Holden woke up to the end of the world.
The ground shook so hard his cot bounced off the floor, cracking the concrete walls as dust rained down from the ceiling. The lamp swung wildly on its chain, throwing shadows in violent arcs across the room.
BOOM.
It wasn't a cannon blast. This was something deeper, heavier, the kind of sound that traveled through the earth before it reached the air.
Renna fell off her cot, literally hitting the floor before scrambling to her feet with her bow in hand, her eyes barely open. "What was that?! Earthquake?! Are we under attack?!"
Emric was already on his feet, shield in hand, glasses crooked on his nose. "That's not natural."
"Translation, Emric!"
"Something big is coming."
Lyra was already dressed, her spear humming with cold energy. She hadn't slept much. None of them had, but exhaustion didn't matter when the ground was trying to eat you.
Holden grabbed his gear, but the second boom hit before he could reach the door.
BOOM.
