The night was quiet when Claws left his house. His parents watched him go, their expressions heavy and full of worry.
— Go stay at Matheus' house — his mother said, her voice firm but trembling. — We don't approve of this situation with your grandfather, but it's for your safety.
Claws nodded, feeling a knot in his stomach. Every step he took seemed to echo in his mind: the agreement with his grandfather, the move to a middle-class neighborhood, the future responsibility of taking over the businesses and the gang… everything weighed heavily.
On the way, he thought about how much his life had changed in the past few days. The gang, his group of friends, the school, the mystery of the shadow and the body, and now Cláudio Mendonça's absolute power looming over him. Every detail seemed to demand extreme caution.
When he arrived at Matheus' house, he was greeted by his friend's worried smile:
— Claws, are you okay? — Matheus asked, trying to read his expression.
— I'm… — Claws replied, trying to sound calm, though the tension was visible.
Meanwhile, at his home, Claws' parents called Cláudio Mendonça, making it clear that they didn't fully approve of the agreement:
— Cláudio, we don't agree with this — said his father firmly. — But we want to make sure Claws is safe.
The grandfather responded calmly, almost calculatingly:
— I understand… everything is under control. But certain decisions will have to be made by him in the future.
Claws, unaware of the conversation, tried to relax a little at Matheus' house, but sleep didn't come. The next day began with the incessant vibration of his phone. Looking at it, he saw a missed call from his grandfather, and immediately after, another unknown number was calling.
He answered quickly, but something happened: just seconds later, Claws dropped the phone and ran off, speechless. Matheus ran after him, alarmed:
— Claws! What happened?
— My… my parents… are in the hospital… in serious condition… — Claws said, his voice trembling, almost breaking.
Matheus grabbed him by the shoulder, realizing the gravity of the situation. — Come on, quickly!
They ran together to the hospital. With every step, Claws felt his heart tighten, imagining the worst possible scenarios. Upon arriving, the environment was eerily silent, strange, and heavy.
A nurse approached and confirmed the worst:
— I'm sorry… there was nothing we could do. Your parents passed away before arrival.
Claws felt the ground disappear beneath his feet. He could barely breathe, and Matheus, seeing the scene, quickly grabbed his phone and sent a message to the group, warning:
"Everyone… something happened to Claws' parents. They… didn't make it. Everyone stay alert."
As the news spread through the group, the hospital's silence was broken only by firm, heavy footsteps. Claws lifted his eyes and, in the distance, saw his grandfather, Cláudio Mendonça, enter the room.
He was visibly shaken, his eyes brimming with tears, yet his posture remained firm and imposing. Even while crying, there was an aura of power that dominated the room. Every person present felt that he controlled everything around him, even in the midst of tragedy.
Claws approached, unable to find words, and the grandfather only nodded slightly, as if acknowledging his grandson's pain.
— I… — Claws began, but his voice failed.
Cláudio Mendonça placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder, firm, conveying strength and authority:
— I know it hurts, Claws. But everything happening now… is part of the path you will have to walk. It's painful, but necessary.
Matheus stayed by Claws' side, holding his arm and observing the grandfather, sensing the mixture of pain, power, and mystery emanating from every gesture of the man. Cláudio Mendonça's presence made it clear that any future action would be watched and controlled, and that Claws would now face not only the danger of the gangs but also the weight of his grandfather's legacy.
Silence settled again, heavy and full of meaning. Claws felt the responsibility grow in his chest. The future would be cruel, demanding, and dangerous. But there, in that moment, the combination of grief, shock, and his grandfather's presence marked the beginning of a new phase — a phase in which Claws would need to face loss, learn quickly, and prepare to assume a power that no one else could fully understand.
The chapter ends with Claws looking at his grandfather, feeling both the pain of loss and the weight of an inevitable future, while Matheus stays beside him, ready to support his friend in everything.