The atmosphere was saturated with tension as Pedro, possessed by a dark entity, continued to deliver brutal blows to Estela. Pablo, realizing the urgency of the situation, acted instinctively. With agility, he pulled out his weapon and aimed at Pedro's head.
Pablo, with a firm voice - Estela, step back!
A single gunshot echoed through the dark room. The bullet hit Pedro squarely in the head, halting the violence imposed by the dark entity. Pedro's body fell lifeless onto the dusty floor, the entity seemingly dissipated.
Estela, perplexed and stunned, looked at Pedro's body, her face marked by disbelief. The room, once a stage for an intense battle, now fell silent, interrupted only by the sound of Estela's tears.
Estela, in a state of shock - You... you killed him!
Pablo, lowering the weapon, faced Estela's accusatory gaze.
Pablo, calmly - Estela, I had to do it. If I hadn't stopped him, he could have killed you.
Estela, with tears in her eyes - It doesn't matter! He was the love of my life, and you killed him!
Pablo, explaining - Estela, the entity inside him was dangerous. He was no longer in control. If I hadn't acted, he would have seriously hurt you or even taken your life.
Estela, confused and furious - This can't be true...
Pablo, keeping his composure - Estela, I understand it's hard to accept, but it was the only way to ensure your safety.
Estela, desperate - I didn't ask you to protect me like this! I could have dealt with it!
Pablo, sincerely - You didn't see his eyes, Estela. It was as if he wasn't human anymore. That entity turned him into a deadly threat.
Estela, amidst sobs - I don't want to believe that you did this for me.
Pablo, touching Estela's shoulder - Estela, it was a difficult choice, but I would do it again to keep you safe.
Estela, stepping away - You didn't have that right! I could have taken the risk.
Pablo, recalling the imminent danger - Estela, we can't ignore reality. I saw Pedro turning into something beyond our understanding.
Estela, stepping back - You took away his chance to be saved. Maybe there was a way...
Pablo, explaining - There was no time, Estela. He was lost. If I hadn't acted, whatever possessed him could have done irreversible things.
Estela, torn between tears and anger - I don't know how I'll get over this, Pablo. You took away the only thing that mattered to me.
Pablo, knowing there are no words to ease the pain - Estela, I'm sorry.
Estela, moving away - Get out of my way. I don't want to look at you anymore.
Pablo, understanding the weight of his actions, allowed Estela to be alone with her grief. As he walked through the mansion's corridors, unsaid words lingering in his mind, a constant reminder of the tough choice he made to protect the group.
In the corridors, Pablo noticed footsteps approaching, and instinctively, he drew his weapon. Estela, alert to the tension in the air, promptly prepared for what was to come. A suspicious shadow emerged in front of them, and Pablo, without hesitation, attempted to strike.
Pablo, with the weapon in hand - Who's there?
The figure, once hidden in the shadows, revealed itself as Lucie, who was visibly exhausted, in tears, and stained with blood. Nathalia was not by her side.
Lucie, amidst sobs - Constantino... he killed Nathalia.
Estela, surprised and shocked, approached Lucie.
Estela, examining Lucie - Lucie, what happened? What do you mean?
Lucie, with a trembling voice - We were facing him, but he was stronger than we thought. Nathalia tried to stop him, but...
Lucie couldn't finish the sentence, the words stuck in her throat as tears continued to roll down her battered face.
Pablo, lowering the weapon - Lucie, we need to know all the details. Where is Constantino now?
Lucie, sobbing - He came after you! But it seems I got here first, he's gaining strength from something dark, he's much stronger, but I can't figure out why...
Pablo, assessing the critical situation in the corridor - Lucie, we can't face Constantino in this condition. Everyone is injured, and he's more powerful.
Lucie, trying to hold back tears - yes... Honestly, I don't know how we can stop him.
Pablo, looking around in the corridor - Let's find shelter in one of the rooms. Maybe we can buy some time to figure out a strategy.
Lucie noticed that Pedro was no longer with Estela and Pablo. – Wait! Where is Pedro?
Looking at Estela, Lucie already knew what Pablo's answer would be, but she wanted to believe that it hadn't happened.
– He was possessed by a demon, something like that, surely some entity that came out of the portal, I tried to get it out of him... I tried! But... He lost control and attacked Estela, he was totally out of himself, would have killed her, it wasn't him... So, I neutralized him myself. - Pablo explained with regret in his eyes.
Lucie approached Estela and tried to show compassion. – I'm so sorry... But we have to take shelter.
Estela nodded and didn't say a word.
Pablo then chose a nearby door, and they entered a room resembling a warehouse. Quickly, they barricaded the door using a cabinet they found in the room.
Lucie, helping to set up the barricade - Pablo, something's not right with Estela. She seems... shaken.
Pablo, concerned, looking at Estela, who was leaning against the wall - I'll talk to her. We need to be united to face Constantino.
Lucie, finishing the barricade - Right, but be quick. We don't know when he'll attack again.
Pablo approached Estela, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying.
Pablo, gently - Estela, how are you holding up?
Estela, with a choked voice - How am I holding up? Don't you understand? You killed Pedro, the love of my life!
Pablo, with regret - I know it's difficult, Estela. But it was to protect you.
Estela, looking into Pablo's eyes - I already knew Pedro wasn't human anymore. But that doesn't make the loss easier to bear.
Pablo, understanding - I get it, Estela. It was a tough choice for all of us.
Estela, with tears in her eyes - I know he wasn't here anymore. But now, all I have is the pain of his absence.
Pablo, touching Estela's shoulder - I'm so sorry, Estela. If there was another way...
Estela, stepping away - It doesn't matter now. He's gone.
Lucie, approaching - What's happening here?
Pablo, determined to clarify - Estela knows about the entity that possessed Pedro. She's struggling to accept the loss.
Lucie, sympathizing - Estela, I'm sorry again for your pain. But now we have to focus on facing Constantino.
Estela, resentful - How can I trust someone who took away the life of the one I loved?
Pablo, with empathy - Estela, I know it's hard. But please, believe me. I did what was necessary to protect you.
Estela, taking a deep breath - I don't know if I can get over this.
Lucie, looking at the barricade - We need to concentrate on how to face Constantino. He's getting stronger every minute.
Pablo, agreeing - Lucie is right. Let's prepare to face him. Estela, if you need time, I understand. But we can't let this defeat us.
Estela, still stunned, nodded slightly, while the weight of the situation hung over them in the dark and dusty room.
Lucie observed the wounds on Pablo's neck.
Lucie, concerned - Pablo, what happened to your neck?
Pablo, touching the wounds - Pedro did this during the confrontation. He was no longer under control.
Lucie, surprised - My God, Pablo. We need to take care of this before it gets worse.
Pablo, trying to downplay - It's nothing, Lucie. We're facing something much worse out there.
Lucie, determined - Let's not underestimate it. You need to tend to your wounds. Let me help.
Pablo, reluctant - I don't want to be a burden to you, Lucie.
Lucie, taking bandages from Pablo's equipment bag - This is not the time for pride. We're in this together. Now sit down.
Pablo complied, sitting on a nearby crate, while Lucie began to clean the wounds on his neck.
Lucie, focused - Pedro did this?
Pablo, nodding - Yes. He was no longer in control of his own mind.
Lucie, tending to the wounds - This is insane. How can a dark entity cause so much havoc?
Pablo, sighing - Forces beyond our understanding, Lucie.
Lucie, finishing cleaning - There, that should help prevent infections. But, Pablo, we need to talk... about what happened.
Pablo, looking into Lucie's eyes - Lucie, now is not the best time for...
Lucie, interrupting - Pablo, I know we have our differences, but we're all in this together. We need to overcome our issues.
Pablo, agreeing - You're right. We can't let our personal problems weaken us.
Lucie, grabbing additional bandages - Also, you were foolish to think I'm not strong. I've been through a lot before all this.
Pablo, sincerely smiling - You're strong, Lucie. And I apologize for underestimating that. Besides being beautiful, you're brave.
Lucie, lightly laughing - It seems like you're trying to redeem yourself.
Pablo, sincerely - Maybe I am. But, at this moment, we need to focus on surviving.
Lucie, finishing the bandages - It's done. Now, promise that you won't ignore your own wounds anymore.
Pablo, thanking - Thank you, Lucie. And I promise to take better care of myself, and sorry again.
While the tense atmosphere in the room persisted, Lucie and Pablo felt a deeper connection forming, even amidst the darkness surrounding them. The look between them revealed a mutual understanding of the challenges faced and the need for mutual support.
Lucie, empathetically - It's okay!
The proximity between them increased, and suddenly, in an unexpected impulse, Pablo leaned in and kissed Lucie. The gesture surprised Lucie, who initially seemed hesitant in the situation.
Pablo, realizing her surprise, pulled back a bit.
Pablo, apologizing - Lucie, I... I'm sorry if...
Before he could finish the sentence, Lucie, determined, interrupted him by kissing him again. This time, there was no hesitation, just a response to the shared desire.
The kiss brought a sense of relief and unity amid the tragedy surrounding the group. Lucie and Pablo, engaged in that moment, found comfort in each other, seeking strength to face the horrors that were still to come.
As the kiss unfolded, the two understood that, even amid the chaos, a special connection was emerging between them, something that transcended adversity. The uncertain fate awaiting the group seemed a bit more bearable with this new spark of hope.