Chapter 4 - THE LOGIC OF HIDE AND SEEK
She pulled the heavy steel door open.
The hinges shrieked, the sound echoing painfully in the confined space.
The cool-toned light of the compartment hit her face.
She dropped to her knees.
The fabric of her expensive trousers tore against the rough concrete, exposing her pale skin to the dirt.
She thrust her arms into the dark metallic box.
Her hands found the dirty beige fabric of the long-sleeve shirt.
She grabbed the boy under his armpits and ripped him out of the darkness.
She pulled him flush against her chest.
Her arms wrapped around his small, shaking frame like a vice.
She buried her face into the crook of his neck.
Her perfectly styled red hair snagged on the collar of his stiff, filthy shirt.
He smelled of cold sweat and pure terror.
The boy dropped the plush brown bear.
It hit the floor, rolling onto its back, the red light still blinking aimlessly at the ceiling.
He wrapped his small, grimy arms around his mother’s neck.
His dirty fingers tangled in her pearl necklace, pulling the string tight.
"Dad said mom would never find me."
His voice was a broken, raspy croak against her collarbone.
He buried his wet face deeper into the dark blue wool of her blazer.
"He said you only look for things that shine."
The child logic sliced through the heavy air of the concrete room.
If a diamond fell, she would look for it.
If a boy wore a dirty beige shirt and hid in the dark, he would turn invisible.
Her fingers dug fiercely into his back.
She didn't speak.
She simply pressed her lips against the crown of his head, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
The sapphire on her chest dug painfully into the boy’s ribs, but neither of them moved away.
She took one long, shuddering breath.
When she opened her eyes, the moisture was completely gone from them.
Her green irises were sharp, cold, and entirely focused.
She slowly pushed herself up from the concrete floor, hoisting the boy onto her left hip.
May you like
She turned around, facing the open mirror door leading back into the golden hallway.
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