Like clockwork, I woke up at four a.m. I wish I could say it was restful, but it wasn’t. Multiple times, I jolted awake because I felt like it was too quiet. I just gave up when it hit four.

Taking a shower, I got dressed in a pair of shorts and another shirt I got from Target. Setting up the kettle to boil some water, I opened the vault door to peek outside. Vlad wasn’t there, but another guard was. He was younger, with tousled blonde hair. His eyes were closed as he sat on the concrete ...