"Anthony—!"
Michelle's voice cut through the chaos, sharp with panic.
"I'm here!" he shouted back, turning immediately.
Zack stood a few feet away, frozen in place, his small hands clenched at his sides as he stared up at the sky. Jaziel was crying, tugging at Michelle's leg, his face red and wet with tears. In her arms, baby Ciel wailed, tiny fists clenched as if he could feel the fear in the air.
"I can't see!" Zack yelled, his voice shaking. "What's happening?!"
Anthony rushed forward, dropping to a knee in front of him. "Hey—hey, look at me." He grabbed Zack's shoulders gently but firmly. "Stay with us, okay? Don't move unless I tell you."
Another explosion shook the ground.
Jaziel cried louder. "Mama! Mama!"
"I've got him," Michelle said quickly, shifting Ciel in one arm as she pulled Jaziel close with the other. "Anthony, we need to go. Now."
"I know." He stood, grabbing Zack's hand. "Stay close. Don't let go."
Zack's small fingers tightened around his instantly.
"I won't," he said—but his voice trembled.
---
The ground shook again—harder this time.
Anthony stumbled slightly, tightening his grip on Zack as people rushed past them in every direction. Someone slammed into his shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance.
"Move!" Michelle urged.
"I'm trying—!"
But it was chaos.
Too many people. Too much noise.
And then—
The sound changed.
A deep, cracking groan echoed above them.
Anthony looked up.
And felt his chest drop.
The building above them was breaking apart.
"Michelle…" His voice came out low, tight.
She followed his gaze—and froze.
"No…"
Zack looked up too.
"Dad…?"
Cracks split across the ceiling, spreading fast, jagged and unstoppable.
"Run!" someone screamed.
"GO!" Anthony shouted, pulling Zack forward.
Michelle moved with him, clutching both Jaziel and Ciel tightly—but they barely made it a step.
A massive chunk of concrete crashed down in front of them.
The impact sent dust exploding into the air, thick and suffocating.
Zack coughed, panicking. "Dad—I can't see!"
"I've got you!" Anthony pulled him closer, dropping low, trying to shield him.
Another crack.
Louder.
Closer.
He looked up—
And saw it coming down.
All of it.
---
There was no time.
No space.
No way out.
---
Anthony moved on instinct.
He turned and grabbed them—Michelle, Zack, Jaziel, baby Ciel—pulling them all in as tight as he could, wrapping his body around them, curling over them like a shield.
"I've got you," he said, his voice breaking despite everything. "I've got you. I'm right here."
Zack clung to him.
Jaziel cried into Michelle's shoulder.
Ciel's screams pierced through everything.
Michelle pressed into him, her voice shaking. "Anthony—"
The world came down.
---
The impact was instant.
Crushing.
Unstoppable.
Something slammed into his back, driving the air from his lungs. The weight followed—more, and more, and more—until it felt like the entire world was pressing down on him.
His arms shook violently, muscles straining as he held on, refusing to let go—
Don't let go.
Don't let go.
Pain tore through him.
Something cracked.
His vision blurred.
And in that moment, beneath the impossible weight, one truth broke through everything else—
I can't save them.
---
"...Anthony…"
The voice was distant.
Fading.
Michelle.
---
Darkness swallowed him whole.