Earlier, after Gabi left the principal's office.
"She usually gets into some trouble here and there, but hitting a boy? I was a bit surprised, good thing everything got 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 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 at 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 already 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. Who does not break easily!" Márcia rests her elbows on the table. "It was a very special request."
In silence, Marcos only 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 the 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 indeed be a problem." Marcos outlines a possible scenario for what is going to happen.
"They are already taking care of that."
"And her friends? That boy has aptitude to be a tracker. He can be a problem. Not to mention they are inseparable, you know very well how resentments can cost dearly." Marcos says these words with his face turned to the floor and a vacant gaze.
"They will go together!"
Márcia reveals casually while looking at the ceiling.
"Hey hey... Is that not too risky? The three at once?" He even shows a worried expression for a moment. "They might dig deep into the investigations this time. Besides, the interval between the operations has decreased a lot in the last year. The people down there 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 at 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 Tokyo? He got involved in a fight with a human at one of the starting points for the journey of fire. 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 hot-headed, however, being killed by humans... We better stay alert."
She takes a deep breath.
"I will suggest that the transport be carried out 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 her speech for a while, observes framed photos on the wall of classes that graduated 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 speech casting a sideways glance at Marcos.
"Well, if everything is already settled. I hope everything works out! This money will boost the funding of projects in Ayda and Atlás."
Marcos' expression changes from indecision and concern to that of someone thinking about something. Then he opens a smile and gets up from the chair toward the door. He stops for a moment and turns to Márcia.
"Next month I think I will buy that new car I always wanted, maybe I will 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 get away from all this." Márcia glances at a telephone on the table.
"I understand, I will also disappear from this shitty outskirts. I do not know how I ended up here!" With an expression of disgust, he complains and belittles the place.
"You do know! That was the only reason you came here, just like me!"
Márcia retorts.
"It is true." With these last words thrown into the air, he gives a slight smile and leaves the room, closing the door.
A few minutes later, Márcia is staring at the white telephone on the table. She observes its red buttons with white numbers. She opens one of the drawers, and after searching for a bit, finds a large yellow folder. Throwing it onto the table and opening it, several papers are revealed.
After flipping through them, she finds one that catches her attention. Without wasting time, she picks up the telephone and holds it between her shoulder and ear. Then she begins to dial numbers, while sliding her finger over the paper.
After several seconds of waiting, and almost giving up on the call.
"Hello?"
A female voice comes from the telephone.
"Leila, I cannot explain it properly 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 phone and lets out a deep sigh.
The image of a smiling girl appears in her mind.
But soon disappears into darkness.
Then she stands up and walks to her cabinet and takes her bag.
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 for 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!"