German was having the most wonderful day.

His whole being buzzed with excitement – because today, he had something rare. A new friend. A very strange, fascinating, mysterious friend.

Gobby.

All morning, German had been radiating energy. His classmates were visibly confused. Normally, German walked around like a ghost – buried in notebooks, silent, barely nodding in response to greetings.

But today?

He greeted everyone. Smiled. Gave out compliments.

In class, he raised his hand eagerly, answering question after question. He even helped classmates who had no clue what the homework was about.

When the bell finally rang, German sprang up, grabbed his bag, and rushed out of the room.

Stepping outside the school doors, he inhaled deeply – fresh spring air filled his lungs. The sun kissed his cheeks. Somewhere above, birds sang in soft layers.

He grinned and bolted down the path that led off campus, darted past the front gates, turned left onto the pedestrian walkway and slammed into someone.

He fell back hard, his backpack thudding behind him.

– Oh! I–I’m sorry! I didn’t see– he blurted, scrambling for his glasses with one hand. He slid them onto his nose – and looked up.

The man he’d run into was… strange.

Very strange.

Wearing a faded hospital gown, with a brown jacket thrown over it. On his feet – sneakers with loose, dangling laces.

He looked pale. Hunched. Like a mummy standing upright.

Thin arms. Hollow cheeks. Heavy-lidded eyes.

German kept apologizing while reaching for his backpack with his other hand. He slung it over his shoulder and prepared to step around the man.

But the man hadn’t moved.

Hadn’t even looked at him.

Still. Frozen.

German hesitated.

And then decided: He’s just some poor patient. It’s fine.

He stood up straighter, offered one final awkward apology, and began to move past him.

Everything turned gray again.

A metallic weight settled in the back of his skull – something was wrong.

– He was with him, the essence hissed. – THE BOY WAS WITH HIM!

Drogo froze.

His eyes snapped to the teenager in front of him – and without a second thought, he lunged forward and grabbed the boy’s wrist.

– Where is he? he snarled.

German blinked, startled.
– Who?

– Your friend! Where is he? Is he still at school?! WHERE IS HE?!

In that moment, German understood. This man was talking about Gobby.

– Let go! I–I don’t understand what you’re saying!

But the man didn’t let go. He leaned closer – too close – their faces almost touching.

His breath reeked of hunger and adrenaline.

And then he whispered:

– I WANT HIM.

Just then, a strong hand seized the man’s other arm.

– What’s going on here?! barked the PE teacher, stepping between them.

Drogo turned sharply, his grip loosening just enough.

German yanked his arm free and ran.

Behind him, he heard the sickening crack of a slap.

The teacher had tried to restrain the man – but in one lightning-fast motion, Drogo had swatted away the arm and delivered a slap so brutal it knocked the man unconscious.

GERMAN DIDN’T LOOK BACK. HE RAN ALL THE WAY TO GOBBY’S SCHOOL.

Just as he reached the entrance, the school bell rang.

Students began flooding out, chatting, laughing, shoving each other. The sun felt warm again. The air didn’t sting so much. For a moment, German forgot what had just happened.

He stood near the gates, scanning the crowd.

– Where is he?

The last groups of students were already leaving. The doors were closing.

– Did I get the place wrong? Would it be weird if I called him?

After a few uncertain minutes, German pulled out his phone and dialed.

It rang.

No answer.

Disappointment crawled across his face. His thoughts grew cloudy – Maybe he forgot? Maybe he doesn’t care?

But then – he heard it.

A familiar ringtone… coming from somewhere nearby.

German turned. The school doors were shutting, and just past them, walking casually down the street, was Gobby.

In one hand – a donut.
In the other – a melting milkshake.

Radiating joy.
Utterly unaware.

The phone kept ringing in his pocket. He didn’t hear it. Or didn’t care.

When he finally looked up and saw German, he waved enthusiastically – mouth full of donut.

– Hmh-hmm!

Then he stopped. Eyes widened. Panic.

He looked down at the food in his hands, then back at German.

– German, I’m so sorry! I forgot! I only bought one Empanada de Pino…! I swear I’ll get you one next time. Want a milkshake instead?

German shook his head.

– No. It’s fine.

– No? Okay. Let’s go to the sea?

– Yeah, German replied – and then his face darkened.

– I need to tell you something. Someone’s looking for you.

As they walked side by side down the street, high apartment buildings towering on either side, Gobby slurped the last of his milkshake and glanced at him curiously.

– Why do you think he’s looking for me? He just asked about a friend. That could be anyone, right?

German slowed his pace.

He looked down for a second, then raised his eyes and said quietly:

– But I don’t have other friends.

– You’re the only one.

The moment he spoke – the world exploded.

He followed the scent. Each step sharpened the hunger. Each breath thickened the need.
And then – he saw them. The craving took him. Completely. Eyes wide. Pupils dilated. Pulse hammering.

Something – a force, a gust, a surge of invisible pressure – burst through the space between them. It slammed into German’s chest and hurled him into the narrow alley. He crashed against a brick wall, his backpack tearing open on impact.

Gobby didn’t even have time to scream.

He was lifted into the air – weightless for a heartbeat – then smashed into the pavement, the blow so violent it knocked the breath from his lungs.

And through it all – Drogo.

Relentless. Driven. Animal.

He scooped Gobby up like prey, threw him over his shoulder, dragged him deeper into the alley – and slammed him down again.

German lay in the dirt, moaning softly, confused, in pain. He tried to lift his head – his body felt broken.
– Gobby… he whispered, – Gobby…

Drogo’s eyes widened.

– Gobby? Gobby… So that’s your name. I’ve been looking for you… for so long.

Gobby was still conscious. Barely. He lay on the concrete, his eyes staring up at Drogo.

Drogo crouched above him. Like a wolf over a kill.  He leaned in, breathing him in – starting from the neck, moving slowly toward the face. Close. Closer. Until their eyes were nearly aligned.

– I’ve been searching for you for so long… And now… YOU’RE ALL MINE.

Gobby didn’t move. But he saw everything. And yet – it didn’t feel real. His body was present, but his mind was somewhere else. Detached. Floating.

This wasn’t happening.
This was a dream.
A nightmare.
Or maybe just silence.

For the first time in his life, his brain failed him. It simply refused to process what was happening. SHOCK.

– Something’s wrong… whispered the essence in Drogo’s mind.
– The scent is right… but it’s too weak.

Drogo ignored it. He was consumed. Obsessed. Drunk on the moment.

– Soon… you’ll be part of me… he muttered, nearly moaning.

The essence didn’t stop. It moved closer. Right up to Gobby’s face. Staring into his eyes. Looking for recognition. There was none. No flicker. No pulse. No reaction. Nothing.

And then it snapped.
The essence began to panic.

– He doesn’t see me. He doesn’t see me! HE DOESN’T SEE ME! What do I do?! WHAT DO I DO?! He doesn’t see me… Maybe it’s not him?!

The air around them grew thick. Above the alley, crows began circling – their black wings slicing the sky. One. Two. Five. Ten. Cawing. Screeching. Screaming like they’d found a dying nestling beneath them.

Drogo blinked.
Reality slammed back into him.
He heard the voice. Clearly now.
– SHUT UP. Calm down. What’s wrong with you? What happened?

The essence answered, frantic.
– HE DOESN’T SEE ME. Can’t you feel it? Something’s wrong with him. HE DOESN’T SEE ME!

Drogo turned back to Gobby. He raised a hand. Slowly brushed it through the boy’s hair.
And whispered:
– What did they do to you, my beautiful one? Who dared to ruin you? Who dared… to touch what was perfect?

Only now did Gobby begin to stir. He turned his head. Looked past Drogo. Looked at German. And whispered:
– Why?

Drogo smiled. Slow. Crooked.
– Think back. Our first meeting… In the psychiatric hospital…

A sound erupted in Gobby’s head.
A low hum.
Then a sharp crack.
Then pain.

Pain across the body. Across the mind. And then –
Flashes.
Images.
Broken memories.

F l i c k e r i n g . . .