The alarm buzzed through the small dorm room, pulling Luiz out of a shallow sleep.Sunlight crept through the blinds, striping his bed in gold and shadow.
Kelvin was gone — probably already in class. The room smelled faintly of coffee and detergent. For the first time in weeks, Luiz didn't wake up to chaos, only the hum of campus life outside his window.
He sat up slowly, his bruises still fading under the sleeves of his hoodie. Each one a quiet reminder of the island he'd left behind.
His phone buzzed.Unknown number.
Luiz frowned, hesitated, then answered."Hello?"
"Luiz."The voice was unmistakable — deep, controlled, but worn thin.
"Father?"
There was a pause on the line, just the sound of waves in the background."I know where you are," his father said softly. "Don't panic. I'm not sending anyone after you."
Luiz's grip on the phone tightened. "Then why call?"
"Because I spoke to her this morning," his father said. The way he said her made Luiz's stomach knot. "Your grandmother isn't happy you vanished. I told her to let you be — at least until you finish school. She agreed, for now."
Luiz let out a bitter laugh. "You and I both know her word means nothing."
"I know. But you're safer away from the island. Don't give her a reason to remember you. Stay quiet, Luiz. Don't do anything stupid."
There was a click, and the line went dead.
Luiz lowered the phone slowly, staring at the blank screen. His father's voice still echoed in his ears — not a threat, not even comfort, just a warning wrapped in guilt.
He shoved the phone into his pocket and looked around the room.His books were stacked neatly, the fake name on his new ID card lying on the desk. Everything looked normal.But normal didn't feed you.
By afternoon, he was already thinking about finding a job — something that paid enough to cover meals and maybe send a little money back to Mateo.
He asked around campus. The library was full, the cafeteria wasn't hiring, and the bookstore only took people with clean records. Luiz's fake name might hold for school, but not for payroll.
Still, he refused to stop trying.
As the sun dipped low, he walked past the bus terminal and spotted a few handwritten signs — "Help Wanted," "Evening Shifts," "Cleaner Needed."He tore off a few numbers and stuffed them in his pocket.
The city felt alive again — not safe, but alive. People laughed, cars passed, neon lights flickered over wet pavement.
Luiz pulled his hood up and kept walking. Somewhere out there was a job that didn't care who he used to be.
He didn't notice the black car idling across the street.Or the silhouette inside, watching.
For now, all Luiz wanted was a way to survive.
But even far from the island, the Valentine name still had a long shadow.