Valium took about 30 minutes to kick in. That window was everything. Gabby sprinted to a nearby hardware store, buying bolt cutters and gloves. She returned just in time. Peering over the fence, she saw the chaos had calmed—bodies sprawled, tongues lolling, eyes fluttering shut. It was working.
She waited a few more minutes, then climbed the fence slowly, careful not to jostle the loose wood. Her foot caught slightly at the top, but she landed with a soft thud. The backyard smelled of heat, rust, and urine. Every step she took felt like crossing enemy lines.