bChapter /b469

    “Susannah, listen to me–don’t fall asleep, okay?”

    In the pitch–dark, cramped space, Alessia cradled Susannah Holt tightly in

    her arms.

    The earthquake had struck just as Alessia was in her office, asking Susannah to hand out thest test paper. Susannah hadn’t even made it out the door before the ceiling came crashing down.

    With quick reflexes, Alessia had yanked Susannah back just in time. Before either of them could say a word, the old school building copsed in a roar. Alessia’s instincts kicked in–she wrapped herself around Susannah, sheltering her under the heavy desk.

    They felt the world heaving beneath them, and somewhere nearby, screams pierced the chaos–then, in an instant, the noise was swallowed up by falling rubble. No one made it out. The entire building caved in, trapping everyone under debris.

    The desk shielded them, but as everything plummeted, all Alessia could do was hold Susannah close. There was no chance to escape, no room for heroics. No matter how strong you are, nature can reduce you to nothing in a heartbeat.

    Alessia only regained consciousness when Susannah’s trembling voice called her back. The girl was crying, whispering Alessia’s name again and again, sounding like a ghost in the darkness.

    Out of habit, Alessia tried to ruffle Susannah’s hair, but something felt wrong–her own arm wouldn’t move properly. She pressed her lips together, switched hands, and gentlyforted the girl.

    “Don’t cry, Susannah. I’m right here. We can’t waste our strength–we have to wait for help. Do you understand?”

    Hearing Alessia’s voice soothed Susannah’s fear a little. She nodded, though in this absolute darkness, Alessia couldn’t see a thing.

    12:20

    “Miss, are you hurt?” Thest thing Susannah remembered before

    cking out was Alessia’s anxious face, the way she’d pulled her close and shielded her as the ceiling fell.

    Clinging to Alessia’s sleeve, Susannah’s first thought was worry for her teacher.

    “I’m fine,” Alessia replied through clenched teeth, steadying her ivoice /ito sound calm and collected, just as she always did in ss.

    “Miss… are we going to die?”

    “We’re not going to die.” Alessia’s answer was firm, leaving no room for doubt.

    “Listen to me. Someone wille for us. Until then, we need to save our energy. No talking, and don’t fall asleep, all right?”

    “All right.” Susannah clung tighter to Alessia’s sleeve. Alessia’s thin body was the only barrier between the child and the crushing weight above them, creating a tiny pocket of safety.

    In the suffocating silence, only their breathing filled the space. Susannah sniffled, picking up the metallic tang of rust in the air. The world outside was silent as the grave.

    Her body was numb, but there was no room to move–she could only endure the growing difort.

    Alessia knew Susannah was in pain, but there was nothing she could do. All they could manage was to huddle together, hoping for rescue. Alessia ran her hand along the floor, the faint scraping sounds making

    Susannah’s skin crawl.

    “What are you doing?” Susannah whispered.

    “I’m looking for a rock, Alessia told her.

    “A rock?”

    “If we bang on the debris above us, it’ll be more effective than shouting. Plus, it saves our strength.”

    13.20

    “I want to help!”

    “Not yet. If I get too tired, you’ll take over, okay?”

    Alessia had no idea how much longer she could hold on. Her arm was numb; the coppery smell of blood had be so familiar that her nose had given up protesting.

    They fell quiet again, except for the asional dull thud–stone striking wood or metal–growing fainter each time.

    Outside, the silence was endless. No voices. No hope of dawn. The darkness pressed in, threatening to snuff out even the smallest spark of

    courage.

    Susannah’s thoughts drifted. She missed her grandmother…

    She sobbed softly, and Alessia stroked her hair, soothing her with silent

    Time blurred. Fatigue washed over them both, and eventually, the sound of knocking faded away, swallowed by the unyielding dark.