Jamming the jaws of the bolt cutter down onto the padlock, I squeezed. Even by practically climbing on the cutter, leveraging my whole weight on one arm and the other on the door, I couldn’t break the lock. “Gah!!”

I felt sweat beads from panic and fear starting to form upon my forehead. The lock stayed unbroken despite my best efforts.

"No," I whispered frantically. "No, no, no."

Out of frustration, I took the bolt cutter and swung it like a club, onto the lock. Nothing was damaging it. Not even a single dent. I wished for the guards to get distracted or for them to trip on a tree root. That didn’t happen either. The guards had their eyes trained on my red-clad figure and were heading towards me at a quick pace. If I failed... No, I can’t fail.

I had to manage.

I opened the bolt cutter’s jaw once more. I closed my eyes, reminiscing about the tastiest, creamiest cold ice cream cone together with some hot, crunchy, and salty french fries from McDonald's. I imagined it just beyond that door. Holding those mental images, I flexed my arms for one last burst, as hard as I could. Hunger did not cut the lock.

Dammit! I hurled the bolt cutters down, my forearms pulsating. I stretched out my fingers and gave my arms a shake. They used to have some lean muscle to it before this.

Picking the cutters up again, I tried again for longer. This time, the pain was worse. I dropped to my knees, sobbing with exertion and panic. I’m such an idiot! Why did I think this would work?

I threw a hurried glance over my shoulder.

Four guards careened around the corner of the fence, shouting louder as we made eye contact. More followed. Some reached for tasers on their belt, others for their batons.

What now? I clenched my pack. The pod! Right, you weak idiot! Use your other muscle for once! I had no control over being stunted and weak through malnutrition but not exercising my brain was my fault alone.

I was sweating, legs shaky and weak. Hunger pains, I told myself. Just hunger pains. You can get through this.

Time for my experimental strategy with my possible weapon, the purple pruned Malvao pod.