Vivian and Brittany were walking down the street toward Ana's house.
—Vivian… what are we going to tell Ana? —Brittany asked—. You know… we really don't know her.
Vivian thought for a moment.
—First we just need to get to know her. Then we'll ask her about what happened. But for now, we have to go.
Vivian nodded.
The two girls continued walking, attracting several looks around them.
A group of guys tried to approach them, but the result was the same as always: rejection.
Vivian and Brittany didn't want to waste their time on that kind of thing.
They had come for only one reason.
To talk to Ana.
A few minutes later they arrived in front of the house.
Vivian walked up to the door and rang the bell.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
It was Ana.
The girl was surprised to see two strangers standing at her door.
She immediately recognized Vivian from the news, but she didn't recognize the other girl.
—Can I help you? —Ana asked.
Vivian looked at Ana for a moment.
She was a pretty girl. She had dark brown hair, large eyes of the same color, an oval face, and medium height.
—Hi, Ana —Vivian said—. I'm Vivian, and this is Brittany.
—We came because we want to ask you something.
Ana frowned slightly.
—Can we come in, or would you prefer to go to a café to talk? —Vivian continued.
Ana thought for a few seconds.
—Let's go to a café. Give me a moment.
Vivian and Brittany nodded.
Ana closed the door and went inside the house.
—Grandma, I'm going out with some friends to a café —she said—. I'll be back soon.
She grabbed a jacket and her keys.
When she returned to the door, Vivian and Brittany were still waiting.
The three of them began walking together toward a nearby café.
---
When they entered the place, they immediately drew attention.
Three beautiful girls together always attracted looks.
Some of the guys there recognized Ana, but they didn't know who Vivian and Brittany were.
Others began whispering among themselves, discussing who would dare to approach them.
The three girls sat down at a table.
A waitress approached with a smile and handed them the menu.
—What would you like to order?
—A coffee —Ana said.
The waitress wrote it down and looked at the other two.
—Coffee as well —Vivian and Brittany said at the same time.
The waitress wrote down the order and left.
A few minutes later she returned with the three cups of coffee.
She placed them on the table and walked away.
Ana looked at Vivian and then at Brittany.
—Alright… tell me. What do you want to talk to me about?
Vivian and Brittany looked at each other.
Vivian spoke first.
—It's about your case.
Ana frowned.
—The group of men who broke into your house to kidnap you… —Vivian continued.
—And the clown who appeared.
Ana was surprised.
Her case was already known, but what really shocked her was hearing that word.
Clown.
Ana looked at the two girls.
—You saw him too…?
Both of them nodded.
Ana already knew a little about Vivian's case from the news, but she didn't know many details about the clown.
Brittany leaned slightly forward.
—Tell me, Ana… what exactly happened in your house?
Ana thought for a moment before answering.
Brittany decided to speak first.
—In my case… he appeared in an alley.
Ana looked at her.
—I was arguing with some thugs. One of them was Gabriel, the brother of a gang leader in Trenton. They tried to take advantage of me.
Ana listened carefully.
—First a balloon appeared —Brittany continued—. And then… the clown.
—He was holding that balloon.
Brittany lowered her gaze for a moment.
—In the end… that clown punished that guy and everyone who was with him.
Ana remained silent.
She had never really left Newton.
That small town was her whole world.
Then she spoke.
—My case was different.
Vivian and Brittany looked at her.
—I was at home when some men broke in to kidnap me.
Ana remembered the scene.
—Suddenly… the lights went out.
The two girls listened carefully.
—Confetti started falling from the ceiling.
—And circus music started playing from the kitchen.
Vivian and Brittany exchanged a look.
—Then the clown came out of the kitchen.
Ana took a deep breath.
—He eliminated those men.
The two girls tensed up.
—Then he walked toward me… and said something.
—What did he say? —Vivian asked.
Ana lowered her voice.
—He said: "Next time… don't open the door."
Vivian frowned.
—That's strange… because those men kicked the door open.
Ana nodded.
—Yes… that's why I didn't understand what he meant.
Vivian crossed her arms.
—That clown is strange.
The two girls looked at her.
—When he talks he sounds cheerful… like he's running a circus.
—But suddenly his voice changes.
—It becomes… dark and elegant.
---
I was sitting in the same café listening to what those three girls were saying.
Well… it's true what I said.
"Next time don't open the door."
Honestly…
I didn't have anything better to say at the time.
Besides, it was just a small mistake.
I watch them.
I think those three girls should talk about these things in private.
But whatever.
I think it's time to leave them a little message.
I stand up from the table and leave the café.
I walk away calmly while they continue talking.
---
A red balloon appears floating outside the café.
Vivian notices it from the corner of her eye.
Her body freezes when she turns her head to look at it.
Brittany and Ana follow her gaze.
All three freeze.
The red balloon was floating in the air… without rising into the sky.
Suddenly a car passes in front of the café, blocking their view.
When the car passes…
They see him.
A clown.
He is standing there holding the balloon.
The clown raises his hand and waves at them.
Mask.
Clown suit.
A painted smile.
Another car passes in front of the window.
When the vehicle moves away…
The clown is gone.
But the balloon is still floating.
And it has a letter attached to it.
The three girls look at each other.
They quickly pay for the coffee and leave the café.
Vivian tries to grab the balloon.
At that moment…
POP!
The balloon bursts.
It wasn't a dangerous explosion.
Just the normal sound of a balloon popping.
But the letter falls slowly.
And ends up in Vivian's hand.
On the back it reads:
For the three of you.
Vivian, Brittany, and Ana look at each other.
—Let's go to my house —Ana said.
The other two agreed.
---
Minutes later they were in Ana's bedroom.
The three of them were staring at the letter on the bed.
Finally, they opened it.
The message said:
Hello to the three of you.
How are you?
Have you gotten over the trauma?
Do you want me to come and give you a show?
Remember that this world is dangerous.
Only a smile given by the clown, your savior, can make you forget the dangers of this world.
Oh, by the way, if you're going to talk about these things, remember that you should do it in private.
Goodbye.
Suddenly…
The letter began to dissolve.
As if someone had poured water on it.
The three girls stared at it.
Then the letter changed shape.
It turned into a small flower.
The flower opened.
And sprayed water directly onto their faces.
Vivian, Brittany, and Ana were completely soaked.
The flower withered and turned to dust.
The three girls looked at each other in silence.