The wild gallop of Marcus’s pulse propelled him along the corridor. Stucco-covered walls stretched ahead to his right, the other side flanked by waist-high plexiglass bordered by metal safety rails. His eyes razed every inch of the space as stagnant, humid air did little to cool his sweaty skin. Fitz peeked over the railing every ...

Marcus gaped at his son and the puddle on the rug at his feet. No. His vision clouded as liquid panic pumped through his veins. Fitz said Matty’s name, strode to the boy, and crouched before him. No, no, no. “Marcus!” Fitz snapped his fingers toward him twice. SNAP SNAP. He blinked, and the room came ...

Panic clawed under Sofia’s damp skin, and her sweat beaded and flew from her forehead every time she swiveled to listen for her pursuer. She lurched left as the wall against her fingertips vanished into nothingness. Sofia paused, unsure which way to go. Jax clicked on his flashlight, and the glow splashed her dim shadow ...

Sofia stumbled along, blind in the darkness, her left hand tracing the painted concrete wall to her left, the other clutched to her aching ribs. She stopped, planted her back flat against the stubbled surface, and listened. Staccato curses echoed and bounced through the black passage, Jax’s angry voice peppering her with rancid fear. Her ...

Sofia handed a flashlight to a woman with wiry gray hair sticking out wildly as if teased by the wind. She took the offering with a feeble, “Thank you, dear.” Hushed voices of more than a thousand souls echoed off the stadium walls and ceiling, which were never meant to muffle noise. The din was ...

“That’s it, buddy,” Marcus said as Matty held his baby sister to his chest and peered over her shoulder, looking for safe places to step. The opening to reach the kids was too narrow for Marcus, so he directed them from above. Rainwater continued running through the gap and into the small space that imprisoned ...

“Who’s injured? Sound off!” The grating static of a two-way radio crackled until the team responded. “Staunton here. I’ve got Trellis and Davidson with me. All uninjured.” “Nguyen here–all good.” “Richards and Stewart are with me–Cruz. Stewart might have a twisted ankle. Otherwise, fine.” Firefighters and first responders found their feet amidst the glistening wet ...

Jeanie snuffled quietly as she held on tight to Lexi’s limp hand. Her young friend continued to stare into space. She rarely blinked, and Jeanie’s worry ratcheted up like the first climb of a roller coaster. Click, click, click. “–never get a crane in here.” Jeanie frowned as she caught the end of the sentence. ...

Pain rose and crashed over Esme like powerful waves hitting the shore. The swells advanced, bigger and faster. She fought against the desire to join in Tammy’s sobs, which rose from below in a long, unbroken stream. Her cries had become steadier and louder over the last hour as the water continued to rise, announcing ...

Pale grains of sand arced in the humid air behind Sophia as she ran. The closer she got, the more jagged pieces of metal littered the ground. Dodging debris, she hurried forward until she could see no more safe places to step. Sophia heaved a great sob as her body expelled her frustration and grief. ...