Then… again. A faint whisper, barely perceptible. But it wasn’t a voice. It was a sound… like a metallic scratching, muffled, as if it was coming from the ground.
As if someone… was digging.
One of the officers lay down on the floor and began to gently tap on the boards. In one corner, the sound was muffled. The police quickly pried up that section of the floorboards — and underneath they discovered a thin layer of dirt.
They took a shovel from the garage and began to dig… a few centimeters down, they hit a metal lid. Beneath it — a tunnel.
Reinforcements were called. After two hours, the truth was revealed: beneath the house and the neighboring yards lay an entire network of tunnels.
Inside were three fugitives — former inmates who had been evading authorities for several months and were preparing an escape across the border, digging right under the city.
Using special devices, they worked only at night, trying to make no sound — but little Maria heard them anyway.
Thanks to the girl’s call, they were caught. Since then, Maria sleeps peacefully.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not assume responsibility for the accuracy of events or for how characters are portrayed and are not liable for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed belong to the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
