Freeze!
"Shut it!" he commanded, and they quickly slipped inside, closing the door just as the footsteps grew closer.
Inside the storage room, they pressed themselves against the wall, hearts pounding in their chests. Cherry held her breath, straining to listen.
"What do we do now?" Lila's voice trembled, breaking the silence.
"Just stay quiet," Cherry whispered, her heart aching for the little girl. "We'll get you out of here. I promise."
After a tense moment, the sounds of the men's footsteps faded. Cherry risked a glance through a small window in the door. She could see their silhouettes moving down the hallway, searching.
"We need to find a way to get Lila out of here," her manager said, glancing around the dimly lit room. "We can't stay hidden forever."
"I have an idea," Cherry said, her mind racing. "We'll wait for them to leave. Then we can make our way to the exit."
"Are you sure?" her manager asked, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.