Finally, she reached the vent. It was too small to crawl through, but she hoped that by dislodging the covering, she could make enough noise to alert someone—anyone—outside. With all the strength she could muster, Emily began banging the metal grate with her elbow. The sound, though muffled, reverberated through the small space, a steady rhythm of defiance against the dark.

Minutes passed like hours, each second a stark testament to Emily’s dwindling strength. Her movements grew weaker, and just as despair began to claw at her resolve, she heard it—the faintest echo from beyond the freezer walls. It was followed by another, closer this time. Her heart leaped. Someone was there.