Earlier, after Gabi left the principal's office.
"She usually gets into some trouble here and there, but hitting a boy? I was a little surprised, it is good that everything was resolved!" Márcia comments, relieved, looking at Marcos.
"Yes, when I saw the crowd on the court, I thought the boys were fighting over the ball again."
Marcos describes what happened while sitting down in a chair.
"But I never imagined it would be Sarah. Hitting a boy? I was surprised!" He pauses for a moment while his gaze becomes distant and directed toward a wall, then continues.
"She was so focused that she barely heard the people around her. And that look…"
"Soon everyone will forget." Márcia adds.
"So it is decided then?" Marcos asks her with a doubtful look.
"Yes. The first half has already been paid."
"When?"
"Next week."
Silence takes over for a few seconds.
"Someone like her…" he murmurs, casting his gaze toward the ceiling.
"Strong. Determined. Not easily broken!" Márcia rests her elbows on the desk. "It was a very special request."
In silence, Marcos just listens.
"Maybe she is capable…" she murmurs in whispers to herself.
"What is it?" he asks her.
"Forget it!" She composes herself while sighing.
"Her father will not be a problem, obviously. But her mother… The way she defends her daughter every time she is called here. Not to mention her high position in the archaeologists' guild. That will be a problem." Marcos outlines a possible scenario of what will happen.
"They are already taking care of that."
"And her friends? That boy has aptitude to be a tracker. It could be a problem. Not to mention they are inseparable, you know very well how resentments can cost dearly." Marcos pronounces these words with his face toward the floor and a vacant gaze.
"They are going together!"
Márcia reveals casually while looking at the ceiling.
"Hey, hey… Is that not too risky? The three of them at once?" He even shows a brief expression of concern. "They may dig deep into the investigations this time. Besides, the interval between operations has decreased a lot in the last year. The people down below have been taking too many risks lately."
He throws his body back into the chair while closing his eyes and scratching his head.
"Even being inferior, they are numerous. Their technology has evolved a lot. One of ours died recently on the border with the Desert of Creation."
"Who?" Márcia asks, surprised.
"Do you remember Mishigan? He wanted to go to Atlás to become an elite member of Tóquio? He got involved in a fight with a human at one of the starting points for the fire journey. They say he lost control… and the border guards shot him. Not that he was strong. But even so, he was still superior."
"He was always hotheaded. But being killed by humans… We better stay alert."
She takes a deep breath.
"I will suggest that the transport be done by a group of specialized kidnappers of their race. That way we avoid any suspicion. There is a lot of money this time, this operation cannot fail."
She pauses for a moment, observing framed photos on the wall of graduating classes with distinction, students who became great hunters, among others.
"The school will be shaken for a while, but they will overcome it. Children disappear all the time, it will be just another investigation." Márcia finishes her sentence casting a sideways glance at Marcos.
"Well, if everything is already settled, I hope it all works out! This money will leverage the funding of the projects in Ayda and Atlás."
Marcos's expression changes from indecision and concern to that of someone thinking about something. Then he opens a smile and stands up from the chair toward the door. He pauses for a moment and turns to Márcia.
"Next month I think I will buy that new car I have always wanted, maybe buy a house too. And you?"
"I will request my leave from the school. I cannot stand this place anymore. I will move to the coast and distance myself from all of this." Márcia glances at a telephone on the desk.
"I understand, I will disappear from this shitty outskirts too. I do not know how I ended up here!" With an expression of disgust, he complains and belittles the place.
"You know very well! That was the only reason you came here, just like me!"
Márcia retorts.
"That is true." With those last words thrown into the air, he gives a slight smile and leaves the room, closing the door.
A few minutes later, Márcia finds herself staring at the white telephone on the desk. She observes its red buttons with white numbers. She opens one of the drawers and after searching a little, finds a large yellow folder. When she throws it onto the desk and opens it, several papers are revealed.
After flipping through them, she finds one that catches her attention. Without wasting time, she grabs the telephone and traps it between her shoulder and ear. Then she begins dialing numbers while sliding her finger across the paper.
After several seconds of waiting, almost giving up on the call.
"Hello?"
A female voice emerges from the telephone.
"Leila, I cannot explain properly right now. Meet me Saturday night at the park around the lake. I have something very important that I need to tell you."
Márcia hangs up the telephone and takes a deep sigh.
The image of a smiling girl appears in her mind.
But soon disappears into the darkness.
Then she stands up and walks to her cabinet and takes her purse.
After opening it and taking out a black-covered diary.
She opens it and with a pen begins to write.
"October 13, 1999
Today, for the first time in a long time, I felt something I had not felt in years.
Guilt.
I do not regret anything I have done until now.
But her…
There is something in her that insists on making me hesitate.
I think I have spent too much time here.
Maybe it is time to pay for my sins.
ps: Forever!"