Blood.
Corvin stared as it poured across the ground, his mind struggling to process what his eyes were seeing. Too much. Far too much.
Marco's face twisted with rage. "Why the hell did you do that?!"
Chase snapped out of his shock and screamed at the top of his lungs. "DOCTOR! SOMEONE GET A DOCTOR!"
Aisha was already moving. She sprinted after the attacker, her footsteps pounding against the pavement.
Behind them the others stood frozen.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
For several seconds, the entire world seemed to disappear except for the blood, the screams, and Aisha's fading footsteps.
Three days earlier.
Alex stood at the entrance of the store, looking over the mountains of supplies stacked across the shelves and floor.
"Alright," he said, clapping his hands once. "Your first task is simple. Sort everything in this store by expiry date. While you're at it, separate everything into three categories: food, survival supplies, and unnecessary items."
The eight exchanged glances before getting to work.
Alex pointed toward the entrance.
"Once everything is sorted, we're transporting it to the campus cafeteria. It has a massive storage area, and it's the best place for distributing supplies later."
Corvin glanced toward the shelves.
"There won't be much water left."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"We looted most of it already."
"Oh, don't worry about that," Alex said casually. "I'll deduct whatever you took from your share."
Everyone groaned.
"You can't be serious," Priya complained.
Alex smiled. "Completely serious."
He checked his watch.
"And remember, this needs to be finished before noon."
The groans grew louder.
Alex simply walked away, leaving the eight to their work.
The eight got to work.
At first, the store looked almost impossible to organize. Shelves had been emptied and restocked several times, leaving boxes scattered across the floor and products piled together without any clear order.
Corvin picked up the nearest box.
"Check the expiry date first. Don't just group them by type."
Everyone nodded.
They divided the work between themselves.
Corvin and Dimitri handled canned and packaged food, checking each date before arranging them into separate piles. Marco and Aisha worked through bottled drinks and water, though every time they found another case of water, Aisha reminded them that most of it had already been taken.
Priya sorted medical supplies and miscellaneous survival equipment, occasionally holding something up and asking whether it was actually useful.
"Do we really need three boxes of scented candles?" she asked.
Corvin glanced over.
"No."
"Excellent, I will take them."
She tossed them into the separate pile of things she wanted.
Astrid carefully organized hygiene products, batteries, flashlights, and other small necessities. Mei Lin worked beside her, keeping track of quantities and making sure nothing important was accidentally discarded.
Chase handled the heavier boxes, dragging them from the back of the store and dropping them beside the appropriate piles.
"Why does a university store have this much instant noodles?" he muttered.
"Because students are predictable," Marco answered.
After nearly half an hour, the piles had begun to take shape.
Food was stacked along one wall, survival supplies along another, while unnecessary goods occupied a growing section near the entrance.
Corvin inspected the food supplies and began arranging them according to expiration date.
"Things expiring first go closest to the front," he said. "We'll want those consumed before anything else."
Dimitri nodded. "Makes sense. Otherwise we'll waste supplies."
For the first time, the store looked organized.
But there was still an enormous amount left to move.
Corvin looked toward the clock.
They had less than three hours before noon.
He sighed.
"This is going to take longer than I thought."
They spent the next four hours sorting the supplies in the store.
What had seemed like a simple task quickly became a nightmare.
The inventory records were almost useless. Several shelves contained items that weren't listed anywhere, while others claimed to have quantities that simply weren't there.
Corvin held up a clipboard and frowned.
"According to this, we have forty-eight cans of beans."
Aisha looked at the shelf.
"We have thirty-one."
"Thirty-two," Dimitri corrected, picking one up from underneath a nearby box.
Corvin sighed and crossed out the number.
The problems kept appearing.
Some boxes had been opened and partially emptied. Others contained completely different products from what their labels claimed. A box marked cleaning supplies contained batteries, soap, and three packs of crackers.
"Who organized this place?" Priya asked.
"No one," Marco replied. "That's the problem."
They also discovered several unopened boxes without labels.
Chase dragged one toward Corvin.
"Found another mystery box."
Corvin crouched beside it and examined the cardboard.
No expiration date.
No product name.
No inventory number.
Nothing.
"Open it," he said.
Chase cut through the tape.
Inside were dozens of sealed packets of dried food.
Everyone stared.
"Those weren't on the inventory," Mei Lin said.
"Add them," Corvin replied.
Another box contained medical equipment. Another had flashlights and batteries. A third was filled with blankets.
Every discovery meant more work.
Meanwhile, some of the older food packages had faded expiration dates, forcing Dimitri to compare them against manufacturing codes. Several cans were dented badly enough that Astrid separated them for inspection.
By the third hour, everyone was exhausted.
Their clothes were dusty, their hands were sore, and the store looked as though it had somehow become messier instead of cleaner.
Still, they kept going.
By the fourth hour, the supplies were finally divided into recognizable sections.
Corvin looked at the clock.
Noon was approaching.
And they still had to move everything to the cafeteria.
Not long after they finished, Alex returned to the store.
He looked over the neatly organized supplies and nodded approvingly.
"Good work. Your task for the morning was only to sort everything, so you can take a half-hour break."
The eight barely needed to be told twice. They dropped onto the nearest chairs, boxes, and even the floor, relieved to finally rest their aching bodies.
Alex continued, "At two in the afternoon, someone will arrive with a moving truck. They'll transport everything here to the cafeteria."
"That means we don't have to move all of this ourselves?" Chase asked.
"Correct."
A collective sigh of relief followed.
Alex turned toward them again.
"As for future assignments, my part is finished. From now on, Fiona, our radio operator, will issue your tasks."
Corvin nodded.
"Understood."
Alex left them to their break.
For the next thirty minutes, the eight simply rested.
Some drank water. Others stretched their sore backs. Priya leaned against a box with her eyes closed, while Aisha sat on the floor beside her. Even Corvin allowed himself to relax.
But the break ended quickly.
The radio crackled.
"Temp team 6, report to the campus water purification system."
Everyone looked at one another.
Fiona's voice continued.
"Your next task is to inspect the purification system and verify that it's functioning properly."
Corvin stood.
"So much for our break."
Aisha groaned as she got up.
"Come on. Let's get this over with."
The eight gathered their things and headed toward the purification facility.
The eight reached the campus water purification facility, where they were greeted by a young woman in a grease-stained work shirt.
"Lucy MacElroy," she introduced herself. " I'm the engineer in charge of this system."
Corvin and Mei Lin exchanged surprised glances.
MacElroy.
A name was familiar. President Robert MacElroy.
Lucy noticed their reaction but said nothing.
"I need you to inspect the pipelines," she continued. "Check for leaks, damaged joints, loose fittings—anything unusual. I'll inspect the purification system itself and monitor the pressure."
The group split into pairs and began checking the extensive network of pipes running throughout the facility.
As Corvin and Marco walked along one section, Marco glanced at him.
"You know her?"
"No."
"Then why did you look like you'd seen a ghost when she gave her name?"
Corvin paused.
"She has the same surname as President Robert."
Marco's expression changed.
"The President? Wasn't he in Indonesia when the eruption happened?"
Corvin nodded.
"Yeah."
Marco looked toward Lucy, who was already working on the machinery.
"She's a tough woman, then. Most people would have left everything behind in a situation like this."
Corvin watched her for a moment.
"She is."
They continued their inspection.
After nearly an hour, they had completed a full circuit of the pipelines without finding any obvious leaks.
But as Corvin passed one of the larger junctions, something caught his eye.
A few screws around a metal fitting were beginning to loosen.
He crouched down and examined them.
The surrounding metal was vibrating. Not violently, but enough to be noticeable. Corvin followed the pipe with his eyes.
Then he understood.
"Everyone's stocking up on water," he murmured.
The campus storage tanks were being drained constantly, forcing enormous amounts of water through the system at irregular rates. The resulting pressure and vibration were shaking the fittings loose.
When everyone regrouped, Corvin explained what he'd found.
Lucy listened carefully, then frowned thoughtfully.
"That's probably what's causing it."
She immediately moved toward the control panel.
"I'll activate the flow limiter. It'll maintain a steadier stream and reduce the vibrations."
She looked back at Corvin.
"Good catch."
Corvin nodded.
Lucy smiled faintly.
"Honestly, even some third-year engineering students might have missed the cause."
"For the first time, Corvin looked genuinely pleased.
"Glad I could help."
After Lucy activated the limiter, the vibrations in the pipes gradually settled.
"Keep an eye on the system for the next few hours," she told them. "If anything unusual happens, report it immediately."
The eight nodded before heading back toward the store.
When they arrived, two senior students were already waiting outside with two vans.
"Those should be enough," one of them said, stepping out.
The group got to work.
Boxes of food were carried from the store and loaded into the vans. Survival supplies followed, then the remaining necessities. The work was tiring, but with the help of the two seniors, they managed to finish much faster than expected.
By the time the last box was loaded, the clock had reached three in the afternoon.
Alex arrived shortly afterward and looked inside the now-empty store.
"Good. That's everything."
He turned toward the eight.
"You can take a break for now. But keep your radios switched on. If anything changes, you'll need to be ready for another assignment."
Everyone nodded.
Finally, they were free. The eight returned to their individual dorm rooms. For the first time that day, there was nothing they needed to carry, sort, inspect, or repair.
Corvin sat quietly in his room.
Only a few days ago, his biggest concerns had been classes, assignments, and figuring out how to navigate an unfamiliar university.
Now he was inspecting water pipelines and organizing supplies for a disaster that could last years.
Across the dormitory, the others were experiencing much the same feeling.
Aisha lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Priya sat by her window, remembering how she'd spent her evenings laughing with friends.
Marco thought about the ordinary conversations he'd once considered unimportant.
Dimitri remembered the quiet hours he'd spent reading without wondering whether the lights would still work tomorrow.
Mei Lin thought about home.
Astrid simply stared at her radio.
Chase thought about how quickly everything had changed.
None of them knew what tomorrow would bring. But for tonight, they were still students.
And for a few precious hours, they could pretend that was enough.
---
The following day passed in much the same way.
The eight were assigned to a much larger store, where they worked alongside several other temporary helpers.
There were more supplies, more boxes, and far more inventory to organize.
They spent hours sorting food, survival equipment, medical supplies, batteries, water containers, and countless other necessities.
By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted. But the work was getting done.
And with every completed task, Drake University was becoming a little more prepared for what was coming.
The ash cloud was still approaching. And there was no longer any doubt that life on campus was about to change forever.
The third day passed with another round of inventory work.
This time, the eight were assigned to one of the larger stores on campus, working alongside Ali and several other seniors. The building was considerably more crowded than the previous stores, with students moving boxes while others recorded quantities and organized supplies.
It was becoming almost routine.
Almost.
A sudden crackle came from Ali's radio.
He stopped what he was doing and listened.
"Understood."
He lowered the radio.
"Give me a few minutes."
Nobody asked what the message was. Ali's expression was enough to tell them that whatever it concerned, it was important.
A few minutes later, an SUV pulled up outside the store. Ali climbed into the driver's seat and called toward the other seniors.
"Come on. We're leaving."
Brian looked confused.
"Where?"
"New mission."
The others quickly gathered their things and climbed into the vehicle.
Corvin watched them go.
"What about guarding the supplies?"
Ali glanced back.
"Fiona will send someone else."
The SUV disappeared down the road.
The eight returned their attention to the store, but something about Ali's sudden departure left an uncomfortable silence behind.
A few moments later, Alex appeared.
He didn't immediately say anything. Instead, he walked through the store, examining the organized shelves and watching the temporary helpers at work.
"Looks like you're getting the hang of this," he said.
Corvin nodded.
Alex stopped beside them.
"You know, there's something I've been thinking about."
He folded his arms.
"With Ali and the other seniors being called away, we're going to be short on people for certain jobs."
He paused.
"I've been considering how we can solve that."
Corvin waited.
Alex continued slowly, as though choosing his words carefully.
"There are advantages to being useful in a situation like this. More responsibility usually means a larger share of supplies."
That caught everyone's attention.
"But," Alex added, "responsibility comes with risk."
The eight exchanged glances.
Alex finally looked at them.
"I have a proposal. You could act as temporary guards."
Silence.
Corvin didn't answer immediately. He looked at the others.
Aisha was already considering it. Marco looked thoughtful. Mei Lin remained quiet, while Dimitri's expression suggested he was weighing the practical consequences.
Chase shook his head. Astrid looked uneasy. Priya folded her arms.
Corvin understood why.
Guard duty meant more supplies. It also meant being placed closer to whatever danger was developing across campus.
He considered the advantages first.
More supplies could mean greater security for their group. They would also gain access to areas and information that ordinary students wouldn't. Most importantly, they would be contributing directly to the university's survival effort.
Then came the disadvantages.
They were freshmen. They weren't trained security personnel. Whatever danger they encountered, they could be walking toward it rather than away from it.
And if things went wrong, there would be no guarantee that experience alone would save them.
Corvin looked around.
"How does everyone else feel?"
Aisha nodded first.
"I'm in."
Marco followed.
"Me too."
Mei Lin gave a quiet nod.
Dimitri shrugged.
"Statistically, the additional resources are useful."
Corvin sighed.
"I'll do it."
Chase immediately objected.
"I don't think this is worth it."
Astrid agreed.
"Neither do I."
Priya raised her hand slightly.
"Absolutely not."
Marco looked at them.
"You're thinking about the danger."
"Obviously," Priya replied.
"Then think about the alternative."
Marco's voice remained calm.
"If something happens, wouldn't you rather have people you trust nearby?"
That made them hesitate.
He continued, carefully appealing to each of their concerns rather than dismissing them.
"We aren't being asked to charge into a battlefield. We're being asked to help protect supplies and people. And if we're together, we can watch each other's backs."
After a long silence, Priya sighed.
"I hate that your argument makes sense."
Astrid reluctantly nodded.
Chase followed.
"Fine."
Alex smiled.
"Good choice."
He reached into his backpack.
The sound of metal made everyone look up.
Alex pulled out two pistols.
The eight stared.
Alex held them out.
"Now, who wants to take responsibility for these?"
Nobody answered.
The sudden weight of the decision seemed to settle over the room.
Alex noticed their expressions.
"Don't look so surprised. This wasn't random."
He explained that the recommendation had come from himself, Ali, and Lucy.
"There are seniors who could carry them," he said. "But being older doesn't automatically mean being mentally prepared for that responsibility."
His eyes moved across the group.
"And frankly, I'm trusting you mostly because of Marco."
Marco said nothing.
He simply took one of the pistols and examined the safety carefully before looking back at Alex.
"Holster?"
Alex laughed.
"I was wondering when you'd ask."
He produced one from the backpack and handed it over to Marco.
Alex turned toward the others.
"Now, who wants the second one?"
Nobody moved.
Corvin's mind began running through the possibilities again.
He could take it. That would give him greater responsibility, but it would also make him a target and impose a burden he wasn't sure he was prepared to carry.
Aisha was already carrying enough responsibility without adding this.
Mei Lin was unlikely to volunteer.
Priya, Astrid, and Chase had only just agreed to the guard duty.
Dimitri stepped forward.
"I'll take it."
Everyone looked at him.
Dimitri accepted the pistol and inspected it with a calm familiarity that immediately surprised the others.
He checked its condition, examined the ammunition, and ensured everything was in order before securing it.
The room went silent.
Marco looked genuinely surprised.
"I didn't know you knew how to handle one."
Dimitri shrugged.
"You never asked."
Alex gave a small laugh.
"Well. That answers that."
He checked his watch.
"It's ten."
He looked toward the others.
"Once you're finished here, report to the cafeteria. The campus will be distributing supplies soon."
The eight nodded.
Their morning had started with inventory. It had ended with something far more serious.
For the first time, they weren't merely preparing for the coming disaster. They had been given a responsibility that could put them directly in its path.
By the time the eight reached the cafeteria, preparations were already underway.
Several temporary helpers had cleared the tables and chairs from the main hall, pushing them against the walls to create a wide open space. The cafeteria had been transformed from a place where students normally ate into something resembling a distribution center.
Near the entrance stood Marco and Dimitri, alongside several seniors and university security guards.
Corvin and Aisha were stationed nearby, helping cross-check the names of everyone entering against the attendance records from the morning's auditorium gathering.
Along the distribution line, Astrid, Chase, and Mei Lin stood with several security guards. Each had been given a baton to help maintain order.
The crowd was enormous and not everyone standing in it had attended the auditorium.
Some tried claiming they had been there. Others attempted to impersonate students whose names appeared on the list.
A few simply begged.
"Please. My roommate was there. She can give you my share."
"I haven't eaten properly since yesterday."
"Just give me something. Please."
Corvin heard every plea. Some of the expressions genuinely hurt to look at. But the rules were clear.
The supplies were limited, and the university had calculated the available food according to the number of people who had attended the gathering.
If they started making exceptions, they would eventually run out.
"I'm sorry," Corvin said firmly to one student. "Your name isn't on the list."
"But I'm a student!"
"I understand."
The student eventually left. Corvin watched him disappear into the crowd before returning to his work.
Their survival came first.
Suddenly, movement caught Marco's attention. A man broke away from the crowd and rushed toward the entrance with a knife.
Marco reacted instantly.
He caught the man's arm, and used his momentum against him. Within seconds, the attacker was on the floor with Marco controlling him.
Marco drew his pistol and held it pointed downward toward the man's head.
"Try that again," he said coldly, "and next time I won't stop."
The man froze. Security rushed over and dragged him away.
Dimitri stared at Marco for a moment.
Then, almost as if nothing had happened, he turned back toward the crowd with his usual cheerful expression.
"Alright, everyone! Let's keep this moving!"
The sudden return to his normal personality was unsettling to everyone who witnessed it.
For a while, the distribution proceeded smoothly.
Then shouting erupted from somewhere in the line. Two students were arguing over their attendance.
"I was there!"
"You weren't anywhere near the auditorium!"
"Don't lie!"
The argument quickly became physical.
Astrid immediately stepped forward.
"Hey! Stop! There's no reason to fight!"
She raised her hands, trying to separate them.
"Just calm down. We can check the records."
One of the students suddenly pulled a knife.
Astrid barely had time to react.
The blade swung toward the other student—but missed.
Instead, it struck Astrid.
She staggered backward. For a moment, nobody understood what had happened.
Then Astrid collapsed.
"ASTRID!"
The line erupted into chaos.