CHAPTER 119
Seth heard the sound of a metal panel being worked out of place and thrown aside. He figured they must be at the kitchen. Following his mother out of the air duct he saw that they were in a crawlspace above a drop ceiling.
Dianna pointed down. Seth saw a narrow catwalk scarcely two feet in width that spanned only inches above the ceiling panels. He nodded, understanding that the drop ceiling was not meant to bear his weight, and he should only move along the catwalk.
Joan was already near the wall and pulling at the latch to a small metal door. With a suction of air it swung outward, and a roaring wind banged the door against the outside of the building. Ms. Murdock only looked back once before venturing into the storm. Her figure disappeared through a lightning flash as though by some act of magic, and then Seth's mom was next.
Dianna turned to Seth and gave him a look like she was saying goodby for a very long time. Seth felt obligated to return it with a reassuring expression, but it was not at all how he felt. He had heard Ms. Murdock's grim outlook of the situation, and he couldn't exactly argue it. He knew he could die. He knew they could all die.
His mom had gone and he was next. Sticking his face into the wind revealed a ladder that led down to the ground. The edge of the helipad hung above him but provided little cover from the rain with the strong winds. Seth didn't want to think anymore about it, so he just went.
Kyra was next, and didn't make any hesitations about going out, but she stopped when Shelly appeared to be having trouble.
She looked mentally frozen and kept shaking her head every time her mom pushed her from behind. After a few repetitions of this Shelly screamed out, "no, I don't wanna go!"
Kyra pulled herself back up the ladder and got in her face. "Shelly, listen to me. You have to go."
Shelly was filled with terror. "No! We're gonna die."
"I'm right here, Shelly. We're all here, and we've got to stick together if we're gonna do this."
Shelly said, "Dallas is dead. We're all going to get killed!"
Like a crack of thunder Kyra's palm came up and smacked Shelly across the cheek. "That's enough! You have to go."
Shelly looked at Kyra with shock, but it was as though she had no idea she had just been walloped in the face.
Kyra said, "now come on."
Shelly gave the slightest nod and followed Kyra down the ladder.
Carrie turned to Dr. Conners. She didn't look mad about what had just transpired between their daughters. If anything there was relief on her face.
Bryce said to her, "my god, my daughter is becoming Ms. Murdock."
"No, Dr. Conners." Carrie smiled and assured him, "Joan would've just left her there."