After hours on the road and several stops at gas stations and small roadside shops, they finally saw the sign. It was green, with white letters, nearly hidden by the surrounding vegetation. They slowed down to read what it said.
Welcome to Rio Denso
Pop. 2,019
Just a few words, but they brought immense relief. They were tired of being cooped up in the car for so long, and even after a night's sleep at a hotel along the way, their bodies still ached.
Augusto pulled over to the shoulder of the road so they could take their first photo in the new town, right beside the sign. He set the timer on his phone and propped it up with a box on the car's hood so all three could be in the shot.
Everyone agreed the photo turned out great. The air seemed fresher, and the breeze cooler and more pleasant in Rio Denso. They got back in the car—just five more minutes and they would cross the threshold into their new life.
Augusto drove slowly so he, Elisa, and Rob could take in the town's details. The houses were simple, and there was none of the visual pollution from the high walls that were everywhere in São Paulo. The streets were lined with flowers none of them had ever seen before, in shades ranging from pink to purple, interspersed with lighter colors like white and yellow.
The houses, too, were painted in light tones. Some were made of rustic wood, adding even more charm to the place. Most had gardens and green lawns that seemed to invite one to lie down and read a good old book, resting from life's daily headaches. The sky was a deep blue with no clouds in sight—just the vast expanse above, and the sun welcoming the family.
They spotted a dark river running alongside the road. Augusto immediately connected the town's name to the color of the water and smiled. He planned to bring Elisa and Rob there for a picnic by the river, maybe take a swim and enjoy the lush nature.
Eventually, they reached the town center, from where they could already see the house provided by the hospital. It sat atop a hill—the highest point in the city. A large white house guarded by a towering tree. Seeing it in person made Augusto like it even more. Just one quick stop at the market to grab groceries for dinner, and then: new home, new life.
The market was behind the town's church. Augusto parked nearby and decided to leave Elisa and Rob to admire the place while he ran the errand.
— Son, how about getting out of the car and breathing in some fresh air, huh? Want to check out the church with Mom?
Rob seemed pleased and nodded. Augusto turned to Elisa, who also nodded.
— I'm off to get us some grub. — He rubbed his belly and licked his lips. Rob mimicked him. — Be right back.
Elisa got out of the car first and noticed a park in front of the church. Some people gathered there, chatting, while others played games she couldn't identify from where she stood.
Tall trees took advantage of the gentle sun to cast comforting shadows across the entire park. A woman looked toward the newly arrived family, nudged the man beside her, who then alerted another. Within seconds, nearly everyone was staring at Elisa and Rob as if they were a pair of aliens.
Elisa kept scanning the area with her eyes and noticed a Black man in a white robe standing at the church door. She wasn't very religious, but she thought it would be polite to greet him. She stepped away from Rob for a moment and walked toward the priest.
At first, the man wore a broad, welcoming smile—until he saw the boy stepping out of the car. His face twisted into a scowl, and his eyes burned with hatred. He darted glances between mother and son repeatedly.
Elisa's smile faded, and she frowned.
She turned to look at her son and saw curious, frightened eyes. Everyone seemed like they wanted to tear a piece off the boy—as if they were staring at something evil. An elderly woman gripped her granddaughter's arm hard enough to leave a bruise. A mother holding a baby quickly adjusted the child in her stroller and hurried away. An old man clutched his chest like he'd seen a ghost. Those who remained seemed frozen in place, paralyzed by what they saw.
Elisa turned back to the priest, but he had already turned his back and slammed the church door shut.
Rob stood frozen. It hadn't crossed his mind that he was the reason for everyone's disturbing reaction.
At that moment, Bóris began barking and thrashing inside the car.
Elisa looked at her son, still standing by the car, confused. She forced her feet to move toward him, glaring fiercely at the townspeople as she passed. When she was close enough, she asked:
— What happened, sweetheart?
Rob tried to speak, but couldn't find the right words. In the end, he just said:
— I don't know. When I got out, they all just... changed.
Elisa hugged him, and a danger alarm went off in her mind. It was as if she could feel a palpable evil directed at her son—something only a mother's sixth sense could detect. She stroked Rob's hair and kissed his forehead. When she turned back around, the plaza had cleared.
Augusto returned from the market, hands full of bags. The joy that had been driving him evaporated when he saw his pale wife and son staring at the now-lifeless playground. She gave a subtle wave of her hand, signaling him not to ask anything. She opened the car door, placed Rob in the back seat, buckled him in, got in silently, and waited while Augusto loaded the groceries into the trunk and started the car.
— Let's go home... please, Elisa said.
As they drove off, Augusto noticed curious eyes peeking through the curtains of the church. The priest's stare was familiar—he had seen that expression before in people brought to the hospital. The man closed the curtains when he realized the doctor was staring back.
They passed through the center, eyes fixed on their new house atop the hill, as if it were a safe haven.
— Mom? — Rob broke the silence.
— Hmm...
Her mind seemed far away.
— I want to get up there already.
His little voice came out soft and shaken—but just loud enough to bring his mother back to the present.
She turned to look at him in the back seat and allowed herself a comforting smile.
— Oh yeah? Why's that?
— Because... I think it's safe up there.
Augusto looked at him through the rearview mirror. He wanted to smile, but this time, the spiritual unease won.