"Get ready."
Magda said it suddenly — without ending the call, still speaking into the phone, nodding "yes" and "no" without pause.
Each time she responded or glanced at someone, her gaze lingered on me a little longer… with a strange look, one I couldn't quite understand.
Then she stood up with difficulty, leaning against the wall, and ordered the mess to be cleaned up.
After that, she looked at us — Filip, Lina, and me — and said calmly:
— "Get ready to leave."
I thought to myself:
"What now, Magda?"
She went into her office and closed the door behind her.
I tried to eavesdrop… but nothing. Only broken words:
— "Yes… we agreed… and what if I don't…?"
Outside, the children were chattering and cleaning amid the noise.
Filip whispered nervously:
— "Is she taking us to the police?"
Lina snapped:
— "Stop that nonsense! Maybe she wants us as witnesses against what Mir did!"
I stood still, as if in the eye of a storm.
The world was spinning around me.
Suddenly, a soft hand grabbed mine.
— "Here, you can wear it again today."
It was Mia, lending me her shoes once more.
I turned to her and smiled:
— "Who's this beautiful girl here?"
She laughed and adjusted her bangs, but behind that laugh was painful sincerity.
We were disappearing… one by one.
Filip came closer and whispered in my ear:
— "Karina, can you check if Szymon is still there?"
I whispered back:
— "I hope he hasn't left… we don't want trouble."
I thought of the gun… I was almost sure it wasn't there anymore, and I feared he might act impulsively — something unforgivable.
I approached the junk room door and called out to him… no answer.
I looked through the windows, searching for him. Mir was still lying there…
Was she conscious? Or pretending? I watched her eyelids closely.
I thought:
"What if we leave? Will the others know how to handle things? Only Filip can be trusted… And if Ilon comes back? He'll definitely side with Mir. Damn it… what is Magda planning?"
Magda finally came out after half an hour.
We all looked like we were being led into the unknown.
She carried her usual handbag, but it wasn't closed properly.
She looked at Mir coldly:
— "Has that bitch woken up?"
Filip: — "No, not yet…"
Then she turned to Lina:
— "You shouldn't have tended to her wound."
Filip: — "But… where are we going to leave her?"
Magda: — "We'll be back soon. It's fine to leave her."
I thought to myself:
"Foolish…"
Then I said aloud:
— "What if someone comes? They'll think we're the aggressors… like Ilon or someone she knows."
She looked at me, for the first time, with a different expression. Not contempt.
She said:
— "Ilon won't come before the start of the week… but…"
Suddenly, she moved toward Mir:
— "Filip, help me."
They dragged her into the office, then into the closet after clearing it of anything sharp.
Magda said:
— "Now, everything is under control."
She unplugged the landline and set it outside, then said:
— "I'll decide who comes with me."
Filip:
— "Aren't the three of us going?"
Magda:
— "I thought about it. You'll stay to guard the place. Lina will take care of the kids. So… you'll come with me, Karina."
I whispered:
"Damn it… why me? Alone?"
Filip looked worried:
— "But why her?"
Magda: — "She seems most suitable. She's accompanied me before."
Lina: — "But she's just a child!"
Magda: — "I don't see her that way. And she won't do anything—just come with me."
She looked straight at me and said:
— "You're coming with me."
I stared at her:
— "Me?"
She nodded:
— "Yes."
I sat quietly, feeling the ground shift beneath my feet.
I tried to fake some courage:
— "But I don't want to go. I'm tired."
She replied coldly:
— "Wow… you're being serious now."
Filip watched the children, regret heavy in his eyes.
Suddenly, Igor said:
— "Me! I can go!"
Then he looked at me and said softly:
— "You can stay. I'll go instead…"
I looked at him in surprise. Was he joking? But he was serious.
Magda responded firmly:
— "I've made my decision. I want her. I've had enough of all of you."
Moments later… a car screeched to a stop in front of the orphanage.
Magda calmly walked out, spoke briefly with the driver, then got into the car… leaving the door open.
I… was hoping for a miracle.
I knew she wouldn't rest until she had me.
A man got out of the car and entered.
Tension. Screaming among the kids.
We backed away.
He said:
— "Let's go. We're late."
Filip: — "Who are you? You can't just barge in like that!"
The man, irritated:
— "The lady asked me to bring the girl. I don't want trouble, just doing my job."
Then he added, scanning the room:
— "You… the auburn-haired one…"
Filip was shaking. He rushed toward him to block him:
— "Leave her alone! She's a child!"
But I grabbed him:
— "Filip, don't. It's pointless."
His eyes were boiling with rage.
I whispered:
— "Look at my leg: I've hidden scissors… inside the boot."
He looked at me in shock, then sorrow.
He said, trying to reassure me:
— "It's okay… I know you'll come back."
I said:
— "If Szymon comes back, tell him I left willingly… I'll be fine. I'll return."
The man stepped forward, impatient:
— "Come on, little one. We need to go."
I raised my hand confidently:
— "Understood, sir. You go ahead… I just want to say goodbye to my friends."
He paused, looked at me in confusion.
There was no trace of a child in my eyes.
Maybe he was starting to realize… "The eyes that never blink, the tongue that never slips…"
He turned silently and walked to the car.
I finally left. Filip shut the door behind me tightly.
The kids were watching me through the window… loving, tearful eyes.
The man who came with us kept watching through the mirror.
I looked restless in the back seat, turning right and left, my eyes frantically searching for Szymon.
Maybe he was out there… somewhere, hiding in the dark.
Magda whispered:
— "Shut the hell up…"
I calmed down a little, but I remained pressed to the window, scanning every shadow, every branch, trying to see beyond what the night allowed.
We hadn't gone far from the orphanage when we heard a sound… it sounded like a gunshot.
The driver flinched — and so did I.
"Could it be Szymon? What could he be doing at this hour, in that place?"
Magda replied in a tone meant to reassure him:
— "Don't worry. It's the forest. Hunters come here often."
— "Ah… okay…"
But before I could think further, the driver started asking questions:
— "Ma'am, this seems like an important meeting… do you know the man?"
I realized he didn't know Magda or who had summoned her… just digging for something unknown.
Magda ignored him this time, then turned to me:
— "You need to stay calm in there. You won't get a better chance."
I didn't understand what she meant. Was she hinting at "an adoption request"?
Maybe…
After some time, we'd left the city behind.
At the entrance to another town, the car suddenly stopped.
I gasped, then sighed, searching for a breath of air.
The man flashed the headlights three times.
I knew this… a signal. A coded message.
My God, it's the mafia.
I thought to myself: "Damn… this is the end."
An 4WD car approached. Two men got out.
Magda prepared herself and stepped out. When I tried to follow, the man stopped me, then opened the door for me… like I was royalty.
But really… he was just afraid I'd run and cost him his reward.
He held my hand and we approached.
I deliberately slowed down to scan the area. The darkness was deep.
One of the men stepped out… wearing a beret and scarf, his face mostly obscured.
The other approached directly.
As soon as the man who brought us saw him, he rushed toward him.
This is my chance!
I ran.
Toward the trees, where the darkness was thick and terrifying.
I wished I could stop… but I had no other option.
… Silence behind me.
Then suddenly, Magda:
— "You… little monkey!!"
The man hesitated.
The other said:
— "What are you waiting for?"
He replied hesitantly:
— "Uh… right!"
He ran after me.
Caught me at last…
Lifted me under his arm like a sack of potatoes, saying:
— "So this is what you were planning a moment ago?"
When we returned, the man in the beret was already in the driver's seat.
I heard his voice — he was laughing.
The man carrying me tossed me into the back.
I tried to move closer to the driver to see his smiling face… but Magda pushed me back hard.
Then she grabbed my ear painfully until I screamed.
The man, annoyed, said in a neutral tone:
— "Ma'am, this won't help."
Suddenly, Magda let go.
I was surprised… Was she affected by what he said? Or just tired of me?
I watched the driver… couldn't make out his face clearly.
As for the other man, he didn't get in. He stayed behind us.
The car started.
I watched the two men through the rear window.
The man who brought us received a bag from the other.
He looked delighted, staring at it in awe before bowing repeatedly in gratitude.
But suddenly, without any warning, the other man stepped away from him and headed toward the same car that had brought us.
He got in without hesitation… and drove off, leaving him behind — alone.
As for us…
We were left with the mysterious man, driving into the unknown.
"He didn't utter another word the entire way,
as if his voice had vanished forever...."