Chapter 4
423 Words
Chapter Four: Caught in the Dark
Bruno’s boots echoed on the concrete floor, heavy and slow. He wasn’t rushing—but he was coming. And Flora knew that kind of walk. The kind that said: I smell something. And I don’t like it.
She shoved the keys into her pocket and whispered quickly, “Scatter. Act normal.”
The kids scrambled, melting into the shadows, pretending to sleep or stare blankly at the wall. Flora stayed where she was—half-hidden behind a metal shelf, heart pounding.
Bruno stopped.
Right by the desk.
He grunted.
“Where the hell are my keys?”
Flora closed her eyes. Don’t look down. Don’t look down.
She heard a drawer slam, then silence.
And then—too fast to react—his rough hand yanked her up by the arm.
“You,” he growled, eyes narrowing. “You were at the desk.”
Flora said nothing. Just stared back at him, calm but defiant.
He shook her. “What were you doing?”
“I was thirsty,” she said evenly. “Thought there might be water.”
Bruno laughed—a low, mean sound. “Smart mouth for such a small brat.”
He grabbed her by the collar and dragged her toward the front of the warehouse. The other children watched silently, eyes wide. Kemi started to move, but Flora shook her head once. Not now.
Bruno flung open the office door and threw her inside. The room was cramped—just a desk, a chair, a cabinet, and a small window too high to reach.
He locked the door behind her.
“You’ll stay here till we leave,” he said. “And if you try that again, I’ll make sure you don’t get sold. I’ll make sure you disappear.”
The door slammed shut. The lock clicked.
Flora stood still for a moment. Then she exhaled slowly.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Change of plans.”
She scanned the room. The window was too small, the cabinet too tall. But the vent—there was a vent near the ceiling. And if she could stand on the chair…
She climbed quickly, balancing carefully, and unscrewed the grill with a rusted pen she found in the drawer. The vent was tight, but she was small.
As she pulled herself inside, she whispered to herself, “Mind is your weapon. Use it wisely.”
Flora crawled into the dark.
She was caught—but not broken.
And the escape was still on.
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