Italicized words: thoughts and/or to make emphasis.

FIVE

News about the sudden explosion traveled far and wide, alerting local and national media outlets who have dispatched reporters who are now en route to cover this tragic story…..

Outside of the Moonlight Hotel, a lead rescue technician is communicating via walkie-talkie to his superiors about being permitted to cross the barricades to go into the hotel when a fellow tech run towards him and greets him.

"Sir, me and the guys are awaiting orders to proceed."

"Action is halted; awaiting instructions from the top."

"Aye sir."

The lion couple, whose daughter is still trapped inside of the hotel along with a few other survivors and witnesses, listened in on the short exchange between the rescue techs. Charles fearing the worst for his daughter grabs the attention of the assistant tech and demands answers. "Look sir, my daughter is trapped inside there! What further instructions do you need? Can't you just go with your gut and get in there and get those still trapped out?"

"I understand your concern sir, but it isn't that easy to simply march into a burning building without guidance. You have to understand that I have to follow specific instructions to ensure all are evacuated out safely."

"Time don't wait for nobody! What if another explosion happens while you're waiting for your instructions?" shouted a witness.

"YEAH!" "THIS IS RIDICULOUS!" "GET MY BOY OUT OF THERE!" "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT MY TAX DOLLARS ARE WASTED ON, SHOTTY PUBLIC SERVANTS!" voiced other frustrated and concerned witnesses.

"We're doing all that we can and as quickly as humanely possible to get everyone out. Please allow us to do our jobs and don't lose hope." The lead rescue tech added trying to get control of the tumult at hand and helping to bolster up confidence in all who are riding out this tragic event.

A ringing alert from his walkie-talkie is heard by the lead tech and he excuses himself to respond to it. Meanwhile, many rescue personnel scramble here and there either responding to cries for help by injured patrons or answering mounting questions from witnesses about their loved ones' conditions and/or whereabouts inside of the hotel or trying to hold back irate witnesses from crossing the barricades.

About twenty minutes later, to the relief of the anxious rescue techs, the order to enter and assist was passed down by their superiors and the lead tech gathers his team to give out specific instructions in dealing with the situations they will face once inside. The witnesses are relieved to see the units equipping themselves with heavy protective gear to prevent smoke inhalation and other fire related injuries. The team now heads into the hotel. Some witnesses began to say prayers for the safe return of loved ones and rescue personnel.

The rescue units soon realize upon entering the hotel lobby via the crack in the wall next to the nonfunctioning doors that they will need to find multiple ways to the upper floors to help trapped patrons. Orders from the lead rescuer in charge were to split the team up into two units with unit A climbing through the rubble starting on the first floor and unit B going back outside and hooking themselves up to grappling cables and lifting themselves onto the roof and going inside via a door leading to the third floor emergency exit.

Once inside the 3rd floor, rescue unit B began their search along the hallway and going through the rooms looking for survivors. Upon seeing a few dead bodies, their hopes for finding anyone here alive were dashed. They decided to wait near the exit to the roof for anyone coming their way assuming the ground to roof unit A and/or civilian rescuers will lead the survivors to the awaiting unit.

In The Café….

Mrs. Baxter, a 50 year old café patron was eating a pastry and drinking coffee while looking at the hotel scene when she thought she heard someone either talking to themselves or whimpering nearby. She turned her head towards the noise to see a young female bat a couple of tables seated behind her holding herself doing what she thought she heard and walked over to the silently distraught bat. "Honey?" said the café patron. "My name's Mrs. Baxter. It's terrible what's going on over across the street isn't it?" Mrs. Baxter calmly places a hand on Rouge's shoulder. Rouge flinches then calms down with the assurance that Mrs. Baxter's only aim is to comfort her. "What's your name, sweetie?"

"Rouge." She answers sullenly.

"I don't see anyone coming out on their own power; stretchers and body bags only!" claimed Mrs. Baxter.

With this realization now manifesting inside Rouge's head, she exclaims, "Oh my God! My husband's in there helping with rescue! I need to go and get him or something!" Rouge suddenly bolts for the front door and pulls at the handle in a desperate attempt to leave the café when she is stopped by Mrs. Baxter. "I need to see him please! Let me go to him!" cried Rouge.

"Baby, ain't nothin' you can do for him at this point. Just wait here and see if you see him walking out on his own or on a stretcher…" Rouge continues to stare out of the front door watching the horrific scene unfolding at the hotel with glossy tear-filled eyes. She learned her forehead against the glass and sighed. Now reduced to pleading softly with a trembling voice, "No.…Shadow, please...don't be hurt, I need you..."

She silently prays that she wouldn't have to witness the latter.

Back inside the hotel, Shadow is moving along the first floor hallway when he finds a gentleman presumably in his mid to late 40's knelt down by an injured patron. "Thank God you're here! We gotta get him out of here! He's pretty bad off!" the man offers a hand to Shadow. "The name's Lou. I'm one of the housekeepers here."

Shadow shakes Lou's hand. "I'm Shadow. Let me see 'em…" Shadow then kneels down to the injured patron.

"My leg's twisted! It hurts like hell!" the young patron cried out.

"Listen, uh?" says Shadow.

"My name's Jeremy."

"Jeremy, I'm gonna make a splint for your leg and you're gonna have to bear the pain a while and walk with us until we get you out of here to have your leg taken care of properly, ok?"

"Thanks, man, I'll try by best." Shadow then searches around for available tools and finds them to fashion a splint using pieces of broken floorboard and ripped cloth for the young man's broken leg and applies it. "This should hold temporarily. Lou and I will follow close to you. Should the pain become too unbearable for you, we'll manage carrying you from that point…" Shadow looks over to Lou with Lou nodding in agreeance with Shadow's offer.

"Well, it looks like we gonna have to work together to get these people out of here, Shadow. We can go back the way you came to get this guy outta here…"

"Sure thing….."

Lou and Shadow help Jeremy up and the he makes an attempt to keep up with the two healthier gentlemen.

"Just a little more and we'll be at the entrance. Still holding?" inquired Lou to Jeremy.

"I'll manage…"

The three men reach about seventy five feet from the entrance to the lobby area when a sudden small explosion from the basement shakes the floor they're on and all three stumble backwards as rubble falling from the 2nd floor seal up their exit and traps them leaving them to have to find another way out. Shadow is the first to get up followed by Lou.

"Damned place! Hey, are you alright?" Shadow asked of Jeremy.

Jeremy grimaces and moans in pain for he fell square on his injured leg during the fall. Through blinding pain, he manages a response, "Yeah, I guess it's up then huh?"

"It appears it's our only option now. Here, let me help you up. You're doing good so far, stay with us." Shadow concluded.

"Awh man! My leg is killing me though….I…I don't know if I can go anymore."

"This place isn't that big from what I can tell, so it won't be long before we're out of here, ok? You know what, use this as leverage." Shadow grabs a long piece of floorboard and places it underneath Jeremy's right armpit so he can alleviate the pressure on his bad leg and can walk, but barely.

"I know some shortcuts we can take to reach the roof. Let's hope it's clear, though…" Lou said assuredly. "Well, let's get moving…"

With their only exit now blocked off to them, they start to head to the stairs leading to the second floor. As the men near the stairs, they hear people who hid themselves in various rooms cry for help. Lou and Shadow split their search for the desperate survivors with Lou taking the left side of the hall and Shadow taking the right. Lou instructs Jeremy to sit on a bench not for from them so they could look for the patrons calling out for help. Jeremy doesn't hesitate and is quite thankful to take the pressure off of his leg and he sits and waits.

Lou and Shadow begin their search of the rooms. Lou finds a few survivors huddled in a living room in one unit, and Shadow, a couple more in a bedroom under the bed in another. All are escorted out by their rescuers and assembled out into the hallway to get instruction from Lou on their exit strategy. The rescued patrons start to offer various words of thanks and gratitude en masse to Lou and Shadow. A moment later, Lou interrupts them saying, "Now look, we're far from out of the woods here, so listen up. I'll head up front and Shadow here will bring up the rear. Everyone calm down, pay close attention to your surroundings and we all will get out safely, got it?" everyone nodded in agreeance.

Now a plan is in order to head to the roof and the group of survivors including Jeremy who is worse off than the rest, makes their way towards the 2nd floor.