Chapter 10
The air beneath the concrete slab was freezing, damp, and thick with the smell of wet soil and rotting timber. Leo slid into the dark opening on his stomach, switching on his flashlight as soon as he cleared the low overhang. The beam cut through the claustrophobic space, revealing a small, hidden alcove constructed from old red bricks that had somehow survived the fire intact.
He crawled forward on his hands and knees, ignoring the sharp rocks pressing into his palms. The space opened up just enough for him to crouch down. In the center of the alcove sat a small, weather-sealed metal lockbox, completely covered in a thick layer of gray dust and spiderwebs.
"Found it," Leo breathed into the small microphone of the collar comm-link Mark had handed him before leaving the house, keeping his voice to a low rasp.
"Get it and get out now," Mark's voice crackled back through the tiny earpiece, strained and breathless. "I've got them chasing me toward the swamp, but they're heading back your way!"
Panic surged through Leo. He reached out and grabbed the metal lockbox, pulling it toward him. It was surprisingly heavy, secured with a classic combination dial lock rather than a keyhole. He didn't have time to crack a combination; he needed to carry the whole thing out immediately.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed on the concrete slab directly above his head. The dull thud of boots vibrated through the ground, accompanied by harsh, angry voices shouting in the dark just outside the entrance alcove.
"I told you I heard something over here!" a gruff voice snapped, close enough that Leo could hear the man's heavy breathing. "Check the crawlspace. Nobody leaves this site tonight."
Leo froze, pressing his back flat against the damp brick wall of the alcove, clutching the heavy metal lockbox tightly to his chest. He held his breath, praying his flashlight was completely off. The beam of an external flashlight swept across the dirt floor just inches from his boots, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air.
Outside, Sarah watched from the treeline, her heart in her throat as she saw one of the men shine his flashlight directly into the opening where Leo was hiding. She took an involuntary step forward, ready to scream and draw the men away, risking everything to save her son.
Inside the alcove, the beam of light hovered right at the edge of the threshold. The man outside paused, muttering a curse under his breath as he bent down lower, preparing to crawl inside.
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Leo’s fingers brushed against a loose brick near his foot. Without thinking, he gripped the brick and hurled it into the dark corner of the crawlspace behind him, creating a loud, sharp crash that echoed through the underground cavity.
"Hey! What was that?" the man outside shouted, turning his flashlight away from the entrance and rushing toward the back sound, giving Leo a fraction of a second to move.
