Chapter 6 - The Steel Shutter
Elena watched in absolute, paralyzing horror as the only key disappeared instantly into the crackling flames.
"Mommy is here, baby, please hold on!" Elena cried out loudly, clawing uselessly at the cold metal lock.
Miller quickly raised his heavy iron crowbar, preparing to violently smash the steel hinge off the frame.
Suddenly, the expensive crystal chandeliers in the entire hallway flickered rapidly and died, plunging them into total darkness.
A heavy, industrial metal security shutter violently dropped down from the ceiling right behind them.
The thick metal slammed into the hardwood floor, completely trapping them inside the narrow corridor.
Elena gasped loudly in the pitch black, blindly reaching her trembling hands out for the nursery door.
"Miller, what is happening?!" she panicked, her terrified voice echoing loudly in the highly confined space.
Miller quickly clicked on his heavy tactical flashlight, illuminating the thick metal shutter that now entirely blocked their exit.
"Victoria must have triggered the emergency lockdown system directly from a remote app on her phone," he muttered angrily.
"We are completely trapped up here, and the fire department is entirely blocked by the burning front gate."
Lily's muffled cries grew even more hysterical from inside the locked, terrifyingly dark room.
The heartbreaking sound tore at Elena's soul, making her utterly and completely desperate to break through.
"Forget the metal shutter, just break the padlock right now!" Elena begged desperately, pointing wildly at the door.
Miller wedged the incredibly sharp end of the crowbar tightly behind the thick steel latch.
He pushed down heavily with all his body weight, his strong muscles straining intensely against the thick metal.
The long screws slowly began to loudly pull away from the highly expensive wooden doorframe.
Elena could clearly hear the wood splintering loudly in the unnervingly quiet hallway.
With one final, remarkably violent shove, the metal latch snapped completely off the wooden door.
The heavy, useless padlock crashed loudly onto the hardwood floor, finally freeing the door.
Elena didn't hesitate for a single second before turning the brass handle and bursting into the room.
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The bright beam of Miller's flashlight swept quickly across the small, dark space.
The expensive wooden crib was completely empty, and the large glass window was left wide open to the storm.
