Gil put the bread basket down and removed the latch. Then, put all his weight on the door, which seemed to be stuck on rusty hinges, and pulled it open.
The next moment, a strange smell wafted out along with the muggy heat, and I instinctively covered my nose. Gil groaned and covered his nose as well. Even though I was used to the smells of the city, the stench was unbearable.
The door was wide open, giving a clear view of what was inside.
Several naked, young children were lying on the damp, musty-smelling straw covered in feces and urine, their faces lifeless. The room seemed to be closed off, and it was dimly lit despite it being a clear, early summer afternoon.
" ...God's grace? "
Perhaps noticing the smell of bread, a child with something black stuck to it suddenly crawled towards me, his eyes shining brightly, and he let out a husky voice.
Before I felt any pity for the skinny toddler, who resembled starving African refugee children I had only seen in photos and videos, I was horrified by the sight of him creeping towards me. I felt an indescribable fear and was unable to move, my teeth chattering.
