The silence in the room was absolute.
But it wasn't calm.
It was the kind of silence that presses.
That weighs.
That demands.
The only thing breaking it…
Was the sound of the keys.
Verônica was typing fast.
No pause.
No hesitation.
The screen lit her face, reflecting in her focused eyes.
Lines of code.
Access maps.
Hidden paths.
Everything opening little by little.
— Are you already in? — Daniel asked, low.
— Partially — she replied.
— What does that mean?
— It means they know someone got in…
The pause was brief.
— But they still don't know who.
His heart raced.
— How much time?
— Less than I wanted.
Leon was standing, looking at the clock.
Every second counted.
— We start now — he said.
Daniel nodded.
— The more noise, the better.
Verônica didn't take her eyes off the screen.
— Don't overdo it.
— Why?
— Because if they go into containment mode…
She stopped typing for a second.
— I get trapped in there.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
— Then we balance it — Daniel said.
— Go — Verônica said.
Her voice firm.
Without looking at them.
— Now.
Leon and Daniel exchanged a quick glance.
No words.
But with understanding.
And they left.
The door closed.
And in that moment…
She was alone.
Her breathing slowed.
Forced.
Controlled.
— Focus… — she murmured.
Her fingers moved again.
Faster.
Deeper.
Layers began to appear.
Protections.
Blocks.
Alerts.
She bypassed.
Broke.
Entered.
— Okay…
Her voice came out low.
— This is not a common system.
Another layer.
Deeper.
More protected.
And then—
Alert.
The screen flickered.
Verônica froze for a second.
— Damn…
A red line appeared.
Tracking attempt.
— They noticed.
Outside…
Leon and Daniel were in the car.
— It started — Daniel said, looking at his phone.
— Then let's increase it — Leon replied.
He started the car.
Took off.
Straight ahead.
— What's the plan? — Daniel asked.
— Make it impossible to ignore.
— How?
Leon answered coldly:
— By hitting their points.
Daniel smiled slightly.
— Finally.
Inside the room…
Verônica typed faster.
The alert was still there.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
— Hold… hold…
She opened another access.
Bypassed.
Entered.
And then—
Everything changed.
The screen went black for a second.
Just one.
But it was enough.
When it came back…
It wasn't the same system anymore.
Cleaner.
More organized.
More… central.
— I made it…
Her voice came out in a whisper.
At the center of the screen…
A panel.
Simple.
But powerful.
Names.
Accounts.
Decisions.
Everything there.
Everything connected.
— This is the core…
The heart of the system.
But then—
Something appeared.
A new window.
Automatic.
Without command.
Without warning.
And a message:
"You took too long."
Her heart stopped.
— What…?
Another line appeared:
"I was waiting."
The air grew heavy.
Unbreathable.
— No…
Another:
"Verônica."
The world stopped.
— How did he…?
She didn't type.
Didn't click.
Nothing.
And even so…
The reply came:
"Did you really think you'd enter without being seen?"
Fear came.
Real.
Cold.
Direct.
— Who are you…?
She typed.
Without thinking.
The answer took a moment.
Just a few seconds.
But they felt like minutes.
And then—
"I am what's left."
Her heart raced.
— That means nothing.
Another line:
"Your father started it."
Pause.
"I finished it."
The world spun.
— That's a lie…
"You're inside my house now."
She took a deep breath.
Trying to keep control.
— Then show yourself.
Silence.
For a few seconds.
And then—
The screen changed.
A file.
Video.
She hesitated.
But clicked.
The image loaded.
Grainy.
Old.
A room.
A table.
Men sitting.
And there…
She froze.
— No…
Her father.
Younger.
And beside him…
Leon.
But not the current Leon.
Younger.
And another man.
The same one.
From the warehouse.
And someone else.
In the background.
Barely visible.
But present.
Watching.
The figure moved slightly forward.
And then…
The image froze.
But enough to see.
The face.
Verônica felt the world disappear for a second.
— That's not possible…
Her voice came out broken.
Because that face…
She knew it.
Very well.
And in that moment…
Everything changed.