Then the entire floor began to sway. Ceiling lights rattled violently, metal screeching.
The earthquake alert sounded.
My first instinct wasn’t to run. I turned back.
“Everyone evacuate immediately!” I shouted toward the office floor. “Follow the drill routes. Don’t push!”
The veteran employees moved almost on reflex, grabbing emergency kits, shielding one another as they headed for the stairwells.
But the new hires Viggo had brought in clearly hadn’t been trained.
They panicked, screaming and stampeding toward the exits.
“Stop running!” I tried to stabilize the chaos. “Stay against the wall! Move in order!”
But no one listened.
In the confusion, Viggo scooped up Cruella with one arm, grabbed Carmilla with the other, and bolted for the exit without looking back.
I had just taken a step when he shoved me hard.
“Move!”
I wasn’t prepared for that. I slammed into the edge of a desk. Pain tore through my lower back. Before I could steady myself, another desk was knocked over by the crowd and crashed down on my leg.
I let out a muffled groan. I was trapped in place!
Above us, a ceiling light broke free, falling straight toward Carmilla.
“Carmilla!”
Viggo reacted on instinct.