In a dank, gloomy cave stood many altars arranged in a peculiar formation. They formed a geometrical pattern around a glowing circle, in the very centre of which stood crumbled remains of an enormous egg.

The cave was mostly dark, illuminated only by the dull pinkish light coming off the odd circle.

There was a lone exit to the cave chamber shrouded in darkness. Large, unhuman footsteps covered the path to this exit as far as the light reached.

***

I walked along the dusty path, following the smell of burning phosphorus that persisted in the air. The cave branched off now and then, however; I continued to follow that garlic-like odour.

Several caves I passed through were adorned with bizarre geometrical shapes of all sorts. Some vibrant while others dim. I ignored them and continued to follow the smell, which was quickly melting into the air, getting fainter and fainter.

In a short while, I finally found bright sunlight coming off of a large hollow in the cave's wall, which I determined to be the entrance of this cave. The smell of phosphorus had almost disappeared and all that welcomed my sight was that of men and women of all ages. All collapsed in the chalky entrance to the cavern.

I could instinctively induce that all of them were dead. All of them exuded the similar smell which I had followed to the exit, albeit very faint.

Their faces were pale and their cheeks sunken. Dark garbs covered them completely except their face. Their expressions were distorted as if in extreme pain. Many bore stupefied expressions, while others bore one of extreme fear. I cocked my head at their stiff corpses since I could not feel any emotions as I looked at them.

I looked at my hands and feet repeatedly, just as I had done in the cave. The result was the same as then, tough reptilian scales and sharp claws covered them. A dark red screen floated across me as if coaxing me to notice it.

I took a deep breath and calmly laid down flat on the frozen floor as I quietly stared at the red screen. The cold barely affecting me.

Ignoring the red screen, I tightly shut my eyes in contemplation.

***

I had completed the last of my assignments and was soon to submit them to the professor when the lights flickered, startling me.

It started with the wall lights and then the lamps and soon it quickly took the rest of the electronics as they all shut down in swift succession.

I was agitated momentarily, however; I breathed in relief as I realised I had already saved my documents just moments prior.

Coming back to my senses, I hastily exited my room to investigate the blackout. Outside my small room was the hallway of this floor of the student dorms, where most of the students currently living on this floor were gathered.

All of us experienced the blackout. It was strange as we hadn't faced a blackout ever since we had begun our university lives.

The student dorms were within the University campus and were supported by solar power generators and batteries in case of a sudden blackout. The situation appeared to be rather uncanny.

I spotted the dorm leader passing through, who was quickly crowded by the other students, who bombarded him with questions.

I noticed he looked to be just as confused as any of us and ignored him.

I briskly took out my smartphone to reach out to a professor that I was on good terms. However, the smartphone seemed to have switched off. I attempted to turn it back on but to no avail.

I clicked my tongue at this.

Was this really just a blackout? I lightly shook my head as I thought of whether it would impede my study.

Stolen novel; please report.

Perhaps I was just thinking excessively. Maybe it would just be over soon.

There was no point in freaking out over something like this.

Finding my composure, I glanced at the dorm leader and then at the other students who were desperately trying to get their smartphones to work, albeit being unsuccessful at it.

Just then, the walls and floors quaked and many of us lost our balance and toppled on the floor.

It was an earthquake now?

Did I splurge on all my luck on the previous exam? I could surely no longer remain calm, and panic crept its way into my heart.

Ignoring the elevators, I checked out the several stairs which led downstairs. In an earthquake, hugging the walls in an open hallway was the safest option. I judged that's exactly what I should be doing.

Several students were doing the same as me. However, the enormous crowd was panic-stricken and a lot of them ran to the stairs instead.

The floor wobbled even more so violently and it gave me the idea that it was not one of those typical earthquakes we so rarely got. This only elevated the worries inside me.

After all, they did not build this building to endure an earthquake, and this was the 7th floor.

A blackout was strange enough, but an earthquake was even more bizarre. Why did these disasters have to strike simultaneously? What terrible luck did I have?

Fear took root inside of me, and my breathing became heavy. I didn't want to die.

Many flustered people were snowballing downstairs, and many more were showing up from the upper floors.

Whilst I continued to move, I envisaged my bright future. I thought about the many difficulties that I had to face to get into a reputable university.

I didn't want to die; I wanted to live a long comfortable life and die of old age.

As I mulled over this, my breathing slowed down and I thought with better clarity. The shaking and quaking of the floor did not stop, and the students continued to prance around.

Noticing the swaying of the walls, I knew I had to hurry. I briefly observed the many students who had found cover and had stayed on the same floor. However, in a building like this, I deemed this not safe. It occurred me to that in the worst-case scenario, the building could most definitely collapse.

The only problem as of now were the people who continued to run up and down the stairs, which was not safe at all. I ruled out the possibility of help to arrive soon as this earthquake was awfully sudden.

I resolved myself and tried my luck. I'd slowly advance to the cafeteria, which was a large open hall on the very first floor of the building. To keep myself safe, I'd move whilst hugging the walls, just as I had been doing.

In case of falling debris, I'd have to try my best to not spend too much time on the staircase such that I could swiftly take cover. This overall was the only reliable method to guarantee my safety.

I took a passing glance around me; several dorm supervisors were attempting to beckon the students to stop moving. However, I knew for a fact that no one would listen to them. This was a powerful earthquake; the ensuing panic would not stop. We all feared for our lives.

This floor was not a desirable safe space in case of a total collapse. Moving downstairs was the only option. I refused to die entombed in the rubble.

I paced up a little as I reached the stairs, and just like this, I steadily moved down the floors. Just as the tremors were only getting worse, I noticed tiny cracks in the walls.

I heard faint sounds of collapse, and my face turned ashen. My chest heaved as I steeled my heart. I was already on the fourth floor, which was a lobby; I knew I couldn't stop now. I was very close to the first floor.

I had to make it to the cafeteria. I was fairly certain that I could be safe there, even if the building collapses. I might sustain injuries but I was positive that I would not die just if I could just reach it.

There was a second sound of collapse. However, it didn't seem to come from the dormitory itself. A crashing roar pierced our eardrums and sonic booms spread out. The people near the windows gasped in horror.

A building next to our dormitory seemed to have collapsed. The ensuing dust storm outside the closed windows sent shivers down my spine.

I shuddered, nonetheless, I did not stop moving. The loud crashing did not stop while the shock waves shattered the windows. The glass shards injured quite a few people next to the windows. They quickly took a distance away from the windows and moving became a lot more challenging.

As we reached the second floor, sounds of relief could be heard from all over the crowd. A few people were injured, but the injuries were not grave by any measure. I also reassured myself. I had almost made it.

Just as I had, I began by strolling down the narrow corridors of the second floor, hugging myself closer to the walls.

For a split second, I caught onto a small fragment of the ceiling falling.

It toppled over one fellow unlucky enough to be under the falling fragment. It had crushed his leg under it.

With red eyes, I looked away from that scene. A person already appeared to be helping him. I knew something like this would happen. My luck today had been bad enough. I just had to keep moving. There was no time.

Another tiny fragment of the ceiling crumbled down; it missed me by a margin as I evaded to the right. Adrenaline kicked in as gasped for air.

The walls crumbled like dominoes, and large chunks of the ceiling crashed down like the sky was falling.

I hurriedly separated myself from the walls, yet still evading the falling rubble.

Ah, I couldn't move. What was this? I saw nothing coming. Was I too slow?

I cried, "Help me! Get me out of this! Someone!"

The rustling footsteps around me kicked up dust, which found its way into my mouth and eyes. I coughed. I couldn't see anything around me.

I couldn't move my arms; I couldn't move my legs. This was not it, right? My future was going to be bright. I was going to find a high-paying job and live a life of luxury.

My life can't end here! Not like this!

Someone gets me out of here! Rescue me! Anyone!

I tried to shout, but the dust didn't allow me.

No… I was losing consciousness… I can't… not yet.

"Your legs appear to be alright… can you feel them? Let's get this off you so you could breathe."

Huh? Who was it? I tried to speak, but no words seemed to come out. I tried to look behind me and within the dust, I could only make out a tall silhouette that was trying to lift the wall that was pinning me down.

Was I saved? Would I not die here?

"A few broken bones, I guess, but I bet you could still move. You will be fine."

It spoke again, but I could not reply. I was already trying my hardest to keep myself conscious.

Shortly, I felt the weight lifted off my back. My body ached all over. I queasily took in huge breaths of the dusty air as I stabilized myself again.

Coughing haphazardly, I focused back at the silhouette which had saved my life. Huh, why was he moving in that direction?

"If you can get up, then run. I will see if I could help a few more. Go!"

Help more? Was he crazy?

"The build…ing is… collapsing"

I couldn't make out any words well, however, I felt it in myself to stop him. We had already made it out to safety. He would only get crushed if he delayed...

"There is some time before it will collapse. Get to the cafeteria and find a suitable spot. Don't stall."

At those words, I ran at once without looking back. My life was precious. Perhaps he would be okay… I can only hope.