12. THE DEATH OF VINICIUS
They came during the night—human daytime. Though Vinicius' ingenuity had gifted us Block D, a sanctuary permitting brief forays into the sun's harsh glare, the experience remained jarring. The heat drove most of us indoors, preferring the cool shadows to the sun's unwelcome embrace.
The rhythmic pound of boots, a jarring echo in the hallway, yanked me from thoughts. I’d been sprawled in bed, reading a comic book, until the door slammed open. Three figu