Chapter 9 - The Escape
Lucia didn't wait for Mariana to answer. Recognizing the psychological hold Diego was trying to exert over his wife, Lucia forcefully stepped between them, breaking Diego’s eye contact with Mariana.
"Take Sofia and get out now!" Lucia urged, pushing Mariana toward the open front door behind Diego.
Officer Vance stepped forward, pulling his handcuffs from his belt. "Diego Vance, place your hands behind your back!"
In a sudden, violent movement, Diego shoved the console table toward Officer Vance, sending the brown paper bag of oranges tumbling to the floor. Bright orange fruit rolled across the beige marble tiles as the heavy wooden table crashed into the officer's shins.
"Run, Mariana!" Lucia yelled, grabbing a heavy glass vase from the hallway stand and holding it up defensively.
Mariana didn't look back. Driven by pure maternal instinct, she sprinted past Diego while he was distracted, clutching Sofia tightly in her arms. She burst out of the apartment door, her bare feet slapping against the cold carpet of the main building corridor as she headed straight for the emergency stairwell.
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Behind her, she heard the sound of a scuffle, heavy footsteps, glass breaking, and Officer Vance’s voice shouting orders into his radio.
👉 Read PART 10 to see what happened as Mariana fled down the building stairwell!
