The sun had barely risen when Celina woke with an uncomfortable tightness in her chest. Still lying in bed, she reached for her phone and instinctively opened her messaging app. There was nothing new from Zoe. Since Dona Maria’s message the day before—brief and confusing—there had been nothing else. It had only said she was at the hospital with Zoe. Celina had tried calling several times after that, but everything went straight to voicemail. The silence gnawed at her.

It wasn’t until after noon that her phone finally vibrated with a video call from Zoe. Celina answered almost immediately, her heart racing.

“Zoe! Thank God!” she exclaimed, adjusting herself on the couch, her eyes filled with relief. “How are you, my friend? You have no idea how worried I was. Your mom sent me a message yesterday while she was with you at the hospital, and then she disappeared. I tried calling, but it always went to voicemail. Thor tried to talk to Arthur but couldn’t reach him. Then he contacted Arthur