Prologue

The place is a bit hostile as usual, everything is being lit exclusively by a lamp, there are pairs of boxes everywhere, the walls have very marked dampness; the atmosphere in this small abandoned warehouse is not exactly the most comfortable in the world, but as we have been told, we are rats, and as such, such a place belongs to us.

In the distance, we can hear the sound of waves crashing against the quay. And the repetitive movement of a door being hit by the wind. It's a sunless day, full of grey clouds and the warning of a storm.

I have a gun in my hand. It's black and heavy, something bad is about to happen.

I have a bad feeling.

From the moment I was forced to drive to Riverbank, I knew I wouldn't come home the same.

It all seems so unfair. I wasn't part of it. I was not the culprit, however, I was an accessory to the crime.

Something went wrong with one of the shipments that were due to arrive this weekend. So Alexander, Mathius, Facundo and I, have to sort it out. The sentence Mr. Cervantes gave us before leaving was that he would force us to stop being children. I didn't even dare to ask how he would do that. But seeing what I now hold in my hand, I fear for what will happen.

—They wanted to get smart and turn us in to the police," I hear from the other side of the door.

Someone tried to defend themselves, and to make it clear that they were not the ones who sent the information to the police. There was something in the tone of their voice that made me think they were telling the truth, but I had no right to say. Facundo came in after a few minutes and joined Alexander. I looked at Mathius, he didn't even dare to look at me. I was curious to know what was going on in there, but there was a reason he was outside.

—He was there, I saw him talking to a police officer two days ago. He told me about the plan.

We heard Facundo object that the boy was capable of saying anything, just to avoid punishment. I know Facundo so well, I noticed the hesitation in his voice. The boy's confession was true.

Seconds later they came out and Alexander stood in front of me.

—Blindfold him," he ordered Mathius, "We'll test your aim with a challenge," he reported, turning to me.

—What's going on in there?" I asked before the blindfold was applied.

—Matters already resolved," he replied, looking in another direction. They don't mind me taking the abuse of playing into their game... I just honestly feel they need to take it to the next level.

—What are you talking about," I questioned, "I don't need a gun, I don't even know what you want.

He didn't answer me. They put the blindfold on me and made me walk. I listened intently for footsteps on the wood, and the sound of a door opening and closing behind me. They held up the hand that held the gun and told me to be calm and to fire when I was told to do so.

—What's going on? What am I going to shoot at?

—It's a wall with bottles on it," Facundo said.

But he didn't answer.

—Shoot," Alexander ordered.

—No!" I refused.

—Do it!

—No!" That time I took off the damn blindfold and I could see what it was all about. Two boys were gagged in front of me, and my gun was pointed right at the head of one of them. —What the hell, I'm not going to kill them! Who are they and why should I do it," I saw their faces, they were crying, "I'm not going to do this, this is not what our game is about.

I suddenly heard a gun being prepared, and then I felt it being placed on my head.

—Do it, or he will shoot you.

—I'm not a murderer!

My heart started pounding. I looked at the two boys I thought were my friends, and they didn't even flinch, they just turned and avoided my gaze. I thought about everything, about the time my father told me: "Learn to know your friends and to recognize your enemies".

—It's not a challenge anymore, Sebastian, it's an order!

I returned my gaze to the young man in front of me, I raised my gun again. I held my breath... and pulled the trigger.