Lunchtime rolled around and Megan had to sit through another excruciating meal with these people. She had her nerves a little better under control this time, however, and she was able to eat more normally. Every minute dragged on and the forty minute lunch felt like three hours. She met eyes with Ellie once during this meal and though it was fleeting Megan could feel the energy swell within her partner. She was feeling the same.
An hour after this last meal, the opportunity came.
While listening to the drainage pipes to the front of the house, Megan heard the very distinct noise of a car door closing and then moments later felt a rumbling and low noise which she was sure was the car driving away. Her heart pounded heavy in her chest as she raced to look for Ellie. She had to force herself to slow down so as not to let anyone in the house see her agitation or excitement.
Ellie was in the bedroom and soon as she looked up when the door opened and saw Megan’s face she knew it was time to go. Without a word they went to the shaft and pulled out the trays and Megan started pulling at the rear wall. Ellie was keeping a look out but she was so excited about the escape that she constantly shirked her duties for a few seconds at a time to watch Megan’s progress.
It was during one of these lapses that Carson came up behind them.
“What the hell are you doing?” he cried out. Megan spun around in fright; she had been so engrossed in prying the plates free his loud voice had scared the shit out of her.
“Shut up you asshole!” Ellie whispered harshly at him. Megan was furious, Ellie should have been keeping an eye out, and now this interloper knew what they were up to.
“Keep your panties on,” Carson said, “I already knew what you were up to and how I wasn’t good enough to come with you.”
“What?” Ellie said, seeming genuinely surprised, but Megan knew at once Carson had overheard them a few nights ago.
“I’m not letting you go,” Carson said, “You're putting the rest of us in danger.”
“You can’t stop us!” Megan replied and she lunged at Carson. It was such a surprise to everyone that Carson stumbled back and lost his balance and went down. Ellie saw things going up in the air and she too wasn’t going to let this happen. She began to lay kicks into the sides and legs of the prone Carson. Megan was on her knees on his chest and she pounded down hard with her fists on his face and head. Carson struggled and writhed, crying out in pain but he couldn't seem to get a hold on anything and he kept falling back down. After a solid minute of such abuse he lay there whimpering in pain as Ellie pulled Megan up off him.
“Come on, we have to keep going!” Ellie said. Megan jumped up; she had so lost herself in being found out she had lost sight of her goal of escape for a moment.
“Keep an eye on him.” she said and then went straight back to work. There was so little left to do.
“Come on!” Ellie urged her. Megan didn’t respond. The last sheet was proving to be more difficult than she had expected and for one horrible moment she thought she wasn’t going to be able to shift it. With more strength than she thought she was capable, she pulled and suddenly the final sheet of steel gave.
The gap was large enough for the two of them to squeeze through but anyone else would need more time bending the sheets of metal back before they would be able to follow. This suited them and would give them some time to get away before Carson came after them which he undoubtedly would.
“Follow me,” Megan said and she pushed herself in through the gap. She looked back to be sure Ellie was following and then started the short climb up that would lead them to ground level and, she had to hope, a way to break out through the wall of the house and to the world outside.
The climb within the cramped access shaft was easier than either of them had imagined. There were hand and foot holds all over due to the piping and the mechanics of the dumbwaiter. Megan could see light coming through tiny fissures in the wall above and she held her breath for the last few feet as she pulled herself up to them. With terrific relief and joy she drew in dusty air from the outside world! She could smell and taste the soil in her mouth and for the first time in her life didn’t mind having grit in her mouth. Tears ran down her cheeks but she had to stop celebrating. It wasn’t time for that yet. They still had to get through this wall and god only knew how far they were from safety once they were out in the world.
“Come up here, Ellie,” she said, “I need you to do some of the work, my arms are aching.”
“Got it,” Ellie said, clambering up and around her in the thin passage. She was eager and full of energy and it wasn’t long before she had managed to put a small hole in the external wood of the house and they were both pulling at the wood, ripping small shards off and making the hole bigger by the minute.
Megan was still terrified Carson was coming after them and she kept on looking back down but there had been no sign yet. Perhaps they had hurt him more than they realised. A sudden rush of air went over her face and she looked up and with the greatest joy of her life she felt the warmth of the sun on her skin.
“We’re through” Ellie cried
