“He’s coming.” Janet shouts. She’s stood by the basement window, desperately trying to see out but her short legs will only reach her so far up.

“Get away from there.” I quickly pull her arm back and she lets out a grunt.

“He said he’ll be back soon.” she struggles in my arms, her cherry red hair flying everywhere with her frantic actions.

“Calm down.” I try to sooth her but to no avail.

Back and forth we pull each other. The dim lights in the basement flicker along with us.

“Stop.” I finally cry at her. My eyes water but I push them back. I can’t let her see me break, not now.

“Ok. Ok.” she whispers, but as soon as I let her go she rushes back over to the window.

I open my mouth to scold her and tell her to get away from the window, but the noise of footsteps above us has me frozen in place.

“They’ve found us.” I mumble to myself.

Janet looks back at me, a frown on her thin lips and a sad look in her eyes.

With the final flickering of the lights, I take a deep breath, knowing I did everything I could to save us.