Finally, with one last effort, the hinge broke free. Using all the strength she could muster, Emily pushed against the door. It resisted, stubborn as the man who had locked her inside, but it gradually gave way. The moment the door opened, a blast of reality hit her—a mix of cold air rushing out and the warmer air of the storage room wrapping around her like a hesitant embrace.

Emily stumbled out, gasping for breath, her body weak but her spirit unbroken. She knew she wasn’t safe yet, but she was free, and that was a start. Gathering her wits, she took a moment to steady herself, then moved quietly through the storage area, her mind already forming a plan.