Mike was hiding in a nearby building, close to the warehouse. He quickly crossed to the other side of the street and approached the nearest window. It wasn't clearly visible, but a cable was sticking out beneath it.
"Are you sure you can do this?"
"Yes. I've done it before."
Back at the warehouse, when they were planning how to rob it, Samantha had explained how the security systems worked and how to bypass them.
When they asked her how she knew all that, she simply said:
"Before I became a slave, I lived on the streets and did small thefts with others."
Mike helped Samantha climb up by placing his hands like a step so she could reach the window.
"Are you done?"
"Almost. Wait a second."
Mike held Samantha up as she worked on the window. She felt heavy—or at least that's how it seemed to him. If his body hadn't been injured, he could have held her longer. But now, with his ribs hurting and many of his wounds still untreated, he couldn't hold on much longer.
"I got it."
Samantha said as she opened the window without triggering the alarm and slipped inside.
Mike gave a signal, and the other slaves who were hiding came over and climbed in. Once everyone was inside, they started grabbing whatever they could and stuffing it into makeshift bags made from cloth and ropes.
"We need to take water. That's the most important thing."
Mike said, while filling a bag with canned food and anything else he could find.
The warehouse was dark, but the light coming through the windows dimly illuminated the space.
Suddenly, a noise was heard.
"Hide."
Samantha whispered.
Everyone quickly hid in the nearest spot they could find.
A middle-aged man entered with a flashlight.
He was wearing a white shirt.
"Where did I leave it… it was here…"
The man had forgotten something and was searching the warehouse. He slowly approached the spot where Mike was hiding.
"Found it… here it is."
The man bent down, picked up his phone from the floor, and left.
Mike finally allowed himself to breathe when the man exited the warehouse. He had turned pale from fear.
"We need to go."
When they returned to their base, the other slaves who had stayed behind were waiting. The ones who came back dropped their bags and began distributing the food.
Once everyone had something to eat, Mike opened a can and started eating. He had never tasted anything so good in his life. Obviously, it wasn't the best food—but Mike had spent his whole life eating scraps.
They might have stolen to eat, but they were escaped slaves. They had no other choice. They only wanted to be free and survive.
Samantha, Liam, and Kaylee came and sat next to him.
"Why are you sitting alone?"
Kaylee asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone has someone… but you're alone,"
"Besides, you're the one who led everyone here and gave them food today."
Samantha said.
Mike looked at the others, who were eating and talking together. He saw them smiling, and that made him feel satisfied.
"No… we all did this together."
That day, Mike felt a new sense of confidence growing inside him.
After leaving Fana, they went to Kel, then to Olia—always using the same plan: rob a warehouse and find a place to stay.
That's how ten months passed.
And finally, they were heading to Raila—the last city they needed to cross in order to reach the ruins.