The high pitch noise started sounding loudly again and I felt my heart drop into my stomach.
The floor started to vibrate and I stumbled trying to remain upright. What was left of the ceiling started to dance above us, shaking and twisting like it was jumping along to a frantic club mix and the wooden beams jerked along in rhythm.
Thumping sounds erupted from outside, each one more intense and louder than the last. With each deafening thump the floor shook violently, causing it to buckle and ripple as if it was merely water, warping and bending in unpredictable waves.
“Quick!” Roderick yelled as he grabbed me and pulled me back into the corner to hide. Reese hurried over to us and fell into Roderick’s arms as we huddled on the floor, finding a tiny semblance of comfort once more in each other's embrace and using each other to balance against the onslaught. I worried that the ceiling was going to cave in on us, so I cowered further into Roderick, burrowing my head into his chest.
I went to grab Georgie but she was no longer beside me. Looking up I saw her running frantically towards the stairs, deftly jumping over the rolling concrete floor and manoeuvring herself through the debris as she ran across the room.
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“No Georgie, come back!” I screamed. She ignored me and in her panic started crying and gasping uncontrollably as she scrambled up the trembling stairs on her hands and knees. Falling over herself, she tumbled forward catching the edge of the step on her shin and gave a whimper as she got back up in her rush to get to the door.
A vibrant pink light came through the window, like a laser it scanned up the stairs, streaming through the glass in what seemed like waves of light moving with precision as it did so. Pulse after pulse the rays came, penetrating the dimness of the room and casting shadows aside.
I saw it rapidly scanning the stairs right behind Georgie and my heart started beating quicker.
“Georgie! No!” I tried to get up but Roderick pulled me back down. I tugged against him, trying to push his arms away but he wrapped them around my torso, restraining me from moving any further.
“Georgie!” I screamed again as Roderick held me. It was too late. The light hit her feet first and she screamed in pain when it made contact. As it rose, her body began to turn to flame then dust and it disintegrated into nothingness. Her screams reverberated around the room and I watched in horror as she started to disappear before me.
The embers from her clothing swirled and twirled up into the pink light, glistening and shining like stardust within it. The particles illuminated the room then faded to darkness as they burned out and fell to the floor, leaving a pile of ash as the rays scanned upwards through her body.
In a few short seconds she was gone.