Reborn From Oblivion

"Damn, how did the cops find us? Who spilled the beans?"

"We've been flying under the radar for years. No way they could've cracked our cover. As long as we keep our lips zipped, they can't touch us."

"Quick, make this place look legit. Get those unprocessed goods down to the basement, pronto."

When Officer Baldwin barged in with his squad, he was greeted by a bunch of dust-covered workers, each minding their own business with innocent expressions plastered on their faces.

"Officer, what's going on here? We're all law-abiding folks, wouldn't dream of doing anything wrong."

Officer Baldwin's keen eyes scanned their rustic faces. For a second, he wondered if No. 13 had gotten it wrong. These folks didn't fit the bill for criminals at all.

But then he remembered No. 13's warning: "Not everyone in jail is a villain. Not everyone out here is innocent. Watch out for those wolves in sheep's clothing."

"Search every inch of this place," Officer Baldwin commanded.

The officers got to work, scouring the area meticulously.

After a while, they came up empty.

"Nothing, sir," someone reported back.

Officer Baldwin glanced at the "workers" in the room. Their vacant stares were like those of clueless bystanders.

Doubt crept in: was No. 13 playing him with bogus info?

But why would someone who couldn't care less about freedom and life play such a prank?

"Keep looking. Check for hidden passages and secret rooms. I'm not buying that we can't find them."

At these words, one "worker" with a lousy poker face visibly flinched.

Officer Baldwin smirked, "Even if we have to dig to the Earth's core, we'll find them."

"Yes, sir."

After a grueling search, a particularly gutsy and meticulous officer found a hidden passage leading to the basement. Soon, they rescued over a dozen kids who'd been locked away.

The kids looked terrified, their clothes in tatters, their skin bruised and battered.

Some were so scared they wet themselves.

Seeing them, Officer Baldwin's heart broke.

He gently reassured them, "We're the police. Don't be afraid. We're here to take you home."

These kids, fed lies and deceit daily, had lost the ability to tell truth from falsehood. Officer Baldwin's rescue promises were met with blank, despairing eyes.

Tears streamed down his face.noveldrama

He couldn't bear the thought of his own daughter being among them.

If she too lost hope in the world, then what was the point of his mission to save it?

As the last few kids came out,

Officer Baldwin finally saw his daughter. Her face was dirty, her eyes wide with fear. Even when she saw him, there was no recognition, no relief.

Tears welled up in Officer Baldwin's eyes.

He realized his daughter was deeply traumatized.

It was a condition more crippling than any physical illness-psychological trauma.

He knew he faced the daunting task of healing her, one that could take a lifetime.