Marcus’s breath came shallow and deliberate as he inched closer, every movement measured. The floorboards groaned faintly beneath his weight, and he froze, willing them silent. Luna whimpered softly, the sound barely audible, but enough to drive him forward.
Peering through a crack in the cage, he noted the latch mechanism—old, rusted, but sturdy. He needed a distraction. His gaze swept the room: a stack of tin cans teetered on a high shelf. With a careful toss, he sent one clattering across the floor. The metallic clang echoed, drawing the attention of the raccoons. They scattered, skittering toward the noise, chittering in confusion.
The criminals snapped their heads toward the commotion. Marcus seized the moment. Sliding along the shadows, he reached Luna’s cage. His hands worked quickly, fumbling with the corroded latch. Sparks of panic flared as the rust resisted, but his determination burned brighter.
Click—finally, the lock gave way. Marcus yanked the door open, scooping Luna into his arms. She yipped, pawing at his chest, tail wagging with relief. “I’ve got you, girl,” he whispered, pressing his cheek against hers.
But the victory was fleeting. One of the criminals, recovering from the noise, spotted him. “Hey! Stop him!” The man lunged toward the pair. Marcus bolted, Luna clutched tightly, ducking behind crates as another tin can clattered to the ground. Raccoons scattered again, adding chaos to the scene.
Marcus ducked through the rotten wall gap, mud sucking at his boots as he sprinted toward the swamp. Behind him, shouts and curses rang out, but he didn’t look back. Only the safe, warm weight of Luna in his arms mattered. Each step carried them closer to freedom, the twisted maze of Fenwood’s wetlands giving him cover.
Finally, emerging into the misty expanse of reeds, Marcus slowed, panting, heart racing. Luna nuzzled against him, trembling but safe. He looked back toward the shack—its shadowed, decaying walls looming ominously—but relief flooded him. They had escaped. And for now, the swamp held its secrets, but Marcus vowed he would expose the criminals who had dared exploit it… and he would never let Luna out of his sight again.