dan, indicating a chair opposite the desk.

Dan started checking out the place, noticing a small beetle that was moving between the stacks of paper.

"Well!"

A long silence hung between them, and the only sound that could be heard was that of the beetle crawling on the paper. Iris noticed it too out of the corner of her eye and tried to crush it with her left foot.

"You don't have to do that," Dan said, and with a swift movement, he covered the beetle with his hands.

"I will set it free outside on my way home!"

Iris's face became smiley again, like it was when he had entered the shop. His palms started sweating again, and a cold wave of air touched his neck. He opened his palms and observed the beetle, which he had felt crawling into the gaps between his fingers a few seconds ago, trying to escape. What he saw made him jump from his seat and throw the chair he was sitting on onto the floor.

"Everything okay?" Iris spluttered worriedly, but with the same expression on her face, as if nothing unexpected had happened.

"Yes, sorry about that!".