The floor of Saint Anthony’s burst upward as if a rolling wave surged beneath. Paulinha gripped her daughters’ shoulders as the church was tossed like a piece of seaweed yanked into a turbulent sea, torn from its stable rock foundation.
Heads swiveled, saucer eyes seeking a reference point to explain why their Godly ship was shaking. Terror ignited faces, accompanied by a split-second breath of silence. Before howls of fright ripped through the holy space.
The nave’s central aisle cracked like a cleaved pomegranate. Front pews slid into the chasm. Wild screeches emanated from the abyss. Pleas to heaven, pleas to God.
The masses stared in horror. Gasps emanated forth, followed by tearing screams.
The righteous rich and privileged were swallowed up.
Those who flanked the sides of the na
