The week after the funeral was the quietest of Claws's life. His room felt suffocating, the school corridors empty. Even his friends avoided speaking loudly around him, respecting the weight he carried. But silence was dangerous too: it fed dark thoughts and questions nobody wanted to answer.
That morning, Isa and Lucas were in the school library. Piles of open books, but none for studying. They were investigating on their own.
"Look at this…" Isa pushed a poorly copied school log closer to him. "The black car we saw… was parked here three times. Always at night."
Lucas frowned. "Always at the same time Augusto stayed late…"
Isa bit her lip. "He's involved, Lucas. It can't be a coincidence."
Before they could say more, the library door creaked. They looked at each other, frozen. A shadow passed down the hallway, and only then did they realize it was just a janitor. Still, the tense atmosphere didn't disappear.
"We can't investigate just in here," Lucas whispered, closing the book. "I have spare keys to the school. We can come back at night."
Isa took a deep breath. "It's risky… but it's the only way."
---
Meanwhile, Claws walked alone across the courtyard. Eyes weighed on him. Some students whispered, others looked away. To many, Claws was no longer just the kid who got into gang trouble; now he was also the son marked by tragedy.
Suddenly, a voice sliced through the air: "Claws!"
It was Matias, a third-year, with his mocking smile. He approached, flanked by two classmates. "I heard about your parents… what a terrible loss, huh?" he said sarcastically.
Claws clenched his fists but kept his composure. "Watch your words."
Matias laughed. "Relax, I didn't come to fight. I just wanted to remind you that in this game, whoever shows weakness loses. And I found your weak spot."
Claws didn't answer, he just stared. Matias leaned in and murmured: "Your friends."
Blood boiled in Claws's veins. But before he could react, a teacher appeared in the courtyard and the tension dissipated. Matias backed off, but shot one last provoking look.
Claws breathed deeply. He knew he couldn't fall for the provocation there, but he also knew Matias wasn't bluffing.
---
That night, Isa and Lucas met in front of the school. The mood was heavy, but the two were determined. Lucas pulled the spare keys from his pocket.
"Ready?" he asked.
Isa nodded, and they went in. The school felt like a ghost maze. Every step echoed too loudly. They headed straight for the vice-principal's office.
Inside, they rifled through drawers, papers, and files. Lucas found a folder hidden at the back of a cabinet. Inside were several notes with strange symbols and nighttime schedules.
"This is like a code…" Isa whispered. "But there are students' names mixed in."
At the top of the list, Matias's name appeared in clear letters.
Suddenly, a noise in the hallway. Isa turned off her phone flashlight. Heavy footsteps echoed. They hid behind the door. The doorknob turned, but the door didn't open.
Through the crack, they saw Vice-Principal Augusto pass by, accompanied by a third-year student — a girl with straight black hair named Camila. She carried a similar folder.
"Tomorrow you hand this over," Augusto said in a low voice, but clear enough for Isa to hear. "And don't mess up."
Isa and Lucas looked at each other, hearts racing.
When they disappeared down the corridor, Lucas exhaled with relief. "Did you see that? He's using students as messengers."
Isa clutched the paper in her hand. "And Matias is one of them."
---
The next day, the group met during recess to talk in secret. Rafa was restless, tapping her fingers on the table.
"So you're telling me Augusto is up to his neck in this?" she asked.
Isa nodded. "Yes. He's not just covering things up. He's coordinating something."
Diego scratched his head, confused. "But… why? What does he gain from this?"
Lucas answered: "Protection. Information. Maybe money. But one thing is certain: he's not acting alone."
Claws listened quietly. He was there physically, but his mind still spun between the pain of loss and the anger consuming him.
"Claws, say something," Matheus insisted.
Claws lifted his gaze. "If Augusto's involved… my parents' deaths could be connected to this too."
A heavy silence fell over them. It was a hypothesis no one wanted to say out loud, but everyone feared it.
Rafa slammed her hand on the table. "Then let's go after him. Now!"
Isa held her arm. "Calm down. We need proof. Otherwise we won't survive a week."
Claws clenched his fists. "Then we'll get that proof. But I swear… whoever killed my parents will pay."
---
That night, Claws sat alone on the balcony of his room. His phone buzzed. An anonymous message appeared on the screen:
"You shouldn't be poking at what you don't understand."
He stared at the screen, heart racing. Before he could reply, another message arrived:
"If you keep going, the next to fall will be one of your friends."
Claws gripped the phone so hard he nearly broke it. For the first time since the tragedy, he didn't cry. He burned.
"Then try," he whispered. "Try to touch them."
And the darkness of the night seemed to laugh back.