The moment was crucial for Pablo. He had tirelessly studied the occult arts, seeking to understand the mysteries of dimensional portals. And now, faced with this challenge, he was determined to prove his worth.
Pablo, with his serious and focused posture, began to recite the ancient and mystical words he had learned in his studies. His voice resonated in the room, full of power and authority, as he channeled his energies to close the portal.
Lucie, by his side, watched with admiration and respect. She knew that this moment was crucial for Pablo, and she was determined to support him in whatever way necessary.
"Close, portal of worlds! May your passages be sealed and may the shadows find no path beyond!" Pablo shouted with authority.
As he recited the closing words, Pablo felt a resistance, as if something was trying to prevent him from completing his objective. The entity in the painting was much more agitated, the amount of blood gushing from it was exorbitant. He redoubled his concentration, ignoring the mounting pressure around him.
Lucie, sensing Pablo's internal struggle, placed her hand on his shoulder, silently conveying support. She knew he was strong enough to overcome any obstacle that arose in his path.
"You can do it, Pablo. Stay focused!" Still with Cleity within her.
With a final effort, Pablo managed to channel his energies decisively. A bright light emitted from the portal, which began to contract slowly, as if being sucked by an invisible force.
The shadow within the painting, realizing the portal was being closed, began to thrash even more intensely, its distorted and grotesque forms contorting in a desperate attempt to escape.
"I need more energy! Lucie, help me!"
"How can I help you?" Lucie asked, confused.
"Concentrate with me! Take my hand, you still have Cleity's powers." Pablo replied, extending his hand to Lucie.
With a joint effort, Lucie and Pablo would channel their energies to the portal, reinforcing the closing power. The intense light would increase, engulfing the painting and the shadow with growing voracity.
Then Lucie gave her hand to Pablo, the energy flowing between them was already intensifying. Cleity's power, which resided within Lucie, combined perfectly with Pablo's determination, strengthening them even more in the task of closing the portal.
Lucie, feeling the pulsating energy, reached out to Pablo, her eyes shining with determination.
"I'm ready, Pablo. Let's do this together!"
Pablo, feeling the connection between them, held Lucie's hand firmly. An electric current ran through their bodies, a feeling of power and unity that propelled them forward.
"I have waited a long time for this!" Pablo murmured with joy.
With a combined effort, Lucie and Pablo channeled their energies into the portal, intensifying the light emanating from it. The painting trembled violently, The entity within it writhing in a last desperate attempt to escape.
The bright light engulfed the painting and the shadow, enveloping them in an explosion of energy. For a moment, the room seemed to bend and distort, as if being pulled by an invisible force.
And then, everything calmed down. The portal was closed. Silence filled the room, interrupted only by the heavy breathing of Lucie and Pablo.
"We did it, Pablo. We closed the portal!"
The two embraced, sharing a moment of relief and triumph. They had faced an extraordinary challenge together, and emerged victorious.
The room was now calm and quiet. Cleity, the unjustly soul who had accompanied them during the fight, exited their bodies and looked at them with a serene smile.
Lucie smiled, seeing Cleity dissipate, feeling grateful for Cleity's help and guidance throughout this challenge.
However, her expression soon turned to concern when Pablo, who was still holding her hand, began to stagger.
"Pablo, what's happening?"
Pablo, with a weak smile, tried to reassure her as he sat on the floor.
"It's normal, Lucie. I just used a bit too much of my occult power in a short period of time. I just need to rest a little."
Lucie, worried, knelt beside Pablo, holding his hand gently.
"Are you okay? Do we need to get help?"
Pablo shook his head, still smiling.
"I'm fine, Lucie. Just a little weak. I think I just need to regain my strength."
"Rest, Pablo. I'll be here by your side."
Pablo smiled, feeling comforted by Lucie's presence. And he leaned in for a kiss, they gave each other a small peck, their lips touched for a while, it was natural and comfortable.
"This way I'll recover really fast..." - Pablo joked with a weak smile.
Lucie couldn't contain her smile, her eyes shining as they met Pablo's.
While Lucie and Pablo enjoyed the moment of relief and tenderness, a sharp sound cut through the air. The familiar click of a gun being cocked in the room, causing both of them to turn abruptly.
To their surprise and horror, Beatriz and Saraiva were there, with guns pointed directly at them. Beatriz's expression was serious, while Saraiva seemed more relaxed, as if he were enjoying the situation.
"Pablo Vinícius, you are under arrest for assault, falsifying evidence, and homicide. You need to come with us to the police station."
Lucie, still stunned by the sudden turn of events, tried to intervene.
"Wait, what's happening? Homicide?"
Saraiva, with a smirk, explained sarcastically.
"Oh, we don't want to spoil your romantic moment, but your friend here assaulted Officer Beatriz, detective of his own crime, falsified the evidence, making me arrested! And that's a series of crimes, you know?" - Saraiva replied, as he spoke his anger grew.
Pablo, still recovering from the exhaustion of the battle, tried to explain himself.
"I was just trying to protect the people of the village! Beatriz, I really had to take you down that night, but I regret doing that! You were in the wrong place at the wrong time! I had to get into the mansion, before more people were killed!" - Pablo explained still weak.
Pablo looked directly at Saraiva. - "Homicide? I call that self-defense! If it's that body you're talking about..." - Pablo pointed to Chico's headless body. - "He deserved it! He was an aberration, he turned into an aberration, Chico Constantino killed Cleity, Pedro and probably... Estela won't survive either."
Before Lucie or Pablo could respond, Beatriz advanced towards Pablo, her eyes filled with fury.
"You have no right to mention Cleity's name! She has nothing to do with this! And as for Chico, everyone in the village knows there wasn't enough evidence to arrest him! He was just an old man. You acted on your own and now you'll have to face the consequences!" - Beatriz shouted, her voice filled with anger and frustration.
Pablo looked at Beatriz, hoping she would listen.
"I know I acted impulsively, Beatriz. But I was trying to protect everyone. You need to understand..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Saraiva interrupted, impatiently.
"Enough of the nonsense talk! Where is Detective Nathalia? And what did you do with her, Pablo?"
Pablo looked at Saraiva, with a confused expression.
"Detective Nathalia? I didn't do anything to her. She was here when Chico arrested me in the mansion with the others, but after we split up, she was killed..."
Beatriz and Saraiva exchanged significant glances, as if communicating without words. Saraiva approached Pablo, with a suspicious look.
"I'm not buying this, Pablo. You've done too much to be just a 'village protector.' What are you hiding?"
Pablo sighed, realizing he had no choice but to reveal the truth.
"I'm not a detective. In fact, I'm a supernatural agent. I was sent to this village to close a portal that Chico opened with his rituals. What you saw today was not just a fight, it was a battle between forces beyond our understanding."
Saraiva widened his eyes, clearly incredulous.
"This is ridiculous! You expect me to believe this story about portals and supernatural agents? You're just making excuses for your crimes!"
Pablo looked into Saraiva's eyes, sincerely.
"I understand it's hard to believe, but it's the truth. I was trying to protect all of you. And, Saraiva, the agency would have helped you get out of prison. You don't deserve what happened, I know... But I couldn't stop, that's how I do my job."
Beatriz and Saraiva began to laugh, finding Pablo's story absurd.
"Is that what you're going to tell the judge? That all of this was a plan to close a portal?" - Said Beatriz, laughing.
Pablo knew it would be difficult to convince them, but he couldn't help but try.
"I know it's hard to believe, but it's the truth. The village is in danger and I did what was necessary to protect it. You may not believe me now, but I hope one day you'll understand."
Saraiva, still laughing, said:
"Well, while you wait for that, get ready for a season in prison. You'll need a good story to tell your new friends in there!"
Saraiva tried to grab Pablo, who was weakly sitting on the floor, but Lucie stopped him, placing herself between the two.
"Don't touch him!" - Said Lucie, firmly.
Saraiva looked at Lucie, with a disdainful look.
"You're sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, Lucie. If you keep this up, you'll end up in prison too as his accomplice."
Lucie lost her patience. She pointed to the bruises on her body, the result of Chico's aggression on the table.
"Look at me, Saraiva! Look at what he did to me! You have no idea what happened in the mansion. Chico caught us off guard, he attacked us mercilessly. Pablo did everything to help us, to protect us. He's not a criminal, he's a hero!"
Saraiva looked at Lucie, visibly disturbed by her words. He glanced at Beatriz, who also seemed to be reconsidering the situation.
"Do you expect us to believe this story?" - Saraiva said, with a tone of distrust.
"I don't know if you believe it or not, but it's the truth!" - Lucie exclaimed, with tears in her eyes. - "We fought to survive, Saraiva. Pablo fought to protect all of us. He doesn't deserve to be treated like a criminal!"
Beatriz, who had been silent until then, approached Lucie and Pablo with a softer expression.
"Beatriz, you need to believe us," Lucie said sincerely. "Pablo did things he shouldn't have, but we are not your enemies. We were all fighting for the same goal: to protect the village."
Beatriz looked at Pablo, who was still recovering on the floor. She sighed, seeming to ponder over Lucie's words.
"I don't know what to think..." Beatriz murmured, looking at Saraiva, who still seemed skeptical.
Lucie had to think fast; she couldn't let the situation end like that. So she closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were white and smoky, and she spoke with an echoing, serene voice:
"Maybe someone can help you understand everything!"
Cleity appeared, levitating above them. Beatriz and Saraiva were stunned to see Cleity appear before them, in her ghostly and injured form. They both recognized her but never imagined seeing her like this.
"My love? Is that you?" Beatriz asked, her voice choked with emotion and disbelief.
Cleity nodded, her eyes fixed on Beatriz and Saraiva.
"Hello, my dear. I miss you! I'm here to witness the truth of what happened and help clarify the doubts surrounding the case."
Saraiva looked at Cleity, still somewhat skeptical.
"How can we be sure that you are who you say you are? You're dead, you can't be here with us."
Cleity looked at Saraiva with sadness.
"I know it's hard to understand, but my soul is bound to this place. Chico tortured and killed me, used me in macabre rituals; it was painful, but it ultimately strengthened me, and fortunately, I was able to break free from his bonds. I have been watching everything that has happened here, and I can confirm that Pablo was acting in self-defense and in defense of the village. Chico turned into a dangerous creature, and Pablo did what was necessary to protect everyone."
Beatriz looked at Cleity, tears in her eyes.
"My love, I'm so sorry for what happened to you. I didn't know... I didn't know it was him, how much you suffered..."
Cleity smiled at Beatriz, a smile full of forgiveness and understanding.
"Don't blame yourself, my dear. You couldn't have known. And Chico is dead! I killed him with fervor. I just want you to understand that Pablo is not the villain here. He may have made mistakes, but his intention was always to protect those he could."
Saraiva, still processing everything that was happening, looked at Pablo, who was still sitting on the floor, listening in silence.
"This is madness! So, what do we do now?" Saraiva asked, more calmly.
Lucie, regaining her composure, replied:
"We'll go with you to the police station as you asked. But first, we need to make sure everyone is safe. Estela is still here and needs medical attention, and Pablo needs to rest."
Beatriz nodded, still a bit stunned by everything that had happened.
"We'll call for backup. Then, we'll go to the station to clarify all of this."
Saraiva, looking at Pablo, reached out to help him up.
"You may be right about this story of portals and supernatural agents, Pablo. But let's let the police handle this, let's do this the right way."
Pablo, still a bit weak, accepted Saraiva's help to stand up.
"I understand, Saraiva."
Lucie, looking at Pablo with gratitude, held his hand.
"Everything will be alright."
Lucie closed her eyes for a moment, feeling Cleity's presence dissipate around her. When she opened them again, Cleity was no longer there, just the empty, silent room surrounded them.
With a sigh of relief, Lucie turned to Pablo, who was still recovering, giving him a firm support. They left the room, followed by Beatriz and Saraiva. The village was calm now, the residents still recovering from the chaos of the past few days. Estela was being treated by the doctors, and police reinforcements were on their way.
As they walked through the village streets, Lucie couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them. But for now, she was grateful to be by Pablo's side.
"Do you think everything will be okay, Pablo?" Lucie asked, looking at him with concern.
Pablo smiled, putting an arm around her shoulders.
"Maybe it will, thanks to you! But what matters is that we are together, right?"
Lucie smiled, feeling reassured by Pablo's words.
"Yes, we are together."
They moved forward, ready to face whatever came next. They were stronger together, and together, they would face the consequences with courage and determination.