David pushed the front door open hard. His clothes were dirty from the raid. His face was covered in sweat. He stepped inside and called out, “Carolina? Miranda? We are back.”
The house felt wrong. Too quiet.
Carolina ran from the back room. Her eyes were red and her face was wet with tears. She threw herself into David’s arms.
“She is gone!” Carolina cried. “Miranda is gone!”
David held her shoulders. His voice was sharp. “What do you mean gone? Tell me exactly what happened.”
Carolina could barely speak through her sobs. “We were in the living room. Miranda was drawing. Then men came through the back door. Lena was with them. She opened the door for them. She knew where everything was. She pointed at Miranda and said ‘Take her.’ They grabbed her so fast. I tried to fight but they pu
