Prologue
It happened so fast. My reaction was so slow. If you call standing in shock a reaction. Rodney was yelling in my face to run. Carlo was on the ground. Patrick was looking around. And Geero- I didn't see him. I experienced this all in a haze, made confusing by the lack of sound. I wondered where my family was, where our other close friends were, how this could have happened. It didn't matter then, did it? Rodney, Carlo and Patrick were the only people I knew here, and the building seemed ready to give completely.
Most of my hearing and presence of mind seemed to have returned, and I joined Rodney and Patrick in attending Carlo. He was still unconscious, his hoodie burnt and shredded. His white t-shirt was already dusty from surrounding rubble. While Rodney attempted to wake him up, I examined the room for other survivors. Most of them seemed to have left already, with few lagging behind. Carlo finally opened his eyes, and coughed violently. I approached them and told them, "We need to go. NOW."