Raegan realized it was a landslide causing the chaos, not an earthquake.
However, the school was right at the base of the mountain, placing it in the direct path of potential danger.
Raegan refused to give up and kept looking for something to pry the door open with.
But there were no crowbars or anything like that inside, and even when she tried using bench legs, they just broke, leaving her empty-handed.
In a rush, Raegan grabbed her phone to call the team leader.
âBang!â Then, suddenly, a loud noise filled the room, followed by the sound of a boot slamming against the metal door.
A voice from outside yelled, âMiss Foster, are you in there?â
Raegan yelled back, âYes, Iâm here! Iâm right here!â
âMove back from the door,â the voice instructed.
Raegan quickly moved away.
After two more loud bangs, the door flew open, and a man dressed in black burst in.
Raegan didnât recognize him.
This man wasnât with the volunteers.
âDonât worry.
Mr.
Dixon sent us to keep you safe,â he said, out of breath, handing her a dust mask.
âGot everything you need? We need to leave, now.
â
Raegan hadnât even had the chance to wonder when Mitchel had organized this protection.
She hastily put on the mask, and with a wave of panic, said, âI donât feel like packing.
Letâs go.
â
In the midst of chaos, everything but life itself could be left behind.
Once Raegan was out of the room, she couldnât help but glance back at the huge, black dust storm Looming overhead.
This enormous cloud of dust swallowed up everything, making it hard to see even a short distance ahead.
The air was thick with dust from the ground, choking her.
Without her dust mask, breathing it in for too long might have been deadly.
She clutched her phone tightly and ran after the two men ahead of her.
Luckily, Raegan had thrown on a long shirt and pants over her pajamas for ease, so she didnât look too out of place while running.
She hadnât gone far when she heard the soft cry of a child.
It was so faint, nearly drowned out by the surrounding chaos.
But ever since becoming a mom, Raegan had grown incredibly attuned to the sound of childrenâs cries.
She stopped and realized the crying was coming from a distant building.
That building⦠Raeganâs face fell.
A young boy lived there, left with his grandmother while his parents were away for work.
The boyâs grandmother had trouble moving, making escape seem unlikely.
The threat of a mudslide loomed closer from behind.