Chapter 7 - A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
The rain came down in sheets, turning the city streets into slick black mirrors. Marcus shoved the forged papers across the desk of the night-shift administrator at the infant foster facility. The administrator, underpaid and exhausted, barely glanced at the seal before nodding and turning to retrieve the twins. They were bundled in thin blankets, crying out against the sudden disturbance of their sleep. Marcus grabbed the carriers roughly, ignoring their wails, and rushed out into the storm.
Halfway across the city, Elelliana lay awake, her instincts screaming that something was wrong. She felt a cold dread pooling in her stomach. Suddenly, the fire alarm in the group home blared, a deafening shriek that sent dozens of kids pouring out of their rooms. Through the chaos, Elelliana saw Marcus by the fire exit, his clothes soaked, waving her over. "Come on, Ellie! Your brothers are in the van!" he yelled. For a split second, she almost moved toward him. But she remembered Nathan's warning: Do not let him put you in a car. Instead of running toward Marcus, Elelliana turned and bolted deeper into the building, barricading herself in the industrial kitchen. Enraged, Marcus kicked at the heavy door, screaming threats, but the sirens of approaching fire trucks—triggered by the alarm—forced him to flee into the night with only the twins.
