We are Vianey and Liam.
—I'm asking you this, please —said Vianey, Liam's mother, while speaking with the boss in charge.
She was always in the private area, set aside for VIP guests who came in after the charity parties.
—I've been working well and according to everything you ask of me. I need you not to involve my son, nor my coworkers' children, nor the businessmen's children.
—What makes you think you're different from the others to ask for that? —he asked me, gesturing toward the girls who were there wearing swimsuits.
They left the room, leaving Vianey and her boss alone.
—Are you planning to offer me money?
—Yes, but… —she tried to say, but he interrupted her.
—So predictable. I thought you were smarter, considering you're a doctor.
—I have money saved in the bank.
—You know that won't work. How much is your son's safety worth? —he asked.
She clearly knew where that conversation was heading.
Very predictable.
Very disgusting.
—I'll do anything —she answered, trying to sound confident.
She was an adult, independent, but she had the bad luck that one of them offered her a job in one of the foundations. She wanted to leave, but like everyone else, she was trapped.
—But you must keep your word.
—Alright… alright… —she replied, finally accepting.
He raised his hand and placed his fingers on Vianey's cheek.
She felt chills from the coldness of his touch.
Then he walked to the door to speak with security.
Vianey stayed still, accepting the decision she had made.
—Don't let anyone bother us until I come out, understood? —he ordered.
They nodded.
Finally, he closed the door and approached her again.
He touched her shoulder and led her to the room.
While Liam sneaked between the rooms looking for his mother, she was being subdued by the boss who had started harassing her from the beginning, and she finally gave in, not because she wanted to, but because, like everyone else, she felt cornered.
Luck was on Liam's side, since he hadn't gone up to the VIP rooms, where the dangerous people were.
—What's wrong, Liam? —the medical assistant asked—. Are you looking for your mom?
Little Liam was still very innocent.
After all, he was only twelve years old.
And he didn't want to be away from his mother, because to his father he didn't exist.
A few hours passed and Liam stayed in the work area that was usual for his mom. At that time they didn't send anyone, since they always did it at dawn and there was still a long time left.
Liam didn't leave because he clearly remembered his mother's orders.
The door opened, revealing Vianey.
Liam stood up excited, but from the expression on her face he concluded something had happened.
After her, that man entered, the one he didn't like, because he was always saying things to his mom that he didn't like, but he couldn't say anything because Vianey had forbidden him.
He approached Liam.
Vianey simply said nothing.
She just watched the scene.
—Your mother is incredible —he said to Liam, touching his shoulder.
Liam clearly didn't understand.
—Well, now you'll be one of my protégés, along with your mother.
He said that while turning toward her.
He shrugged when she didn't respond and kissed her forehead.
He had already approached the door when a scream was heard.
That made everyone react.
—Don't go out —Vianey told Liam.
He nodded.
They went out with the nurse to see what was happening.
A girl ran past them, so fast that none of them reacted, but she didn't get anywhere, because at the end of the hallway they caught her.
Then Henry appeared, walking with a calm step.
Vianey stepped back when she saw who he was dragging across the floor.
She didn't know if he was still alive, but that boy had lost an arm and blood was dripping across the floor.
Henry's mouth was stained with blood.
The nurse covered her mouth and looked away.
The girl, who was the same age as Ari, cried in a strange way, as if she had already accepted her fate, as if she couldn't deny what we were all seeing.
Vianey's boss took a step forward, but Henry raised a finger toward him.
That was enough to stop him.
To keep him from interfering.
The boy we thought was dead lifted his head.
It was a mess from the blows.
And he was alive… alive.
—Es…ca…pe… —he said toward the girl.
Vianey saw a tear fall down his face.
—Now who's going to protect you? —Henry asked.
He seemed truly calm, even though he was covered in blood.
The girl shrieked.
The tremors in her body were obvious.
—Your brother is about to die, so I'd better hurry… because the meat won't taste the same.
Then, in the silence after he had said those words, the girl opened her eyes when she looked at him.
She took the arm he still had and pulled out a knife.
She opened a wound in the arm.
She leaned down.
The young man, about twenty years old, shook his head; it was the only thing he could do.
Then Henry moved closer to the bit wound and bit the wound, tearing the flesh alive.
The worst part wasn't the girl's scream, but the sound.
Liam came out of the room when he heard that scream and Vianey turned immediately to cover him, but even so he managed to see. And she had to cover his mouth when she realized he was about to scream.
—Ca..mi..la —was the last thing she heard the boy say, and Vianey took Liam back into the room, away from the grotesque scene they had just witnessed.