The next twenty minutes seemed like an eternity. The smallest sound from outside the apartment sent Viktoria into panic mode. However, she remained seated on the floor, leaning against the couch with Mateo in her arms tightly, causing him to move along with her. In her right hand, Viktoria held the weighty glass vase. The knuckles of her fingers went white while her palms sweated.
Mateo was now silent because he sensed that the atmosphere around them had turned tense and cold. With the teddy bear clutched to his chest, he continued to stare at the door.
There came a sudden tap from the other side of the door. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Viktoria became motionless immediately; she did not move an inch, nor did she breathe a single time as she raised the vase up and prepared herself to fight whoever was at the door.
"Viktoria?" a quiet voice called from the other side.
She didn't answer, she waited for the only thing that mattered.
"Bluebird," the voice whispered.
