Sandra rested her head on Zaviel's shoulder, fast asleep. His eyes stayed fixed on the cell door, watching, waiting.
Zino stepped forward quietly. "Alright, guys… it's time."
Zaviel glanced at him. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Zino replied, his voice low. "It's past midnight. Everywhere feels… quiet."
Zaviel nodded slowly. Then he gently shook Sandra.
"Sandra… wake up. It's time."
Her eyes fluttered open, heavy with exhaustion. "Alright…" she whispered.
Zaviel stood, carefully helping her up. She winced slightly, leaning on him as her injured feet touched the ground.
"Easy," he murmured. "I've got you."
"Alright, let's move," Zino urged.
"Wait," Zaviel said suddenly.
Zino turned. "What's wrong?"
Zaviel hesitated. "We haven't prayed."
Zino exhaled. "Oh… yeah. That's true."
"Come on," Zaviel said softly. "Let's pray."
They formed a small circle.
"Close your eyes."
Silence fell.
"Dear Lord," Zaviel began, his voice steady but quiet, "thank You for keeping us alive till now. As we try to escape… please go before us. Make a way where there seems to be none. Protect us."
A pause.
"In Jesus' name… Amen."
"Amen," they echoed.
Zino reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pin.
"I've got something."
Zaviel frowned. "Seriously? That?"
Zino smirked faintly. "Just watch."
He crouched by the padlock, hands steady despite the tension. The tiny metal scraped softly as he worked.
"I don't think..."
"Give me a second," Zino muttered.
A click.
Zino stood. "Done."
Zaviel blinked. "Wait… what? It actually worked?"
"No time," Zino said quickly. "Let's go."
They slipped out, moving quickly through the dim hallway.
Suddenly, Zino stopped.
Zaviel nearly bumped into him. "Why did you..."
Zino raised a hand and peeked around the wall.
"There are men ahead," he whispered.
Zaviel's chest tightened. "So what do we do now?"
"I know another way. Follow me."
They moved again, quieter this time.
After a moment, Zaviel whispered, "How do you even know all these routes?"
Zino gave a small shrug. "Honestly… I don't."
Zaviel raised a brow. "Then how?"
"I'm just… being led."
Zaviel smirked faintly. "By who? The Holy Spirit?"
Zino chuckled under his breath. "Maybe."
At last, they reached a door.
"That should lead outside," Zino said.
They rushed toward it.
Zino grabbed the handle and pushed.
It didn't budge.
"Locked," Sandra said weakly.
"Stay here," Zino told her gently, guiding her to sit.
Zaviel grabbed the door, trying to force it open. "Come on…"
It didn't move.
"Wait," Zino said, scanning the area. He found a piece of iron and rushed back.
"Try this."
Zaviel took it and forced it into the lock, struggling.
"Come on…" he muttered under his breath.
Nearby, Sandra closed her eyes, whispering,
"God… please help us."
Zaviel pushed harder. Click.
The door burst open. Cold air rushed in.
Zaviel stopped. "Wait… are we outside?"
Zino shook his head, looking around. "No… we're still on the ship."
They stepped out carefully. The metal floor felt cold under their feet, and below them, water moved quietly in the dark.
Sandra held onto Zaviel. "There's water everywhere…"
"Stay close," he told her.
They moved slowly across the deck, trying not to make noise.
Then voices.
"Did you hear that?"
Zino quickly pulled them behind some crates.
Footsteps passed.
No one stopped.
Zino exhaled. "Let's go."
They hurried down a staircase to the lower level.
Zino suddenly stopped.
"There…" he said quietly.
A small speedboat was tied to the side of the ship, moving gently with the water.
Zaviel looked at it. "That's it."
They rushed over.
Zino started untying the rope, his hands not steady. "Quick."
Zaviel helped Sandra into the boat.
"Careful… sit."
Zino jumped in next.
Zaviel looked at him. "You know how to drive this?"
Zino gave a small, nervous smile. "Not really."
"Hey!"
A voice shouted from above.
They all froze.
"GO!" Zaviel yelled.
Zino turned the key.
Nothing.
"Come on…" he muttered.
The voices got louder.
"Come on!"
The engine suddenly started.
Zino didn't waste a second he pushed it forward.
The boat shot off.
"Stop them!" someone shouted behind them.
But they were already moving fast.
The ship started getting smaller behind them.
No one spoke for a while.
Just the sound of the water… and their breathing.
Inside the dimly lit room, the Boss sat back in his chair, calmly sipping from his glass.
The door suddenly burst open.
"What is it?" he snapped, irritated.
David rushed in, breathing hard.
"The two brothers… and the girl… they've escaped."
The glass paused midway to the Boss's lips.
"…What?"
"They're gone, sir. We don't know how they unlocked the door and left without anyone noticing.
The Boss slammed the glass down.
"That's because all of you are FOOLS!" he roared, rising to his feet. "Three children… and you let them outsmart you?"
David lowered his head. "I'm sorry, sir"
"Sorry?" the Boss cut in sharply. "Sorry won't save you when this place is exposed!"
His voice dropped, cold and dangerous.
"If those kids talk… everything we built is finished."
David swallowed.
"Go," the Boss ordered, pointing toward the door. "Find them. They couldn't have gone far."
"Yes, sir."
David turned quickly. "Move out!" he barked to the others.
Footsteps thundered as they rushed out.
The room fell quiet again.
The Boss exhaled slowly, picking up his glass with a trembling hand.
Then he took a long sip.
After some time, the boat slowed.
Zino let the engine die.
"I think… we're far enough."
Zaviel looked ahead. "There's land."
They moved closer and stopped at the shore.
Zaviel got out first, then helped Sandra.
Her feet touched the ground, and she let out a quiet breath.
They stood there for a moment.
No shouting.
No footsteps.
Just silence.
"We made it…" she whispered.
The silence felt strange… almost unreal.
Then Zino looked around, his expression tightening.
"We can't stay here."
Zaviel nodded immediately. "They might still come after us."
Sandra swallowed, trying to steady herself.
"Come on," Zaviel said gently, helping her again.
They ran through empty streets, their breaths uneven.
Suddenly, Sandra stumbled.
"I can't…" she gasped. "I'm so tired…"
Zaviel caught her. "Alright. We need to stop."
Zino nodded. "She can't keep going."
Zaviel scanned the area. "That unfinished building…"
"Yeah. That'll do."
They made their way inside.
Dust filled the air.
"Not exactly safe," Zaviel muttered.
"But it's something," Zino replied.
Zaviel helped Sandra sit.
"Rest."
Zaviel walked over to Zino by the window.
"You okay, bro?"
Zino let out a slow breath. "I don't even understand how we got here…"
He gave a small, tired laugh.
"If someone told me this would be my life… I'd have laughed in their face."
Zaviel smiled faintly. "Yeah…"
Silence.
"I miss Mom," Zaviel said quietly.
Zino nodded. "Me too."
"Her cooking…"
Zino smiled. "Especially her pasta."
They both chuckled softly.
Then Zaviel's expression changed.
"I don't know if I can do this…"
Zino looked at him. "You have to."
Zaviel frowned. "Why?"
Zino glanced toward Sandra.
"Because of her."
Zaviel followed his gaze.
"She's been through more than we have," Zino continued. "We can't give up now."
Zaviel swallowed hard… then nodded.
"We stick together," he said.
"As a team."
They pulled into a brief hug.
"Love you, bro."
"Love you more."
Across the room, Sandra watched them… and smiled.