*I would like to warn the reader that strong scenes are coming for the rest of the story.

There will be: Blood, fractures, ugly wounds and bullying.

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Over the next few days, no one came very close to Erica. That was to be expected, but I still felt a bit sorry for her. Raquel, the gang and the rest of the class told me to keep my distance from her too, but I didn't feel in a position to do so. I was the only friend she had left. Without me, the ties between her and the rest of the class would be completely lost, and then there would be a catastrophe.

Or at least, that's how I felt.

It's not like I paid special attention to her either. We hung out together at recess, but I had other friendships to maintain. I would go play football with the boys, go out to eat with my friends, go see Raka at her house, go out on weekends with my family, things like that.

I noticed that the class and Erica slowly began to get used to not interacting. During breaks, no one would go near her. When there was group work, the teachers would allow groups to miss one person instead of simply putting Erica in the group. Even the teachers interacted as little as possible with her, and whenever she had a question, they answered from a distance.

People at school also started to behave more respectfully towards her, at least physically. Whenever she went to buy something at the kiosk, the others would move aside to give her space, or rather, so she wouldn't have to get too close. The same thing at the exit; usually everyone would crowd around the gate when it was time to leave, but when Erica went there, people would make way for her and wait for her to leave so they could continue with the normal flow. It was almost a spectacle.

My friends didn't ignore Erica completely, even Raquel spoke to her normally from time to time, but none of them wanted to hang out with her during breaks, let alone get together after school for lunch or to go to someone's house. Erica didn't curse at them or seem bothered. She let the others stay away, but from time to time she would approach them to see if they were still afraid. She would invite them to her house, to the square or just to join them at recess. Of course, no one accepted, and Erica didn't insist.

During the first week she accepted their excuses and their indifference without problems. She understood and left.

During the second week I noticed her a bit sadder. She invited Galica and Raquel to hang out in a canteen, the girls didn't even bother to make excuses anymore, they just told her they'd better not. She also invited the boys to go to the square. They refused.

During the third week I noticed her brow furrowed, her expression less pitiful and more angry. She wasn't furious, I wouldn't have called her properly angry either, but she was definitely annoyed.

-They'll give in- I assured her- it's not like they're on a campaign to avoid you.

-It wouldn't be the first time- she argued.

I dared to pat her. She rested her head on my shoulder.

-Thank you, at least you don't abandon me.

-Of course not.

I was hardly afraid to be with her anymore. Time had taken away my nerves. The image of Solis embedded in the wall was no more than a vague memory, while Erica was still there, a cool girl, a friend. I was even starting to think about making out with her again. With all the killing and the fear, I'd forgotten that we'd never actually done it.

-Soon we'll go on a school trip- I said- we have less than a week to go.

-Oh, right!- she ran a hand over her head, not very enthusiastic.

-You're not going?

-No, no, I'm going!- she said- we have to do some homework or something dumb like that, don't we?

-It's an excuse they make for us to go. Typically it doesn't matter, and those who are absent will get a good mark on the assignment anyway.

She smiled.

-Yes, typical Where were we going?

That made me laugh.

-Didn't you pay attention? Come on, Erica. We're going to San Gustavo Hill.

-And why a hill?

-Because that's where the conquistadors built their fort to fight the natives. Didn't you know about the San Gustavo hill? It is famous all over the country.

-I think I've heard the name before. But no, I've never visited it.

I put a hand to my face.

-You are insufferable.

She laughed.

-I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

At least I could cheer her up. That was nice.

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The days passed quickly, and in less than a week we found the whole class standing at the school entrance, queuing to get on the bus. Naturally, they asked Erica to go last and gave her the seat next to the teacher in the front. But the teacher was very nervous, and secretly asked me to change seats.

-All right- I replied, disappointed.

Fortunately, she seemed happy to have me with her. We talked a bit during the trip. It was strange to spend so much time with her, I didn't feel afraid, maybe because she seemed relaxed.

I remembered why I had begun to like her; Erica was honest, she had no problem showing herself for who she was, except for the fear she had at the beginning of the year that her strength would be known. But even when she was going to hurt someone, she was completely straightforward about it. In a sea of shallow friends and white lies, I could see in her a respect for relationships and others that I didn't see in other people.

Suddenly she noticed that I was looking at her. She smiled at me, but looked away shyly. I didn't understand how this girl with the strength of a monster could experience such an emotion.

-What is it?- she asked me.

-Nothing, I just wanted to go to the hill with you- I answered.

She seemed surprised. I admit I was too, not so much at saying what I said, but at the feeling that led me to do it. I felt like Erica was my friend, I felt like I was okay with her, I felt like I could even flirt with her again. Yes, we had chemistry.

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We spent the trip talking on and off. Erica didn't talk much, but she paid attention to me no matter what I said, and avoided giving her opinion unless I asked. She was nice, in that way.

After almost an hour, we arrived at the foot of the San Gustavo hill. The hill was a famous tourist area in the city, where a large fort had been built during the time of the conquest, and it had a lot of history to tell. As soon as we got off, the teachers put us into groups and gave us instructions so that we wouldn't get lost. Everything was going well, the kids were laughing, the teachers were scolding the mischievous kids and after a while we started to walk up the hill.

There were two entrances to the hill, one of which was made of a carved rock path, with murals on one side and various types of plants on the other. It was nice, the only bad thing was that you had to climb up. There was also a path for cars, but we didn't take a car, no, because we were young and had to walk. Besides, you had to pay a special entrance fee to enter with vehicles, something the school wouldn't bother with.

Anyway, some exercise wouldn't kill us. So we climbed and climbed and climbed and climbed and climbed. Oh, my goodness, it was never ending. Of course, we boys pretended we weren't tired, while some of the girls started complaining about their feet halfway up. Erica stayed cool as a cucumber the whole path.

-Why don't you carry me?- I joked.

-Do you need me to carry you?- she asked.

She stared at me. I noticed it wasn't a question, she was offering.

-No! I wasn't serious- I pointed out.

-Ah.

I ran a hand over my head. Erica could be so weird sometimes.

-Thank you anyway- I said before we changed the subject.

She showed me a smile.

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I also talked to the other people; as I said before, I was not exclusively devoted to Erica. My friends seemed a bit concerned about me, although they didn't say so explicitly, just gave quick glances at Erica from time to time, and sometimes invited me to walk with them. It was a nice gesture, but I preferred to move freely.

The rest of our classmates were much more explicit. Several suggested I stay away from her, to be careful and things like that.

-Really, I'll be fine- I assured them, but none of them bought it.

Still, I understood their concern. It was hard to trust someone they had seen killing another person, one of their own.

I also approached Raquel, who seemed lost in the trees by the roadside. Not marveling at their autumn peeled canopies, but in the gaps between the trunks. I could tell she was looking for something.

-What are you looking at?- I asked.

-I thought I saw someone...- she muttered.

-Someone? There are a lot of people around here.

She scowled at me.

-I think I saw Krois in the trees.

I shrugged my shoulders.

-Solis' sister? What about her?

-This is a school trip, you fool. Krois should be at school, not here.

I realised what she was saying as she told me. Of course, Krois wasn't from our class. I should have seen it coming.

-She came to visit the hill just when we were having a schooltrip? What a drag, the teachers are going to catch her.

Raka growled in irritation.

-No! Think: why would she come just when our class is going on a field trip? And on top of that, she's still hiding from us. I think she's up to something.

-Something?

-She ambushed Erica in the bathroom, don't you remember- said Raquel.

-Oh, right. And that was before Solis died. Do you think she'll try anything?

-I don't see any other reason for her to come to the hill on a weekday. I'll tell the teachers, you tell Erica.

-You can tell Erica too, she won't do anything to you.

But Raquel was already leaving to talk to our teacher. She was a good friend, but sometimes she could be a bit irritating. I turned towards the trees anyway, I didn't see anything, but there were lots of people and lots of trees, lots of places to hide. I hoped she wouldn't try anything crazy like last time.

I went back to Erica to tell her immediately. She was surprised, but played it down.

-Let her attack me as many times as she wants- she said unconcernedly.

-It'd be better if she doesn't. Stay close, I doubt she'll try anything if there are other people around.

She made a laughing face, but changed it to one of interest before saying anything, and then nodded. I was glad her response was not to isolate herself to provoke a possible attack. I think she turned a little red, but it might have been the sun. I was also feeling heat from the exercise.