The eight freshmen gradually settled into Priya's room.
Priya's portion of the supplies were neatly arranged across the tabletop beside her desk.
Which left a lot of space for the eight of them to sit in a loose circle.
For a moment, nobody spoke. The atmosphere was heavy. Everyone understood the weight of the decisions they had to make.
Corvin glanced around the room.
"Alright, let's—"
"One moment."
The quiet interruption came from Dimitri. Everyone turned toward him.
He reached into his backpack and carefully withdrew a thick notebook. Several loose sheets of paper, covered in tightly packed calculations and handwritten notes, protruded from between its pages.
He looked around the room before speaking.
"Before I begin..."
His deep voice carried a distinct Russian accent. Every syllable was pronounced carefully, almost methodically.
"...please excuse... my English."
A faint smile crossed Marco's face.
"Don't worry we can still understand you."
He opened the notebook.
"I completed these calculations... within the past hour."
He took a slow breath before lowering his eyes to the first page.
"According... to every scientific publication... and geological report... currently available..."
He paused briefly, following each line with his finger.
"...the Indonesian eruption... has reached... a Volcanic Explosivity Index..."
"...of VEI Eight."
Silence filled the room. Nobody needed Dimitri to explain what that meant. Even those unfamiliar with volcanology could tell from his expression that it was catastrophic.
He slowly turned the page.
"I then attempted... an independent projection."
His finger moved down another column of equations.
"My calculations incorporate... the estimated volume of ejecta injected into the stratosphere... atmospheric circulation patterns... the velocity of the equatorial jet streams... sulphur dioxide concentration... aerosol formation rates... and the approximate residence time... of those aerosols within the upper atmosphere."
He lifted his eyes.
"Using those variables..."
A brief pause.
"...I estimate... that the volcanic winter... will persist... for approximately..."
He checked the number once more.
"...eight... to ten years."
No one spoke. The words settled over the room like another layer of ash.
Aisha finally broke the silence.
"Hold on."
She leaned forward.
"You figured all of that out... in an hour?"
Dimitri nodded once.
"I already possessed... sufficient understanding... of atmospheric physics."
He spoke calmly.
"I simply required... current eruption data."
He lightly tapped the notebook.
"The mathematics... are more reliable... than speculation... in such a situation."
Marco rubbed the back of his neck.
"I think he just called the news channels unreliable."
A few smiles appeared around the room before quickly fading.
Dimitri continued turning pages.
"There is... another matter."
His voice became even quieter.
"Based upon... current satellite observations... prevailing wind velocities... and projected atmospheric dispersion..."
He stopped for a second.
"...the primary ash cloud... should arrive here..."
He looked up.
"...in exactly six days."
Everyone straightened.
"Six days?" Chase repeated.
"Yes."
Dimitri nodded.
"If Senior Ali's information... regarding the university lockdown... is accurate..."
He glanced around the room.
"...then we possess... only three additional days... after the lockdown begins... to complete every remaining preparation."
The room fell silent again. Three days. That was all.
Dimitri slowly turned to another page.
"The first phase... will not be... the volcanic winter."
He shook his head.
"It will be... the ashfall."
He paused.
"Approximately... six months... of continuous ashfall."
Astrid frowned.
"So we can't go outside?"
"You should avoid doing so... whenever possible."
Dimitri answered while reading.
He looked toward the ceiling.
"Fortunately..."
His gaze lingered there.
"...Favilla Hall's roof... is constructed with... steeply sloped surfaces... converging at a reinforced central spire."
Corvin nodded.
"I noticed that. Then the design will prevent any dangerous accumulation from happening on the roof."
Dimitri agreed.
"However..."
He slowly raised a finger.
"...the ash... will inevitably accumulate... along the lower edges... and surrounding ledges."
Chase tilted his head.
"Will that become a problem?"
"Eventually." Dimitri replied.
"Volcanic ash... is frequently mistaken... for ordinary fireplace ash."
He gently closed his notebook.
"It is not. It's pulverized rock. It possesses considerable density."
"If those accumulations... are not removed..."
"...their increasing weight... may damage gutters... exterior structures... entrances... and obstruct movement around the building."
"So what do we do?" Priya asked quietly.
Dimitri answered without hesitation.
"We remove it."
"Once..."
"...every forty-eight hours."
He folded his hands over the notebook.
"If we maintain that schedule..."
He looked around the room.
"...the building should remain structurally secure."
Everyone listened intently.
"The remaining three days..."
He spoke slowly, deliberately, ensuring every word was understood.
"...must be devoted... to preparing for six consecutive months... during which leaving this building... should be considered... an absolute last resort."
He finally closed the notebook.
The room remained silent. No one questioned his calculations.
Dimitri's calculations had replaced uncertainty with a timetable. The disaster was no longer a distant possibility—it was six days away.
After nearly half a minute, Corvin finally broke the silence.
"Originally," he began, his voice calm and steady, "I was going to suggest that we remain on campus until the ashfall passes."
He paused, looking around the room.
"But after hearing Dimitri's analysis..."
He shook his head.
"I don't think that's enough anymore."
Everyone's attention remained fixed on him.
"I believe we should stay here even after the ashfall ends."
Marco raised an eyebrow but remained silent, allowing Corvin to continue.
"There are simply too many advantages."
Corvin leaned forward slightly.
"First, water."
He pointed toward the window.
"River Phoenix flows along the outskirts of this village. Drake University already draws water from it and distributes it across campus through its own purification facilities."
He folded his hands together.
"As long as those purification systems remain operational—or we learn how to maintain them—we'll have access to one of the most important resources for survival."
He continued without hesitation.
"Second, our location."
"The university is relatively close to the equator. Even if global temperatures fall dramatically, equatorial regions will remain considerably warmer than most of the world."
Chase slowly nodded.
"So... winter here won't be as bad as everywhere else?"
"Exactly."
Corvin nodded once.
"We'll still experience severe cooling, but compared to higher latitudes, this region offers a significant advantage."
He continued.
"Third, resources."
"The engineering workshops, maintenance facilities, and laboratories already contain advanced machinery, industrial tools, chemicals, replacement parts, electrical equipment, and manufacturing supplies."
"With enough knowledge, we won't simply consume resources."
"We'll be able to produce them."
Finally, Corvin looked toward the bookshelf standing against Priya's wall.
"And perhaps our greatest advantage..."
He spoke a little more quietly.
"...is knowledge."
"The university library houses one of the oldest and most extensive collections of books covering engineering, medicine, agriculture, chemistry, biology, physics, architecture, and countless other disciplines."
He let those words sink in.
"If civilization collapses..."
"...knowledge becomes more valuable than money."
Corvin looked at each member of the group.
"Most people will spend the coming months searching for food."
"Fortunately, Drake University maintains at least a week's worth of rations for nearly 45,000 people. With campus stocked even further for orientation, food is the least of our concerns."
"We'll have the opportunity to focus on long term goals and survival."
He leaned back.
"In my opinion, Drake University is not merely a good place to survive."
"It may be one of the best places in the world to survive."
-----
The silence that followed Corvin's proposal lasted only a few seconds before Aisha spoke.
"So... what about food?"
She looked around the room.
"We only have enough for a couple of weeks."
Mei Lin answered before Corvin could.
"Not anymore."
Everyone turned toward her.
"When the university enters lockdown, the convenience store across from Favilla Hall will no longer serve any purpose."
She folded her hands on her lap.
"Once the three days are over, we should move everything inside. If we're going to remain here for six months, we might as well secure every item before someone else does."
Corvin nodded.
"Agreed."
Dimitri added, "Those supplies... will eventually be exhausted."
He looked toward Corvin.
"Long-term food production... is inevitable."
"You mean farming?" Chase asked.
"Yes."
Dimitri nodded.
"Not outdoors. During the volcanic winter, conventional crops will fail," Dimitri said.
"Then how do we feed everyone?" Marco asked.
"We convert unused multi-story buildings into hybrid vertical farms," Dimitri explained.
"We mix topsoil with the volcanic ash to create a mineral-rich growing substrate. Stacked in vertical tray systems under artificial grow lights, with sealed insulation and controlled temperatures... food production remains viable."
Everyone exchanged surprised looks.
"You've already thought that far ahead?" Marco asked.
Dimitri simply shrugged. "I don't know the details. I belive it's possible though."
Chase raised another question.
"What about water?"
"The campus gets it from River Phoenix, right?"
Corvin nodded.
"It does."
"But the purification system won't keep running forever."
"What happens when it breaks?"
Corvin answered immediately.
"Then we repair it."
Chase blinked.
"That's the whole plan?"
"We don't have another choice."
Corvin's voice remained calm.
"If the purification system fails, we fix it. If we don't know how, we learn. The engineering workshops and maintenance manuals are here for a reason."
Dimitri gave a small nod.
"The river is useless... if we cannot make the water safe."
Marco suddenly leaned back against the wall.
"Okay, serious question."
Everyone looked at him.
"What happens when someone forgets to pay the electricity bill?"
For a moment nobody reacted.
Then Priya burst into laughter. Aisha covered her mouth, trying not to laugh as well.
Even Corvin smiled faintly.
"I think the power company will have far greater problems than unpaid bills."
Marco snapped his fingers.
"So... free electricity."
"No," Dimitri answered without missing a beat.
"The electrical grid... will eventually fail."
Marco sighed dramatically.
"I preferred my theory."
The room filled with quiet laughter before Astrid spoke.
"What about medicine?"
"If someone gets sick... or injured..."
Corvin answered.
"The campus pharmacy."
He leaned forward slightly.
"It should already contain a substantial supply of medication."
Chase added.
"Well, you are our unofficial doctor now Astrid."
"What! Why!"
"Hopefully," Marco muttered, "we won't need any medicine."
Priya glanced between everyone.
"I've been thinking about something."
"What?" Corvin asked.
"You said this campus has everything people need."
She hesitated.
"Wouldn't other people realize that too?"
Silence settled over the room.
Corvin thought for several seconds.
"Probably."
Marco shrugged.
"That's something the faculty has to deal with."
Nobody disagreed.
If desperate people eventually arrived at Drake University, handling them would be far beyond the abilities of eight freshmen.
A few moments later, Mei Lin spoke again.
"What about the library?"
"If its knowledge is as valuable as you said..."
"How do we protect it?"
Corvin thought for a moment before answering.
"We don't."
Everyone looked confused.
"We don't need to."
He continued.
"If we've already realized how important the library is..."
"...then I'm certain the faculty realized it long before we did."
The group slowly nodded.
That made sense.
As the discussion died down, Aisha looked around the room.
"You know..."
She glanced at Corvin.
"Every time one of us asks a question..."
"...we all end up looking at you."
Marco chuckled.
"She's right."
"You've basically been leading this discussion from the start."
Corvin shook his head.
"That doesn't make me a leader."
"No," Aisha agreed.
"But it does make you the most competent person to make decisions."
Mei Lin nodded.
"I agree."
"So do I," Astrid said.
Chase shrugged.
"Works for me."
Priya smiled.
"I don't have any objections."
Corvin looked at Dimitri.
The Russian calmly says.
"The consensus... appears unanimous."
He met Corvin's eyes.
"You may object... but I do not believe... you have much of a choice."
Marco grinned.
"Looks like you've been elected."
Corvin sighed as he looked around the room.
Every face was waiting for his answer.
"...Fine."
Aisha started clapping. "Congratulations."
The mood in the room gradually lightened.
Priya looked around at everyone with a smile.
"Alright, enough serious talk."
She clapped her hands once.
"If we're really going to be stuck inside for six months..."
She tilted her head.
"...what's everyone planning to do?"
Corvin answered first.
"I'll finish this year's syllabus."
Everyone stared at him.
Marco blinked.
"The world's ending..."
"...and you're worried about homework?"
Corvin shrugged.
"I'll have plenty of time."
Aisha laughed.
"I guess that leaves the gym to me."
She flexed an arm with a grin.
"If I'm spending six months indoors, I'm staying in shape."
Marco scratched the back of his head.
"I honestly have no idea."
Astrid smiled softly.
"I'll read every medical book I can find in the library."
"If someone gets hurt..."
"I'd like to know how to help."
Dimitri opened his notebook.
"I intend... to begin writing a journal."
"If we survive..."
"...I shall publish it as a book."
Marco laughed.
"So you're already planning your bestseller?"
"It would be... a unique historical record."
Dimitri replied.
Mei Lin smiled faintly.
"I think..."
"I'll try relaxing."
Everyone looked at her.
"I've never really had the chance before."
"What kind of life were you living before?" Priya asked with a pitiful expression.
Chase leaned back against the wall.
"I'll write music."
"As much as I can."
"Maybe it'll help pass the time."
Finally, everyone looked at Priya.
She smiled.
"I'll just keep everyone entertained."
Marco grinned.
"I had a feeling you'd say that."
Laughter once again filled the room.
The conversation came to an abrupt halt when Corvin heard faint footsteps echoing through the hallway.
He immediately raised a finger to his lips.
Everyone fell silent.
The footsteps grew louder.
Slow and steady. Getting closer with every passing second.
No one moved. Then...
They stopped.
Right outside Priya's door.
A metallic click broke the silence as someone unlocked the door from the outside.
The door slowly swung open.
Standing in the doorway was Hall Director Alex Aguilar.
He glanced around the room before letting out an amused chuckle.
"Of course you'd all be here."
He shook his head.
"I should've come here first instead of wasting my time checking everyone else's rooms."
Without waiting for an invitation, Alex stepped inside.
"Anyone mind lending me a chair?"
Chase slowly stood up.
"You can have mine."
"Thanks."
Alex pulled the chair over, sat down, and looked at the eight freshmen gathered before him.
After a brief silence, he asked,
"So..."
"Are all of you leaving on tomorrow morning's buses?"
The group exchanged hesitant glances.
Corvin answered first.
"No."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"And why not?"
"We're all international students," Corvin replied calmly. "Commercial flights have already been grounded, so none of us can return home."
Alex smiled.
"And?"
Corvin didn't hesitate.
"Because we don't want to."
For a moment, Alex simply stared at them.
Then he laughed. A genuine laugh. When it subsided, he leaned back in the chair and smiled.
"I have to admit..."
"I'm impressed."
"The faculty hoped a handful of students would make such a decision."
He looked around at the eight freshmen.
"I wasn't expecting freshman to figure it out though plan this quickly."
Alex pushed himself out of the chair.
"Well, I'll leave you to it."
He walked toward the door, opened it, and reached down to pick up a canvas bag he had apparently left outside before entering.
Without another word, he stepped back into the room and tossed it toward Corvin.
Corvin caught it instinctively.
"You're going to need that," Alex said with a grin. "Consider it a reward for figuring things out."
Before anyone could ask what was inside, Alex turned and started walking toward the door.
"Director."
Alex stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
It was Mei Lin.
"Are YOU planning to leave tomorrow?"
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
Then a small smile appeared on his face.
He didn't answer. Instead, he resumed walking.
Just before stepping into the hallway, he stopped once more.
"Oh, Corvin."
Corvin looked up.
"Mind giving me back the convenience store keys?"
"The staff never came back, and I'm getting hungry."
Corvin didn't ask how Alex knew.
He simply reached into his pocket, pulled out the ring of keys, and tossed it over.
Alex caught them effortlessly.
"Oh."
He looked at the keys before breaking into laughter.
"So you did take them."
He looked back at Corvin with an amused smile.
"I was only guessing."
With one last chuckle, he walked out into the hallway, the master key jingling softly against the convenience store keys as the door closed behind him.
Corvin stared at the closed door for a second.
"...That was annoying."
Marco laughed.
"I think he enjoys messing with people."
Dimitri's attention had already shifted elsewhere.
"What... did he give us?"
Everyone's eyes turned toward the canvas bag resting in Corvin's lap.
Corvin loosened the drawstring and looked inside.
"...Walkie-talkies."
He reached in and placed four sturdy handheld radios onto the floor.
"They look... expensive," Astrid observed.
Chase's eyes immediately lit up.
"Wait."
He picked one up and turned it over in his hands.
"These aren't normal consumer walkie-talkies."
"You can tell just by looking?" Priya asked.
Chase nodded.
"I've used walkie-talkies plenty of times while hiking and camping. These are built differently."
Corvin handed him one.
"Take a closer look."
Chase switched it on and began adjusting the controls.
"Hmm..."
He cycled through several standard communication frequencies.
Nothing.
He frowned.
"That's strange."
He tried another frequency, still nothing.
"These aren't operating on any of the normal channels."
Corvin searched through the bag once more.
"There's something else."
He pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
Opening it revealed a detailed map of Drake University. A few buildings across the campus had been neatly circled in red.
Attached beneath the map was a single page of typed instructions.
At the very top, in bold letters, was the title:
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Near the center of the page, one line immediately caught Corvin's attention.
A single radio frequency.
Different from every standard channel Chase had just tested.
Corvin scanned the instruction sheet before looking at Chase.
"Try this frequency."
He read out the numbers.
Chase adjusted the dial before pressing the transmit button. For a brief moment, only static filled the room.
Then the interference faded.
He raised the walkie-talkie.
"Testing... testing."
He glanced at the others before continuing.
"Whoever is receiving this, over."
Silence.
Several seconds passed.
Just as Chase was about to lower the radio, a woman's voice crackled through the speaker.
Marco's eyes widened.
"Senior Nia."
The voice continued.
"Switch to four-five-one-point-five-zero-zero megahertz. Once you're there, say 'Connect to Nia' before transmitting."
The transmission ended.
Astrid immediately grabbed a pen and wrote the frequency onto the instruction sheet.
Chase shrugged.
"Might as well."
He switched frequencies and without thinking, he pressed the transmit button.
"Hello, Senior Nia—"
Before he could finish, an angry voice exploded from the speaker.
"Are you idiots trying to give everyone on campus a heart attack?"
The room froze.
"That frequency is for emergencies only!"
Marco quickly leaned toward the radio.
"Sorry, Senior! We didn't know!"
There was a brief pause.
"...Didn't Alex tell you?"
Marco glanced at Corvin before answering.
"No."
Another pause.
Then everyone heard an exasperated sigh.
"Damn it, AA..."
A few seconds later, her tone became much calmer.
"Listen carefully."
"If you need to contact me or any of the seniors, use this frequency."
"Before speaking, say 'Connect to' followed by the person's name."
"That lets the system connect your call."
She paused.
"And don't use the emergency frequency unless it's an actual emergency."
Chase frowned.
"Why?"
"Because every transmission on that channel is broadcast to emergency command."
Her answer came immediately.
"That includes the faculty..."
"...and Vice Director Alejandro Morales."
The room fell silent. None of them had expected the network to be that extensive.
Nia continued.
"One more thing."
"Ali's prediction was correct."
Her voice grew serious.
"You have three days."
"Use them well."
The transmission ended with a soft burst of static.
No one spoke. They all understood exactly what she meant.
Corvin quietly picked up the walkie-talkie before looking around the room.
"There are only four radios."
He picked one up.
"I'll carry one."
He handed the second to Aisha.
"If something goes wrong, you're the first one I'll want to reach."
She accepted it with a nod.
The third went to Astrid.
"For medical emergencies."
Astrid carefully took it into both hands.
Finally, Corvin handed the last radio to Marco.
"You know more people around campus than the rest of us. If anyone gathers information, it'll probably be you."
Marco smiled.
"I'll try not to disappoint."
Corvin looked around the room one final time.
"I think we've discussed everything we can tonight."
He stood up.
"Get some rest."
"We have three days left."
"And we're going to need every hour."
One by one, everyone nodded.
The meeting was over.
----
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The freshmen spent the earlier days preparing, securing their rooms, and making plans for the uncertain months ahead.
At exactly 6:30 a.m., every radio system across Drake University suddenly came alive.
A sharp emergency tone echoed through the campus, blaring from speakers in the dormitories, administrative buildings, and public areas.
The sound jolted everyone still asleep awake.
Then a voice followed.
"This is Vice President Morales. May I have the attention of everyone currently present on campus."