The hallway was silent, broken only by the soft echo of their footsteps as they descended. Arika leaned slightly on Koen, feigning weakness with every step. Although her body no longer ached, she simulated the discomfort with precision: a slight limp, slower breathing, and a restrained look of discomfort. All to keep up the facade.
As they descended, the voices coming from the living room began to grow clearer. Friendly, overlapping conversations floated in the warm air of the house, and then—a familiar voice.
—Arika! —Reize shouted as she looked up, and in a second she was already climbing the steps to catch up to them—. What the hell are you doing coming down? You're not well yet!
Reize's expression was a mix of anger and genuine concern. Arika opened her mouth to reply, but Koen spoke up first.
—I heard we were both supposed to come down, so…
—I was talking to you, not her! —Reize interrupted, annoyed.
—Reize, I decided to come down —Arika interjected, her voice calm—. I was bored up there… and I really do feel better now.
Reize frowned at her. Her gaze fell to the bandages on her arm, slightly stained red.
—Really? 'Better'? It's barely been a day since you got hurt. Your wounds haven't even closed completely yet; they must still be bleeding.
—I'm fine —she insisted, though her voice faltered slightly.
Reize snorted, resigned.
—Of course you are… stubborn as ever. All right, I'll help you carry the rest down —she offered, moving to the other side.
With both of their help, she carefully made her way down to the living room. Reize guided her to the central armchair, while Koen made sure she sat down gently. The others began to gather around her, some sitting in nearby armchairs and others standing close by.
—We're glad you're here —Stella said, sitting down across from her.
—Yeah, you look better… as much as possible —Ethan added.
Arika just smiled, though guilt was eating away at her inside. Every worried face in front of her only emphasized the weight of the lie. She felt like a fraud.
Koen, noticing the shadow on her face, approached from behind and placed a hand on her shoulder. The simple touch gave her warmth, relief. She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath.
Then Elion, from a single armchair, cleared his throat.
—Did everyone see the government's message?
Heads nodded.
—Perfect. Then you know we have a week to get out of the city. We need to move… but not today. We still don't know where to go, and some of you aren't in any condition to travel. So I want ideas. What would you suggest?
Ethan raised his hand as he stood up.
—A group should go to a fire station or rescue station. Those places usually have detailed maps.
—I know of a station a few blocks from here —Stella added thoughtfully—. It's not very big, but it might do.
—And we need a minivan or something similar —said Delma, folding her arms—. Walking isn't an option. Not with injured people and backpacks.
—Yes, that would help a lot — agreed Reize, sitting next to Arika—. I agree with both of you.
—We could leave in two days —Koen added—. That way we'll have time to heal our wounds and prepare better.
—That makes sense —Elion nodded—. Alright. Any volunteers to go get the maps?
Ethan raised his hand immediately.
—I'll go —he said, determined.
—Me too —Elion added without thinking twice.
Koen fell silent. He looked at Ethan, then at Arika. He hesitated. Something inside him didn't want to leave her alone.
Before he could make up his mind, Delma raised her hand.
—I'll go with you —she announced firmly.
Elion nodded.
—Three is enough. We'll leave before noon, but let's have breakfast first.
The tension eased a little. Stella and Elion headed to the kitchen while the others chatted in low voices.
Reize turned to Koen, who was still standing by the armchair, watching Arika's every move.
—Hey, Koen —Reize called out to him with a slightly teasing smile —. Come on, let's go help Elion and Stella in the kitchen. Otherwise, they'll take forever.
Koen hesitated for just a second, glancing sideways at Arika, as if he didn't want to leave her alone.
Arika gave him a calm look and a gentle smile, nodding slightly, as if telling him without words: "Go, I'll be fine."
He nodded, understanding the gesture.
—All right —he replied at last, and followed Reize, though before taking his first step, he cast one last glance at Arika.
She simply smiled tenderly at him, and Koen relaxed a little before disappearing down the hallway, after his friend.
Just then, Althea's small figure appeared beside the armchair, as if she'd been waiting for the perfect moment to approach.
—Are you feeling better now? —she asked, looking at Arika with those big, expressive eyes.
The girl's voice was soft, but filled with genuine concern.
Arika was surprised by her sudden appearance, but her heart immediately softened. She gently stroked the girl's head, ruffling her hair a little.
—Yes, much better. Thanks…—she said sincerely, smiling.
—I want to introduce you to someone —said Althea, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
—Who? —Arika asked, curious.
The girl ran off and returned holding Delma's hand.
—This is Delma —she said, looking at Arika—. She's a friend of my family.
Then she looked at Delma and smiled.
—And this is Arika. She's my new friend.
Arika held out her hand with a gentle smile.
—Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Arika.
Delma froze for a second. Her expression changed. Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if something in her mind had clicked. A fleeting memory flashed through her: some sheets of documents, with the same name appearing in the details.
"Arika."
It couldn't be a coincidence.
—¿Delma? —Arika asked, noticing her silence.
Delma blinked, returning to the present.
—Nice to meet you, Arika… —she finally said, though her voice sounded strangely distant.
Arika noticed the pause, but said nothing. Instead, she smiled gently and then asked, curiously:
—How long have you known Althea?
Delma looked down and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, in a gesture that blended affection and nostalgia.
—Since she was a baby —she replied in a much warmer voice.
—You must have been so cute back then, huh? — Arika said playfully, looking at Althea.
—Yeah, I was! — Delma replied with a soft laugh.
Althea snorted and crossed her arms.
—You don't have to say things like that… —she protested, blushing—. I'm not a baby anymore.
—I know, I know—Delma laughed—. But you still are a little bit, aren't you?
—I'm not! —Althea retorted, puffing out her cheeks.
Delma smiled sweetly and then looked at Arika more closely. Something was nagging at the back of her mind, like a piece that didn't quite fit. After a brief pause, she asked cautiously:
—Do you have family, Arika?
The atmosphere grew a little heavier. Arika lowered her gaze, her smile fading slightly.
—No… I'm an orphan."
Delma fell silent for a few seconds, her hand unconsciously squeezing Althea's shoulder. The doubts she carried inside intensified, as if something very important were just out of her reach, waiting to be remembered.
Before she could say anything else, the voices of the others interrupted the moment. Stella, Elion, and Reize were returning from the kitchen, carrying trays with steaming cups, bread, fruit, and some hot dishes. Behind them came Koen with a pitcher of juice.
Delma quickly looked away.
—I'm going to the bathroom for a moment —she said, her tone sudden—. I want to wash my hands before eating.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and walked down the hallway. But as he did so, his mind remained fixated on an image he couldn't shake: the name "Arika" written on an official document… a list he should never have seen.
That name, however, wasn't accompanied by any photo, by any face that would make it real.
And with that emptiness as his only answer, he finally convinced himself that it was nothing more than a coincidence.