5

Mia's cell phone vibrated again in her pocket, and she felt a lump form in her throat. She didn't need to look to know who it was. Her mother never called insistently unless she thought there was some danger. The very thought made her stomach turn.

Liam, standing next to her, noticed her tension and frowned.

“How about we move our plans forward? Let's go to my place now.”

Mia stared at him, torn. Part of her felt she should take the call - maybe her mother really was in trouble. Another part, however, already foresaw the impending chaos of a new move. If that was the case, she wanted to at least take her chance with Liam. After so many years of running and hiding, she wanted to live. Even for a moment.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded.

“Okay, let's go.”

A wide smile broke out on Liam's face. He took her hand and, without hesitation, pulled her towards the back exit of the school. They had to sneak to avoid being seen by any staff or security guards, but, like two teenagers determined to escape, they managed to get out unnoticed. In the parking lot, Liam unlocked his motorcycle, handing her a helmet.

“Get on.”

Mia held her breath. She had never ridden a motorcycle before, but at that moment she didn't care. She climbed on behind him and hesitantly wrapped her arms around his waist. Her heart raced, but she couldn't tell if it was from the adrenaline or from being so close to Liam.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Elisa was in the middle of another exhausting day at the diner where she worked as a waitress. The smell of oil and coffee permeated her clothes, and her body already ached from walking back and forth serving customers. At least, that's what she thought until her cell phone rang.

She saw that it was her mother and sighed. Maybe Tereza was calling to talk about Mia or just to check on her. She decided to answer it outside, seeking a little privacy and fresh air. She pushed open the back door of the diner and put the phone to her ear.

“Mom?”

What he heard on the other end made his blood run cold. A desperate scream. The sound of a violent knock. And then... silence.

“Mom?! MOTHER!” Elisa shouted, but the line was dead. Her heart was hammering against her chest. Her instinct screamed that something terrible had happened.

She frantically tried to call back, but the phone said it was disconnected.

“No... no...” she whispered, feeling a wave of panic wash over her. They had been found. There was no other explanation. The old ghosts she had feared had finally caught up with them.

Without wasting any more time, she opened her contact list and pressed Mia's number. The phone rang once, twice, three times. No answer. Mia wasn't answering.

“Damn it, Mia, pick up!” she hissed, trying again and again. Nothing. His daughter was too stubborn, but that didn't matter now. She needed her to run, to hide, to wait for her at home where there might still be a chance of escape.

Her boss shouted something behind her, asking why she was standing outside, but Elisa ignored it completely. Her hands were shaking as she put her cell phone away and walked out of the back alley of the diner. Desperation took over her movements. She had no time to explain, no time to ask permission to leave.

Her heart racing, she raised her hand and hailed a cab, practically throwing herself in as soon as it pulled up beside her.

“To Roosevelt High School, quickly!”

The driver, sensing her urgency, hit the gas. Elisa squeezed her eyes shut, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. Her chest burned with uncertainty and fear. She prayed softly that her parents and daughter would be safe.

But something inside her told her it was too late.

Meanwhile, Mia turned off her cell phone as soon as she got out of Liam's car and looked at the imposing house in front of her. The two-storey townhouse exuded sophistication, with large windows and an entrance clad in light stone, surrounded by an impeccably pruned garden. Nothing there seemed out of place.

She took a deep breath and tried not to notice so much. But it was impossible to ignore the stark contrast between that home and her own. While Mia's house was small, with old furniture and an air that everything there had been reused several times, Liam's was spacious, well-lit and organized with the kind of care that came from money.

Liam opened the door for her to enter, and Mia hesitated for a second before taking the first steps inside. The inside of the house was just as luxurious as the outside: the wooden floors gleamed under the soft light of the chandeliers, the furniture was elegant, and the minimalist decor gave the place an even more sophisticated air.

“My parents are traveling on business,” he said, tossing the keys on a side table. “We have the whole house to ourselves.”

Mia nodded, not knowing exactly what to say.

“Come on, I'll show you the rest.”

He led Mia through the house, showing her the modern kitchen with marble worktops, the dining room with a table too big for just three people and, finally, the large living room with a huge sofa and a TV that took up almost the entire wall.

“Now come,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her towards the stairs. “I'll show you my room.”

The chill in Mia's stomach intensified. Something inside her stirred, a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. She swallowed, trying to ignore the feeling, and followed him up the steps.

When Liam opened the door, Mia had the impression that his room was three times bigger than hers. The space was airy, with large windows that let in the late afternoon light. The décor was masculine, but not over the top - dark furniture, neutral walls and band and movie posters stuck up here and there.

But Amy was right about one detail: the room was rather messy. Clothes scattered all over the chair, sneakers thrown by the bed, books piled in any way on the desk. Nothing there looked dirty, just disorganized.

Liam picked up the remote control and turned on the TV, then turned to Mia with a wry smile.

“What do you want to watch?”

She smiled back, feeling a little more relaxed.

“How about Twilight?”

Liam's grimace was instantaneous.

“That movie must be an offense to wolves and vampires, if they really exist,” he grumbled, crossing his arms.

Mia laughed.

“But you're the boss.”

He rolled his eyes, but sighed in surrender.

“Okay, okay,” he muttered, selecting the movie from the streaming catalog. Before it started, he stood up. “Make yourself at home, I'll get us some popcorn and soda.”

Mia watched him leave the room and settled down on his bed, feeling strangely comfortable there.