Maria's POV
I woke up choking from the fresh air that hit my face.
Someone had opened the secret door, and light poured into the basement from outside. I blinked against the brightness.
My children were lying unconscious on the floor.
Amara. Elijah. My babies.
David was slumped in his chair. Marcus lay crumpled by the wall.
"Wake up," I croaked, crawling toward my children.
My legs still wouldn't work properly. Eighteen years of not moving had destroyed my muscles.
But I dragged myself across the floor anyway.
I reached Amara first. I shook her shoulder.
"Amara, wake up. Please wake up."
She didn't move.
I put my ear to her chest. Her heart was beating. Slow, but steady.
I crawled to Elijah. He was breathing too.
They were alive. We were all alive.
But how? Who opened the door?
I looked at the open entrance.
A figure stood silhouetted against the light.
A woman.
She walked into the basement.
As she got closer, I saw her face.
My heart stopped.
