Chapter 4 - The Vanishing Files

Javier didn't run.
He grabbed a handheld high-capacity solid-state drive from his pack, slammed it into the auxiliary USB port of the main storage node, and initiated a direct hardware extraction, overriding the cloud delete command with Leo’s custom script.
The progress bar on the server display began to tick upward: 30%... 55%... 80%...
The metal door of the server room was kicked open with a violent crash!
A large security officer in a black uniform pulled a heavy flashlight and a Taser, pointing it directly at Javier’s chest.
"FREEZE! Hands where I can see them!" the guard shouted.
99%... 100%. EXTRACTION COMPLETE.
Javier yanked the drive from the port, ducked beneath the guard’s swinging arm as the Taser fired, its blue sparks popping harmlessly against the concrete wall. Javier slammed his shoulder into the guard’s sternum, knocking the larger man backward into a metal supply shelf.
Paint cans and cleaning supplies rained down with a deafening rattle.
Javier sprinted out of the server room, pulling the door shut and sliding a metal pipe through the handles to jam it from the outside.
He charged up the rear fire escape stairs, bursting out into the freezing storm, jumping over the low stone wall and sprinting down the dark alleyway where Leo’s black van pulled up with its side door sliding open.
Javier tumbled into the back of the van, gasping for air, clutching the warm metal drive against his chest like a holy relic.
Leo slammed the door shut, hitting the accelerator as the van’s tires screeched against the wet pavement.
"Did you get it?!" Leo yelled over the engine's roar.
Javier held up the drive, his hands shaking, his breath ragged. "Every single frame."
Ten minutes later, inside a secure motel room on the outskirts of town, Leo plugged the drive into his military-grade workstation.
The screen lit up with hundreds of organized video files, tagged by date, time, and room number.
Leo pulled up the file labeled: ROOM 104 - ART STORAGE - OCTOBER 12 - 2:15 PM.
Javier leaned over the screen, his chest tightening so hard he could barely breathe.
On the video screen, the small, windowless art storage closet was clearly visible under fluorescent lighting. Lucy was sitting on a small wooden stool, holding a drawing of her mother.
The heavy door opened, and Miss Patricia walked inside. Her face on camera was completely transformed—the sweet, maternal smile was replaced by an expression of pure, cold malice.
Patricia grabbed Lucy by her tiny arm, dragging her off the stool. When Lucy began to cry, Patricia leaned down, her fingers digging violently into the six-year-old’s shoulder, pinching and squeezing with cruel precision while leaning over her, whispering something that made Lucy cower in utter terror.
Javier fell back into a chair, his face buried in his hands, a guttural sob escaping his throat.
"That monster..." Javier choked out. "She didn't just hurt her... she’s been doing this systematically."
May you like
Leo scrolled down through the directory, his eyes widening in horror.
"Javi..." Leo said softly, his voice trembling. "Lucy wasn't the only one. There are over twenty different children in these video folders."