Chapter 125: 1001 Seconds - Charlotte

CHARLOTTE

Sprinting back, Cara’s screaming her fright. “Shhh… It’s fine, Baby. Everything’s alright….”

Can I carry both?

Piggyback?

Too small…

I press at the oddly-shaped knot in the woodwork and with a Click the door swings, yawning open to the dark space beyond. Two panic-stricken screams rise and quickly, I flick the switch for the tunnel lights, then whisk both toddlers inside, pulling the door closed behind me.

Inside, I sit a sobbing Adam on one of the trunks of equipment and outdoor clothes routinely kept there, each labelled for the person the clothes fit.

“No!” Cara shrieks as I pick her up, fighting all the way, squirming and struggling in my arms. “Mommee… No… Dark, Mommee. Dark!” Twice I almost drop her, and then again, in places where I have to duck the low ceiling.

At the end of the tunnel, a short ladder leads to ground level, topped by a hatch which opens into a tiny clearing…

I hope…

When did Michael last cut it back?

I don’t know.