At the moment Pablo and Lucie began exploring the mansion in search of Estela, the surrounding silence became even more oppressive. Every step echoed through the dark corridors as they moved cautiously. Pablo, still weak, leaned on Lucie to stay on his feet.
Pablo, whispering - We need to find Estela before Chico does something terrible to her.
Lucie, responding in whispers - Agreed, but we have to be careful. Chico could be lurking anywhere.
As they ventured through dark rooms and sinister corridors, the echoes of Estela's screams continued to resonate in the minds of Pablo and Lucie. Chico's malevolent presence hung over them like a threatening shadow.
Suddenly, a chilling sensation enveloped the environment, and a distorted voice echoed in the darkness.
Chico, sarcastically - I've come to fetch you!
Before they could react, the supernatural force resisting in Chico knocked down Pablo and Lucie with a single blow. The cold mansion floor welcomed them as darkness took over their senses.
As their visions became engulfed in darkness, everything seemed too slow, and a buzzing sound persisted in their ears.
When Lucie finally managed to open her eyes, the initial vision was a blur of shadows and diffused light. The numbness still surrounded her, but gradually the room began to gain clarity. She found herself in a small, dark place, sitting on a strange chair unfamiliar to her.
Trying to move her hands, Lucie realized they were wrapped in shadowy ropes, a manifestation of Chico's power that rendered her immobile. Her heart raced as she realized she was trapped, unable to escape.
Next to her, her eyes met Pablo's, who was also bound in the same condition. Tears escaped from Lucie's eyes as a wave of helplessness settled in her chest. Despite the difficult situation, Pablo gave her a reassuring look, as if to assure her that everything would be okay.
Lucie, with a choked voice - Pablo, we're trapped... What does Chico intend to do?
Pablo, calmly - Lucie, we need to stay strong. Don't let fear dominate you.
Lucie's thoughts scrambled as she tried to process the situation. They were completely at Chico's mercy, and the uncertainty of what would come next hung like a dark cloud over them.
Chico's voice echoed in the room, as if shadows took shape in his words.
Chico, maliciously - I see you've awakened, my dear spectators. I hope you're ready for a truly unique and artistic experience!
Chico, emerging from the shadows, dragged Estela out of the dark corner of the room. She was tied to a kind of table, her arms raised and secured above her, while sturdy ropes held her feet below. Estela's mouth was gagged with ropes, but her eyes expressed the terror she felt. Desperately, she tried to emit muffled screams.
Estela, looking at Pablo and Lucie with eyes full of terror, tried to plead for help, but the restraints silenced her words.
Pablo, firmly - Chico, release Estela now!
Chico, with a sadistic smile - Ah, my dear guests, art demands sacrifices. Estela here will be the perfect muse for my next masterpiece.
Lucie, unable to articulate words, watched the scene with wide eyes and trembling hands. Fear paralyzed her, but her gaze remained fixed on Estela.
Pablo, pressuring Chico - You can't do this. Release her immediately!
Chico, ignoring Pablo's plea - Ah, but I'm just getting started. Let's make this truly special.
Chico, with his large and grotesque hands, dragged a wheeled table full of sharp instruments, various blades, scalpels, and objects that sent shivers just by looking at them.
Chico, staring at the table with a morbid smile, said - Before we begin, I need to determine the size of my canvas.
With slow and deliberate movements, Chico approached Estela, who was tied to the table. With a cruel gesture, he tore her shirt, exposing her abdomen. Estela's eyes, filled with horror, met those of Pablo and Lucie, desperately seeking help.
Pablo, restrained by the ropes and overwhelmed by despair, shouted - Chico, stop this!
Ignoring the pleas, Chico picked up a scalpel from the table with a sadistic expression. The room's silence was only interrupted by Estela's muffled sobs as she tried in vain to free herself from the restraints.
With a trembling hand, Lucie attempted to free herself, but the dark ropes resisted her efforts. Her eyes filled with tears, witnessing the cruel reality before them.
Chico, beginning to make an incision in Estela's abdomen, muttered - Let's start with something simple, an initial brushstroke.
Despite the restraints silencing her screams, Estela expressed indescribable agony as Chico advanced with the scalpel. Pablo, consumed by helplessness, watched in terror.
Chico, staring at Pablo and Lucie with pure malice, continued his torturous "art" - True beauty requires sacrifices, my dear. And you will witness this masterpiece.
The sound of the scalpel cutting through the skin was truly agonizing, mixed with Estela's stifled moans. The horror deepened as Pablo and Lucie were forced to watch the "performance."
After the initial incision, Chico picked up another tool, aiming to remove the skin from Estela's abdominal area. As he pulled her skin, the air was filled with the smell of blood, and the tension reached unbearable levels.
Lucie, despite her own agony, gathered all the courage she had. She finally managed to scream.
Lucie, with a trembling voice - STOP! Please, stop this!
Surprised to hear Lucie's voice, Chico paused his movements for a moment. He turned his distorted gaze towards Lucie and mocked her.
Chico, laughing - Ah, brave Lucie decided to speak. Touching. What do you want, my dear?
Lucie, with restrained anger - You're grotesque! How can you do something like this?
Chico, still laughing - Grotesque? My dear, true art transcends the bounds of common understanding. I am merely the instrument of this unique expression.
Lucie, confronting Chico - I don't care what you call art! You're a monster!
Ignoring Lucie's protest, Chico continued his twisted narrative.
Chico, with a vain expression - You know, Lucie, you were the perfect bait. This farm of your parents was an isolated paradise, and you... you had everything. And you decided to venture out; I wonder how your parents are now...
Lucie, furious - You... hurt the people I love? Why?
Chico, mocking - Oh, Lucie, why not? I craved excitement, reaction, something more than the mundane normalcy. Your farm was the perfect bait, and you... well, you were my inspiration.
Lucie, with determination - You're sick!
Chico, staring at Lucie - Sick, perhaps. But what about you, Lucie? Ah, you have everything, yet it seems something is always missing.
Lucie, firm - What's missing is your kind of depravity. I would never need that in my life.
Chico, returning to his work - We'll see, Lucie. This is a unique experience, and you are next.
Pablo, with contained fury, began to struggle against the ropes that bound him, his eyes flashing with determination.
Pablo, growling - Don't believe his words, Lucie! He's lying! - Pablo then turned to Chico. – Release us, Chico! So we can fight again.
Chico, laughing cruelly - Ah, the hero Pablo, always ready to save the day. But look, your job isn't as clean as you'd like it to be...
Pablo, confused - What are you talking about?
Chico, mockingly - You see, Saraiva was just a poor victim of your "work." Pablo, you did the dirty work like your partners, those who do anything for money. And now, your sweet Lucie is about to become my muse, just like our friend Estela.
Pablo, arguing - I had to do what I did! And the agency will help Saraiva get out of jail!
Chico, sarcastic - Oh, Pablo, the agency where you work isn't as noble as it seems. Your dear director Tomás, he's not the saint you think he is. He uses you as pawns in his dirty game while counting the money.
Pablo, angrily - Don't speak of Director Tomás like that. He is a principled man.
Chico, laughing - Principles? He was more than willing to have our dear Inspector close Cleity's case, to earn my money. He cleared my name in exchange for a few thousands... You are puppets in a dirty theater, and he is the puppet master.
Pablo, in disbelief - This can't be true; you're bluffing! Director Tomás is fair!
Chico, mocking - Fair? You're in the same dirty boat as I am. The only difference is that you pretend to be the heroes, those occultists of shit!
Pablo couldn't believe it—the man he looked up to, who gave him teachings, the man who governed the entire agency, pretending to be a detective, who made Cleity's death forgotten and unjust, all for money, Chico's dirty money from the Constantino family. And he sent Pablo to clean up the consequences of his dirty work: the portal, summoned for Chico's freedom, the freedom Tomás gave to Chico. But Pablo couldn't falter; he had to stay strong.
Pablo, with determination - Whatever Tomás may have done doesn't justify your actions. Release us now!
Chico, laughing - You're so naive, Pablo. But I'll let you reflect on that while I continue my masterpiece.
Chico returned his attention to the table where Estela was tied. The metallic gleam of the tools reflected his distorted face as he prepared to continue his grotesque "work."
With cruel and precise hands, Chico selected another sharp tool from the table. Estela, trapped and unable to defend herself, trembled in fear as her eyes begged for mercy. The atmosphere was fraught with tension, and the constant buzzing sound in Lucie's ears only heightened the anguish in the air.
Chico, with a sadistic smile, began to remove the skin from Estela's abdomen meticulously, as if sculpting a macabre masterpiece. Each movement was calculated, each pull revealed the muscle and exposed the nerves, while Estela silently endured indescribable agony.
Lucie's eyes filled with tears as she witnessed the horrible scene before her. Pablo, despite his own anger and helplessness, tried to maintain composure, but revolt was evident in his gaze.
Even under torture, Estela kept her gaze fixed on Pablo and Lucie, conveying a mix of despair and courage. Her eyes pleaded for a solution, for hope, while Chico continued his macabre act.
Chico, murmuring to himself - Each layer reveals the true essence of the work. Flesh is like a blank canvas, ready to be transformed.
In a final effort to resist the horror, Lucie addressed Pablo.
Lucie, with a trembling voice - Pablo, we need to do something. We can't just stay here and watch; I'll try to reconnect with Cleity!
Pablo, gritting his teeth, nodded. He knew he needed to act, but the dark ropes that kept him bound were relentless. His mind frantically searched for an escape as the carnage continued before them.
Seemingly indifferent to the spectators, Chico proceeded with his macabre display. He appeared absorbed in his own distorted world of art, where pain transformed into its purest form of expression.
Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed in the room, momentarily interrupting the torture. It was the sound of approaching sirens, echoing through the mansion's corridors. Chico, surprised, looked around with a momentary expression of irritation.
Taking advantage of Chico's distraction, Pablo redoubled his efforts to free himself from the dark ropes. Lucie, despite the fear, tried to focus, her eyes fixed on the hope that Cleity could hear her call.
Chico, with an ironic smile, muttered to himself - Looks like we have unwanted visitors...