Chapter 1: Inner layer

March 12, 2026, 10:26 a.m. — Afterglow Café, Reno, Nevada, USA.

The morning was quiet in Reno. The streets, surrounded by modern buildings, shops, and residential neighborhoods, were already busy.

On one corner, almost unnoticed amid the vastness of the city, stood a small café. The smoke escaping from the establishment's chimney dispersed into the fresh morning air, accompanied by the gentle aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Inside, the atmosphere was warm and comfortable. Some people chatted near the windows, while others remained focused on their computers.

Behind the counter, a woman in her thirties, with wavy hair, brown eyes, and dark skin, served the customers with a smile on her face.

— Welcome to Afterglow Café! It's a beautiful day today, isn't it? — she asked, addressing the man who had just approached. — What will your order be?

— Ah, yes, yes. — The customer reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, pensive. — About the order... Hm... do you have any recommendations?

— Recommendations? In this chill, what sells the most is hot chocolate. It's great for warming the heart.

The man let out a small laugh.

— It's nice to see someone with so much energy. Alright, I'll have a hot chocolate, then — he said, handing over the money.

— Perfect! Go ahead and have a seat, and we'll bring your order to the table shortly!

— Thank you very much.

As soon as the customer walked away, the woman called out toward the kitchen without even turning around:

— Elian! Hot chocolate for table five!

— Got it! — answered a voice from the back.

The owner of the voice was a tall young man with fair skin, blue eyes, and black hair, who was already reaching for a mug before even hearing the end of the order.

Between the espresso machine and the wall, there was a crayon drawing held up with tape: two little stick figures holding hands and, beneath them, written in crooked letters, "ME AND BROTHER."

Elian cast a quick glance at the drawing, as he always did when he needed a push, and got to work.

He put syrup at the bottom of the mug, poured the heated milk over it, and mixed everything until creamy. Finally, he topped it off with a generous layer of whipped cream.

They were simple but precise movements. Made by someone who had repeated them hundreds, maybe thousands of times.

— Table five's order is ready! — he announced, setting the mug on a small tray before heading toward the kitchen exit.

Without delay, he crossed the establishment, passing by the counter and a few tables until he reached the customer.

— Here's your order — he said, carefully placing the mug in front of him. — Would you like anything else?

— Ah, no. Thank you very much.

— Thank you!

Back in the kitchen, his phone vibrated on the shelf, next to the mugs. Elian dried his hands on his apron and glanced at the screen.

Jeorgina: Hey, Elian! Have you decided yet if you're going on the camping trip or...

The rest of the preview faded at the edge of the screen. One tap was all it took to open the conversation. But time, at that moment, was precisely what he didn't have.

— Elian! Table three wants two cappuccinos! — called the voice from the counter.

— Coming! — He turned the phone face down and went back to work.

And so, the rest of the day went by without major problems at the café.

March 12, 2026, 3:42 p.m. — Reno, Nevada, USA.

Downtown Reno was busy. Pedestrians filled the sidewalks, which stretched off into the distance, while cars crossed the avenues and the shops carried on at full speed.

In the midst of it all, three young people made their way unhurriedly through the crowd.

— Ahhhh, so where the hell is this damn store, Miguel? We've been walking for ages and still haven't gotten there — asked a tall young man with light brown hair, his hands in his jacket pockets.

— We're close, Adam. Just a few more blocks.

— You said the same thing twenty minutes ago. Besides, you didn't even explain why you're buying another ring. Is the one you and Linda wear bad or something?

— No, it's not that.

— Then why?

— There's no specific reason... I just thought that, with this study trip of mine coming up, the distance we're going to have and everything, it'd be nice to leave one last surprise for Linda before I go.

— Hahaha, now I get it. — Adam spread his arms wide, as if presenting a prize. — Applause, applause for Miguel, the last romantic on earth!

He burst out laughing at his own joke.

— Who would've thought I'd one day see that same snot-nosed kid like this, huh?

— Oh, go screw yourself. If you only came to complain or get in the way with your jokes, you might as well not have come.

Miguel sighed, looking away. His voluminous blond hair contrasted with his dark skin, while the fur collar of his grayish jacket protected his neck from the cold.

Adam, meanwhile, was quite pleased with his friend's reaction.

— Haha! Relax, man! I'm just kidding. You know I wouldn't leave you alone on an important mission like this.

— Sure... — Miguel closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

— But, Miguel, does Linda already know you're going to study abroad?

— Of course. I wouldn't hide something like that from her. But aside from you, her, and Hana, the rest of the group doesn't know yet.

As soon as Hana's name was mentioned, the two stopped abruptly, only then noticing the absence of the third member of the group.

— Speaking of her... where did she go?

They scanned their surroundings in search of the girl's silhouette, until they found a small pet shop window they had walked past without noticing.

There, completely oblivious to the world, was Hana, with her light pink beanie, long brown hair, and golden eyes glued to something on the other side of the glass.

— Aaah... — Adam touched his own forehead. — How does she manage to be so scatterbrained?

Miguel, beside him, smiled and went over to her.

— Hehe, that's a good question.

With a few steps, they both reached her side.

— Hana? What are you looking at so intently?

She turned her face at once, raising a finger to her mouth.

— SHHHH! Just look... — she whispered, turning back to look.

On the other side of the window, a small dog played absentmindedly with a little ball.

— Is that... all? — asked Adam, confused.

— What do you mean "all"? — The girl straightened up, her face furious. — How can you say something like that about such a cute creature?!

The young man looked at the animal, then at his friend.

— It's just a dog, Hana.

— I know! But look how small he is! He looks like a little ball of fur!

— Yes, we can see — he said, already on the verge of losing his patience. — What I can't understand is why you stop every two minutes to look at something like this! This is already the seventh time since we started walking, you know?!

— But I couldn't hold myself back! Look at this most perfect thing! You're probably just jealous of him, for being that big, not-cute brute over there! — To finish, she even stuck out her tongue.

— OH, WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, YOU—

— Easy, man! — Before the situation got out of hand, Miguel, who was trying his hardest to hold back his laughter, put a hand between the two. — It was just a little joke, right, Hana?

— It wasn't — she answered bluntly, pouting and turning her face away.

— Hey, Hana! Come on, help me out here! — he whispered, pleading with his eyes.

She stayed pouting for a few more seconds, until she murmured:

— Okay, okay. Maybe I overdid it. Sorry, Adam.

He sighed.

— Me too. I know you're not scatterbrained on purpose. Sorry about that.

The blond one, caught in the middle of it all, breathed a sigh of relief.

— Anyway, shall we go?

— Let's go — they answered at the same time, still sulking.

But just as they were about to resume the walk to the store, Hana stopped.

— Oh, before we go... — She tugged on the sleeve of Miguel's coat. — Let's take a photo!

Adam, who had already turned around, looked at her again.

— A photo? Right now, out of nowhere?

— Yes, of course! To record our outing! I'll send it to the group chat too.

— But why?

Miguel touched his shoulder and pulled him close in a hug.

— Come on, it's just a photo! — An enormous smile took over his lips. — The right question is, why not?

With no choice, and in a two-against-one contest, Adam simply accepted defeat.

— Huff... fine, fine. — He positioned himself beside them. — Let's just hurry up.

Hana raised her phone, stretching her arm out as far as she could.

— Get closer!

The two moved closer to her, hugging.

— Smile!

— AH! Wait, wait! I forgot to fix my hair! — said Miguel.

— Too late! Three, two, one...

Click!

March 12, 2026, 3:56 p.m. — Reno, Nevada, USA.

The afternoon continued quietly on the outskirts of Reno. On one of the residential streets, a small apartment stood out amid the snow-covered landscape.

The space was quite limited. The living room, which also served as a bedroom, barely fit its residents. The kitchen was a few steps away, separated from the bathroom by a wall. The shower, for its part, worked in a rather unpredictable way: whether it would heat up or not was practically a matter of luck.

Sitting on the sofa bed, a girl of about twenty was finishing packing her backpack. She had her brown hair tied in a braid and green eyes. Beside her, the phone remained open, displaying the conversations of the friends' group chat, which was quite active that afternoon, with photographs and comments about the next day's trip.

— Jeorgina! Have you seen the car key? — asked a voice from the kitchen.

The girl looked at the small table beside the sofa. The key was right there.

— It's here in the living room, Mom.

The woman appeared at the entrance of the room, already ready to leave. Her brown hair, similar to her daughter's, was loose and carefully styled.

— Oh, thank you, sweetie!

Jeorgina watched her for a few moments, noticing the earrings and the makeup.

— Mom, are you going out?

— Oh, yes. I set up a date with a guy, so I might not be back before you leave.

— I see...

The woman picked up the key and quickly checked the time on her watch.

— Damn, it's almost time. But, honey, have you finished packing your things for tomorrow?

The girl looked away toward the backpack.

— Almost. Just a few little things left.

Her mother approached and took a look at the contents of the bag.

— Okay. Just make sure you don't forget anything.

— You don't need to worry. I won't forget. — She answered with a discreet smile.

— That's what you always tell me... — The woman laughed, leaning down to leave a kiss on her daughter's forehead. — Well, I have to go. Don't forget to let me know when you get there, okay?

— I will.

— Love you, sweetie! And if anything happens, call me right away!

— Okay, okay. — Jeorgina went back to rummaging through the backpack. — Love you too, Mom. Enjoy your outing.

Shortly after, the door closed, leaving the apartment in silence.

Alone, the girl set the backpack aside and turned her attention to her phone. Among the notifications, one message caught her eye. Hana had asked if anyone had managed to reach Percy or Elian.

Her gaze moved to another conversation. The last message she had sent the boy was still unanswered.

"What should I say? He hasn't even seen it yet..."

She scratched the back of her neck, pensive.

— Aaah... I'll just say he must be tied up with work. He'll answer any minute now.

She typed quickly and sent the reply.

Then she tossed the phone onto the sofa and remained seated for a moment.

She looked once more at the dark screen, as if still expecting something from it.

— Aaah... — she sighed, letting her head fall back. — Shit, Jeorgina... Getting this anxious over a simple message...

She got up and walked to the shelving unit near the window. She opened one of the drawers and took out a metal tin.

After rummaging through its contents, she finally found a joint that was already rolled.

She opened the window, letting the cold afternoon air invade the apartment. She lit the cigarette and rested one arm on the windowsill, blowing the smoke toward the street.

In the alley across from the window, an orange cat slept peacefully on the lid of a trash can.

— What a good life, huh?

She let out a soft laugh and kept watching the animal for a few more seconds.

"It must be nice to be an animal. Not having to worry about money, society, and all that."

She raised her eyes to the sky, where the sun shone close to the horizon.

"Just to be... free."

Ding!

The phone vibrated on the sofa. Jeorgina turned her face immediately, expecting to find Elian's name among the notifications.

To her disappointment, it was just another message from the group.

"I hope you go... Elian."

She let out a sigh and went back to watching the street.

March 12, 2026, 9:30 p.m. — Afterglow Café, Reno, Nevada, USA.

— Ahhh! — The woman with wavy hair stretched. — I didn't think the day would be this hectic.

Exhausted, she flopped down on one of the tables.

— Thanks for staying for the second shift today, Elian. You really saved me. — She gave a thumbs up.

The boy, who was taking off his apron a few steps away, just smiled awkwardly.

— It's all good, boss. I'm on college break anyway, so it's no problem. — He hung it on a hook attached to the wall and went to the sink, carrying some dishes.

— It's your last year, right?

— Yes. If everything goes well, I'll graduate soon.

— Ahh, being young is so great. I wish I could go back to my day. — She glanced sideways at him, reliving memories. — Do you have anything planned for this break?

— Nothing special. My friends were actually planning to go on a camping trip. But I don't think I'm going anymore.

— WHAT?! — She slammed the palm of her hand on the table, her face confused. — And why not?!

Elian kept washing the cups.

— Ah, the reason? I just... I'm not really the going-out type. — He suddenly stopped and looked toward his boss. — Besides, there's Eloise and the work here too.

— Oh, don't give me that! A young guy like you has to enjoy life while you can! — Like night and day, the boss's face went from indignation to sadness. — Don't be like me, who let her youth pass by and regrets it to this day.

— I know. But there's not much I can do. Besides, I don't even care about going anyw—

— Is that girl you like going? — she interrupted.

— H-huh? I-I don't know what you're talking about. — Even though he tried to hide it, the embarrassment was clear in his flushed face and in the hurry with which he started scrubbing the dishes.

— Hehe, looks like she's going. Let's do this: I'll give you tomorrow and the day after tomorrow off. That already solves half the problem, right? — She stretched her arm, subtly. — As for your little sister, Eloise, you should be able to leave her for a day or two with some friend of yours. And if you can't, I have the contact of a good babysitter too.

— B-but, boss, you don't have to do that.

— Of course I do. Take my advice and go for it. You've been carrying too much responsibility since your parents died. It's important to relax sometimes. — A mischievous smile formed on her lips. — And who knows, something might happen...

Elian began to wash the dishes more slowly, pensive. In the end, he sighed.

The boss walked over to him and touched his shoulder.

— Give it some careful thought. Nobody's made of steel, much less perfect. — She stroked his head, messing up his black hair. — While you're still in your twenties, fly, kid. Time is the only thing that not even money can buy.

After saying goodbye to his boss, Elian put on his coat and left the café. The cold night air greeted him as soon as he crossed the door, making him hunch his shoulders inside his coat.

With long strides, he headed toward the bus stop. The streets were empty, covered by a thin layer of snow.

Alone in the darkness, he took his phone out of his pocket and looked at the notifications.

"Wow, so many messages in the group chat. They're probably talking about the camping trip."

Upon opening the conversation, he came across a photo of Hana, Adam, and Miguel downtown, the three squeezed into a hug and Miguel's hair completely messed up.

"I missed the whole conversation..."

He skimmed through the rest of the messages.

...

MESSAGES (3:50 p.m. — 4 p.m.)

Jennifer: What are you guys doing downtown?

Hana: We just came for a walk and to buy some things for the camping trip!

Jennifer: Oh, since you're there, buy marshmallows! I want to roast them over the campfire.

Hana: Don't worry, I'll buy them!

Jennifer: Thankss ❤️❤️

Miguel: Changing the subject, has anyone managed to reach Val, Gabi, or Ellen?

Jennifer: No one. The messages don't even reach them. But Val had warned that there probably wouldn't be any signal there, so there's not much we can do.

Miguel: Makes sense. And who here is already confirmed? I need to know how many I'll be picking up by car.

Jennifer: In principle, almost everyone is confirmed. I think only Elian and Percy are missing.

Hana: Has any of you managed to talk to them?

Jeorgina: I messaged Percy, but he said he's waiting for Elian to decide whether he's going or not.

Hana: And Elian?

Jeorgina: He hasn't answered me yet...

...

After finishing reading the messages, Elian began typing a reply, but stopped his thumb over the screen before sending it.

He looked at the night sky, full of stars.

"Ahh... I'll decide whether I'm going or not after I get home."

He turned off the phone and put it in his pocket.

Upon arriving at the stop, he found an elderly woman sitting on the bench, with two shopping bags in her lap.

— Good evening — he greeted, approaching.

— Good evening, dear — she replied, with a kind smile.

Shortly after, the bus appeared at the corner. Elian waited for the passengers to get off before boarding.

— Coming back late again, young man? — asked the driver.

— Yeah, I had to cover the second shift today.

He swiped his card and went down the aisle until he found an empty seat by the window. With a jolt, the bus pulled away.

Elian took out his phone again. This time, he opened the conversation with Percy. The last message, from a few hours ago, was asking whether he was going to take long to arrive.

"I guess there's no point replying now."

He put the device away and looked out the window. The city lights passed by blurred through the fogged-up glass.

"Percy's been different lately. He's always done whatever he pleased with his life, and now he's waiting for me to decide..."

He sighed.

— I wonder if he's really okay... — he let slip, softly.

But the elderly woman, sitting in the seat in front of him, had keen ears.

— Did you say something, young man?

— Ah! No, no. Sorry, I was thinking out loud.

She smiled, going back to looking out the window.

Elian scratched the back of his neck, a little awkward.

"I need to stop doing that..."

The bus stopped a few times before reaching his street. He stood up, adjusted the strap of his backpack, and approached the door.

— See you! — he said to the driver as he got off.

— Good night, young man! Take care!

The street was quieter in that area, and soon he reached his own house. With the key in hand, he stopped in front of the door and opened it.

— Eloise, Percy, I'm home! — He took off his shoes and walked to the living room.

— BROTHER! — shouted a small girl with black hair and blue eyes, who came running and threw herself into his arms.

— Hup! — Elian caught her in midair.

— Oh, Elian, you got back late today — said a young man with brown hair and glasses, lying sloppily on the large living room sofa.

Elian stayed hugging his sister for a few more seconds, until he found an opening to look at his friend.

— Yeah, it was pretty busy today, so I ended up having to cover the second shift too. — Carefully, he set the girl down on the floor. — Thanks for picking Eloise up from school.

— Don't sweat it. It wasn't anyth—

— AH, Brother! — exclaimed the girl, interrupting the boy. — Uncle Percy was smoking inside the house again!

— AH, YOU SNITCHING BRAT! — Percy jumped up and went after her, as she fled laughing through the house. — COME BACK HERE, YOU... YOU LITTLE DEVIL!

Elian let out a long sigh and hung his coat on the hook by the entrance.

On the wall beside it, a framed picture of four people smiled at the room: him, little Eloise, and their parents.

"Even tired, I made it home safe today too." He fixed his eyes on the two in the background. "Please, keep looking after Eloise... Dad, Mom."

The shouting, however, had already ended.

When he raised his face, Percy was standing in the middle of the hallway, with a hand resting against the wall, panting.

— Today... huff... you won... huff... brat.

Then, with no strength left, he walked unsteadily to the sofa and collapsed onto it, awkwardly.

— Percy. — Elian leaned against the hallway doorframe. — Are you going on the camping trip tomorrow?

— Depends. — He adjusted his glasses. — Are you?

— I haven't decided yet. My boss even gave me tomorrow and the day after off, but, either way, there's Eloise...

— If you want, you can leave her with my parents. — Percy grabbed the remote and changed the channel without looking at which one. — But I know how much of a wreck you get when you're away from her. If you think it's better, we'll stay.

It was then that Elian noticed, on the floor, between the sofa and the wall, a suitcase already packed, half-hidden in the corner.

"Percy..." He broke into a sincere smile.

When he opened his mouth to say something—

— Brother, I'm hungry! — Eloise tugged at his sleeve, and what he was going to say was left for later.