Chapter 11 - The Fire Escape
"Hurry, Maya! Climb out onto the platform and don't look down!" Elena hissed, throwing open the rusted metal window and shoving the heavy frame upward with a desperate heave.
Cold autumn air rushed into the hallway, carrying the smell of damp pine and oncoming rain as the footsteps on the stairs reached the second-floor landing.
Maya scrambled through the narrow opening, her white dress catching briefly on a protruding latch before she tore herself free and stepped out into the dark night.
Elena turned to look back down the corridor, her breath catching as three figures in heavy hazmat suits and gas masks stepped into view, their flashlights blindingly bright.
"Ma'am, step away from the structural anomaly immediately. Return to the primary containment zone," a distorted, mechanical voice echoed through the hallway speakers.
Elena didn't hesitate; she hoisted herself up onto the windowsill, kicking her legs through the opening just as a gloved hand lunged forward to grab her ankle.
The rough fabric of her dark pants tore as she kicked backward with all her might, connecting hard against the hazmat suit's knee guard and breaking the grip.
She tumbled out onto the rusted metal platform of the fire escape, gasping for air as the rain began to pour down in heavy, stinging sheets.
Maya was already halfway down the iron ladder, her small form illuminated by the flashing red lights of several unmarked vans parked on our front lawn.
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Elena scrambled after her, but as she reached for the rungs of the ladder, the window behind her slammed shut with a thunderous impact, and a muffled, frantic screaming began to echo from inside the house.
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