The Next Day. Candado was sitting on his bed, arguing with his friend Héctor. It was afternoon, and the house was still filled with the excitement brought by the news of Europa’s pregnancy. The thrill was so great that Europa herself had called all her friends to share it, just as she had on other occasions, with that cheerful and effusive tone that was so characteristic of her.

  Meanwhile, Héctor was catching up with Candado, the two of them filling in the blanks of everything that had happened while they’d been apart.

  But the conversation took an awkward turn when Candado mentioned a forbidden name: Lila.

  The moment it left his lips, both of them seemed to crumble.

  “Insta kill,” murmured Héctor, dropping to his knees dramatically and clutching his chest.

  “Isukw (Shit),” muttered Candado, slamming his forehead against the table.

  It was clear that there was something about that name that stirred the same reaction in both of them—fear, discomfort, and a deep, visceral aversion.

  “Candado, thanks for your hospitality, but if you’ll excuse me…”

  Candado grabbed him firmly by the wrist.

  “We’ll jump off the bridge together, my friend.”

  Héctor began to struggle, trying to break free.

  “You know I still have nightmares about that! And don’t even get me started on what Viki would do to me if she found out…”

  “I’m sorry, but if you’re my friend, you’ll jump with me to save me.”

  “I’d rather throw an anvil at you than read that letter. No way. I don’t want to know what it says!”

  Candado tackled him, pinning him to the ground.

  “Fine, you win,” Héctor surrendered, defeated.

  Candado helped him back to his feet and added with a sly smile:

  “But Joaquín has to hear it too.”

  An Hour Later

  Joaquín walked in through the door, accompanied by Clementina.

  “I came as soon as I got your message.”

  Candado and Héctor high-fived behind their backs in a conspiratorial gesture.

  “All right, Clementina, can you give us some privacy?”

  “Of course. See you later, Joaquín.”

  “Thanks for the cookies,” he replied with a kind smile.

  CLACK

  The sound of the door lock echoed through the room.

  “Huh? Well, never mind… your house, your rules.”

  “How long have we been friends?” Candado asked bluntly.

  “Is that a question or an answer disguised as a question?” Joaquín replied, puzzled.

  “A question,” Candado confirmed seriously.

  “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been with you guys,” Joaquín said, his tone softening.

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “You’re scaring me… You didn’t do anything illegal, did you?”

  “Nothing like that.”

  Candado pulled a letter from behind his back.

  “What’s that? A resignation? Sorry, I’m not the person to accept that—you’ll have to go to Kanghar and fill out the proper form.”

  “Nothing like that,” Candado said with an enigmatic smile.

  “Then what’s with all the secrecy? Just spit it out!”

  “It’s a very special letter… from an old acquaintance.”

  “Glinka? Lara? Mariana? Nancy?”

  “If Ruth heard you, she’d get jealous,” joked Héctor.

  “Our relationship is strictly therapist and patient, Ramírez,” Joaquín replied with professional stiffness.

  “It’s none of them,” Candado cut in. “It’s a letter from Lila.”

  Joaquín’s eyes dimmed instantly at the mention of the name.

  “Insta kill,” Héctor repeated, collapsing to his knees again, clutching his chest.

  “Isukw,” muttered Candado, lowering his head as if his soul had just grown heavier.

  Joaquín blinked several times, then tried to pretend everything was fine.

  “I think I misheard. Maybe it’s another Lila.”

  “Lila Cárdenas,” Candado confirmed.

  “Insta kill.”

  “Isukw.”

  “Goddamn,” whispered Joaquín, looking down.

  “Well, since you’re here…”

  “I’m out. I’ve got work to do.”

  Joaquín turned toward the door, but it was locked.

  “Son of a… you knew,” he muttered, turning around.

  “Héctor already sank into this mess with me. It’s your turn, Joaquín.”

  “No way! Clementina, open the door!”

  “Sorry, Mr. Barreto,” Clementina replied from the other side. “The young master told me not to open it until he says so.”

  “I’m not playing your game. And if I have to break your face to get out of here, I will.”

  “We’re all going to die,” Héctor murmured, eyes staring into the void.

  “…All right. I can’t run forever. I have to face it.”

  “You’re shaking,” Héctor observed.

  “I can’t help it… I’m scared of her.”

  Candado cleared his throat.

  “Let’s see what the letter says.”

  “Who gave it to you?” Joaquín asked.

  “Henny.”

  “Oh man… I wanted to see him,” Joaquín said sadly.

  Candado opened the letter and began to read aloud:

  My dearest beloveds: Joaquín Barreto, Héctor Ramírez, and Candado Barret

  It’s been two years since we last saw each other. I think it’s about time. Your letters don’t satisfy me. I want to see you. I miss you so much! Make it happen… or I’ll destroy the prison where I currently reside and personally make sure all your little "tenants" are slaughtered. Especially you, Canda, my prince. Come—I have important information for you. Hécton, my love, I have something to tell you too, so please, come. And Joachi, my precious treasure, there’s something you must hear as well.

  You have one week to respond. If you don’t… you already know what awaits you.

  With love,

  Lila

  XOXOXO

  "This looks serious."

  "Yeah… very serious."

  "So, what do we do?" asked Candado.

  "I don’t want to see her."

  "Shocking words, Héctor."

  "Honestly, I vote we go see her," Joaquín chimed in.

  "I’m with Joaquín," Candado nodded.

  "Candado!"

  "What? We'll go down together."

  "That doesn’t help! I just got back and now I have to go to Kanghar again. What a pain… no."

  "You’re right. We leave tomorrow."

  "Exactl—NO! I'm not going again."

  "You’ve got one day. I’m being generous."

  "Candado, don’t do this to me..."

  Knock, knock, knock.

  "We’re busy. Who is it?"

  "It’s me."

  "Hammya? Go away, we’re busy."

  "Oh no. Definitely not."

  "That voice... Viki? What are you doing here?"

  "And I’m not alone, love."

  Knock, knocki-knock.

  "Ruth?"

  "What? How did you know that?" they both asked.

  "Well... she always knocks in that rhythm when she comes to my door."

  "Doesn’t matter. Go away."

  CLACK

  The sound of the lock being undone echoed. The door swung open, and in walked three girls: Ruth, the quiet lady; Viki, the loud lady; and Hammya, the self-proclaimed beautiful lady.

  "You know Clementina was there, right?"

  "We know."

  "Where? SHIT! Is she?"

  "We told her to take a break with that box of alfajores I gave her," Viki replied.

  "I’m going to rip out her stomach and tongue..."

  "Ruth, what are you doing here?"

  "…"

  "...Forget it," Joaquín sighed.

  "So then, who the hell is Lila?"

  The three boys immediately dropped to their knees.

  "That cursed name..." they replied in unison.

  "Lila is..." Héctor began.

  "The person..." added Candado.

  "...we’re afraid of," Joaquín finished.

  "Candado, afraid?" Hammya asked in disbelief.

  "She’s the only one who can coerce me mentally."

  The girls exchanged glances.

  "Take us with you," Viki said.

  "Absolutely not," the three replied in perfect sync.

  "Wait… I’m not going," Héctor realized.

  "Once again: yes, you are," said Joaquín.

  "I just got back! So no."

  Candado and Joaquín each placed a hand on his shoulders.

  "Viki," Joaquín began, "when Héctor was five, on Christmas he—"

  "NO! I’LL GO! JUST SHUT UP!"

  "You’re a great friend," Candado patted his shoulder.

  "But we have to do it in a way our mothers don’t find out. Preferably before sunset."

  "I thought we were going tomorrow?"

  "Personally, I want to get this dagger out before it gets infected," said Candado.

  "Great. How are we getting there? The ships are under maintenance today."

  "Don’t worry, Joaquín. Mauricio can take us there."

  "Ahem," Hammya interrupted. "Aren’t you forgetting something, boys?"

  "Fine... you can come. But you’ll regret it."

  Later.

  The group appeared out of nowhere in the middle of a forest.

  "Thanks for your help, Mauricio."

  "It was my pleasure."

  "We’ll be back later, so don’t go far."

  "As you wish, Candado."

  Mauricio vanished before their eyes in a soft flicker of light.

  "Hey, Candado, why didn’t you do that when we came here the first time?" asked Hammya, crossing her arms.

  "It’s simple," he replied with a slight smile. "I made you all wait on purpose."

  The group approached a fortress guarded by two stern-looking women at the entrance.

  "This is it, ladies," announced Héctor with a small bow. "The Fortress of Yur, the asylum of Kanghar."

  "Children, this is dangerous. I suggest you leave," warned one of the guards.

  "Relax, Olga. I’m Candado Barret. I received this letter from one of the inmates," he said, holding out an envelope.

  Olga, a woman in her thirties with a kind face and firm presence, took the letter and carefully checked the seals. She was known to be the best friend of Leandro’s mother.

  "I’m sorry to hear that, my Candado," she whispered, handing the letter back.

  "It’s fine," he replied, a bit uncomfortable.

  "My Candado?" Hammya echoed, raising an eyebrow.

  "Presidents in Kanghar are called ‘candados,’" Viki explained.

  "Yeah... that was clear the first time."

  "Call the director," Olga ordered firmly.

  "Yes, ma’am," the other guard replied, hurrying off.

  "So, how are things?" asked Candado.

  "Better. My daughter just finished her corún evaluation," Olga replied with a proud smile.

  "I’m glad. I hope she did well."

  "Corún?" Hammya asked, puzzled.

  "In Kanghar, the most prestigious job is that of librarian," Viki explained academically. "They store all the stories, recorded and marked by the corún, who write the histories of every guild, both inside and outside the country."

  "My daughter loves history," said Olga proudly.

  "Ma’am," a voice interrupted, "the director is at the gate."

  "Perfect. I won’t keep you any longer. You may go in."

  Candado adjusted his tie with a serious gesture, and the group stepped into the facility.

  There she was: a woman in her early thirties, with piercing green eyes, ashen hair tied back neatly, and dressed in a pristine white lab coat. She stood firmly before Candado and the rest of the group.

  “Vanesa,” he greeted her.

  “I see you read the letter... and, apparently, so did they. That was rather... quick, wasn’t it?” she replied bluntly.

  “I didn’t want to come,” Héctor clarified, raising his hand.

  Joaquín gave him a light tap on the head.

  “Hey!” protested Viki, unsheathing her claws with visible irritation.

  Ruth silently stepped between them, placing herself firmly between Joaquín and Viki.

  “Enough,” Candado interrupted with a sharp clap of his hands. Then he looked at Vanesa. “Please, go on. What happened?”

  “Inmate number 909, known as Lila, has displayed behavior... unbecoming for Kanghar’s laboratories.”

  “That’s it? That’s all?” Joaquín asked, skeptical.

  “No. Thanks to her, science has been able to answer a great question... and solve an ancient mystery. I thought it would be wise to inform you, but apparently, she insisted that the three of you be present before any decision was made.”

  “She must’ve found it fascinating enough to call us here,” murmured Candado.

  “She threatened to resist if you didn’t show up,” Vanesa added, unfazed.

  “I see...”

  “I’d better let her know you’ve arrived. Please, follow me.”

  “We’re with you,” Candado replied.

  They walked down long, imposing hallways, their walls seemingly whispering forgotten stories. At the end, they reached a small, almost insignificant door embedded in a wall so tall it seemed endless.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Vanesa placed her palm on a touch panel. A soft blue light lit up, and the door opened with a metallic hum.

  “Technology,” Héctor murmured, impressed.

  “Yes,” Vanesa smiled.

  Inside, they found a small room filled with computers and files, facing an enormous black screen.

  “The girls will need to stay here.”

  “That’s fine,” Viki answered for both.

  The trio followed Vanesa to an elevator on the left. Hammya approached Candado, worried.

  “Nothing will happen,” he whispered to her. “It’s for your safety.”

  “Step back, please,” Vanesa asked gently as she closed the elevator gate.

  Once inside, the elevator descended. A faint chill ran through them as they moved down. When the doors finally opened, they revealed a vast white chamber. At its center stood a small wooden cottage, surrounded by a soft, pristine atmosphere. Plush toys, games, and other objects were scattered around.

  Vanesa stepped forward first. Without knocking, she opened the cabin door.

  “They’re here,” she announced, stepping aside to allow a clear view of the entrance.

  From the dim interior, a figure emerged—Lila. Her appearance was gentler than the typical inmates of this facility. As she stepped fully into the light, the girls—watching from a window—were struck with surprise.

  Her hair was ashen blonde, and her eyes, a striking lilac that seemed to glow under the white light. She wore white garments with the number 909 printed on both her back and chest, the latter in a smaller font. But the most eye-catching features were the dark metallic muzzle covering her mouth and the chains wrapped tightly around her arms.

  “Candado. Joaquín. Héctor,” Lila greeted them, smiling with her eyes.

  “Vanesa, I’ll remove her chains and muzzle,” Candado stated calmly.

  “I can’t allow that,” she replied. “But since it’s you... I suppose it’s fine.”

  “Negative,” interrupted a voice over the loudspeaker. “It’s dangerous to remove the lock on her mouth.”

  “Carlos, I’ll be fine,” she said, smiling with eerie serenity.

  Vanesa pulled a key from the pocket of her white lab coat, but paused. She looked noticeably uneasy.

  “I’d prefer if one of them did it. Mr. Carlos is right—it could be dangerous,” said Lila.

  “I’ve done it before,” Vanesa replied, trying to sound confident.

  “From what I can see,” Candado interjected, “something happened that’s made you all more cautious than usual. Vanesa was the only one—besides us—that you never saw as a threat. But judging by your sweat, your subtle trembling, and those glassy, unfocused eyes... I can tell something happened between you two.”

  Vanesa lowered her gaze.

  “Yes. Something did happen,” Lila confessed.

  “I see…”

  “What do you see?” Hector whispered.

  “Something only women understand,” Candado replied, not taking his eyes off her.

  “I’m glad you do,” Lila smiled.

  Candado sighed and extended his hand.

  “Give me the key. I’ll do it.”

  Vanesa hesitated, but Lila stepped in.

  “Let him, please.”

  Silently, Vanesa handed over the key.

  “Alright,” Candado said.

  He stepped closer to Lila and offered her his left hand. She took it gently with both of hers. With precise movements, he began unlocking the chains around her wrists. The metallic clicks of the locks were the only sounds in the room. Everyone was tense. Even Lila. Everyone—except Candado.

  Once the chains fell to the floor, he moved on to those around her waist. Lila watched him the entire time, while he focused solely on the locks.

  At last, with the final lock undone, he looked up at her.

  “Your breathing’s irregular, and your pulse is elevated. You’re afraid. Do you want me to leave the muzzle on?”

  “Honestly… I’m afraid of what might happen.”

  “Lila Cárdenas, afraid? That’s hilarious,” Candado said, dead serious.

  “But I still want to do it. I want them to see me… without this thing on my face.”

  Candado gave a crooked smile.

  “There’s the Lila I know.”

  Carefully, he placed both hands on the dark muzzle and began to remove it.

  At that moment, the girls in the observation room gasped.

  Lila yawned. But her mouth… it was massive. Her cheeks stretched wide open, revealing rows of large, sharp, shark-like teeth.

  “Thank you,” Lila said, her voice finally free.

  “No problem.”

  Lila rubbed her cheeks, then smiled. It was a sweet smile—yet deeply unsettling. Her cheeks seemed inhumanly elastic. So much so that both Hector and Joaquín took a step back, visibly shaken.

  “Thank you for coming to see me.”

  “We came because you threatened us,” Hector said.

  “It wasn’t a threat. It was a fact.”

  “That’s why we’re here,” Joaquín replied.

  Lila smiled playfully, then gave a subtle nod toward Candado.

  “But I want her to say it for me. Because… if it comes out of this big mouth… hehe. Get it? Big mouth, because… eh… sorry.”

  Vanesa stepped forward, her tone serious.

  “We’ve discovered something truly unique—and extraordinary. All thanks to her condition… and the circumstances around it.”

  “Is there a cure?” asked Candado, as direct as always.

  “No. At least, not yet. We haven’t found any signs of a cure for her… situation.”

  “But there’s something that connects the three of us,” Joaquín added, with a hint of intrigue.

  “That’s right. A few days ago, we found she was bleeding.”

  “So?”

  “I got my period,” Lila said plainly.

  Silence. Immediate, uncomfortable, brutal silence.

  “Yeah… well… I had acne the other day. TEN THOUSAND KILOMETERS FOR THIS?! LET’S GO!” shouted Hector, spinning on his heel.

  But Candado stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, without even looking at him.

  “Not so fast, Hector. Let me get this straight… Lila, you had your period?”

  “That’s right.”

  “That means you’re starting to leave childhood behind. You’re entering the stage where… you become a woman, right?”

  “Correct, Joaquín,” she replied softly.

  “We’re twelve,” Joaquín grumbled. “Are you seriously bragging?”

  From the observation room, behind the glass:

  “Looks like they touched a nerve in Hector,” murmured Hammya.

  “My Hector gets upset over little things like this,” Viki said with a giggle.

  “Still… menstruation?” Hammya whispered.

  “Shhhh, let’s see what happens.”

  In the Room:

  “Well, I think I need to explain this so you can better understand the situation,” Vanesa said, raising her voice slightly.

  “Please!” the three boys pleaded in unison.

  “You see, Lila’s condition was already unique and strange on its own. But now that we know someone with her condition can bear children… it will be even more fascinating to study how those children develop, especially if we cross Lila’s case with three types of people.”

  “Three?” asked Candado.

  “Types?” followed Héctor.

  “People?” Joaquín chimed in.

  “Correct. We want to know what kind of individuals could be born under specific conditions.”

  “What kind of conditions, Miss Vanesa?” Lila asked with a crooked smile.

  “First, the sperm of a male without powers.”

  “Well, obviously! Unless you know a woman who’ll hand you sperm cells. By Isidro... and you call yourself a doctor?” Candado scoffed.

  “Ahem... my mistake. Second, someone with powers of any kind. Third, someone whose powers are hereditary.”

  Silence fell like a slab of stone. The three boys exchanged glances.

  “That’s right,” said Lila, stepping forward with conviction. “You’re going to be dads.”

  What followed wasn’t silence. It was the death of thought. Even the girls behind the glass panel stood frozen. And yet, it was Candado who broke the tension, as always.

  “Shit.”

  “None of that. This is how it’s going to be,” Vanesa said firmly.

  Lila confirmed it.

  “That was the deal. I won’t cooperate with the experiment unless it’s with you three.”

  “And if we refuse?” Héctor asked, tension in his voice.

  “Then the experiment doesn’t happen.”

  “Nothing to lose, then. What I can say is—”

  “You won’t refuse, my sweet Héctor,” Lila said gently, though her words carried weight.

  “Of course I can.”

  “I’m sorry, but we can’t let this opportunity pass. It’s the first time in the entire post-asteroid era that someone with her characteristics can give birth.”

  “Vanesa, can we speak in private?”

  “Don’t keep secrets from your Lila,” she whispered.

  “You’re not mine. I’m not a slaver.”

  “That’s fine,” Vanesa agreed.

  The group stepped away just far enough so that Lila wouldn’t hear them.

  “Talk,” said Candado.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I know there’s more behind this. You know there’s more. You’ve disagreed with her before, even contradicted her. But today, you’re fully behind her decisions.”

  “It’s because of the work,” Vanesa said, lowering her gaze. “It’s… really important…”

  “I’m sure it’s not just that. There’s something you haven’t told her. You’ve been worried... talk,” Candado insisted, eyes fixed on her.

  “No… well…”

  “Because you’re not going to tell me there are other ways to conceive, and yet the plan is that all three of us donate sperm. Judging by how she talks, I think she expects we’ll have a child the traditional way. I just hope she understands what that entails.”

  “Candado, sometimes you have no filter,” Héctor said, annoyed.

  “Being ashamed of talking about sex is stupid, Héctor.”

  “Yes…”

  “Yes, what?”

  “There’s something I didn’t tell you. Not her, not you either,” Vanesa admitted, her voice dropping.

  “Then speak,” Candado ordered.

  “We tried using her ovum and external sperm to create a baby… but it didn’t work. The embryo failed to develop and died after the second month of gestation. We failed. And we stopped trying after the eighth attempt.”

  “Oh God…” Joaquín whispered.

  “So we went with the natural route.”

  “We’re twelve years old! Talking about sex is one thing—doing it is something else entirely. It’s sickening, from where I stand,” Candado snapped.

  “We know. That’s why we’ve arranged everything according to Kanghar law.”

  “Wait... don’t tell me…”

  “That’s right, Joaquín,” Héctor said grimly. “According to Kanghar’s law, the legal age for sexual relations is seventeen.”

  “In five years,” Vanesa continued, “you’ll be selected by a lottery…”

  “Lottery? Vanesa, what the hell is that?!” Candado roared.

  Vanesa cleared her throat nervously.

  “It’s not what you think. One of you will have to impregnate her. Wait for her to have the child. Then the next will do the same. According to genetic analyses, there’s a high compatibility between her ovum and your genomes... something the donors lacked. That’s why we decided to try with one of you. Naturally.”

  “We refuse to participate,” the three boys said at once.

  “We can’t lose this opportunity. It’s better to talk about this early, so you’re mentally prepared. This case is unique.”

  “We refuse, Vanesa,” they repeated.

  “Our parents would chop off our heads if they found out we were going to have sex with a friend through a lottery... that’s human trafficking, no matter how you paint it.”

  “Héctor, this is different.”

  “If I survive my parents, I’m sure Viki will kill me,” he said with resignation.

  Joaquín and Candado each placed a hand on their friend's shoulder.

  "It's a shame you have a girlfriend," Joaquín teased.

  "Having a partner comes with its downsides," added Candado, knowingly.

  "You two… idiots. You don’t even realize that behind that glass are Hammya, Ruth, and Viki… melting it with their stares," Héctor muttered, exasperated.

  "Anyway," Candado cut in, turning to Vanesa, "we’ll say goodbye to Lila and then we’ll leave. At the very least, I’d like to… or we’d like to talk to her."

  “Candado? Do you have a way out of this?” Héctor asked quietly.

  “We all know she has a… let’s say, obsessive affection toward us. And that’s because her self-esteem is so fragile that if even one of us were to get upset, it could send her spiraling into suicidal thoughts. We might dislike her… maybe even fear her. But she loves us. At the very least, I want to hear from her own mouth what she thinks about all this.”

  “Then…” Joaquín murmured.

  “Vanesa.”

  “Yes?”

  “Let me speak to her about this. Héctor, Joaquín—please, watch your words when you speak to her.”

  “Understood,” nodded Héctor.

  “Whatever you say,” added Joaquín.

  A faint chill ran down Candado’s spine as his eyes locked on Lila.

  “Well then… time to investigate,” he murmured and began walking toward her, hands buried in his pockets.

  Tínbari… where are you when I need you? he whispered to himself.

  When he stood before her, no more than three steps away, he drew in a breath. He restrained his personality with near-superhuman effort, holding back any ill-timed comment.

  “Lila, I…”

  But she raised a hand.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m allowed to show affection, aren’t I?”

  “What...? Oh, that rule.”

  Candado sighed, took his hands out of his pockets, and extended them calmly.

  “All right. You may.”

  Lila smiled and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. Candado could feel a slight tremble in her body—not from fear, but from anticipation. She began caressing his back, rubbing her forehead against his chest.

  “So relaxing,” she whispered.

  Candado returned the gesture, patting her back gently, like consoling a small child.

  Finally, Lila pulled away, placed both hands on his cheeks… and kissed him.

  “WH—?!” Hammya hissed from behind the glass.

  Candado’s expression remained serious as Lila’s lips pressed against his. Four intense seconds passed—brief on a clock, but stretched long in his mind.

  When she finally pulled back, she looked into his eyes and smiled tenderly. Her pupils shifted colors, as though the kiss had activated some hidden mechanism in her soul.

  “Now we can talk,” she said.

  Lila walked toward the cabin, opened the door with a gallant gesture, and offered him passage like a courtly knight.

  Candado stepped forward and accepted the offer. He entered without a word, and she closed the door behind them.

  They stayed inside for more than fifteen minutes. Then, the door opened and Candado stepped out, hands behind his back, brow furrowed in thought.

  “Is that all?” Lila asked in a playful tone.

  “Enough… for now.”

  Lila smiled and turned her gaze to Héctor and Joaquín.

  “Creepy,” Héctor muttered under his breath.

  “Hectorcito,” Lila said sweetly, motioning with her hand. “Come here, please.”

  Candado stepped beside his friend and whispered:

  “Go.”

  “But…”

  “Do it. She gave me her word she wouldn’t hurt you.”

  Héctor adjusted his tie, swallowed hard, and approached Lila at a brisk pace, visibly trembling.

  “May I… do the same?” she asked sweetly. “With your permission, of course.”

  Héctor was speechless. He flicked his eyes to the window—he couldn’t see her, but he knew Viki, his girlfriend, was watching him.

  Lila narrowed her eyes, as if sensing something.

  “…?” she muttered, glancing briefly in the same direction Héctor had just looked.

  Sniff... sniff. She inhaled softly. “I smell it… three unfamiliar scents over there.”

  A thin line of drool slid from the corner of her lips. Her eyes slowly darkened until they were entirely black. Alarm flickered in Héctor’s eyes—and in the eyes of the three watching from behind him. Almost without thinking, his voice cracked with panic:

  “YES! I give you permission!”

  That single sentence seemed to bring her back to normal.

  “Sorry, what did you say?”

  “I… I give you permission. Yes… go ahead.”

  Lila smiled and threw herself into his arms, repeating the ritual: an embrace, a moment of closeness… even the kiss. Unlike Candado, though, Héctor was clearly embarrassed—and terrified. He knew Viki was watching.

  “…YOU WITCH!” Viki’s voice exploded from the other side of the glass, her nails clawing at it as sparks of fury danced in her eyes.

  Héctor heard the sound of cracking glass. It felt like his fate itself had fractured.

  “Please… forgive me,” he whispered—unsure whether he was speaking to Lila… or to Viki.

  “Forgive you? For what?”

  “Oh… nothing. Now, what’s going on?”

  Lila smiled and gently took his hand.

  “What?” he flinched.

  “Come inside. I have so much to tell you.”

  Practically dragged, Héctor followed her into the cabin.

  “What did she say to you?” Joaquín asked.

  “I’ll tell you later,” Candado muttered, still staring at the ground, his expression grave.

  About ten minutes passed. Finally, Héctor emerged from the cabin… trembling.

  “I’m dead,” he sighed.

  Lila then set her gaze on the last of the trio.

  “Quín… come, please.”

  When it was Joaquín’s turn, he didn’t hesitate. Not out of bravery—but because there was no escape left.

  “Here we go,” he murmured, resigned.

  He marched forward with a steady step. As he stood before her, Lila opened her mouth to speak, but Joaquín raised a hand.

  “Don’t bother. You have my permission.”

  Lila smiled with satisfaction, and once again, the ritual repeated itself.

  SMACK!

  A sharp impact rang out like a hammer slamming into a wall.

  Hammya and Viki stood slack-jawed as they turned to see Ruth calmly standing in front of a cracked wall, her expression entirely serene.

  “These girls…” sighed one of the guards as he sipped his coffee.

  When Joaquín pulled away from Lila, he glanced toward the source of the noise.

  “Everything alright?” Vanesa asked, pressing a finger to the communicator in her ear.

  “All good. Just… a wall fell victim to jealousy.”

  Joaquín turned back to Lila.

  She stepped behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “I know you like this.”

  “It’s soothing, yes.”

  “Let’s go inside. I have a lot to tell you.”

  “So do I.”

  And once more, the process repeated. Fifteen minutes of silence behind a closed door.

  When Joaquín rejoined the other two, they exchanged glances for a few seconds before nodding in unison.

  “We want to talk this over with our parents first,” said Héctor seriously. “Then we’ll give you an answer… if possible.”

  Vanesa smiled, clearly pleased.

  “Alright.”

  The trio then turned their gaze to Lila.

  “Take care,” they said in perfect sync.

  Lila responded with a warm smile.

  As the group left the room and stepped into the elevator, a chill ran down Héctor’s spine.

  “It’s coming…” he muttered nervously.

  “Oh, yeah,” Joaquín replied sarcastically. “I can already picture it.”

  The elevator came to a stop. The doors slid open, revealing three figures standing in wait. One didn’t need to be a psychic to sense they weren’t in a good mood.

  “Hi,” they greeted, their voices cold as ice.

  Héctor tried to smile, but the gesture barely formed before Viki slapped him across the face—only to immediately kiss him, leaving everyone stunned.

  “Overwritten and punished,” she said, her tone a strange mix of fury and affection.

  “I deserved that,” Héctor replied, resigned.

  “Not really,” Candado cut in with his usual dry tone.

  As for Joaquín, he received 0.00000000001% of the power contained in Ruth’s fist. The only thing that got wrinkled was his shirt.

  “What happened to the wall?” he asked, patting Ruth gently on the head.

  “They docked it from my paycheck,” muttered the coffee-drinking man from a nearby computer, eyes never leaving the screen.

  Finally, it was Candado’s turn. He stood in the middle, between the two girls, arms crossed and wearing an eccentric, defiant smile.

  “Go on… if you dare.”

  Hammya glared at him, barely containing her anger.

  “…This time, I’ll let it go,” she growled.

  Candado cleared his throat.

  “But I suppose you want answers,” he added, his tone regaining composure.

  “Obviously,” both girls replied at once.

  They all gathered in the staff break room, with Vanesa present. The girls sat on the couches, while the boys stood or leaned against the walls.

  “Her name is Lila Cárdenas,” Candado began.

  “Better known as 'Patient 909',” Héctor added.

  “And also as our ‘girlfriend,’” Joaquín said, making air quotes with his fingers.

  “WHAT?!” the girls exclaimed, alarmed.

  “Don’t fire up your engines, ladies,” Candado interrupted, raising a hand. “Lila Cárdenas is our fourth friend. We met her by accident when we were six.”

  “Then why is she here?” asked Viki seriously. “And with more security than the other patients?”

  The room fell into an uneasy silence. No one seemed to know how to explain something like that. At last, Candado spoke.

  “Bad luck,” he said flatly.

  “Bad luck?” the girls echoed, confused.

  “Lila had horrendous, disgusting luck,” Héctor said, indignant.

  “The kind that has no cure… at least not so far,” Joaquín added darkly.

  “She’s cursed by Conjuration No. 3 from the Black Book,” Héctor explained.

  “Gulahomine,” murmured Joaquín, the name hanging heavy in the air.

  “Cannibalism,” clarified Candado. “But driven by an uncontrollable urge to devour another human being.”

  “A curse that turns the child in the womb into a ravenous monster,” added Héctor, his expression grave.

  “That means…” Hammya began, going pale.

  “That’s right, Esmeralda,” Candado nodded grimly. “Lila ate her mother from the inside out. When the authorities arrived, they found a baby devouring what used to be a human being. It was a grotesque scene.”

  The silence grew heavy. The girls felt their stomachs churn. Deep down, something inside them had already suspected it… the chains, the muzzle, the special treatment. Everything made more sense now.

  “As for why we’re the only ones she doesn’t see as food…” Héctor lowered his gaze. “We don’t know.”

  “And how long have you known her?” Hammya pressed, still stunned.

  “We told you,” Joaquín replied. “Since we were six. Héctor, Candado, and I used to play in the gardens not far from this facility. One day, we decided to have a climbing contest. There was a tree that let us reach the wall. It wasn’t hard. But the branch broke… and we fell into the restricted area. That’s when we met Lila.”

  Six years ago.

  Joaquín and Héctor instinctively hid behind Candado when they saw a little girl in a purple nightgown, her eyes disturbingly empty. Her teeth—small, but sharp—stood out unnaturally.

  In her hands, she held some wilted flowers she'd picked up from the ground. She started pacing in circles around them, as if inspecting prey. Then, she dropped to all fours and crawled slowly toward the group.

  “Back,” Candado ordered, stomping the ground firmly.

  The girl stopped for a moment… then resumed her approach, as if his words meant nothing.

  Candado readied himself to stomp again, but before he could, the girl lunged at him—not to attack, but to sniff him. Her nose passed over his neck, his mouth, his waist, his back, his legs, his arms… every part of him.

  Candado couldn’t help but laugh at the ticklish sensation.

  Then she did the same to Joaquín and Héctor. When she was done, she sat on the floor and looked at them one by one. Without warning, she licked Candado’s lips. Then she did the same to Joaquín. And finally, Héctor.

  The trio was frozen in place.

  “Lila,” the girl said at last, as if that explained everything.

  “What?” the three boys blurted out in unison.

  “I’m Lila.”

  Present day.

  “And basically, that’s how we met,” Candado summarized.

  “So… a complete stranger tackled you to the ground, sniffed you like a dog, and licked your mouths like a cat?” Viki asked, still processing the surreal image.

  “Yes,” all three replied at once.

  “But… how did you find out she was a cannibal?” Hammya asked cautiously.

  “Unfortunately, Hammya,” said Joaquín, “we found out that same day.”

  Six years ago.

  Some guards came running, having detected unauthorized children in the security field. When they saw Lila with them, their faces twisted in fear.

  She stood and calmly walked toward them, but the men didn’t see a little girl—they saw a threat. Enough of one that one guard struck her hard across the head with his baton.

  “Restrain her!” another shouted.

  Two guards leapt on her, treating her like a wild animal. They tied her down, immobilizing her like a beast, completely ignoring that she was just a child.

  Candado wouldn’t allow it. He lunged at the guard and shoved him away from the girl.

  “There’s no need to be so rough with her…”

  THUD*

  Another guard struck Candado directly in the stomach with his baton. He doubled over in pain.

  “Get them out of here!”

  The other two guards wasted no time. One grabbed Candado by the hair while the others dragged the boys away without a hint of mercy.

  Lila felt something inside her snap. A terrible, primitive thirst. Her eyes turned completely black.

  "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

  The scream was inhuman. The rope binding her snapped as if it were made of paper, and in a sudden move, she bit the neck of the guard who had struck Candado. Blood splattered across her face and that of everyone present.

  A third guard drew his weapon and fired. The bullet hit her, but it wasn't enough to stop her. Lila turned toward him, her sharp, bloodstained teeth gleaming in the light, and ripped off his left hand with one bite. The weapon fell to the ground, firing by accident. The bullet struck Héctor’s arm directly.

  "AAAAAAAAAH!" Héctor screamed, collapsing to the ground as he clutched at the wound.

  "Héctor!" Candado shouted, rushing to him alongside Joaquín.

  Héctor lay on the ground, screaming, writhing in pain with tears streaming down his face. Joaquín, paralyzed, trembled as he tried to help, not knowing how. Candado, with more composure, removed his tie and, tearing off the sleeve of Héctor's shirt, applied an improvised tourniquet. Héctor screamed even louder.

  Lila turned toward the sound. Her mouth was dripping with blood, chunks of human flesh still caught between her teeth. Her eyes fixed on Héctor, writhing on the ground. She felt something like hatred... and then looked at the mutilated man at her feet.

  "Monster..." she whispered.

  She opened her mouth unnaturally wide and lunged at him, aiming for his face.

  Candado was trying to calm Héctor, applying what he remembered of the first aid his sister had taught him. Joaquín remained motionless, hands over his head, in shock.

  "Hold on... come on, hold on," Candado murmured desperately.

  It was then that Lila approached the group. She walked with an erratic gait, claws splayed, her bloody mouth still slightly ajar. Candado stood in her way with his facón in hand, ready to protect his friends. But Lila didn’t attack. She crouched down, crawled toward Héctor, and observed him with a vacant expression, tilting her head back and forth like a curious animal. Her eyes landed on the gunshot wound.

  Then she extended her tongue, long, almost like an anteater's, and began licking the wound. Candado gripped the handle of his weapon tighter, ready to act.

  But what he saw froze him.

  Lila, with terrifying precision, coiled her tongue around the embedded bullet and extracted it from the flesh.

  "AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Héctor screamed before losing consciousness from the pain.

  Candado reacted instantly. He brandished the facón and attacked. But Lila raised a hand and stopped him. The blade pierced her palm, but she didn’t flinch. She didn’t take her eyes off the injured man.

  With a calm gesture, she spat the bullet aside and moved toward Joaquín, still paralyzed. She hugged him, staining his clothes with blood. Then she walked toward Candado, returned the facón by pulling it from his wounded hand, and collapsed onto him, closing her eyes.

  Soon after, a squad of heavily armored guards surrounded the area. In the center, three corpses, one unconscious child, another in shock, a bloodied creature... and a confused young man holding that same creature in his arms. Lila, oblivious to everything, rested against Candado, calmly devouring the left hand of one of the guards, as if savoring the most delicious treat.

  Present.

  The girls’ blood ran cold as Candado finished recounting that gruesome story. Silence reigned for a few seconds.

  "Our parents cried when they found out everything," Candado said quietly. "We were punished severely."

  "Except for me," Joaquín added. "My mind shut off for an entire week. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t think. It was as if I had disappeared."

  "After everything you saw... why?" Viki asked softly.

  "Because it was our fault," Candado replied without hesitation. "We were kids, yes, but we were accomplices in a brutal murder. The worst part is that we felt like we had awakened something in her. What those guards did was horrible, but nothing justifies what happened. Not even death."

  "That’s why, to clear our consciences, we decided to educate her," Joaquín interjected, looking directly at Ruth. "That’s the real reason I accepted you."

  Ruth lowered her gaze. No one spoke for a few moments.

  "Lila didn’t choose to be like this," Héctor added. "She’s not to blame for the curse inside her. But that day... something changed in her and in us."

  "And it was a surprise," Vanesa intervened, "to discover that you didn’t awaken her hunger. Even when she was starving, she never attacked you. Instead, when the hunger would strike, she would try to devour the staff, over and over again."

  "When she was younger, it was relatively easy to control her," he sighed. "But now that she’s grown, it’s become harder and harder to manage her. Not to mention that everyone in this building, except for nine people, neither fears nor hates her," Joaquín said with a somber tone.

  "We’re not idiots," Candado added, frowning. "We know that Lila isn’t right, that it’s possible she’ll never leave here. That’s why... even though it bothers us, we have to be there."

  He paused, clenching his fists.

  "And we’re her only ‘drug’ in this place. Yes, her personality has become twisted, that’s undeniable. But she still finds refuge in us, in our presence. As long as we’re near, she contains that impulse to destroy the entire facility and devour every living being in Kanghar."

  Joaquín nodded.

  "And we have to help her face her problems."

  The three of them exchanged determined looks.

  "It’s our duty," they said in unison.