CHAPTER 6: THE SERVICE CORRIDOR

"The service corridor?" I whispered. "Where is it?"

"To the left of the front desk. Behind the gold door. Hurry, Host."

I looked to my left. A narrow gold door stood beside a tall flower stand. It was almost hidden against the wall.

The guard still had his hand on the handle of the baby cycle.

"Ma'am, let go. I won't ask you again."

"Take your hand off my daughters."

"Mrs. Sterling gave an order."

"Then Mrs. Sterling can explain herself to everyone recording you."

The guard froze.

"What?"

"Look around you."

He looked around. Margaret did too.

Almost half the guests in the lobby had their phones out, recording everything. Two people stood beside the marble pillar. A couple stood near the front desk. Even the doorman had come inside to watch.

"A security guard grabbing five newborn babies," I said loudly. "Please keep recording."

"Put those phones away!" Margaret shouted.

"Why?" one guest called out. "This is the best thing I've seen all week."

Mia's face turned pale.

"Ethan, do something!"

Ethan didn't move. He stood beside the baby cycle with his hands at his sides, staring at the floor.

"Ethan," I said. "Say something."

He remained silent.

"That's what I thought."

The guard looked at the phones, then at Margaret, and finally back at me. Slowly, he removed his hand from the handle.

"Mrs. Sterling," he said, "I can't do this on camera."

"You can't do what?" Margaret hissed. "I pay you to do what I tell you!"

"Ma'am, with all due respect, there are dozens of phones recording us."

"Then take their phones!"

"Margaret, please," Ava whispered. "Everyone is watching."

"Be quiet, Ava!"

The second guard stepped forward.

I didn't wait another second.

"Now, Host!" the system shouted. "Run!"

I pushed the baby cycle with all my strength. Its wheels squealed against the marble floor.

Behind me, Margaret screamed my name.

"You will regret this, Clara!" she shouted.

"No, Margaret! You will!" I shouted back.

"Stop her! Stop that woman!"

"She stole Ethan's money!" Mia screamed. "Somebody stop her!"

"He threw it at me!" I shouted back as I kept running.

I reached the gold door and slammed my shoulder against it. It swung open.

Cold air hit my face, and the smell of cleaning liquid filled my nose.

The corridor was narrow. Steel carts and stacks of white towels stood along the walls.

"Go straight ahead," the system said. "Forty meters. Don't stop."

"I'm not stopping!"

Behind me, the gold door crashed open again.

"She went this way!"

"Cut her off at the loading dock!"

"Faster!" Margaret's voice echoed down the corridor. "Find them!"

Aria woke up and started crying. Her tiny voice bounced off the walls.

"Shh, my princess," I panted. "Mama is here. Mama is here."

Ariella woke up next. Then Alabella.

Soon, all five of my daughters were crying, and their little voices filled the corridor.

"They'll hear us!" I whispered.

"They already do," the system replied. "Turn left in ten meters. Go!"

"Can't you do something about the crying?"

"They are newborns, Host. Crying is their only language."

"Then tell them Mama is trying her best!"

"They know."

I turned left so quickly that the baby cycle tilted to one side. I grabbed the frame and held it steady.

Aurelia's blanket slipped, but I caught it with one hand.

"Don't you dare fall," I whispered. "Not today."

The sound of a guard's shoes grew louder behind me.

"There! Stop!"

"Ma'am, you can't run with five babies!"

"Watch me!"

"Mrs. Sterling ordered us to bring you back!"

"Then tell Mrs. Sterling I said no!"

A laundry cart stood against the wall on my right. I grabbed it with one hand and pulled it into the middle of the corridor.

It fell over with a loud crash, sending towels flying everywhere.

"Oh, come on!" the guard groaned.

"Thank you for the exercise!" I shouted over my shoulder.

I didn't know where that sudden courage came from. Just two hours ago, I could barely stand. Now I was running.

"Mothers are stronger than they know," the system said.

"Then I must be very strong."

"Host, your body is still recovering," the system warned. "Your heart rate is high. Keep moving. The safe exit is at the end of the corridor."

"How do you know this building so well?"

"I know everything you need to know."

"You could have told me about my heart rate earlier!"

"You were busy."

I almost laughed. I almost cried too.

At the end of the corridor, a green exit sign glowed above a metal door.

I pushed the bar with both hands.

Bright afternoon sunlight flooded the doorway.

I stumbled outside into an alley behind the hotel. There were trash bins, a delivery truck, and a puddle of dirty water on the ground.

"Close the door!" the system ordered. "Block it!"

"With what?"

"Look to your left."

I looked around and spotted a steel pole lying against the wall. I grabbed it and pushed it between the door handles to hold the door shut.

The door shook as someone pounded on it from the other side.

"Open this door!"

"Open up, ma'am! You're making this worse!"

"Then go home!" I shouted back.

"Margaret's men can't break through it," the system said. "Not for a minute or two."

"A minute or two? That's all I get?"

"You get exactly what you earned, Host."

I leaned against the cold wall and tried to catch my breath.

My daughters were still crying, but their cries were softer now.

I bent over the baby cycle and checked each of them.

Aria. Ariella. Arianna. Alabella. Aurelia.

All five were warm. All five were safe.

"Thank God," I whispered. "Thank God."

"You did well, Host."

"Don't thank me. Thank them."

"I already have."

I looked down at my daughters, wondering how five tiny babies could cause so much trouble for people who were supposed to be family.

"Why does Margaret hate us this much?"

"Because you are proof that she was wrong."

I swallowed hard.

"Do not rest yet," the system said. "Mission Three is ready."

"Mission Three? Now?"

"Two hours ago, you had a husband. Now you have five lucky stars. Keep moving."

"What is the mission?"

"Find a safe home for your lucky stars before nightfall. Reward: one million dollars."

"A home? I don't even know this part of the city."

"Then choose one."

I stared at the system message on my phone.

"I have never chosen a home in my life. Ethan always did that."

"Then this is your first."

Behind the door, I heard Margaret's voice. It was muffled, but I could still hear how angry she was.

"Call security! Cover every exit!"

My stomach dropped.

"Host," the system said. For the first time, its voice sounded serious. "Margaret has just called the Sterling security team. Fifty men. They will be outside this alley in four minutes."

"Four minutes?"

I looked down the alley. A wide street lay at the end. There were cars, taxis, and people moving about.

Then I looked at my daughters.

I didn't have a home. I didn't have a plan. I only had a baby cycle, a phone, and a voice in my head.

"Then we move," I said.

"Which way, Host?"

"You tell me."

"Turn right toward the main road. Take the first taxi that stops."

I looked down at my daughters. Their little faces were red from crying, and their tiny bodies were wrapped in soft blankets.

"I know you're cold," I whispered to them. "Just a little longer. Mama promises."

"Host," the system said. "Correction. Two minutes."

"You said four!"

"Margaret told them to run."

My heart began to race.

I couldn't let those men take my daughters. Not after everything that had happened. Not after everything I had suffered.

I tightened my grip on the handle and pushed the baby cycle toward the street.

Behind me, the steel pole across the door bent with a sharp metallic groan.

Then it snapped.

The door burst open.

Men dressed in black rushed out.