"A chocolate and a strawberry, please," Aurora ordered, playfully moving her long brown hair from her face as she approached the ice cream vendor.

“I’m buying. What extravagant delight do you desire?” She teased Ivana.

“Wow, is it Christmas already? Hazelnut and vanilla!” Ivana grinned, turning to the vendor.

As if the long, warm summer refused to leave, Zagreb's streets shimmered under an unrelenting September sun. After school, two best friends, dark-haired Aurora and blonde Ivana, decided to treat themselves to ice cream at their favorite place in the city center.

Aurora pulled a few crumpled bills from her unicorn wallet. Under her eye, she thought she saw Ivana's sister Marija walking towards the main square. She shook her head, blinked, and took her ice cream.

"You gave me too much change," Aurora returned the 20 kuna banknote to the saleswoman.

The woman answered, "Oh, thanks," with a nervous flicker in her eyes.

"You are such a fool. We could have used it for milkshakes in the Slatkac Center," muttered Ivana, a teasing smile spreading across her face.

"It’s not our money," Aurora said, a hint of reproach in her tone.

Suddenly, like a knife cutting into their moral debate, a loud tram bell rang. Her heart skipped a beat and a slight feeling of discomfort appeared in her stomach. She looked through the window at Ilica Street and saw a young man running in front of the rushing streetcar number twelve.

"Wait, was this Marko?" Aurora asked.

"Marko who?", Ivana licked the ice cream.

"The ex from your sister. With that furious car."

"I have no idea. I haven't seen him and I don't care."

"Are they back together?"

"They're not, I told you. He is so annoying, calls her all the time."

"But she has a new guy?"

"Yes, they study together. What would Marko do there?” Ivana waved it off.

They came out on the winding Ilica Street and turned left towards Ban Jelacic Square. The sun was scorching, so they hurried through people waiting for the tram, couples who were enjoying a wonderful day like them.

"So, how do you feel about the new guy?" Aurora asked cautiously.

"Tin? He really has a funny accent!" - laughed Ivana.

"He's from Germany, so he doesn't know Croatian well" - Aurora defended him.

"Come on! You just like his long, blond hair," - Ivana nudged her in the ribs with her elbow.

"Oh you, you're always thinking about boys!" - Aurora teased her and bit into the cornet.

Blonde, outgoing Ivana stood taller beside the withdrawn and quiet Aurora. All the boys at school vied for her attention.

They turned right onto Praska Street, crossed after a taxi, and headed towards the music pavilion in Zrinjevac Park, enjoying the last moments of Indian summer.

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"Did you visit Germany over the summer?" As she finished her ice cream, Ivana asked.

"No. My mom had just moved apartments.“

"So no new phone?"

"No, not really."

"Will she visit soon?"

"I guess for Christmas." Aurora licked a drop of chocolate off her hand and shrugged.

"Why can't your dad buy you a new phone?" Ivana continued.

"No chance! His is like a hundred years old."

"I don't get it. Everyone has new phones. Tell him you need it, for school.“

"Sure, I'm calling him right now" - she laughed - "Dad, buy me a new phone". 'Why?' she imitated her father in a deep voice, 'You'd better read a book or two.'

Their laughter echoed through the park, as they continued along the pavilion and fountains towards the magnificent HAZU building. Ivana elbowed her in the ribs.

"Wait, is that my sister?"

„Where, in the park?“

"Who is that guy with the hoodie? Is that Marko?!" - said Ivana in surprise. - "What is he doing there?"

„It looks like him, I really don't see.“

"It can't be. Maria went to the police to report him." – Ivana lowered her voice.

"Why?" – Aurora raised her eyebrows.

"Because he keeps calling and following her."

„And?“

"And nothing. You know who his dad is. He knows everyone in the city." - Ivana shrugged resignedly. "This summer, we were supposed to go to his villa on the beach. He has a boat and even a jet ski—I’ve never tried one!"

Aurora raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at her lips. “Wow. Must be nice,” she said, her tone as flat as her interest.

"How could your sister even be with him?" Her face twisted in disgust. “He’s so slimy.”

Ivana looked down and continued to lick the ice cream.

"I didn't like the way he looked at me at the birthday party—or how he looked at you," Aurora shivered.

Ivana tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she faced Aurora. “You don’t get it!” she exclaimed, her voice rising slightly. “It’s not just about the money; it’s about having fun!”

Aurora shrugged, looking unimpressed. “I don’t get it. He’s just, like, really awkward.”

Ivana shook her head. “You’re missing out! He has the coolest stuff!”

“Never mind,” Ivana said, exchanging a glance with Aurora as they crossed the road in silence.

The tram number 13 sped past, picking up a few early autumn leaves from the ground. At that moment, the tiny phone in Aurora's pocket rang. "It’s like he heard me“, she laughed and showed Ivana the caller ID. „Now I can ask about that new phone" – she winked and answered the call. – "Hi Dad, how are you?"

"Hi honey, aren't you home?" asked a deep voice on the phone.

"No, I am with Ivana, walking around Zrinjevac Park."

While she was talking on the phone, she saw a guy (was it Marko?) waving his hands and pointing his finger at Maria's face.

Suddenly, the girl shoved him back, grabbed her bag, and turned away. But Marko seized her by the shoulder before she could take a step.

She screamed, but the deafening roar of the oncoming tram 6 swallowed her words.

Aurora turned away from them and the streetcar, unable to hear a single word her dad was saying.

"Wait for me at Mrs. Fleischman's next door, honey. I'll be late for lunch. I have a meeting with my new boss." - Dad said.

"No probl..." The words died in her throat as she saw something long and shining in Marko's hand vanish entirely into the girl's abdomen.

She felt as though she was choking. Words blocked her breathing, trapped in her throat, refusing to come out. Her heart wanted to explode out of her body; she was hypnotized, her eyes fixed on the horror before her.

The once-gleaming object gets redder and darker with every desperate thrust. As though he had an insane urge to keep the world quiet, he moved his hand in, and out, in, out. His breath came in jagged gasps that mirrored the frantic, relentless pattern of his motions.

Reality settled into Aurora's fragile mind. This was no longer just a loud argument between two ex-lovers; it was something nobody should witness.

Two sudden sounds shook her to the core. A raw scream erupted from Ivana’s mouth, ringing through the park, followed by the dull thud of Ivana’s body hitting the pavement.

"What the heck? Who screamed? Aurora?“ His voice rose now to yell. “Aurora! Answer me!” His voice trembled, words tumbling out, his heart racing.

The world around her faded into a faint hum as her phone slipped from her small hand, forgotten. Aurora stood frozen, wide-eyed, fixed on the horrific scene before her. The voice on the line grew frantic. "Aurora, Aurora, can you hear me? Honey, are you okay?" And then the phone smacked the ground and shattered into pieces.

The noise drew attention from across the street. Marko turned, his eyes wild with frenzy. She wanted to run, but her feet felt glued to the ground. Ivana's scream still rang in her ears, drowning out everything else.

He wiped blood from his face with the back of his hand and raised the bloodied knife into the air. His voice cut through the tunnel of her fear—at first, she couldn't make out the words, but the threat was unmistakable. A hiss through clenched teeth: 'One word, and you're next.'