16
The world trembled.
Stumbling down the stairs, Dalen threw his hands against the wall and grimaced. All this shaking left a queasiness in his belly. He was just grateful that he hadn’t fallen over. A man could break his neck in this chaos.
With careful steps, he made his way to the first floor, but another tremor flung him into the wall again. He braced his hands against the plaster. “Hurry!” he called to those behind him. “But be careful!”
Zoe was five stairs up, clinging to the railing with teeth bared. “Easy for you to say,” she muttered, descending one more step.
Jim was behind her, trying desperately to stay on his feet, and Victor brought up the rear. The door to the first-floor apartment opened, and Mrs. Carmichael spilled out. She staggered a few steps and nearly crashed in
