The night was cold, and an icy wind slipped through the clouds blanketing the sky. Candado and Hammya stood before the door of a modest house—Nelson’s house. Initially, Candado had planned to come alone, but at his mother’s insistence, Hammya and Tínbari were supposed to accompany him. However, Tínbari had disappeared without explanation, leaving Candado and Hammya to face whatever awaited them on their own.
Candado stared at the door with determination, while Hammya broke the silence:
“Are you ready?”
He nodded, though doubt churned inside him.
“I just hope this isn’t a trap.”
“I’ll be by your side; don’t worry,” Hammya said with conviction.
Candado considered replying with something sarcastic. How is she supposed to protect me if she can barely defend herself? he thought. It was like a rabbit promising to protect a wolf. But out of respect, he kept the comment to himself.
“Fine. I’m counting on you.”
Hammya blinked, surprised.
“What? I thought you’d make fun of me...”
“Okay, then! I’ll do it,” she replied enthusiastically.
Candado took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
“Calm down, calm down,” he muttered to himself in an attempt to steady his nerves.
The door creaked open, and to their surprise, it wasn’t Nelson who greeted them but a young girl. She had long, curly black hair, wore round glasses, and was dressed simply: an orange shirt, a wool vest, winter pants, and red sneakers. Her voice was soft and kind when she spoke:
“Do you need something?”
Candado hesitated for a moment, while Hammya stared at the girl with seriousness. The child, with her peculiar beauty, seemed to light up the night’s darkness. Even Hammya felt a sting of jealousy.
“Does Nelson live here?” Candado asked at last.
“Yes, he’s my grandfather.”
Candado glanced at Hammya, who remained fixated on the girl, analyzing every detail of her presence.
“Hey, Earth to Hammya. Earth to Hammya…”
“Are you two siblings?” the girl asked, tilting her head.
“Siblings?” Candado echoed sarcastically.
Pulling a coin from his pocket, he pressed it against the back of Hammya’s neck, making her flinch from the cold metal.
“That’s freezing!” she exclaimed, spinning around abruptly.
“Back with us?” Candado teased.
Hammya blinked, confused.
“Ah, sorry... What were you saying?”
Candado sighed, pocketing the coin.
“Nothing important.”
The girl smiled, curious.
“You’re Candado Barret, aren’t you? I recognize you. You helped my friend out of a really bad situation. She always spoke highly of you.”
Caught off guard, Candado hesitated, his mouth opening slightly before closing again. He glanced around quickly and then cautiously spoke:
“I see… Is Nelson here?”
“Aren’t you curious how I know who you are?”
Candado studied her intently.
“Coatlicue Carolina Fernández.”
The girl’s eyes widened in amazement.
“How did you know?”
“Three reasons. First, you’re wearing the same shampoo Carolina used, which I assume you gave her when she couldn’t afford it. Second, she mentioned a friend named Rocío. And third, you’re wearing a snake pendant identical to the one Carolina always wore.”
The girl smiled, a bit shy.
“I’m Rocío Cleva Torres.”
“Pleased to meet you, Rocío,” Candado said, offering a slight bow.
“Nice to meet you, Rocío,” Hammya added, extending her hand.
Rocío gestured invitingly toward the house.
“Please, come in.”
Candado removed his beret as a gesture of courtesy while stepping inside.
“Nelson’s in the basement,” Rocío informed them as she closed the door.
“And where’s the basement?” Hammya asked.
“I’ll show you.”
Ever the gentleman, Candado allowed her to lead the way.
Rocío acknowledged the gesture with a harmonious smile, which only fueled Hammya’s frustration.
“You never treat me like that! Why her?”
Candado shot her a sideways glance, his tone cold.
“Because I feel like it.”
The blunt response left Hammya speechless. What an absolute… she muttered under her breath.
Finally, they arrived at the basement door. Rocío pointed to it.
“My grandfather’s down there with his friends. He asked not to be disturbed.”
Candado retrieved a card from his pocket.
“I have a special invitation. Here’s proof.”
Rocío examined the card and nodded.
“Thanks, Rocío.”
“See you later, Candado.”
The girl walked away, leaving Candado and Hammya alone before the basement door. Hammya glared at him, fuming.
“Do you actually hate me?” she asked, her voice laced with hurt.
Candado sighed.
“No, I don’t hate you.” Then he added, “Nelson gave me this card. He never specified when or where to use it.”
“Couldn’t you use common sense?”
“For these things? No.”
Hammya furrowed her brow, confused.
“What do you mean?”
Candado crossed his arms as if explaining something obvious.
“There are times when common sense is necessary, and times when it’s not.”
“Right… if you say so.”
Candado smirked faintly.
“Glad we cleared that up. Now let’s get moving,” he said, tapping the card against his fingers.
Taking a deep breath, Candado prepared to descend into the basement. Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Swiftly, he pulled it out and answered.
“What is it?!” he whispered harshly, nearly yelling.
“Why are you whispering?” Héctor’s curious voice came from the other end.
“STAY PUT WITH THE OTHERS UNTIL I CALL YOU!” Candado barked.
“Alright, alright. Got it. See you.”
He hung up, shoving the phone back into his pocket with a heavy sigh.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Okay…” Hammya replied hesitantly, following him closely.
Candado flicked on a small light near the doorframe and peered down.
“Stairs,” he said, pointing to the descent.
“Feels like we’re walking into our doom,” Hammya muttered nervously.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
One step at a time, they descended. Candado led, with Hammya just a step behind. The path wasn’t long, but the air grew heavier with each step. At the bottom, they found themselves in a cluttered room: piles of broken boxes, scattered appliance parts, and dismantled televisions, fans, and air conditioners creating a chaotic scene.
“Smells like a mechanic’s workshop,” Candado observed.
“No one’s here,” Hammya added after a quick glance.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Candado retorted sarcastically, making Hammya puff her cheeks in frustration.
“Don’t do that,” he added without looking at her, his attention drawn to something deeper in the room.
A curtain hung oddly on a wall.
“Hammya.”
“Yes?” she answered, putting down a stuffed toy she’d picked up from one of the boxes.
“Come here.”
“Coming,” she replied, approaching curiously. “What is it?”
“What do you see there?” he asked, pointing at the curtain.
“Uh… a curtain.”
“Good. A curtain. Now tell me, doesn’t it seem strange?”
“It’s just an ordinary curtain.”
Candado let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
“Nelson, you’re a genius if you deal with people like this,” he muttered.
“Eh? What’s wrong?”
“Three things: observation, perception, and evaluation, girl. Think. What are curtains for?”
“To block sunlight from windows… or for decoration?”
“Exactly. So, what’s it doing here?” he asked, pulling the curtain aside with a firm motion.
It revealed not a window, but a suspiciously smooth white wall, distinct from the rest of the basement.
“See now?” Candado asked, a smug grin spreading across his face.
Hammya averted her gaze, embarrassed.
“That… I already knew.”
“Sure you did,” he replied monotonously.
Candado approached the wall, scrutinizing it closely. His left eye began to glow a faint yellow, granting him a glimpse into the hidden mechanisms behind the surface.
"Did you find anything?" Hammya asked, already recovered from her initial confusion.
The gleam in Candado's eye faded as he responded:
"Yes, it's a door."
"Can you open it?"
"I'm working on it."
Candado touched a wall lamp, which turned left with a soft click. As he did, a small panel with a calculator-like keypad was revealed. He pressed a red button, and the device powered on.
"It has a code," Hammya observed, leaning over his shoulder.
"Yeah."
"Do you know it?"
Candado didn’t answer immediately. In his mind, he tried to piece things together.
(Héctor is a genius at hacking servers... but I don't get this stuff. Though... wait... maybe...), he thought.
He started typing something on the panel, his fingers moving quickly while Hammya tried to peek, unsuccessfully.
He typed some numbers, but an error popped up. For a brief moment, there was confusion, but then he found the right code.
"I can't see anything, Candado."
"Shh. I'm almost done."
After a few seconds, the panel emitted a faint beep, and the door opened.
"You did it," Hammya said, impressed.
"It was a pretty obvious password."
On the other side, a dark room lit up automatically as they crossed the threshold.
"An elevator?" Hammya asked, looking around.
"Looks like it."
They both stepped into the lift. Hammya looked at the panel’s buttons: three floors and one emergency button.
"Three levels underground? Seems like Nelson likes to hide."
Candado pressed the button for the lowest floor without hesitation.
"Candado, we don’t know where this leads. Be more careful. Maybe there's another way to get there without using this."
He looked at her with a neutral expression, then pressed the button again.
"Oops, my fingers just went to the button on purpose."
Hammya began to tremble as the elevator started its descent.
"Calm down, Ruby," Candado sighed, leaning against the elevator wall and closing his eyes. "It's only twenty meters deep. We’ll take a few minutes, or more, to get down in this thing."
Hammya kept trembling, her hands gripping her dress tightly, wrinkling it.
"What’s going on?" Candado asked, glancing at her.
"I think I didn’t tell you, but..."
"But what?"
"I hate elevators," she confessed, still shaking.
Candado sighed, visibly exasperated.
"Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’m bad, but not a monster."
"I didn’t want you to know," Hammya answered, avoiding his gaze.
Candado leaned towards her, coming down to her height. Their facial expressions were stern, which made Hammya think to herself: But your face is scarier than the elevator, Candado.
"That's how I felt when you told everyone my secrets," he said sarcastically.
"Is... this divine punishment?" she asked, swallowing hard.
"Yeah," he replied, letting out a fleeting smile.
Hammya trembled even more, her hands clenched around her dress. For a brief moment, Candado seemed to enjoy seeing her like that, recalling all the times she had caused trouble in his life. However, that feeling quickly faded. He couldn’t bear the thought of torturing her like that.
Suddenly, he stretched out his arms, grabbed Hammya by the shoulders, and pulled her into an unexpected hug. Her hair, a few inches shorter than Candado's height, brushed against his chin.
"What’s going on?" she asked, alarmed.
"Wow, you’re really short."
"Hey!"
"Calm down," Candado said, covering her eyes with his right hand, resting his left on her back. "Right now, you're in a dark room."
"But..."
"Just listen. You're in a dark room."
Hammya slowly nodded and took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
"Is it over?"
"Yeah. Now, stretch out your arms."
She obeyed, though slowly, still trembling. When she finally extended her arms, Candado closed his eyes.
"Now lower them," he ordered.
Hammya lowered her arms, and Candado removed his hand from her eyes. Instantly, a vast forest appeared before her, a landscape as beautiful as it was unreal.
"What is this?" she asked, amazed.
"I used the Hands of Terror," Candado replied.
"The Hands of Terror? That doesn't sound scary."
"I manipulated your mind to implant this vision."
"Are these your memories?"
"Something like that," he answered evasively.
Hammya was dazzled, wanting to move, to explore the forest, but Candado didn’t let her go.
"Stop right there," he said firmly.
"What’s wrong?"
"Even though you’re seeing this, we're still inside the elevator. Everything you feel, smell, and see is just an illusion."
Hammya understood and, with a smile, leaned back against him.
"I didn’t know you were weak in enclosed spaces," Candado said, teasingly.
"Are you going to use this against me?"
Candado looked up, as if reflecting.
"Hmm... maybe."
"I knew it!"
"It was a joke. I’m not that bad."
"If that’s the case, then tell me your weakness."
Candado smirked and placed a hand on her head.
"If you want to see me weak, hit me on the back of the neck."
"Why?"
"All my magic energy concentrates there. A hard hit creates a magic clot that deactivates my powers for an hour."
"Wow... I think I’m going to tease you with that."
"The real problem is catching me."
"Have you ever been that weak?"
Before he could answer, the elevator arrived at its destination, and the doors opened, dissipating the illusory forest. Ahead of them, Nelson waited, leaning on his cane, a smile on his lips. Behind him, a dark hallway stretched into the unknown.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Nelson said with a mocking tone.
Candado released Hammya naturally, stepping in front of her to face the elderly man.
“Nelson, we need to talk.”
“I figured as much. That’s why you’re here,” Nelson replied, turning his back on them and gesturing with his hand for them to follow.
Candado slipped his hands into his pockets and pulled out the card, tossing it toward him.
“Here’s your mess.”
He then proceeded to leave the elevator. Hammya, still embarrassed by both the question she had asked and the position in which Nelson had found them, hesitated before following him.
“About your question,” Candado said, glancing over his shoulder at Hammya, “yes, I was.”
He then continued down the dark hallway, and after a moment of processing his answer, Hammya hurried to catch up. As they walked, the lights slowly turned on, illuminating the path Nelson led them through, toward the unknown.
“It’s incredible that you figured out the password,” Nelson commented with a grin.
Candado smiled as well.
“4.46.26.52.1.74.17.8.”
“Exactly. How did you know?”
“Perón assumed the presidency on July 4, 1946. Eva Duarte de Perón, ‘Evita’ to the people, passed away on July 26, 1952. And on July 1, 1974, General Perón died. There's also October 17, 1945, when thousands of workers and supporters of Perón, mostly from the labor and union sectors, spontaneously gathered in Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires. That was the ‘Day of Peronist Loyalty.’”
Candado paused, eyeing Nelson, who flashed a mocking smile.
“You’re missing the eight,” Nelson teased.
“I’ll admit, it was clever to put the eight,” Candado responded, ignoring the teasing tone.
“Why?” the elderly man asked, amused, trying to get a rise out of him.
Candado dodged the question with grace.
“The number’s there on purpose for a seven-letter word like Cámpora. Actually, it would be: C-Á-M-P-O-R-A-V. The ‘V’ under the letter ‘P’ symbolizes Perón’s return or Perón’s victory.”
“Cámpora!” Hammya exclaimed, nodding slowly as if pretending to understand.
“Clever, you’re a sharp one, kid,” Nelson said with pride.
“I didn’t understand a thing...” Hammya muttered, frowning.
“Hammya, why the face?” Candado asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing...” she replied.
Nelson stopped in front of a large door.
“Does it have a code?” Candado asked, curious.
“No, no code.”
Nelson opened the door with his left hand and stepped inside.
“Welcome to my... lab!”
Nelson’s lab was immense. There were strange machines, computers, and, being so far below the surface, an air conditioning system so powerful that the atmosphere felt like Antarctica (or at least cold). Bookshelves and tables were in disarray, papers scattered not only on them but also across the floor. In the back, a machine stood out, resembling a lava lamp, but inside it contained a white energy sphere that powered the entire lab and house.
“Greetings,” a sudden feminine, robotic voice said.
Candado turned in surprise and found himself stunned by the sight: a girl with long black hair, dark eyes with red irises, dressed in a white nightgown adorned with a black ribbon. She was barefoot, and her face was identical to Clementina’s.
“Barret Ernést Candado Catriel, the facilities greet you. I greet you,” said the android, bowing elegantly.
“Who are you?” Candado asked, returning the bow politely.
“I am Clementine V01, named as my creators wished. You may call me whatever you like.”
Despite her serious expression, her demeanor conveyed kindness. Nelson and Hammya, upon seeing her, couldn’t help but compare her to Clementina and laugh quietly among themselves.
“Clementine, please,” Candado said.
“I will remember the order. Recording... please wait... request saved. How would you like me to address you?”
Candado closed his eyes and, as he touched his left eyebrow, accidentally brushed his scar. Noticing it, he began to rub it thoughtfully with his index finger.
“How about...” he lowered his hand and placed it in his pocket. “Catriel.”
“Overwriting file. Request accepted in cybernetic memorial framework 6H. Name: Catriel.” Clementine’s eyes briefly glowed before dimming. “Mr. Catriel, how may I assist you?”
Candado looked at Nelson with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“She looks like Clementina. Same face, same eyes—though different color—and the same lifeless smile.”
“She’s your ‘sister,’ so to speak,” Nelson replied. “Unlike Clementina, Clementine cannot think for herself; she only does what I programmed her to do. Clementina, on the other hand, was the second android made by your grandfather. She’s the first.”
“Mmm, I see.”
“Originally, Clementine was supposed to be your birthday gift, but Alfred canceled it at the last minute. I still don’t know why. Clementine had it all: obedient vocabulary, defense updates...”
“And my grandfather decided to create Clementina with parts from the first Argentine computer,” Candado interrupted sarcastically. “Crazy, huh?”
“Yes, your grandfather had unique ideas,” Nelson said, amused.
Candado stared at him intently.
“Where’s Grivna?”
“Her?”
Nelson gestured for them to follow, including Clementine.
"Where are we going?" asked Candado.
"Grivna is with my friends," Nelson replied.
They stopped in front of a wooden door.
"Behind this is the most magnificent thing you’ll ever see in your life."
With a firm motion, Nelson opened the door with a swift knock.
"Damn!" exclaimed Candado, astonished.
The room was enormous. In the center, Nelson's friends were engaged in lively conversation. Two giant windows revealed the outside: a cold, dark landscape. The space was decorated with paintings, family photos, and shelves filled with books. At the back, a white light emanated from a circle in the ceiling, projecting the figure of a twenty-meter-tall, translucent child.
"The director is entering the room," a voice announced from the speakers.
Nelson stood behind Candado, placed a hand on his shoulder, and pointed to the space with his cane.
"This is an exact replica of Alfred Barret's office, the creator and director of the C.I.C.E.T.A. laboratories."
Suddenly, the white light in front of Candado took shape, manifesting into a child with a perfect face, bright black eyes, a red tailcoat, a violet tie, and tight brown gloves.
"I am Manuel Belgrano V4," he said solemnly, placing a hand over his chest. "It is an honor to welcome the grandson of my father, Alfred Barret."
"Manuel... Belgrano?"
Nelson smiled and stepped forward.
"Your grandfather admired the revolutionary Don Manuel Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano."
Candado extended his hand, but Belgrano politely declined.
"I’m sorry, it would be an insult not to accept a Barret’s hand, but I don’t have a physical body."
"No worries," Candado responded, feeling uncomfortable.
Hammya let out a laugh behind them.
"This," Nelson said in a solemn tone, "is my laboratory, the place where Alfred's Hopes and Dreams lie."
"Stop speaking in English," Hammya interjected.
"What is that?"
"Hopes and Dreams, Hammya."
"I see."
Candado looked around while Nelson tried to calm the confusion.
"Mr. Candado, I’ve heard very positive things about you from Grivna," one of the guests remarked.
"And Grivna?" Candado asked, intrigued.
"Sister!" Manuel shouted, searching all around.
Nelson's friends stood up and began moving toward the group.
"Sister!" Manuel insisted.
"Hello again, little gaucho," came a voice behind them.
"Greetings, Bruno," Candado replied, while Manuel kept frantically searching.
"Sister! Where could she be? Grivna!" Manuel exclaimed, spinning around.
Suddenly, a shout echoed through the room:
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"
Candado and the others turned toward the source of the sound. A bookshelf moved, and from its shadows, a metallic hand emerged.
"I can’t believe this," grumbled the figure as it emerged. "One can’t even rest after so much work... YOU!"
Candado observed closely. The creature before him was unlike any other. Its body was made of black and white plastic and metal. An electric current flickered along a stripe running across its cheeks. Instead of a left eye, it had a flat cylinder with a glowing point in the center, crowned by a slowly spinning holographic nut. Its right eye was more human, but a bright yellow. It had no hair, with thick cables emerging from its head.
"Who are you?" Candado asked, impressed.
"Who am I? Who am I?" the figure repeated sarcastically. "Old human, I am Grivna A.PRE.MA.SEG.MA.GE-003-V5."
"And what does that mean?" Candado raised an eyebrow.
"It means Precursor Automaton of Maintenance and Security of the Generator Machine 003, Version 5. But of course, that’s probably too complicated for you."
Nelson intervened with a smile.
"Grivna is the automaton Alfred and I built. She’s responsible for maintaining this whole system."
"She seems more human than the other robots," Candado commented.
Nelson laughed and said, "Her autonomy came about accidentally—she was struck by lightning while recharging, no damage, but she became more chatty and semi-independent. She still listens to orders and does what the core memory matrix commands."
"Heh, more sentimental than the others, huh?"
"I’m sorry I’m not up to your expectations, Mr. Barret," Manuel interjected, kneeling in front of him.
Candado stared at him, perplexed.
"(What’s wrong with him? He’s too loyal to be a hologram.) Don’t worry, Manuel. You don’t have to kneel before me."
"He’s very kind, just like your grandfather," Manuel responded, standing up. He then vanished and reappeared on the upper floor, seemingly looking for something.
Meanwhile, Grivna began disconnecting from the wall, releasing several cables attached to her body.
"I usually hate greeting, but being a descendant of Alfred, it’s a personal obligation. Doesn’t mean I like it," she said, adjusting some hanging cables from her head.
"But in your records, you spoke very highly of Catriel, sister."
"Shut up, Clementine!"
Candado observed the scene closely.
"(A robot who hides what it thinks... Seems more human than machine.) Interesting."
"What are you staring at?" Grivna asked arrogantly.
"Nothing in particular... um... Well, I hope we can get along," Candado said, extending his hand politely.
"You catch on quickly," Grivna replied, crossing her arms.
However, she stared at him intently before reluctantly accepting.
"It doesn’t mean I like you, okay?"
"Understood."
At that moment, a figure gracefully fell from the ceiling and landed in front of them.
"My most respectful and cordial greetings, Mr. Ernést," it said with a bow.
Candado looked at him skeptically.
"And who are you?"
"I am RuCáPe, short for Rucci Cámpora Perón."
Candado couldn’t help but smile sarcastically.
"Seriously, Nelson, you need to stop naming things related to Peronism," he then looked at RuCáPe. "Let me guess. You’re some sort of defense, a loyal, military-trained bot, right?"
"Exactly. How did you know?"
"Just guessed," Candado replied with a forced smile.
RuCáPe had a face resembling that of President Perón in his youth. He wore a black trench coat, military boots, and a red beret, very much in the fashion of the 1950s.
"Although I possess his physical traits, I could never be like the gentleman Juan Domingo Perón," the automaton clarified.
Candado nodded.
"(His voice isn’t like the general’s. At least that’s a relief.)"
"Is this everyone?" Hammya interrupted.
"No, the librarian is missing," Clementine replied.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
"Where is she?" Elsa asked, uneasy.
Suddenly, Nelson raised his cane and placed it on Candado’s shoulder.
"She’s behind you."
Candado turned quickly. In the dim light, two glowing red eyes shone intensely. A figure began moving toward them, dragging a sack.
"Good evening," a feminine, robotic voice echoed in the room. "I’ve captured some intruders who tried to enter the premises."
The figure then walked toward them, carrying what seemed like a sack. When the light illuminated it, Candado could see its appearance more clearly. It had a striking face with seemingly normal eyes: white eyeballs and a brown iris. It wore a white shirt and a black vest, with a navy blue tie.
At first glance, it could have seemed like an ordinary human, were it not for its legs, which gave it away. From the waist down, it had four limbs resembling spider legs: thin, but with a pointed shape like huge needles. Its hands, made of metal, appeared to be covered by armored gloves due to their design.
"Hello. I am Juanita, the librarian..."
Candado put a hand to his face in frustration.
"Juana Larrauri de Abramí. One of the first female senators in Argentine history, elected in 1951 after women gained political rights. I knew it! NELSON!"
Juanita then dropped the rope she was holding, revealing its contents. Everyone stared in shock as the sack's contents were revealed to the room.
"You... sure are troublesome," Candado said coldly.
It turned out the "sack" wasn’t a sack at all, but Candado’s friends (Héctor, Declan, Anzor, Viki, Lucas, Liv, Pucheta, Germán, Matlotsky, Walsh, Erika, Lucía, Pío, Andersson, and Clementine), all tied up and gagged.
"Do you know them, sir?" Juanita asked.
"Yes, I know them," Candado replied, fixing his gaze on Clementine. "How long are you going to keep up this charade?"
Clementine winked with her right eye. Without further ado, she transformed her right arm into a machete and sliced through all the ropes in a single strike. However, the action wasn’t very careful. As soon as the ropes broke, her companions reacted aggressively, prompting the nearby automatons to draw their weapons: Grivna deployed lasers from her temples, Perón activated a cannon from his left arm, Clementine wielded her machete-like arm, and Manuel took control of the system, activating turrets installed in the room.
"Enough!" Nelson declared...
"Scatter."
"But..."
"I said scatter, Declan."
"Understood."
Everyone sheathed their weapons, including the androids.
“What are you doing here?” Candado asked.
“We lost your signal, Candado. We thought something might have happened to you,” Germán replied.
“How did you get in here?” Nelson interjected.
“There was a path that led to this place,” Lucas answered.
Candado looked at Nelson.
“Is there another way in?”
“We have three routes: one through my house, another through my garage, and the last one through the old labs.”
“I see…” Then he turned to Hector. “And how did you guys get in?”
“Unlike you, Candado, we went down the stairs that were in the garage.”
“I can’t believe it,” Hammya muttered.
Candado sighed and continued:
“Clementina, tell me that…”
However, Clementina and Clementine were staring at each other, frozen by the resemblance between them.
“Twins!” Erika and Lucía exclaimed in unison.
“What are you doing?” Candado asked.
Clementina frowned, and her eyes began to glow. In response, Clementine quickly poked her in the eyes.
“My sensors!” Clementine shouted, covering her face.
“CLEMENTINE?!” Manuel also yelled.
“It’s not good to scan my body.”
“WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY THAT EARLIER?!” Clementine snapped.
“This is like a comedy,” Candado murmured to himself.
Clementine blinked a couple of times, adjusting her eyeballs, which were sunk deep in their sockets.
“It’s fine now.”
She then looked at Clementina.
“Sister?”
“V02.”
“Do you know each other?” Candado murmured, surprised.
Clementina fixed her gaze on Clementine.
“Bread.”
“Cheese.”
“January.”
“Legendary.”
“It’s you!” Clementina exclaimed joyfully, hugging her. “How have you been?”
She pulled away and gave her a big smile.
“Is she happy?” Candado murmured.
“It’s been so long,” Clementine said with a slight smile.
“Her too? I’m glad...” Candado muttered again, while Hammya seemed moved.
But just when everything seemed calm, Clementine returned the affection with a punch to Clementina’s face.
“CLEMENTINA?!” everyone shouted, except Candado.
“What is this situation?” Candado commented wearily.
Clementina fell to the ground. Clementine grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and started punching her in the face.
“Seven years! Not a card, not a greeting, not a gift, not even a lousy birthday wish! Seven years, seven years…” she repeated as she threw each punch slowly.
Clementina’s face was bruised and scratched.
“Sorry.”
Clementine stopped.
“Sorry? What’s wrong with you?”
“I forgot.”
The silence flooded the room.
“You forgot? You’re a robot! A DAMN CASSETTE THAT RECORDS EVERYTHING! HOW COULD YOU FORGET?!” Candado shouted, furious.
“I don’t know, I lost some of my files, but I don’t remember why.”
Clementine hit her again.
“You’re horrible. And I was the one sending you cards for your birthday…”
“It was you?” Candado interjected.
Clementine looked at him.
“Yes, Mr. Catriel. Every January first, I would send a letter and a birthday card.”
“Mmm, I remember. I even handed them to you in person a couple of times.”
Clementine looked back at Clementina.
“Did you read them?”
“Yes, I did.”
“And?”
“I don’t remember what they said ¿Sorry?”
Clementine headbutted her and threw her to the ground with a swift judo move.
"Despite not showing any emotions, she was really angry," Lucas commented.
"That was obvious," Grivna concluded.
Ignoring the chaos, Nelson started clapping to draw everyone's attention.
"Alright, alright. Now that our star is gathered, it's time to move on to the next level."
Nelson walked toward the center of the room, where there were armchairs and a table.
"Take a seat."
Clementina stood up and followed Candado and Hammya.
"You recovered, good to see," Candado remarked in an apathetic tone.
"I'm glad you care," Clementina responded, her voice dripping with irony.
Nelson sat in an armchair and looked at Manuel.
"Do us a favor, Belgrano."
"Sure," Manuel replied.
In that instant, Manuel’s body began to transform into what seemed like a three-dimensional map.
"Alright, you probably don’t know this, Candado, but we’re organizing an operation to save someone, since we found her," Nelson said.
"It’s Amabaray, right?" Candado asked.
The elders exchanged surprised glances.
"How do you know that?" Nelson inquired, clearly astonished.
Candado closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and sighed.
"I see... so that’s what this was all about."
"What?" Nelson asked, bewildered.
Candado opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on the group.
"Listen, Nelson, it's true that I never met her," he said, his calm voice a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. "But Gabriela did. She used to tell me things... no, I correct myself, she talked to me about her deeds, and how Amabaray loved my mother more than her own life."
At that moment, Tínbari manifested before everyone.
"I should have guessed," he murmured. "You’re planning to put Candado's life at risk."
"Tínbari?" Candado asked, confused.
"It’s not like that, my friend," Tínbari replied, his calm voice barely concealing his concern.
Just then, another figure appeared, materializing before them.
"Slonbari," a deep voice announced.
"Long time, Candado," Slonbari greeted solemnly.
Candado’s friends, especially the closest ones, were stunned to see Slonbari.
"An… Bari? I can’t believe it," Lucas said, astonished.
"We're not planning to put Candado at risk. On the contrary, we want to save him," Slonbari explained.
"Amabaray… it doesn’t matter if you manage to get to her, if you wake her up, she’ll die," Nelson said, his tone serious.
"There’s a way to save her," Tínbari said, refocusing on the group. "And it turns out the answer is here, in Candado's blood."
Tínbari’s eyes widened uncontrollably upon hearing this revelation.
"You plan to use his violet blood?" he asked, incredulous.
"She gave her life to save another life, but the blood of an Úzergluk, or as you call it, Candado’s violet blood, could save her," Nelson said, with determination.
"If that's the case, why didn’t you do it with Europa? Why does it have to be him?" Tínbari asked, searching for a logical explanation.
"Europa couldn’t do it," Nelson replied. "She was the bearer of Amabaray. Only someone else, with Keplant’s blood, could achieve it."
Candado crossed his arms and stood thoughtfully for a moment, then looked directly into Tínbari's eyes.
"Do you think...?"
"Tínbari, I know you're afraid of the consequences of what might happen, but you have to trust us," Nelson interrupted. "Candado doesn’t have much time left."
Those words hit everyone present like a punch to the gut, leaving them in stunned silence as they processed the gravity of the situation.
"Damn..." Candado murmured.
"What’s this about not having much time?" Tínbari asked, confused.
Slonbari looked at Candado, or rather, turned his face toward him, since he had no eyes.
"Candado, I know this may sound unbelievable, but the more you used your powers, the more you ignored the pain that prevented you from going on... your time has terribly shortened."
"How long, Nelson?" Slonbari asked, his tone somber.
"A week. And you know it very well," Nelson replied, without hesitation.
The news left everyone alarmed, except for Candado and the elders, who were already aware of the consequences.
"That can’t… be," Hammya said, visibly frightened.
"Do you want to save Candado, Tínbari? Because I do," Nelson said firmly. "I swore to Alfred to protect the Barret family. I’m not going to lie to him. Amabaray is the only one who can save him."
Candado calmly stood up from his seat, looking at everyone with seriousness.
"Can I save Amabaray?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.
"Candado, I think you should be more worried about your health," advised Anzor, visibly concerned.
"I SAID! Can I save Amabaray? Yes or no?" Candado insisted firmly.
"You can save her, you just need to give her a bit of your blood," Nelson replied after a brief pause.
"I don’t see the problem," Candado retorted, without hesitation.
"Are you ready to go there?" Nelson asked, addressing him.
"Of course," Candado answered confidently.
"Well," Nelson said, standing up. "To your positions."
The elders stood up and quickly dispersed across the room, each taking their place.
"Then we will take you there," Nelson said with a smile, looking at Candado.
"Candado... Why?" Tínbari asked, a mixture of concern and confusion in his voice.
"It’s necessary for me," Candado replied, staring intently at the demon.
"If you go there, it's certain that my brothers will be there," Tínbari said gravely.
"Why would the Baris go there?" Candado asked, still not fully understanding.
"Amabaray is the only one who can remove Keplant's blood, as she is Roobóleo's direct daughter," Tínbari answered.
"Someone with a heart like hers would never do that," Candado said without hesitation.
"Amabaray is innocent, and she will easily believe their lies," Tínbari warned.
Candado took the demon's hands, looking him in the eye.
"Tínbari, trust me. I know what I'm doing."
He then let go of his hands and looked at Nelson, who had not moved.
"Tell me, how did she get there?" Candado asked, impatient.
Nelson smiled, a mysterious grin that hinted at something important to come.
"Follow me," he said, heading toward a large window that looked out to the cavern's exterior. From there, they could see a massive lake.
"Do you see it?" Nelson asked, pointing toward the horizon.
"Yes, and?" Candado asked, still not understanding.
Nelson placed his hand on the window, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
"BELGRANO!" he shouted, his voice firm.
A hologram appeared behind them, manifesting as a ghostly figure.
"Yes?" Manuel responded, nervously.
Nelson turned, and pointing with his cane, ordered, "Do your thing now!"
"At your command," Manuel said before vanishing.
"What was that?" Candado asked, puzzled.
Suddenly, outside the facility, the huge pit beyond the window began to stir violently. Waves crashed against each other, rising and breaking furiously. Then, a massive structure emerged from the water, resembling the frame of a gigantic door.
"What the hell?" Candado exclaimed, slightly surprised.
"It was worth it, five years manipulating that thing to make it rise and sink through an electric communication with Belgrano," Clementina said, walking up beside him.
"Cool," Hammya commented, pressing her face against the window like a child at an aquarium.
"Behold! THE DOOR! The means to connect this world with any world you can imagine."
"Except Cotorium," Clementina clarified.
"I see."
"You’re going to go through it," Nelson smiled.
"Pardon? What...?"
"GUYS! Do it!"
Simón and Elsa pulled a lever, causing the machinery to tremble slightly, accompanied by a soft noise.
"Positioned."
"I don't like any of this," Hammya said, clinging to a pillar.
"Relax, relax."
The door shone with a white glow. The brilliance was so intense that Candado had to cover his eyes with his right hand.
"Candado," the wind whispered in his ear.
He couldn’t help but be surprised by the familiar voice, quickly turning, looking behind him, moving his head from side to side.
"That voice..."
"THERE IT IS!"
Candado looked at Nelson.
"THE DOOR TO THE ARCANE WORLD!"
The light stopped glowing, revealing its great beauty. A beautiful field of flowers awaited on the other side, a desert so stunning it seemed like a dream. The gentle wind filtered through from the outside, and the flower petals drifted into the room, bringing the freshness of the landscape with them.
"There... that’s..."
"The border between the human world and the world of legends," Nelson concluded, looking at Lucas.
Candado turned around again.
"Is something wrong?" Walsh asked.
Hammya looked at Candado with interest.
"Her voice?"
"Her... voice?" Walsh asked, confused.
Candado closed his eyes and scratched his left eyebrow while breathing in and out slowly.
"Forget it, nothing’s wrong," Candado said, unconcerned.
Nelson abruptly pulled him with his cane.
"Look, kid, that’s where she is."
Candado adjusted his beret.
"How do I get out?"
"Through the door," Nelson answered.
Candado looked at him with an empty expression.
"OVER HERE!" Hector reacted quickly, trying to prevent his friend from doing something "violent."
Bruno stood up, pulled some keys from his pocket, and approached the door. He opened it carefully.
"I should clarify that the other side is dangerous. Not everyone should go there," Clementina warned.
"Wherever he goes, we go too," Declan said firmly.
Clementina blinked slowly.
"I see."
Nelson walked to the door and opened it with determination.
"Those who need to leave, should go. We will stay here to keep the door open."
"Alright, we'll follow Amabaray," said Candado, resolute.
Tínbari placed his hand on Candado's shoulder.
"Listen to me."
"Once you step in, I won’t be able to protect you. As a Bari of death, my powers are sealed. I won’t even be able to enter that world, only watch and hear what's happening there."
"Don’t worry, I'll be back before you can even say my name."
Candado turned and walked towards the portal, moving calmly, leaving behind Tínbari, who watched him with concern.
"Candado," Tínbari whispered, his voice tinged with melancholy.
Candado stopped in front of the large portal, a few petals and dust drifting into the room, along with a gentle, sweet breeze.
"The wind... it's so peaceful," said Candado, feeling the softness of the air caress his face.
"Be careful, Candado," warned Nelson.
"I will be," Candado replied, with a smile.
With those words, Candado stepped confidently through the portal. He placed one foot across, then followed with the other, fully entering the tranquil open field. He looked around, inhaled deeply, holding the air in his lungs, closed his eyes for a moment, and then exhaled serenely.
"What pure air..."
He turned and looked at the others still standing behind in the room, surprised. Candado smiled and, with a decisive gesture, removed the glove from his left hand and extended it towards them, inviting them to cross.
"Let’s go."
Declan was the first to take his hand, followed by Germán, Anzor, Lucas, Matlotsky (strangely), Pucheta, Liv, Viki, Héctor, Andersson, Pio, Lucia, Erika, Clementina, and Walsh. Theoretically, Hammya would be the last to take his hand. She felt flattered by the gesture, but as soon as her fingers touched Candado’s outstretched hand, her eyes shimmered with a green glow. In that moment, Hammya’s mind was pulled somewhere else. She saw a red, stormy spiral, surrounded by a terrifying darkness, like a tunnel. She could hear the voices of people she knew.
"It’s a fact that the plane won’t fly," joked Arturo Barret.
"You don’t have to get mad about it," answered a soothing female voice.
"Young master, you must look elegant," said Clementina, in her usual tone.
"...If you don’t choose a damn path, I’ll do it for you," interjected Odadnac, restless.
"You need to leave, it’s not safe," exclaimed Tínbari, agitated.
"NONE OF YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!" shouted Candado, furious.
"Happy birthday, brother," a cheerful female voice said.
"I’ll be there, just save me some of that cake," joked Frederick.
The voices faded, leaving Hammya trapped in a strange sensation.
"What happened?" asked Europa Barret, worried.
"CANDADO, COME BACK HERE!" shouted an older male voice, also anxious.
"I’ve always wanted to be a scientist. It’s something I learned from a video game. I don’t think what you’re doing is more embarrassing than mine," Joaquín said, embarrassed, trying to downplay it.
"Smile for the camera, Ernést," Lucas, energetic, tried to make it all seem like a joke.
"I love you so much. I don’t want you to hate me," a female voice sobbed, full of sadness.
"CANDADO!" another female voice cried, surprised.
"I would never hate you, Gabi," Candado answered firmly, regret in his voice.
"I’ve heard that already, but tell me, do you think this is right?" asked Matlotsky, in a serious tone.
"No, I haven’t forgotten. I’ll bring it right away," another cheerful female voice tried to reassure him.
"Please, understand, I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m sorry," the female voice lamented again, on the verge of tears.
"Stay calm, please. I’ll get you another one. You can have mine, but don’t cry, it’s a special day," Walsh, flustered, tried to calm the situation.
"Behind the bushes," Tínbari, condescendingly, pointed to the place.
A sound of glass breaking.
"I HATE YOU, GABRIELA!" Candado shouted, furious.
"I can’t believe what you’ve done. I’m disappointed," Krauser expressed his disdain.
"You made your sister cry. I’m ashamed to be your friend," Héctor, angry, couldn’t hide his disappointment.
"You didn’t have to go that far. You’re ungrateful. I hope you rot, Candado. Do you hear me? ROT!" Matlotsky, furious, exploded in rage.
"I... I didn’t want this," Candado, with tears in his eyes, lamented.
"[...] the sky illuminates the path of the child of the bells, and of a latent wish that watches the sky, longing for its arrival to the earth..." a female voice sang softly, filling the air with mystery.
"And to think it was a child who had it..." said a strange voice, full of disbelief.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" shouted a female voice, furious.
"I won’t let you hurt him," Tínbari, determined, stood on guard.
"Please, don’t close your eyes. Don’t do it, I beg you. I’ll fix it. Hate me if you want, but don’t close your eyes... no... don’t close them," the female voice cried desperately.
Hammya woke up in a completely dark forest, beneath a torrential rain. The only light illuminating the surroundings came from the lightning that cut across the sky. In the distance, she saw two people facing off against a creature. Everything around her was engulfed in darkness, with only the sounds of thunder, the rain, and the ongoing battle echoing through the air. Straining to make sense of the place, her eyes settled on a familiar figure: Candado, when he was younger, lying in a puddle of water, watching three people fighting.
"What is this?" she asked, perplexed.
Suddenly, an unknown force pulled at her body, and it merged with Candado's. Now, she saw everything in the first person. She couldn't control the body, but she could observe through his eyes and hear through his ears.
"Am I… in his body?" she thought, astonished.
"CADADO, LISTEN TO ME!" shouted an urgent voice.
Candado’s head turned toward a puddle, in which the reflection of an outstretched hand appeared.
"Odadnac."
"Take my hand, that way we can help her."
"I can’t do it."
"STOP SHAKING! TAKE MY HAND! Use me to help her, together we can defeat it."
"I’m scared."
"I KNOW YOU’RE SCARED! But do it, that’s the only way you’ll win."
Candado looked ahead, and in that moment, a thunderclap illuminated two familiar figures: Gabriela and Tínbari, fighting against an entity his eyes couldn’t identify.
"She won’t be able to defeat it, her power is wavering, she’s too weak. That’s why she has to take my hand," Odadnac said, anguish in his voice.
"TÍNBARI, LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH!" Gabriela shouted, her hands enveloped in violet flames as she summoned huge dogs and fire.
"I don’t have anything left to give, I’m weak too," Tínbari responded, his voice tired.
"I WON’T LET YOU GET CLOSE!" Gabriela screamed, defying the enemy.
"Come on, do it," Odadnac’s voice pleaded once more.
Candado looked at his reflection, the anguish reflected in his eyes.
"Please, I’m only asking this of you. If you don’t do it, she’ll die…" Odadnac’s voice trembled with pain. "Please, I beg you, just take my hand and she’ll be fine. And you will be too."
"What is this?" Candado wondered, filled with confusion.
"Candado, you always showed yourself as a strong and serious person. You gave a cold stare to danger. I know you’re scared, but please, take my… HAND!" Odadnac’s voice cracked.
"I can’t do it, getting angry is bad. Mom says that…" Candado, tears in his eyes, tried to justify his fear.
"ENOUGH!" Odadnac’s voice exploded.
Odadnac’s eyes dilated, and with force, he partially pulled his body out of the water, extending his hand toward Candado.
"TAKE MY HAND NOW! STUPID CHILD, IF I COULD DO IT ALONE, I WOULD, BUT I NEED YOUR BODY, DAMN FOOL!"
"(This is... the dark version of Candado, the one who possessed him)."
"I don’t want to do it," Candado said through sobs.
Odadnac gritted his teeth, looking at Gabriela. Time was running out, strength was fading. He looked back at Candado, and his eyes widened with surprise when he saw his face. Hammya, watching through Candado’s eyes, didn’t understand what was happening, but when she saw Candado’s reflection in the pond, she understood. He was smiling.
Tínbari tried to intervene, but it was useless. The figure extended his hand, from which a black crystal emerged, plunging into Tínbari’s abdomen. Despite the wound, Tínbari pressed on, determined. The enemy grabbed him by the forearm and slammed him to the ground, immobilizing him and weakening him further. Then, he destroyed the dogs that had been defending Candado.
Odadnac glared at Candado with fury.
"Do you see now!? What are you waiting for!? Take my hand already! Now, now, NOW!"
The figure quickly approached Candado, in the blink of an eye, and stepped on Odadnac’s back.
“Take… my hand, brat… only then can you save her,” the figure said, completely weak.
Odadnac extended his hand with all his strength, but the figure pierced it with a spear, pinning it to the ground and allowing black blood to spill from the wound.
“Candado… you’re a damn coward… a deranged coward.”
Then, Odadnac’s body vanished, leaving them alone. Trembling with fear, Candado pressed himself against a tree, his body vibrating and his face covered with tears.
“Give me back the violet blood,” he said, showing a dagger.
That action prompted Hammya to try to help him without thinking, but it was futile. Candado then kneeled and drove the dagger into his own chest.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“You’re so loud,” the figure said indifferently.
Hammya couldn’t utter a word. What she saw left her breathless. However, a mysterious force tore her from her body and placed her beside Candado. It was then that she saw Gabriela dragging herself, leaving a trail of blood. The leaves, the grass, the ground, everything was soaked in an alarming amount of blood.
Gabriela rose, her eyes glowing an intense violet. Her face became covered in tattoos of the same color, and her rage was palpable. She breathed with difficulty, but didn’t stop. With effort, she picked up her knife from the ground, and though her chest bled more, she pushed forward, never giving up. She looked at the back of her target, gripped the handle of her knife tightly, and ran towards him.
The figure turned and extended its arm, ready to strike her with the spear. Gabriela leaned right, slashing his hand, and with determination, made her way to his neck, driving her hand into it.
“Stay away from him,” Gabriela said, blood on her lips.
Blood spurted in a stream. The figure spat more blood and, with an inhuman scream, quickly pulled away.
Tínbari stood up the moment the enemy’s magic disappeared and delivered the final blow to his chest, fracturing the figure’s dark form.
“They destroyed my vessel, but I’ll return for what’s mine,” it said, before its body disintegrated into dust.
Tínbari looked at Gabriela, who was holding her unconscious brother in her arms.
“OPEN YOUR EYES! OPEN YOUR EYES, CANDADO!” she screamed desperately. “Please, don’t close them, don’t do it, I beg you, I’ll fix it, hate me if you want, but don’t close your eyes… don’t close them.”
Hammya was frozen, tears streaming down her face.
Tínbari appeared walking, his right hand over his left arm, still in pain.
“Let it go, Gabriela. He was stabbed with a Cremull dagger, or as you guilds call it, a spell.”
Gabriela embraced her brother tightly. His eyes began to open, but they were empty.
“Right now, Gabriela, your brother is suffering unimaginable pain. The spell is devouring his soul. There’s no word or number that can describe the pain he’s feeling right now. A broken arm or a stab wound are like tickles compared to this.”
Gabriela became desperate.
“Doesn’t… he scream?”
“He won’t. This dagger is made to prevent the victim from screaming or asking for help.”
Gabriela, holding her brother even tighter, looked at Tínbari through tear-filled eyes.
“What can I do? Seeing my little brother suffering… I don’t want that, I don’t want it. What can I do?”
Tínbari stayed silent for a moment.
“It’s simple… kill him.”
Gabriela’s face flooded with terror.
“What are you saying? Kill him?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“There’s no human medicine that can save him. My master assured me of this and told me to stay away if I saw one. It’s bad luck, but his life has already ended.”
“No.”
“Crying is something I don’t share with you. I lost it when I became Bari.”
“Don’t you have a heart? Don’t you feel pity? You’ve been with us for so many years.”
“We can talk all day about how a heart only serves to pump blood and not to harbor feelings. Now you need to take care of him. He has one day left to live.”
Gabriela looked at her brother, her eyes shining with desperation.
"One day?"
"One day of suffering."
Gabriela placed her hand on her chest, fighting back tears.
"What will you do? It’s useless to feel his heart."
"No. I’ll save him. I’ll absorb his curse, just like I did with the poison that one time."
"What?"
"I can't destroy it, can I? But I can transfer it to my body."
"You were pierced by Pullbarey’s weapon. You have a curse inside you, which will heal in a year. It’s too dangerous."
"Candado doesn’t have a year."
"If you do this, you’ll have two curses inside you. You’ll suffer like no human ever has. And your life will be short. This path you’ve chosen… will kill you."
"I know, but… if I can help him, if I can save him, and even if I can see him smile, it will have been worth it."
"That’s madness."
"Tínbari, promise me something."
"What?"
"When I die, I want you to protect my brother."
"That’s my duty, Gabriela…"
"And also, understand this… No, I order you, from now on, to have feelings."
Tínbari’s eyes hid behind his eyelids.
"It’s useless, but I’ll do it."
Gabriela closed her eyes, wrapping her hand around her brother's chest. She swallowed hard, not out of fear for what might happen to her, but because of the anguish she felt for him.
"Isidro, lend me your strength," she murmured, looking at the sky. "In exchange, I’ll give you my life."
She pulled her hand away from Candado's chest, tearing a strange stream of yellowish smoke mixed with black. The mist began to wrap around her arm, overtaking her body. The pain was unbearable, as if her very essence was being ripped from her. She bit her lips, struggling to hold back the moans of agony. But she didn’t give up. She wouldn’t.
Suddenly, Tínbari appeared, stepping between her and her brother, pulling her away with force. Gabriela's magic faded, and she collapsed, resting entirely on the demon’s lap.
"Enough," Tínbari said, his tone firm.
Gabriela, exhausted, could barely respond:
"I haven’t… finished."
"You can’t take all of the curse away," he replied, stopping her. "It would be dangerous for both of you. You’d end up absorbing his life instead of the curse."
"How much time does he have?" she asked weakly, looking at her brother.
"You extended it by ten or fifteen years," Tínbari answered coldly. "By then, something might be able to counter it, and your brother would be safe… but..."
Gabriela nodded, a faint smile forming on her face. Then, she began coughing violently, spitting out blood. Still, her smile didn’t fade.
"How much time do I have?" she asked in a broken voice.
"Four years," Tínbari said, his tone grim. "You’ll die on November 2, 2010. Congratulations, you’ve sentenced yourself to death."
Gabriela let out a laugh that wasn’t joyful, but rather a bitter acceptance.
"Huh? I don’t make jokes like that," Tínbari said, confused.
"Surely it’s because of my order," she responded, laughing between breaths.
"You’re an idiot. No one can save you. You’ll suffer and die," Tínbari sighed. "Only Amabaray could save you, but I don’t know where he is."
Gabriela gently caressed her face, her expression sad.
"It’s a shame... My whole family will suffer because of a selfish decision. I want you to take care of them."
With those words, Gabriela closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift, succumbing to exhaustion. Tínbari lifted her in his arms without saying a word.
At that moment, Candado's friends and family arrived, lanterns in hand. The sky cleared, and a full moon illuminated the landscape.
"What happened?" Arturo asked, while carrying his son.
"They’ve passed out from exhaustion," Tínbari answered, his expression unchanged.
Europa, at the front of the crowd, quickly approached. Tínbari moved closer to her, placing Gabriela in her arms.
"I was so happy she finally passed out," Tínbari remarked with some sarcasm.
"Thank you," Europa responded with a faint smile, holding her daughter. Then she looked up to meet Tínbari's gaze, but her smile faded when she noticed something unusual.
"Tínbari..."
Hammya, observing her surroundings, was also surprised to see something strange.
"Is something wrong, Mrs. Barret?" he asked, not breaking his gaze from Europa.
"You’re… crying?" she asked in disbelief.
Tínbari smiled, but it was a bitter smile.
"Humans are terrifying and very strange."
Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped Hammya, and a voice echoed in her mind.
"React, girl, don’t fall asleep standing."
A cold sweat began to crawl down her body, and her breathing became erratic. She looked around, bewildered, as if someone were watching her. Finally, her eyes locked on Candado, who was still holding her hand.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
Tears began to pour from Hammya’s eyes, as her breathing grew more frantic.
"Do you feel sick?" Nelson asked, noticing her distress.
"What’s happening?" Candado asked, even more worried.
Hammya started laughing uncontrollably, trying to hide her sadness from both him and the others. She released Candado’s hand and, without any help, walked alone toward the portal.
"I was just thinking... your face is exactly like Pedro Eugenio Aramburu’s," she said, with a nervous smile.
"DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOU OR WHAT?!" Candado shouted, furious.
Hammya burst out laughing, her tears still falling.
"I didn’t even hurt you," Candado said, his tone cold.
"(Please, don’t notice. I don’t want you to see me cry. You’ll only want to investigate, and you’ll just hurt yourself...) Let’s go with the others, Masera."
"HAMMYAAAAAAA!" Candado yelled, chasing her.
Hammya, laughing, began to run.
"Come on, turtle!"
"You worry about me and mock me? GET BACK HERE!"
Hammya, with a disdainful smile, responded through her laughter, while some of the others followed her.
"Don’t laugh if you don’t know!"