Inside the bathroom, Florentina’s body trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear.
*Good heavens… that woman really wants to sell me.
How could she be so heartless?* she cried out silently.
Panic flooded her thoughts as she searched desperately for a way out.
She had to escape—she could not let herself become prey to those disgusting men.
“I have to get out of this house… I have to,” she whispered, her lips quivering.
But the layout of the house trapped her.
The only exit was through the living room—where those men were waiting like predators.
There was no way she could pass through there.
The only possible escape was the back.
She rushed out of the bathroom and into the small backyard, barely two by six meters in size.
Once there, she froze.
The yard was enclosed by walls on all sides—neighboring houses pressed close, and a 1.5-meter wall sealed the space like a cage.
It felt like being trapped inside a glass tank with no way out.
Her eyes darted frantically until they landed on a large empty oil drum.
Without thinking, she dragged it toward the wall.
Her hands shook, her breath uneven, as she climbed onto it and stretched her arms upward, trying to pull herself over.
But the wall was too high.
She tried again.
And again.
Each attempt ended in failure.
Her panic deepened.
Her chest tightened as if it were about to burst.
Then her gaze shifted toward a corner near the bathroom wall—a neglected chicken coop surrounded by piles of junk.
Among the debris, she spotted an old plastic sack that once held chicken feed.
A desperate idea struck her.
She rushed toward it, grabbed the sack, and quickly slipped her body inside.
It wasn’t long enough to cover her completely, so she crouched low, tucking in her legs, and pressed herself against the coop, blending into the pile of discarded items.
The stench was unbearable.
The cramped position made her muscles ache instantly.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Fear consumed everything.
“Flora! Why are you taking so long?” Theresia’s voice suddenly called out, knocking on the bathroom door, thinking Florentina was still inside.
For a moment, time seemed to stop.
The only sound Florentina could hear was her own heartbeat—loud, violent, echoing like explosions inside her chest.
When no answer came, Theresia knocked harder.
“Flora! Hurry up! Don’t embarrass me!” she shouted angrily.
Then, a scream pierced the air.
“Flora! You brat! Where are you!?” Theresia yelled, rushing into the bedroom.
She threw open the wardrobe—clothes hung neatly inside.
She checked under the bed—nothing.
“Damn it! Where are you!?” she cursed.
Moments later, she stormed into the backyard.
“Flora! Flora!… Oh my God!!!” she screamed again, her eyes widening as she noticed muddy footprints on the wall.
To her, it was obvious—Florentina had escaped by climbing over the wall using the drum.
“She ran! She ran!” Theresia shouted as she rushed back inside to inform her guests, then hurried back out with them following closely.
“She escaped over the wall!” she said, pointing frantically at the footprints.
One of the men climbed onto the drum and looked beyond the wall.
On the other side, he saw a narrow alley lined with modest houses.
Spotting a boy nearby, he called out, “Hey!
Did you see a girl pass by?”
“She went toward the end of the alley,” the boy replied, pointing ahead.
Perhaps he had seen someone—but it certainly wasn’t Florentina.
“She’s at the end of the alley. Let’s go!” the man said, jumping down.
The three of them rushed off in the wrong direction.
Hidden among the sacks, Florentina felt a wave of relief wash over her.
Her failed attempt to climb the wall had unintentionally saved her.
The footprints had misled them perfectly.
Ignoring the stench, the dirt, and the discomfort, she remained still.
She knew she couldn’t move yet.
Not until it was completely safe.
*Usually she goes to sleep around eight… that means I have to stay here for two or three more hours,* she thought, forcing herself to endure.
But time dragged on painfully.
By ten o’clock, Theresia still hadn’t gone to bed.
Florentina’s body ached from crouching in such a horrible position.
Her legs were numb, her back stiff, yet she forced herself to remain hidden.
“Midnight already…” she thought as she heard the night watchman strike a pole twelve times.
Slowly, she crept out of her hiding place and tiptoed toward the kitchen.
The house was dark.
Her heart pounded as she peeked inside.
Then she froze.
From her stepmother’s room came faint sounds—groaning.
Theresia was still awake.
Panic surged again.
Florentina quickly retreated to her hiding place.
Time passed.
Two strikes echoed through the night.
“It’s 2 a.m… I hope she’s asleep now,” she whispered.
The house was silent.
Summoning all her courage, Florentina crept into her room, grabbed her office bag, and moved toward the front door.
Her hands trembled as she reached for the key.
Then—
A sound.
From her stepmother’s room.
Her body went weak instantly.
*She’s awake!*
Florentina knew Theresia often woke up at night to use the bathroom.
Panic threatened to take over.
For a split second, she considered running straight out—but instinct stopped her.
*If she sees me, she’ll scream.
The neighbors will come.
Everything will be over…*
With her heart pounding wildly, Florentina dropped flat onto the floor beside the living room table just as Theresia stepped out of her room.
In the dim light, Theresia glanced around lazily, then walked toward the bathroom.
The moment the bathroom door closed—
Florentina sprang up.
She rushed to the door, unlocked it with shaking hands, and ran.
The gate wasn’t locked.
She pushed it open and dashed into the night.
Barefoot, breathless, and terrified, she ran through the silent street.
A new fear crept into her mind—at this hour, she could be mistaken for something else.
A criminal.
A suspicious figure.
But none of that mattered.
*Better to be caught by security… even the police… than fall into her hands,* she told herself.
As she approached the guard post at the end of the street, her steps slowed.
Her heart pounded even harder.
*There must be guards… if they see me, they’ll stop me… question me… what will I say?*
Fear and doubt overwhelmed her—
And suddenly—
She nearly screamed as a strong hand grabbed her shoulder.