Costa del Sol, Safe Apartment — Tuesday, 11:59 p.m.
The apartment was small, clandestine, full of sea humidity. Rebeca shut every blind.
Lucas slept on the couch, wrapped in a blanket.
Elías brewed coffee.
"We have few hours left," he said. "The counter hasn't stopped. Something happened
in Teotihuacán, but we don't know whether the seal was completed or not."
Rebeca rubbed her face.
"The man with the mask… he said I had to choose. What does that mean?"
"That the Apocalypse doesn't depend solely on the seals," Elías replied. "It depends on
will. On human choices."
Rebeca fell silent.
"You think I'm part of all this?"
"I think you're the central piece," Elías said. "But I don't know if you're the key… or the
lock."
Rebeca walked to the window and opened it slightly. Cold sea air drifted in.
At that moment, Lucas jolted awake.
"Don't open it!"
Rebeca stepped back.
"What is it?"
Lucas pointed at the window with a trembling hand.
"She's out there."
"Who?"
Lucas swallowed, pale.
"The Woman of Silence."The glass fogged over.
A thin, feminine hand slid across the outside of the window.
Three knocks.
Tac. Tac. Tac. 3:33.