Venting

If they were on the top, it might be easier to break through the roof, assuming the metal wasn't too thick.

But that would expose them immediately to whoever locked them here—and to the natural sunlight. The intense heat would turn the container into an oven, making their situation even more unbearable if they didn't escape soon.

On the other hand, if they were in the middle or at the bottom, the weight of the containers above would complicate any attempt at escape.

In addition, shipping containers were typically stacked side by side, which meant that making a hole in one of them was also not an option.

His eyes scanned the cramped interior of the container, focusing on what little they had: a few half-empty water bottles, scraps of fabric, and some personal items people managed to keep with them.

It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

His gaze landed on a small, rusted nail lying in the corner.

Crawling over to it, he picked it up and weighed it in his hand. 'This could be useful,'

He pressed his ear against the metal wall again, listening for any sounds that could give him a clue.

Faint noises—possibly distant voices or the sound of the ship's engine—drifted through the thick metal, but it was hard to tell where they were coming from.

He tapped his knuckles lightly against the wall, trying to gauge the thickness of the metal. The sound was muffled, but not entirely, suggesting the metal wasn't as thick as he feared.

'Wait, I can hear the ocean. Does this mean we're near the edge of the ship?'

Zayn listened intently, his ear pressed against the wall, trying to pick out the sound. 

Sure enough, a faint but unmistakable rushed of waves crashing against the side of the ship could be heard. It was subtle, but it was there.

'I need to check more things,'

Standing up cautiously, he moved toward the entrance of the container. His thoughts raced. If they were indeed near the top, this could be their way out.

He carefully positioned himself beneath the ceiling, holding the rod in one hand while the rusted nail was clenched tightly in his other.

Slowly, he began to hammer the nail into the metal above him, prying and piercing at the edges of the container's roof.

The process was slow and tedious, but he couldn't afford to rush it. Each small puncture brought him closer to his goal.

Metal clanged against metal, echoing softly within the container, but he didn't stop.

Finally, he felt a shift in the metal. The hole became large enough for his fingers to slip through.

A rush of anticipation surged through him as he reached up, pressing his fingers through the small opening.

But when his finger met the metal, it was solid. He immediately felt the resistance—the weight of another container stacked above them.

His heart sank as he pulled his hand back.

Zayn cursed under his breath. 'Damn it. We're below a container,' 

He immediately tried the same thing on the walls, but each attempt met with the same result.

The container was surrounded by others on all sides, making escape impossible. Although there was a small gap for air to pass through, that was the only opening.

'Well, at least we don't need to worry about being turned into meatloaf,' he forced a chuckle, though in reality, he was really frustrated. 

He was completely stressed out and needed to vent his frustration.

'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!' he muttered, repeating the words like a chant to release some of his frustration. 

But it still wasn't enough; the darker side of him was beginning to take hold again.

Gripping the metal rod, he planned to smash the wall, but then a voice echoed from behind him. 

"Are you alright?" Maya asked with a worried expression. 

Zayn turned to look at her. She still appeared clean, but that wouldn't last long if they didn't find water to bathe within the next couple of days.

He instinctively grabbed her shoulder. "Want to do it with me?" 

Maya flinched at his sudden question and tried to back away, but his grip was too tight. 

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"I want you," he bluntly answered, his tone leaving no room for misinterpretation.

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Authors Note:

Do you like the story so far? It would be awesome to know I'm on the right track by getting support through Power Stones.

+1 bonus chapter every 100 PS reached.