On the outskirts, in the City of Rivers, a couple in love wandered lost. It had been a long time since they had been searching without rest for a safe place — somewhere they could call home.
Tirio, a 28-year-old young man, and his girlfriend Laura, 25. They had been together, living a life of pure love for ten years already. When everything began, Laura became a victim of the strange illness that was shaking the world.
Many times, the pain and worry of watching his girlfriend suffer such torment drove him to desperation. He tried going to doctors, but with the growing reports of entire families disappearing, he no longer knew whom to trust.
One morning, something strange could be felt in the air — a sudden calm, a deep silence.
Surprised by it, Tirio hurried upstairs, worried.
—Laura… are you okay?!
—Honey… come… quickly!
He rushed up the stairs. She was in bed as always, but her mood was different… for the first time in a long while, peace and happiness returned to her face — emotions they thought had been lost.
At last, the pain had stopped. But another problem was born — one even worse.
—I don't know what happened, Tirio… but I feel brand new. I feel incredible… —Laura said, excited.
Tirio remained at the doorway, unable to believe what he was seeing. A storm of emotions formed inside him. What he had feared most had arrived in the worst possible way. His beloved had become a Mutant.
—I can see that, my love… —he said with a trembling voice.
She quickly noticed something different in his eyes.
—Honey… is everything alright? Look at me — I'm better now…
—It's nothing… everything is fine, everything will be fine…
—Tell me what's wrong. Don't you dare lie to my face. I'm telling you I feel better — and you look like that?
Not knowing how to respond, he stayed silent. He ran to close the bedroom windows — but it was already too late. The neighbor next door had seen everything. They stared at each other for a moment before the neighbor hurriedly slammed his window shut.
Worried, Tirio went to speak with him and tried to convince him to keep the secret. The Mutant issue was still at its peak, and with the rebellions, things had only grown worse.
After a tense argument, the neighbor insisted on calling the authorities — he refused to be an accomplice in hiding a Mutant. Tirio begged and begged, but the man persisted, and the discussion ended with the door slammed in Tirio's face.
He returned home and, as gently as possible, explained everything to his wife — that they had to flee as soon as possible.
Laura, still unable to accept that she was no longer human — at least in the eyes of others — fell into despair and tried to convince Tirio to leave and save himself… or to commit a sacrilege.
—Tirio, please, listen to me… we can't both die. I beg you — leave… I couldn't forgive myself if something happened to you…
—And what do you plan to do? —Tirio interrupted. —When I told you I wanted to be with you, I meant it. I can't… I can't go on without you…
—But they'll kill you… they—
—I know… believe me, I know! But it makes no difference to me. If I have to choose between living without you or dying with you… I think you already know my answer.
—I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… —Laura cried through tears. —Why… why is this happening to us? What have we done to deserve this? God… please give me an answer…
Tirio ran to embrace her, and the two drowned in tears and sorrow. After a while — exhausted and desperate — they quickly gathered only the essentials to leave as soon as possible.
Clothes, food, water bottles… and a few blades for protection if needed. It was 5:10 PM when they saw, for the last time, the entrance to what had once been their cave, their refuge, their home.
Hours later, the house was raided — the door broken down and everything searched — but no one was there.
From afar, Tirio looked back, and the pain doubled as the smoking remains of his home rose into the sky.
Now it was more than clear.
THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.