Inside Mexico City Airport
Diego sat in the waiting area, his travel bags beside him. One hand propped his cheek as he stared at the big screen hanging in the hall.
9:30 AM.
Under it: flight times and destinations.
Winter air seeped through the glass walls. Behind him, a plane sat on the runway as heavy rain hammered down.
The place buzzed with people—rolling suitcases, clattering luggage, janitors, customs officers, and dogs sniffing bags.
Diego looked at his passport in his right hand, thinking:
"I hope I won't regret this… Why am I even going?!"
A few minutes later, the hall speakers chimed:
"Ding-dong!"
Then a staff member's voice echoed:
"Passengers traveling to Algeria, please proceed to the security checkpoints."
People began getting up.
Diego stared at the big screen.
"Here we go."
He stood, slung his backpack over one shoulder, grabbed his rolling suitcase, and headed toward the checkpoint.
In the crowd, he set his luggage down for inspection and joined the long line, inching forward until it was his turn.
The officers searched him while dogs sniffed his bags.
He crossed the checkpoint, grabbed his things, and walked toward passport control.
He stopped at the counter and handed over his passport. The officer flipped quickly through the pages, glanced at Diego to confirm the photo, then asked two short questions.
Officer: "What's your destination?"
Diego: "Algeria."
Officer: "How long will you be staying?" He typed on the computer.
Diego: "Six months."
The stamp thundered twice—passport and boarding pass.
The officer slid the passport back with a small nod. The path to the departure gate was now open.
Diego moved toward the gate amid the crowd of passengers.
The screen above it glowed bright blue with his flight number.
When his turn came, he handed the staff member his boarding pass. The scanner beeped—a short approval tone.
The employee returned the pass with a polite smile and opened the barrier.
Diego walked down the dim, narrow jet bridge, his footsteps echoing softly until he reached the airplane door. A flight attendant greeted him with a formal smile and directed him to his seat.
He sat by the window. The attendant stood between the rows, demonstrating how to fasten the seatbelt as the plane taxied slowly across the runway.
Moments later, the engines roared.
The plane surged forward—
then lifted off, the city fading beneath a thin gray fog.
The first minutes of ascent passed in tense silence.
Diego stared out the window, afraid of the height.
"Oh God… my first time flying… It's just a trip. Calm down."
A gentle voice spoke behind him.
Flight Attendant: "Sir, are you alright?"
Diego: "Yeah… just trying to get used to the altitude."
She smiled softly.
"Don't worry, we'll arrive safely. Would you like some juice? Orange or apple?"
Diego: "Orange, please."
She placed the cup carefully on the tray, then stepped away lightly as the plane flew over the ocean.
Diego looked out from time to time, thinking.
His thoughts tightened with anxiety:
"Life is… somewhat stable over there. But security is terrible.
I'm risking my life just because I'm curious…
But what if I meet mutants?! Are they good people? Or… different from us?
Oh God… don't let my stupidity get me killed."
Below them, the endless sheet of water stretched out, reflecting the sun in sacred silence.
Time crawled… long hours over the blue ocean.
Diego even dozed off.
Nothing accompanied him except the steady hum of the engines and the soft, conditioned air.
As they neared North Africa, land revealed itself under the wings.
The captain announced their descent, and passengers tightened their seatbelts again.
Diego woke up as the plane dipped lower, trembling slightly against the air. A spike of panic hit him before the wheels finally touched the ground with a soft thud.
He smiled without meaning to.
"Ah! … Thank God!"
He watched the plane roll slowly down the runway.
Diego: "Now it begins."
---
Inside the University Campus
Boris sat in the library, silent, until Simon arrived laughing loudly—with his sister, Hana.
Simon burst out, nearly shouting:
"Bro, you won't believe what just happened! Hahaha!"
"We just finished our history lecture. That arrogant professor kept annoying me the whole class, so I waited for her to finish. The moment she stepped out—boom!
I moved like lightning and put a banana peel in her path. Hahaha! She slipped right away, and nobody even understood what happened!"
Hana, stern and scolding:
"Idiot! I told you not to draw attention! They saw a movement like a flash! Do you want us in trouble?"
Simon suddenly paused, noticing Boris's unusual silence.
Simon: "What's wrong, bro?!"
Hana: "Is everything okay?"
Boris looked at them.
"Guys… I don't think we're alone here."
Simon and Hana exchanged confused looks.
Simon: "What do you mean?!"
Boris: "I think there are other mutants in this university."
Hana: "What exactly did you see?"
Boris: "Something strange happened here earlier. Something… supernatural."
Simon: "Okay, tell us exactly what."
Boris: "There was a group sitting at that table.
A woman came over.
They argued—couldn't hear what they said, but it was tense.
Then suddenly… one of them screamed in her face.
And in less than a second, he froze.
His eyes turned completely black.
Veins showed around them.
Then he sat back down like a machine—like something was controlling him."
Hana's face tightened.
"Wow. That's really not good."
Simon: "Why not? I think it's great—more mutants like us!"
Hana: "No! . Not all mutants are good. It's obvious she's using her power for herself."
Boris: "Yeah. That's exactly what I saw. And it's dangerous."
Simon: "So… what do we do?"
They all fell silent for a few seconds.
Hana: "We'll tell Almy . If you see her again, call us ."
Boris: "I don't know… I don't think I'll recognize her. Didn't see her face clearly."
Hana checked her watch.
"Ah—we have a lecture now," she told her brother.
Simon: "I'm not going. I've got some things to do."
Hana stood, shouldering her bag.
"Fine. Suit yourself."
Boris: "Where are you going?"
Simon: "There's a student-organization activity. Want to come with me? If you're free."
Boris: "Yeah, sure. Why not."
The two left the faculty building, walking through the spacious campus full of students.
They boarded a bus heading to another college inside the university.
As they sat:
Boris: "So… since when are you part of them?"
Simon: "Part of them?! I'm not. A friend who's already involved invited me."
Boris: "So you're invited… and you invited me? Haha! What do I say—'I was invited by someone who was invited'? Hahaha!"
Simon laughed.
"Don't worry. No one will ask. Anyone can attend—doors are open."
Boris: "And do you want to join them?"
Simon: "Not sure yet."
Boris: "Eh, forget them. They'll get annoying fast. Too much responsibility for nothing."
Simon: "I still don't know."
Boris: "Well, I'm telling you now."
The bus stopped in front of a college building.
Simon: "We're here. Come on."
Boris: "The College of Arts?" He stepped off, surprised.
Simon: "Yeah. The activity's inside."
Boris: "Your friend studies here?"
Simon: "Yep."
They walked through the decorated hallways toward the green courtyard in the center.
Boris glanced around.
"This place is nice."
Simon: "Never been here before?"
Boris: "No. I usually only stay in my department."
They reached the event area—busy and lively.
Students playing chess.
Others displaying artwork.
Some showcasing books.
Different activities everywhere.
As they looked around, a friendly guy wearing glasses approached, smiling at Simon.
Simon turned with a big grin.
"Zaki! How's it going, man?"
Zaki: "I'm good. What about you?" Warm smile.
Simon: "All good, bro."
Zaki: "You're a little late! Haha."
Simon: "Yeah, sorry."
He then gestured to Boris.
"This is my close friend—Boris."
Zaki extended his hand with a polite smile.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Zaki Silva."
Boris: "Boris Knox." They shook hands.
Zaki: "Pleasure to meet you."
A thought hit Boris—Silva.
Similar to Connor's last name.
Curious, he asked:
"Do you know Connor Silva ?"
Zaki blinked in surprise.
"Yes! He's my cousin."
The most interesting thing that caught your attention in this episode?