A large thudding sound came from outside the window and we saw bits of dirt hit the glass from the outside causing it to crack. The ground rumbled beneath us and we all quickly leapt to our feet in anticipation of a fresh assault.
Georgie muffled her screams with her hand as she ran over to me and intertwined her free arm into mine. She stood next to me trembling and I wrapped my arms around her, unsure of what to do next.
The floor started to shake and crack beneath our feet. Dust from the ceiling above us shook down onto our heads, covering us in a thin film of grey. The wooden beams that had held the ceiling broke, sending a shower of splinters into the air and I watched helplessly as some of split wooden beams fell around us causing the roof to partially cave in.
The shaking suddenly stopped and the floor was still once more. Bits of debris fell from the ceiling, but things outside seemed deafeningly quiet. There was no screaming, no nothing. I felt a warm breeze come through the window from where the glass had broken and it caused the hairs on my arms to raise as goosebumps on my skin formed in little lumps.
Roderick started to pace across the floor where there was space around the fallen beams and raised concrete. He pulled his fingers through his hair in frustration and fear, his face covered in sweat.
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“Roderick? Are you okay?” Reese said, dusting herself off.
He didn’t answer and continued to pace back and forth deep in thought.
“Argh!” He yelled, releasing his stress into the air as he threw his fists up in frustration.
Clinging tighter to me, Georgie’s breathing became rasped as she trembled beside me.
“We need to get out of here.” She whispered hoarsely.
“Agreed.” I said, hugging her tighter.
Roderick stopped pacing and looked at us.
“Yep, you’re right. We need to get out of here.” He said. “I think whatever’s out there is trying to break the concrete around us and if it does that, we’re sitting ducks.”
Georgie shuddered.
“Let’s go!” She said, releasing her hold of me as she headed towards the stairs.
“We need a plan, Georgie.” Reese said gently. “We can’t just go rushing out there, especially when we don’t know what’s waiting for us.”
Georgie stopped and nodded mutely. Looking dejected, she walked back over to where I was and stood closely to me again.
“Before we make a move, we need some more information.” Roderick said, and pulled his hands through his hair again as he tried to think.
“How are we going to do that? How are we going to find out more information?” I said nervously. “It’s not like whoever’s behind this is going to give us an instruction manual or an up to date blow by blow of what they’re going to do next.”
“I’m not sure, but like Reese said, we can’t just rush out there. We need to think it through, and fast!” Roderick said, looking up towards the broken window to the outside world.