The hospital corridor still smelled of alcohol and sorrow. Claws stood frozen, paralyzed by news he didn't want to believe. His parents' bodies had already been taken to the morgue, and the emptiness they left seemed to weigh tons on his shoulders.
Matheus stayed by his side, worried, but unsure what to say. He was the one who had alerted the group, and one by one they began to arrive: Rafa, Isa, Diego, and Lucas. All silent, because no words could fill that pain.
Rafa was the first to break the silence.
— Claws… I know you don't like this, but… — she pulled him into a tight hug, not waiting for a response. He didn't resist, simply closing his eyes and letting his chest tremble for a moment.
Isa, more reserved, held his arm and whispered:
— We'll stay here, no matter what happens.
Diego and Lucas didn't know how to react, but their presence already said a lot. The group was complete, and even in the worst moment, no one would abandon Claws.
Then, heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor. Antônio, Claws' grandfather, appeared with a solemn gaze. He wore an expression of grief, but his erect posture and cold tone revealed a man who did not easily break.
— My grandson… — he said, placing a hand on Claws' shoulder. — I know nothing I say will bring them back. But I want you to understand: your family is bigger than this. And now, more than ever, you need to be strong.
Claws stared at his grandfather. There were tears in Antônio's eyes, but also something hidden, something that made him suspicious. For a moment, he thought about accusing him, shouting that this was his fault, but he had no proof. The words didn't come out.
The silence was only broken when a nurse asked the family to step aside. Antônio leaned close to Claws' ear and whispered:
— The life your parents led was not meant for them. But you… you were made to bear this weight.
Claws did not respond.
---
Two days later, the funeral took place. The light rain made the cemetery even heavier. The group stayed around Claws the entire time, shielding him from prying eyes and comments.
Rafa seemed full of anger, as if she wanted to unleash it on someone.
— This wasn't an accident, Claws. I know it wasn't. — she muttered, staring at the grave. — Whoever did this will pay.
Isa, on the other hand, was more investigative. While everyone cried, she observed who showed up, who avoided looking, who spoke too much. That's when she noticed something strange: the vice-principal, Augusto, was present. It wasn't uncommon for a school staff member to attend, but he seemed restless, as if hiding something.
Lucas, standing beside her, whispered:
— You saw that too? He's not here out of respect. He's here to watch closely.
Isa nodded. A new thread connected in her mind.
---
That night, after the funeral, the group gathered in Matheus' room. The atmosphere was silent, but everyone knew they needed to talk.
— I don't want to hear anyone telling me to forget. — Claws began, his voice firm, eyes red. — Whoever did this will not go unpunished.
Diego leaned forward in his chair.
— But you can't do this alone, Claws. We know something big is happening. There are gangs, people above pulling the strings.
Lucas opened his backpack and took out a crumpled piece of paper.
— Isa and I found this in Augusto's office. A list. Names of students. And guess who was on it? Matias.
Rafa clenched her fists.
— That bastard has always been meddling.
Isa added:
— And that's not all. The black car we saw near your parents' house… was also seen parked near the school.
Claws listened in silence. Every word added weight to his mind, but also fuel to the fire burning in his chest.
— So it wasn't a coincidence… — he murmured. — Augusto, Matias, that car… everything is connected.
The group exchanged glances. It was the first time since the tragedy that Claws seemed to regain focus.
Matheus placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
— If it's war, we're with you.
Claws stood, walked to the window, and looked outside at the city illuminated by night. He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, but also the strength of having people by his side.
— If they want to break me… — he said firmly, turning to the group. — They'll have to go through us.
A heavy silence filled the room. It wasn't just a sentence. It was a promise.