"Ah. More bugs crawling out of the dirt. Just how many filthy rats are living in Rolain?" The Police Chief scoffed, clicking his tongue with utter disgust. "Kill every last one of them. Leave no traces."
At those words, the mother's heart shattered into a million pieces. Watching her husband's chest get blown open with bullets just inches away had stripped her of all denial. These weren't the police—they were ruthless exterminators.
Tears streamed down her ash-covered face, spilling onto her son's cheeks as she pressed her forehead firmly against his.
"I'm sorry, Ruben... I'm so sorry," she choked out, her voice trembling against his ear. "You have to live. You're so young, baby. You have so much life ahead of you... Please, my boy, run!"
The child sobbed uncontrollably, his tiny hands clutching the fabric of her shirt.
"Move!" She shoved him upward, her eyes ablaze with desperation. "I'll buy you time!"
