Thanks to those reading! This is going to be an intense story. I have several chapters already written. There will be character death but I will use a disclaimer at the top of the chapters that contain it so you are aware.
And yes I realize this situation would likely never happen. But it's fiction. Enjoy it for what it is.
The next day's workload proves to be a big one for Alex. She checks her log book to see which one of her ADAs she may be able to delegate to, but everyone is booked up. So she does what she always does; sucks it up and decides to jump right in.
As she pulls open her desk drawer she's met with an iPhone 11 box; Noah's birthday gift. She smiles to herself. He is going to love it, even though Olivia is not. She decides to talk to her about it sooner rather than later and to not let her be surprised at Noah's party. She'd rather Olivia be angry with her this week instead.
Alex has been working at her desk for a couple hours when she hears several sirens outside. She gets up and looks out the window. Several ambulances and fire trucks are whizzing by but she sees nothing immediately alarming so she sits back down.
Just a few minutes later there is commotion in the hallway. She is about to get up when Haley Stevens - one of her junior ADAs - pokes her head in her door. She looks frazzled. "Alex - you need to leave. Now."
Alex is immediately on alert and stands. "What's going on?"
Haley is about to answer when the building loses electricity and they are plunged into darkness.
Alex doesn't get shaken often; but right now she's scared. She fumbles for her phone in her purse and quickly turns on her flashlight, shouldering her purse and making her way to her door where Haley is waiting.
"What the hell?" she repeats. They step out into the hall where people are quickly making their way to the stairs and nearest exits.
"I - I don't know," Haley says. "I don't know what's going on. There was a huge tidal wave that reached the other side of the city and they don't think it's over. It will reach us too. We were told to evacuate. I didn't think anyone had made it this far to tell you."
Alex is terrified now. With shaking hands she hits Olivia's speed dial, but the line just beeps and she realizes with growing dread that there is no signal.
So turns to ask Haley something but realizes she is gone. Alex doesn't waste a second getting to the stairs, running down them as quickly as her heels will let her. She wonders if there were anyone on the elevators when the electricity went out, and if so, what would happen to them. She shakes her head; she can't think about that now. She has to think about Olivia and Noah and about herself.
She checks her phone for a signal again as she makes her way out outside; still nothing.
The first thing she notices once outside is that it's about ten degrees cooler than it was this morning. The sky is gray and the air feels heavy.
She has to get to Olivia. Maybe she knows what is going on.
Alex tries to hail a cab but none stop. They speed by, trying not to hit people who are gathered in the road.
At first Alex thinks maybe someone got hit and that's the reason for the crowd. But as she looks again, she sees them looking towards the sky and pointing. A woman and her children nearby are crying.
Alex follows their gaze - and her heart almost stops at what she sees.
The moon is hanging in the sky, way too visible and way too large. It's slanted and looks wrong and menacing, as if it's going to come to earth and swallow everyone whole.
Alex just stands there in disbelief until she hears someone literally screaming her name. She turns to see Olivia outside of her car flagging Alex down, a frazzled look on her face and a sense of urgency about her.
Alex wastes no time running to the car and practically jumps into the passenger seat. She's out of breath from running and fear and Olivia's tires squeal as she pulls away from the curb.
"What the hell?" Alex shouts. "What the hell is happening?"
Olivia's eyes are fixed on the road, weaving in and out of traffic. "All the radio said is an asteroid hit the moon and it was catastrophic, knocked the moon out of its orbit. We have to get to Noah's school. There are tidal waves all over, and they expect small pieces of the asteroid to hit us as well from the impact."
Alex grabs a hold of the armrest of the car and takes a deep breath. Her entire body is shaking, trying to process Olivia's words.
The moon was hit hard. The moon, which controls the tides and impacts the seasons. What is that going to do to life? Electricity was already lost in the city. What about elsewhere?
"Come on…" Olivia curses under her breath, slamming on her brakes to avoid hitting someone who ran into the street. "We have to get to Noah's school."
Alex puts her hand on Olivia's arm. "We will make it. It will be all right."
Olivia is about to respond when she looks at the sidewalk and does a double take. She slams on her brakes again. "Casey! What the hell are you doing?"
Casey looks relieved to see Olivia and runs up to the car window, leaning down to talk to her. "Someone stole my bike. I'm just trying to.." She suddenly stands up and looks to her right, her eyes wide. "Oh, shit…"
Olivia glances at her mirror. Water is coming. Fast. Without hesitation Olivia hits the door locks. "Get in the car - now!"
Olivia is already pulling away when Casey is closing the back door, and she hits the door locks again.
Alex turns around and looks out the back window, and immediately wishes she hadn't. She's never been more scared in her life as she sees cars and people washed away by the wave that's rushing towards them.
Olivia isn't being careful anymore. She can't afford to be. She needs to get to Noah. A car side swipes her, but she doesn't care. She pulls out onto the back road that leads to Noah's school.
"Did - did that just happen? That was real?" Casey asks from the backseat.
Olivia and Alex are too stunned to answer her.
There aren't many cars on the road. The ones that are seem to be heading the same way that Olivia is driving. She keeps her eyes focused on the road.
They pass a car that is on the shoulder with a family standing outside. Olivia is going too fast to get a good look, but Alex guesses they need help. Given normal circumstances they would have stopped.
But this isn't normal circumstances.
The car behind them lays on their horn, startling everyone. Olivia looks in the mirror as the car whips around them, going so fast that the tires throw gravel from the road at the windshield.
Alex is holding onto her seatbelt with one hand and the other is tightly clasping Olivia's arm. She feels a panic attack building; something she hasn't experienced in years. She keeps her breath steady and slow to keep herself calm.
Casey is sitting quietly in the back, trying to process what is happening. She is extremely grateful that Olivia picked her up. She wouldn't have made it if she hadn't stopped. She knows that's a favor she will never be able to repay.
No one speaks until they get to the school. Several cars are parked haphazardly along the curb and Olivia joins their ranks. Without a word to Alex or Casey, Olivia jumps out of the car and runs into the building, leaving the car idling and not even bothering to close her door.
Casey is the first to break the silence. "Alex, can you turn on the radio? Maybe we can get some information."
Alex doesn't respond but she does hit the button to turn the radio on. Nothing but static. She turns the dial until the static fades and voices are heard. It's not a great signal but they can make out some words.
"….moon pushed closer to earth…widespread power grid failures…cell towers impacted…tidal waves…state of emergency…evacuations…"
"Why was there no warning about this?" It's a rhetorical question, and Casey knows it even as she asks it. There's no way she or Alex know the answer. No way anyone knows the answer.
Casey sits back and remains silent. It's clear the other attorney is in no mood to talk and she can't blame her. She doesn't know what she would say if they did talk, anyway. It's an impossible situation they are facing.
Within minutes Olivia is running back to the car with Noah, her hand on his back leading him. She opens the back door and he gets in next to Casey, dropping his backpack on the floor.
"Noah," Alex says, reaching back and taking his hand as Olivia peels away from the curb. "You okay, buddy?"
He nods at her, his eyes wide. He looks at Casey and she smiles at him. She doesn't know if he remembers her, but they've met a handful of times.
"Are we going home?" he asks, looking out the window. Olivia is going way too fast and it scares him.
"We're going to try," Olivia says. "We should be okay where we live. The house should be good." She catches Alex's eye. "Should be."
Alex swallows and leans her head against the window. She feels sick. She fishes her phone out of the middle console and checks for a signal again. Still nothing. "We- we have to check on our friends."
Olivia's eyes remain on the road. Her jaw is tense and her expression fixed. Alex can see her knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel.
"That's not my concern right now," she finally says. "But we will. Amanda took the day off today. She was home with the girls." She looks at Alex. "They live pretty much right on the water."
Alex knows what that means and she looks away, She can't bare to think that a friend - and her innocent children - could be taken by a tidal wave. Maybe they weren't home. Maybe they went out, and they are okay.
She thinks about her colleagues at the DA's office. How many got out in time? What is the damage to the office buildings, the courthouse?
"Could you guys maybe drop me off at home?" Casey suddenly asks. Olivia looks at her in the mirror and realizes that she looks terrified. "My mom is staying with me right now. I - I need to get back to her."
Olivia looks at Casey in the mirror and she simply nods. "I'll take you home after I get Alex and Noah home."
Casey nods and attempts a smile at Olivia. "Thank you for picking me up."
All Olivia can do is nod in response.
The radio reception is coming in again. Alex quickly turns the volume up and the car is filled with a man's voice.
"Tidal waves aren't stopping. If you are anywhere near an ocean - or any body of water - evacuate immediately. Get as far inland as you can." There's some static and warped voices and then it's clear again. "Electricity grids are failing all over the world. Communication is down. Warnings have been issued that we will see major volcanic activity and evacuations are being issued along those lines. Temperatures will drop grately and quickly. We don't yet know how long these changes will last or if they will ever stop. The president will address the nation tonight from a secure location. Every American is advised to remain in their homes unless evacuation is needed." There is a pause. "We are facing a dark chapter. Together we can - "
Olivia switches off the radio and the car is filled with silence. "That's enough of that."