The church clock chimed twelve times.
Jackals were heard howling in the distant hills. A half-moon shone, and a lone dog barked. All else was peaceful, unless you listened closely. Then the cries of Mikis' mother would tear your heart.
Anna and Irene slept together, feeling more secure that way, and keeping each other warm.
"Anna, Anna! Wake up!"
"What is it, Irene?" asked Anna.
"Listen, I have a plan for us to escape." Irene pointed at a loose plank in the floor.
"Good, but what is underneath?"
The door opened abruptly and the heavyset man walked in, a flashlight in his hand.
"What have we here? Two love birds? I always knew ... I had a gut feeling ... you know, right here," he slapped his belly.
"What are you trying to say, fat pig?" growled Irene.
"I love that kind of talk. Tell me more!"
"I will, but if you are a man ... come and prove it, you worthless piece of shit!"
"My, my you really turn me on," said the heavily intoxicated man.
Pretending to be having fun, Irene rolled on the floor with him, arousing him with her words.
"Leave, Anna! Leave!" whispered Irene in a low voice, pointing at the floor.
"What did you say?" the drunken man asked.
"Oh, nothing, she is just anxious waiting for her turn."
The fat man laughed loudly, "For you or for me?"
Anger overtook Irene, who pulled out a knife she had hidden in her trousers. She quickly and skillfully stabbed the man in his heart. The victim uttered no sound. Anna was stunned by the rapid scene, but quickly returned to reality. With surprising strength, she removed the plank, grabbed Irene's hand, and whispered, "I'll see you in Heraklion!" Irene nodded yes.
Anna jumped down into the unknown, where she found herself in a large concrete cistern used to store discarded grape skins waiting to be used at the distillery. Right next to it, she could hear a creek running. The fermenting skins exuded strong, heady fumes. She felt that she would definitely pass out. Irene took the flashlight and shone it down on Anna.
Aware of Anna's desperation, she took a rope the man had brought with him and threw it down, attaching the other end to the floor plank. Swiftly, Anna grabbed the rope, pulled herself up, then swung to the side of the large vat and jumped into the deep creek. Soon Irene followed her. They climbed up to the bank, holding onto hanging branches and protruding boulders.
The fall caused Anna's injured foot to bleed, but fear made her ignore her pain. Once out of the creek, they started to run and escaped a large black dog that barked after them. When they got to the edge of the town, Irene turned to Anna.