Chapter 326

"That's the plan!" Hannah said, nodding sharply.Her eyes shone with determination as they gazed up at Vincent. "As soon as the fight breaks out, I'll hit the emergency button on my wristband and the police wvill show up."

Back when they entered the factory, the tight security had made Hannah wary. She'd been forced to leave her pepper spray and micro camera behind at the entrance. Fortunately, the wristband had stayed hidden. She had tucked it deep inside her loose sleeve, slipping past inspection unnoticed.

Vincent wasted no time. He sketched out the factory's layout and explained the late-night shift,keeping his voice low.

Dropping his tone even further, he leaned closer."I have to hand over this key or someone will get suspicious. But the latch won't really be locked. You'l be able to push the door open from inside."

Hannah immediately understood. "Alright." She nodded, locking eyes with him. "Tell me, where are the other keys? The ones for the other girls' cages?"

Vincent instantly caught on. She planned to free the others in the middle of the chaos. Tension crept into his face. "You don't realize how risky that is."

"We have to split up if we want to move fast," Hannah replied, her tone steady. "You'll start the commotion.I'll get the girls out. That's the only way this works."

Vincent studied her, searching her expression. He found unwavering resolve in her stare. After a long beat, he finally relented. Leaning in, he whispered quickly, "There's a cabinet next to the iron door,right by the workshop entrance. You'll find the keys inside.Try 5588 or maybe 6778. Not certain. The night shift leaves security stretched thin."

A glimpse was all he'd managed, but that was enough for the plan.

Hannah dipped her head. "I understand," she said quietly.

Vincent lingered a moment, and then his expression grew more intense. "Don't let anything happen to you," he said.

She faced him, unwavering. "I'll be fine. What about you? How are you holding up?"

A crooked smile flickered across his lips. "A scratch is all I'll get."

For a few seconds, neither said a word. The silence felt heavy, tense with things left unsaid.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the stillness. "Break's over! Get moving!" shouted the supervisor from just outside.

A shadow flickered across Vincent's face. He had to go. He cast her one last, unreadable glance.

Just as he turned to leave, he seemed to make a sudden decision. Instead of leaving, he spun back and pulled her close, holding her in a grip that left nospace for doubt.

Hannah's body went rigid. The hug was too sudden.too forceful. Her first instinct was to pull away-but then she felt the taut line of his body, the raw tension running through him. Something cracked inside her.

A heartbeat slipped by, uncertain. Eventually, she found herself returning the gesture. Her arms,hesitant at first, encircled his back and held on tight.

No one else in this forsaken place could be trusted.At that moment, they were each other's only ally,bound by the need to survive.

Vincent recognized her trust. A faint shiver rippled through him as he felt her arms tighten. In the next instant, he pulled her in even tighter.

Suddenly, he released her, pulled the cage door "shut," and walked away with purpose.

His departure signaled the others. One by one, the other men filed out, and the quiet swallowed up the underground cell again. Delia's face betrayed her misery. Her eyes were puffy and wet, and a red mark bloomed angrily on her cheek. "So, what's our next move?" she whispered.

The seeds of suspicion had already been quietly sown.

Pressing herself against the icy bars, Hannah let her eyes close for just a moment. "We have to wait. We wait until they head back to work."

She opened her eyes, meeting the anxious gazes of the women around her. Fear and hope mingled in their silence.

Words seemed useless. Only patience remained.

Minutes crawled by, thick and unbearable.

Eventually, urgent footsteps rumbled past the iron door, hurried and sharp.

Without thinking, Hannah jumped up and hurried to the bars, tipping her head to catch every sound.

"Does that mean they're finally heading back to work?" Hannah whispered, eyes darting to Delia, the most experienced among them.

Delia nodded vigorously, a glint of excitement and tension lighting her weary eyes. "Yes. No mistake.This is when they move in the biggest numbers-loudest it ever gets."

The moment had finally come.

Without a word, Hannah steadied herself, walked to the barred door, and let her fingers curl around the chain that barely held it shut. She eased the chain free, and the lock surrendered with a soft snap.Freedom beckoned.

Elsa's gasp cut through the tension, fear spilling from her voice. "Wait, what are you doing? Are you just going to leave us behind?"

Refusing to look back, Hannah spoke with quiet certainty. "I'm going for the keys. No one gets left here. I'll come back for everyone."

Worry tightened Delia's features, her words trembling. "Can you really pull this off?"

"There's no other choice," Hannah said, her determination clear. She moved along the wall,pressing herself into every shadow as she slipped toward the exit.

Nina clung to the bars, fear written on her face. She called out, voice barely above a whisper, "Please,don't get caught."

A gentle promise left Hannah's lips. "I'll be careful,"she said, her voice soft but certain, and she disappeared into the corridor.

Those left behind waited in heavy silence, time dragging by as hope battled anxiety.

Shouts and footsteps finally echoed through the underground chamber again, making every heart race. But it wasn't Hannah.

Instead, a man appeared. It was Malcolm Larson,broad-shouldered and cold-eyed. His gaze drifted lazily from cage to cage, clearly searching forsomething out of place.

"Where's Marion?" Malcolm yelped, his voice rough as gravel. "Wasn't he supposed to be here messing around? Did anyone see where he went?"