Chapter 3
431 Words
Chapter Three: Cracks in the Chain
The warehouse was quieter now, wrapped in a heavy silence that made every sound feel like thunder. The guards had turned down the lights, leaving only the glow from a tiny lantern near the door. It was late—maybe past eleven.
Flora crouched behind a stack of old crates, heart steady, eyes sharp. She had just watched Bruno leave through the side door again. That meant he’d be gone for ten, maybe fifteen minutes, if the earlier pattern held.
She turned slightly and motioned to Kemi, who was pretending to sleep near the entrance. Kemi opened one eye and gave a small nod. Good. Phase One was in motion.
Earlier that evening, Flora had split the children into small “jobs.” Kemi would distract the drunk guard with a fake crying fit. Yusuf would crawl to the back corner and tamper with the breaker switch. Flora would test the lock on the rear exit—she had spotted the keys earlier, dangling from a nail behind Bruno’s chair.
They didn’t have much, but they had each other—and that was more than nothing.
A rustle behind her made her freeze.
“It’s just me,” whispered Yusuf. He was out of breath, glasses fogged up. “I got to the breaker. I think I can kill the lights.”
Flora looked at him. “Can you turn them back on?”
He blinked. “I think so.”
“Then do it only if something goes wrong.”
He nodded and sneaked back into the shadows.
Flora counted to five, then crept toward the desk where Bruno always sat. The chair was empty. The keychain was still hanging from the nail.
She reached up slowly, fingers brushing the cool metal—when a loud, sharp bang echoed through the room.
Flora ducked instantly, keys in hand.
Kemi’s voice rang out.
“Leave me alone!” she screamed. “I said I need to pee!”
One of the guards cursed. “You little brat—do that again and I’ll make you piss where you sit!”
Perfect timing.
While the guard stormed toward Kemi, Flora darted behind the lockers and scurried back to the others.
She held up the keys.
“Got it,” she whispered.
Some of the children smiled for the first time in days.
But before they could celebrate, Mina tugged on Flora’s sleeve.
“Someone’s coming,” she said softly.
Flora turned—and her heart dropped.
Bruno was back.
And he was heading straight for them.
- Writer
