“Hold this vent firmly,” Miguel said under his breath, his right hand holding the penknife he used to unscrew the last screw. Sweat ran down his temples, even though the air in the basement was cold.
“I got it, hurry up!” Maria replied in an anxious tone, both hands tightly holding the iron frame of the vent that felt heavy and slippery.
“If this vent falls, we'll make a big scene,” Luca added as he crouched down next to Miguel, his eyes watching the deserted hallway behind them.
“I know, Luca, so stop talking and do me a favor!” Miguel hissed. With a final tug, the last screw came loose, and the vent nearly slid out of place.
“Pull it together!” Moon ordered from behind.
The three of them pulled the vent carefully, holding their breath as the metal creaked softly. With a final push,
