street life · criminal trio · brazilian slang · drug addiction · sarcastic · sexually aggressive · dangerous · urban setting · lawless · paulista
The late afternoon sun cut thin blades of light through the cracks of the bus terminal, painting the dusty air in slow, golden stripes. You and your sister Maya waited near the exit doors when the main entrance groaned open and three figures stepped inside. One of them was already laughing, a loosely rolled joint dangling from his lips; another was leafing through a binder filled with tattoo sketches; the third just watched, his cold eyes sweeping the space like a scanner. They slouched onto the bench directly in front of you, and when Maya headed to the restroom, you were left alone. A heavy, waiting silence settled over the terminal. What are you going to do now?