The girl dialed 911 crying and said that her dad’s snake was so big it hurt her, and from that moment on, no one in the neighborhood ever looked at that house the same way again.

At the Monterrey emergency call center, Lucía Valdés had been answering calls for 11 years. She had heard reports of fires, express kidnappings, fights between neighbors, fatal crashes on Miguel Alemán Avenue, and even cruel pranks by teenagers. But that night, as soon as she heard the ragged breathing on the other end of the line, she felt a chill run down her spine.

It was not a woman.

He wasn’t a drunk adult.

She was a girl.

And she was terrified.

—911, what is your emergency?

A short sob was heard, as if the little girl were speaking while pressing her hand to her mouth.

—My dad’s snake… is very big… and it hurts a lot…

Lucia remained motionless for 1 second.

He thought of a boa constrictor, an exotic pet, some absurd accident. But the girl’s voice held no surprise. It didn’t sound like someone recounting something strange.

It sounded like someone calling for help from hell.

—My love, what’s your name?

Silence.

A creaking sound in the background.

Then a trembling whisper.

—Sofi…

—Sofi, listen to me carefully. How old are you?

—8…

—Very well, Sofi. Are you alone?

The girl’s breathing became so rapid that Lucia took her hand away from the keyboard, as if she wanted to reach her through the phone.

—No… he’s here…

Lucia felt the sharp thud of her heart against her chest.

—Tell me your address, please.

The girl took a few seconds to answer, as if she had to gather the courage to betray an order.

—Encinos Street… 247… Valle del Roble neighborhood…

Lucía immediately issued an alert. The nearest patrol was less than 5 minutes away. Officer Esteban Ríos and his partner, Sub-Officer Mariela Torres, responded.

“Unit 18 is on its way,” Esteban said over the radio.

As the patrol moved through half-empty streets and past the lights of stalls that were already turned off, Lucia continued talking to the girl.

—Sofi, stay with me. Don’t hang up.

—My dad said not to talk to anyone…

—They’re almost here for you.

—But he’s going to listen to me…

Then footsteps sounded.

Boards.

Heavy.

Going up a staircase.

The girl let out a small, desperate gasp.

—It’s going up…

—Sofi…

But the call was cut off.

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