Lucy

“Lucy?”

Ricardo appeared at the bedroom door and found his daughter sitting on the floor, surrounded by colored pencils, deep in concentration over a drawing.

As soon as she noticed her father’s presence, Lucy’s face lit up with a radiant smile. She scrambled to her feet and ran to him, holding out the sheet of paper with excitement. Ricardo took the drawing and studied it closely. It showed the two of them together, holding hands.

“Wow! This is great!” he said, smiling.

Lucy’s smile widened, her head bobbing with happiness.

“It really is incredible,” Ricardo continued. He knelt beside her and gently ruffled her hair. “Sweetie, put your pencils away. Let’s go for a walk. When we get back, you can make another drawing. What do you think?”

Lucy nodded eagerly and quickly began tidying up her things.

The Outing

During the drive, Lucy stared out the window with curious, sparkling eyes, watching the landscape blur past.

“Excited for tomorrow, kiddo?” Ricardo asked.

Lucy turned to him and nodded enthusiastically, a huge grin on her face.

“You’re growing up so fast... almost six years old already!” He smiled to himself, reflecting on how quickly time was slipping away. Spotting a small market ahead, he signaled to pull over. “Let’s make a quick stop here.”

He hopped out of the car, and Lucy followed, full of energy.

Inside the Store

The bell above the door chimed as they entered. Ricardo reached into his pocket and pulled out his shopping list.

“If you want something to eat, just let me know, okay?”

Lucy nodded and began exploring the aisles with a smile. She soon spotted her favorite pack of cookies and walked toward the shelf. But as she turned the corner, her smile vanished.

There he was.

The boy who bullied her at school.

The moment he saw her, he smirked and crossed his arms.

“You?! This isn’t a microphone shop, you know, little dummy?”

Lucy felt a tightening in her chest. Her steps faltered. She wanted to run, to go back to her father, but her legs felt glued to the floor.

“Lucy?”

Ricardo’s voice echoed nearby. He sensed his daughter’s tension and followed her gaze. Without hesitation, he approached and placed a protective hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I already know what you want.”

He picked up the pack of cookies for her. The boy, sensing Ricardo’s presence, backed away slightly, as if instinctively knowing it was better not to push his luck.

“Come on, son...”

A man’s voice interrupted the scene. Ricardo turned, his gaze hardening as he recognized the man. It was the boy’s father. The same man from the school. The silence that fell between them was heavy with unpleasant memories.

“You again...?” Ricardo muttered.

The man stared back with contempt. “Look, I don’t want any trouble, alright? I just came to get th—”

“Good!” the man interrupted, pulling his son by the arm. “Let’s go!”

Ricardo watched them leave the store. Sighing, he turned back to Lucy, who still looked shaken.

“It’s okay, little one. Let’s pay for this and get back to our walk, how about that?”

Lucy hesitated for a second, then nodded slowly.

The Park

Finally, they reached their main destination. The park was alive with colors, laughter, and the sweet scent of treats in the air. Ricardo held his daughter’s hand as they walked through the entrance.

“Come on, let’s play for a bit,” he smiled.

But Lucy didn’t respond immediately. Her expression was troubled. Ricardo noticed and knelt to reach her level.

“What’s wrong?”

Lucy looked at him, but her eyes quickly drifted to the small bandage he still had on his nose. And then, the memories came rushing back.

Months Ago – The School

Ricardo had been called to the school urgently. All they told him was that Lucy had been involved in a serious incident. When he arrived at the principal’s office, he found his daughter crying silently in a chair. His heart sank.

“What happened to her?!” he demanded.

The principal raised her hands in a calming gesture. “Mr. Ricardo, please, let’s handle this in a civilized manner. I was told that during class, a classmate took a joke too far and ended up offending young Lucy.”

Ricardo knelt before his daughter, carefully wiping away her tears. “It’s okay, alright? The boy who spoke to you... was he your friend?”

Lucy shook her head.

“That’s what I thought... A classmate shouldn’t treat another like that! Where is this boy?!”

“He’s on his way. His guardian is coming too.”

Shortly after, the boy entered the room. Ricardo didn’t waste time. “What did you say to her?”

The boy hesitated, looking away. “I... I didn’t say anything bad...”

Ricardo narrowed his eyes, but before he could speak, the door swung open again.

“What’s going on here?!” The booming voice of the boy’s father filled the room.

“Are you this boy’s father?” Ricardo asked, supressing his rage.

“Yeah! Why?!”

“I think you should teach him better respect for others.”

The man clenched his fists. “Are you saying I don’t know how to raise my son?!”

“No!” Ricardo kept his tone firm. “I’m just asking you to pay more attention to his actions. If he doesn’t respect his classmates, he won’t respect any—”

The punch came before Ricardo could finish.

The impact sent him reeling back. Before he could react, more blows followed. He tried to defend himself, but the other man was larger and stronger. Chaos erupted in the room. Lucy tried to intervene, desperately pulling at the man’s shirt, but he ignored her. The principal and a staff member finally stepped in, forcing them apart.

“ENOUGH!” the principal screamed.

The man was breathing heavily, while Ricardo, with a cut above his eye and blood on his lip, slowly stood up. Lucy ran to him, hugging him with all her might. The boy’s father just grunted and dragged his son out of the office.

And so, Ricardo stayed there, with Lucy clinging to him, trying to find the words to calm her down.

Back to the Present – The Park

Ricardo noticed his daughter’s distant gaze and placed a hand on her head.

“Hey... it’s all okay now,” he smiled. “How about we play for a bit?”

Lucy blinked a few times and, after a moment’s hesitation, nodded slowly. Her father smiled. “Then let’s go! Today is for having fun, deal?”

Looking into Lucy’s eyes, Ricardo saw a flicker of sadness. She tried to hide it, but the weight of the memories was still there. He gently stroked her head.

“It’s over, sweetie. You don’t need to worry. It wasn’t your fault. And I don’t want you to hold onto any bad feelings about that man, okay?”

Lucy absorbed his words. Ricardo sat on the ground and looked up at the sky.

“Instead... be like the clouds. Just keep moving forward.”

The girl followed her father’s gaze. The sky was painted with the soft hues of late afternoon, and the clouds seemed to float freely. Little by little, her face brightened, as if Ricardo’s words had lifted the weight from her chest. She looked at her father, gave him a wide smile, and threw herself into his arms, showering him with kisses.

Ricardo laughed, hugging her back. “I love you too, my daughter.”

After a moment, he stood up and pulled something from his pocket. “Oh, I almost forgot... here, your pre-birthday present.”

Lucy looked on curiously as he held out a small, colorful bracelet. When she recognized the pattern, her eyes shimmered, and tears of joy ran down her face.

“It’s from that show you love! Unicorn Colors, right?”

She nodded rapidly, taking the bracelet carefully and sliding it onto her right wrist. She looked up at Ricardo as if she wanted to memorize this moment forever.

He smiled. “Well, let’s not waste time standing around. Let’s go have some fun!”

Lucy gripped his hand firmly, and the two moved forward.

Time passed in a blur of laughter and games. As the day came to an end, they sat on a park bench, eating ice cream. Lucy noticed Ricardo looking at the sky again. Curious, she imitated the gesture, but she didn’t quite understand what he was seeing.

He noticed her and chuckled. “Alright! It’s time. Shall we?”

She nodded, and the two headed back home.

At Home

Night had fallen by the time they arrived.

Lucy, exhausted from the busy day, was fast asleep in her bed. From the doorway, Ricardo watched her for a moment, a faint smile on his face. Silently, he turned off the light and closed the door with care.

But back in his own room, sleep didn’t come so easily.

Lying in bed, he stared at the ceiling, restless. Then, as if he had made a decision, he stood up and walked to a corner of the room where a discreet cloth covered something on the ceiling.

Pulling it back revealed a small hatch.

Outside, the soft sound of rain began to fall.

Ricardo pulled a string, and a folding ladder creaked down. He climbed up, disappearing into the attic—a place unknown to Lucy.

The dusty room was filled with old boxes. He walked to one and opened it carefully. At the top of the stored items was a folded piece of cloth with the name “Lucy” embroidered on it. Ricardo held the fabric for a moment, his eyes lost in memories.

After a few seconds, he sighed and tucked it back. That was when he found a photo.

In the image, three people were smiling: Ricardo, a woman, and a young child. His eyes fixed on the child in the photo.

“Nina...”

His whisper was lost in the silence of the attic.

The sudden ring of his phone shattered the moment. Ricardo blinked, snapping back to reality. He put the photo away, climbed down the ladder, and pulled the cloth back, hiding the hatch.

He answered the phone as the rain outside intensified.

Ricardo answered the phone.

“Hello?” “Rick? Hey man, you busy?” “Roney? Hey... no. Why?” “Wanna head out for a bit?” “I can’t. I need to stay with Lucy.” “Is she awake? If she’s out, there’s no problem with you leaving for a while. It’ll be quick.” “I can’t...” “Come on, man. You deserve a break once in a while too. Let’s go?”

Ricardo sighed and walked to Lucy’s door. She was sleeping peacefully, her breath soft and steady. He stood there for a few seconds, lost in thought.

“...Alright.” “That’s the spirit! So, how about we check out that new casino?” “A casino?”

Roney’s House

Ricardo pulled up in front of his friend’s house. Roney hopped in excitedly, slammed the door, and buckled his seatbelt.

“So, where is this casino?” Ricardo asked. “Relax, I know the way. Just drive.” “Right...”

The car moved through the illuminated city streets.

“So, Rick, still living in that isolated jungle?” “It’s not a jungle, it’s a forest. And yes, I still live there.” “Gross! I don’t even know how that place gets a signal. You’re never leaving, are you?” “I don’t plan to. I like it there... and so does Lucy.” “But isn’t that bad for the kid? Growing up away from everything... she’ll end up being afraid of her own shadow. Turn there.”

Ricardo turned the wheel, deep in thought. “I understand... I just need to find a way to give her a normal life without worrying so much.”

Roney went silent for a few seconds. “I get it... My bad.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence, the city lights blurred against the windows.

The Casino

They stepped inside, where the clatter of machines and the hum of betting filled the air.

“Just so you know, I’m not drinking,” Ricardo said. “I know, man. To keep you company, neither will I.”

Between bets, wins, and losses, they had fun like old times. Roney laughed loudly, and even Ricardo seemed lighter. But the relaxation was cut short by a commotion across the hall. A group of men was arguing with a guy, and the fight escalated quickly. A few customers stopped to watch, but no one intervened. Within minutes, casino security stepped in and dragged the man to another floor.

The atmosphere returned to normal... but Ricardo was no longer at ease.

“Alright, Roney... I think I’m done for tonight.” “Ah, leaving already? Just because of that scuffle?” “It’s not just that... I’m worried about Lucy.”

Roney sighed and shrugged. “Fine, man. Go ahead. I’m staying a bit longer.” “Thanks for tonight.” “Don’t mention it! Next time will be even better!”

Ricardo gave a faint smile and left—but a strange feeling gnawed at his chest. Something in the air felt wrong.

Lucy

The sound of rain woke Lucy.

Still groggy, she got up and walked to her father’s room. She found it empty. It was strange, but before she could think, she heard a car approaching—and braking hard. Suddenly, the front door burst open.

Ricardo rushed in, bolting the door behind him. He was panting, his eyes wide with terror. Lucy felt a chill run down her spine.

“Lucy!... Come!” he called, his voice thick with urgency.

Before she could react, Ricardo scooped her up. It was then she noticed something strange: a damp warmth on her shirt. She looked closer... and saw it. A dark stain spreading across the red fabric.

Blood.

Her heart raced. Outside, two more cars pulled up, their engines clicking in the rain. The fear etched into her father’s face made it clear: this was no accident. Ricardo ran to the bedroom, slammed the door, and pulled down the attic ladder.

“Lucy, listen to Daddy...” he said quickly, struggling for breath. “You’re going up there and you’re going to be very quiet, okay? Don’t make a sound. Everything’s going to be okay, I promise...”

Tears welled in Lucy’s eyes, but she nodded silently.

“Everything’s going to be okay!... Daddy loves you, baby girl...”

Gently, Ricardo helped her up. As soon as she was inside, he closed the hatch firmly, but silently.

In the attic, the shadows were terrifying. The space smelled of dust and echoes. Lucy curled into a corner, clutching her knees. Her breath was shallow, her body trembling. Spotting a small beam of light, she crawled toward it. She found a gap in the wood—narrow, but enough to see what was happening below.

Her stomach churned at the sight.

Below, Ricardo heard heavy footsteps invading the house. He tried to leave the room, but the door was kicked open with brutal force. One of the men struck him with a hard kick to the stomach, doubling him over.

“FOUND HIM!” the attacker shouted. Others rushed in, surrounding Ricardo.

“What do you want?!” he gasped, trying to stand. “The briefcase! Where is it?!” “I... I don’t know what you’re talking about...” “Don’t play dumb with me!”

The man lunged. Ricardo tried to punch back, but the other was faster. He dodged and struck again, sending Ricardo crashing to the floor. In the attic, Lucy watched, biting her own hand hard, desperate for some relief from the horror.

Another man entered. Tall, strong, with a scar across his face. The leader.

“Has he talked yet?” he asked, his tone almost bored. Ricardo swallowed hard. “I... I have nothing.”

The man sighed, looking around. He picked up a photo from the dresser. “Your daughter?” He studied the picture of Ricardo and Lucy. “Cute. Did she run off with the damn briefcase?”

“No! She’s not here!” “And who can guarantee that?” “She’s... she’s with her mother...”

The scarred man stared deep into his eyes. “Fine... toss the place.”

The henchmen began tearing the house apart. But they found nothing. The leader’s patience snapped.

“Last chance... where is the briefcase?!” “I told you! I didn’t take the damn briefcase!”

Without warning, the scarred man grabbed Ricardo’s arm and, in one brutal motion,snapped it.

Ricardo screamed in agony, writhing on the floor. In the attic, Lucy shook. Tears streamed down her face. Blood dripped from her bitten hand—but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.

“Did that refresh your memory?” the leader asked. Ricardo didn’t answer.

Without hesitation, the man drew a revolver andshot Ricardo in the knees.

Lucy closed her eyes tight, as if she had felt the bullet herself. The emotional agony was tearing her apart.

“Burn the house down,” the leader ordered. Ricardo’s eyes widened in pure terror. “WHAT?! NO! PLEASE, DON’T!” “Shut up. You’ve had your time.”

The man raised his gun and pointed it at Ricardo’s chest. In the attic, Lucy could barely breathe. Her entire body shook with primal terror. The seconds felt like hours, frozen in time.

Ricardo closed his eyes, accepting his fate.

(I guess this is it... Goodbye... my daughter... I love you...)were his final thoughts.

Outside, a crack of thunder accompanied the first shot. Lucy recoiled, her body convulsing. The second shot came with another roll of thunder, and she struck her head against the floor, losing herself to the dark.

Below, the men didn’t notice. They were already preparing to torch the place.

“Everyone, move out!” the leader ordered, pocketing the photo of Lucy. “Look for this girl. Later, I’ll send someone to sift through the ashes... see if the briefcase is in there.”

The cars sped away, vanishing into the rain.

Alone in the attic, Lucy felt the smoke thickening. Her chest burned. Her vision blurred. She tried to stand, but the heat was already consuming the house. The attic floor gave way.

She fell amidst the debris, her skin scratched by the wreckage. Beside her, a box sat open. Trinkets scattered from the fall. A cloth embroidered with the name “Lucy,” an old photo.

But none of it mattered. Her eyes found Ricardo’s body.

Powerless to stand, she dragged herself to him, ignoring the suffocating heat. She tried to touch him, tears flowing in silence.

Lucy had never felt so useless. Never felt so helpless.

Her father was gone......and she couldn’t say a single word.

Clutching his body, surrounded by the flames, Lucy lost consciousness.