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Epicenter 5 - Day 2

It was the worst night Martin had ever spent. No hotel stays, not his dorm at his college, and not even his own bedroom at home. It was disturbingly unpleasant. At some point at night, however, had ceased and the sound of waves smashing against waterfront had calmed Martin down, at least. But a couple of mild aftershocks continued roaring through the night. He sensed the morning sunlight already risen as a new day.

Yawning awake, Martin firstly looks at the other bed where Kaiden is, but he wasn't there. "Kaiden...?" Quickly remembering his name, it all made him recall everything what had happened yesterday's events. He rode the train from the mainland after his father dropped him by the station, his train nearly derails off the bridge and throwing him unconscious for hours until awakening up by himself all alone, but not for long when he was found by an unfamiliar, rare-looking tiger beast-man by the name of Kaiden Kostas.

He checks the time on his phone as the sun is feeling like in a good mood. It's 7:30 in the morning. He goes another round and look for Kaiden. Where he went? He thought.

Sensing footsteps, he swiftly turns around and found him coming back. "Hey, missed me?" He good-morningly said, kind of blunt and not so musing, and his face was hard to read if he whether or not he was joking his plain phrase. "Did I kept you waiting?" Now it sounded sincere and humble.

"No. I'd just woke up right now." Martin replied. "So, where you've been?" He paid attention to what's he's carrying on his hands and back.

"Just looking." He said. "Since I have learned a couple of things on what to do in situation like this, I thought I should be prepared while on our way."

"Where did you get that axe?" Martin pointed what's on his hand. He's holding a fire axe on his right hand, he found it in one of the buildings nearby. He also stopped over at an abandoned convenience store for a handful of supplies; there was actually very little to find as it was looted from the first quake.

"Don't think this the wrong way, this could be useful." Kaiden stated. Martin nodded. "So, what do you have in your backpack? Anything useful?"

"Just clothes... my toothbrush... my deodorant..." Martin awkwardly responded.

"That's it?" Kaiden raised an eyebrow.

"I only packed for the stay at my godfather's home for a couple of days this spring break." Martin looked away and felt depressed, crossing his arms.

"Okay, but at least you have a Multitool kit?" Kaiden reached his pocket and shows him his Multitool survival kit.

"No, my father has one, but I don't fully own one."

"Alright, let's eat and then get going." Kaiden lastly said. "It's going to be a long walk."

While taking their quick breakfast, Martin asked. "Do you know your way around this island, Kaiden?"

"Uh, I've only lived here for almost two years. I think I might know one or two around this city." He replied.

"Do you have a map?"

"Ah, of course. Here, I got it from the convenience store while you were sleeping." He pulls out of his jacket the map. Handing it to him.

Martin opens the folded-up map. It's in full detail. All the streets' names, the subway lines, the landmarks, every attractive tall skyscraper and more. Kaiden points where they are: at the Waterside Marketplace near the exit or entrance of the Silver Gate Bridge. Martin found Conquest Street where his godfather lives. Kaiden was right: it was too far away.

Kaiden turned the radio on to hear the latest news report about the island's status. The static followed to a voice. "...all must be prepared at all times.... And now today's update on West Coast City earthquake. Yesterday at almost ten in the morning, West Coast City is struck by an earthquake of a magnitude of 8.7 at the Richter scale. The city is under control and hundreds of injures are arriving in every hospital available at every corner. For the trapped citizens in Neo Island, today is when the rescue operation for a mass evacuation is going to held at near noon. The ferry boats are being organized for the evacuation process. All civilians on the island must reach the following evacuation points: Excelsior Stadium, Pacific Wave High School, Soleado Park, and Seaway Piers." The news anchor repeated his procedures. "In other news, it's been reported that last night in Neo Island a portion of the south side of the land had been sunk due to continuous aftershocks. It's still unconfirmed by experts if the island remains above water long enough to evacuate all remaining civilians still trapped in Neo Island. If this continues, experts are fearing that the island could sink under the sea. This is Dan Connors on Channel 15...." Kaiden turned it off until he was startled by Martin's suddenly shouting.

"IT'S GONNA SINK!!!!???" He panicked.

"Martin, calm down. This isn't Atlantis. It would take a big quake to take down this island."

"Well, that's exactly what's happening; it's Atlantis all over again!" Martin isn't very superstitious, but this scenario is way too like the mythological island that had sunk thousands of years ago.

Kaiden just sighed, but he cannot blame his outrageous mind.

After eating their quick breakfast, taking some food-in-a-can from the boxes, and bottles of water for their evacuation trip. The two survivors began their long journey to safety. So much to find his godfather in this mass city. Martin, on the other hand and somehow, feels like he's in right hands.

Leaving the waterside of the eastern side of the island, the felines head towards the center of the city. Their surroundings are the perfect example of a virtual ghost town, except that everything is destroyed after the big one struck yesterday. The cleaned street that was before is cracked, mangled, and holes that almost swallowed some cars. Martin had asked if it was possible to pick a car and hotwire it to get to safety, but with these broken roads, Kaiden shut that idea off. Even if fixing his broken-down motorcycle could take forever to work again. Unfixable, should be the word.

Both suddenly felt another shake under their feet. Kaiden ordered Martin to stop moving forward. The light posts swings around. Cars came alive. Palm trees rattles their leaves. The rumbling got stronger that made Kaiden to force Martin to crouch down. In front of them, the ground roared, it rises powerfully, snapping the street away from them. When it ceased, much to their shock, the ground had risen to nine feet high. Its underground contents are curiously visible what goes under all that street material: pipes; water, gas lines, and sewage. All torn off from the ground.

"Just great..." Kaiden muttered.

"Can we climb it?" Martin asked.

"Let's give it a try." Kaiden step closer the raised terrain. It was taller than him. "Ah, I should have brought that rope with me." Martin wondered, Kaiden looked at him. "You know, the one I've used to save you. It's at the bridge."

"Well, we can't go back. It's probably gone by now."

"Do you have an idea?"

"Well... Can I stand on your shoulders?" Martin came up. Kaiden blinked up at him which made Martin nervous of his suggestion. "You know, to climb up there." He gestured the edge above. "And...you're also stronger than I am."

"I see... Okay." Kaiden crouched down, facing at the wall. "Anytime now."

Martin hesitated for a moment, looking at his buff back. "Uh, I'm so sorry, Kaiden."

"It's alright. Just do it."

He put his right foot on his right shoulder. Then the other foot on his left. Standing on top of his upper back and both hands against the dirty wall. "You alright, Kaiden?" His reply was a heavy gruff and a grunt. Kaiden stands up slowly, carefully keeping Martin steady from falling back. Martin's head met with the edge, he took no time to climb up right now. His fellow friend under him is struggling hard. Kaiden finally felt the heavy weight off his shoulders. Looking up, Martin is safely above. "Can you climb?"

"I don't want to pull you down and start over again." Kaiden stated below.

"Then I'll get a rope. Can you wait?"

"Sure, but don't waste time."

Martin turned around and left the edge. How can I find a rope in this wasteland? He thought. Looks like I need to be creative then. Searching around the scattered, and littered street, there is something useful than a rope. Martin stopped at a small hardware store with the glass doors and windows shattered. Walking in like a customer with the ringing bell still manually working. No rope, but there's some household water hoses. The thicker and stronger ones, specifically. That could work, he thought.

Kaiden waits down there and listening anything on the radio, hears something clanking against the street's surface. He looks above, and Martin came back. "I found a water hose. It's the same as rope. Wait a little longer, I need to tie the end with something solid." He said.

"Okay. Find something that could support my weight." Kaiden replied.

Martin turns around, looking around something heavier than Kaiden's own weight. Or maybe something stuck on the ground. He examines a SUV car if it has its breaks on, though, it seemed to be parked and the door was surprisingly left opened. He checked, and no keys left forgotten, but the brakes are still in place. Enough to know, he thought. With the water hose, tried to tie around the thick hose around the bumper behind. "I hope it'll hold." He said.

He made it back to the edge, and Kaiden is waiting him patiently. "Did you tie it?" Martin nodded and dropped the rest of the hose below. "I'll be the judge of that." He pulls the hose and it felt solid, he yanked it three times. Martin above checked the bumpers and it didn't fall nor brake. The heavy SUV didn't move an inch. Kaiden climbs up, reaching the top as Martin lend him a hand, he gratefully took it.

"Not a MacGyver, but you aren't bad doing it." Kaiden commented.

"I guess anything is useful if you give it a try." Martin replied.

Before Kaiden could have said anything, a trembler came back. "Back away!" The two stepped back from the edge but the land they climbed below them suddenly fills with water. The buildings on the ground level swallows the water inside while abandoned cars are swimming around and sweep away. The shaking ceased...

"Let's keep on moving or we're next." Kaiden said.

The duo follows the road until arriving the end of the road that splits into a "T" with inoperative spotlights. A risen terrain structural wall made with concrete blocks, nicely intact, with colorful street arts by local artists. Martin had to admit that they are pretty cool. He couldn't help but admire it. Between the walls, a wide staircase leads up towards the next level of the island.

"Have you visited the island before, Martin?" Kaiden asked.

"No. This was my first time visiting back. My godfather always visits us." Martin stated. "And like what I've said before, Burke was supposed to wait for me at the station. He knows his way around the island." Martin said and kept following his fellow friend up the staircase second level. "Does this island have multiple ground levels?"

"Yeah, they provide protection in case of tsunamis." Kaiden explained. "They weren't idiot engineers, you know." The island is tiered. There are four levels elevated on the island, 100 feet each, to provide underground tunnels for less heavy traffic in rush hours. In case of tsunamis, civilians can evacuate to higher ground when necessary. Martin may be an average swimmer, but he wouldn't want to deal with 'excessive rising tides' as he points it.

Climbing exactly 50 steps, then a half-way landing, and then another 50 steps to the top. On a higher ground, they see most of the buildings' roof tops and other still much taller resisting, and others slowly being swallowed by the sea. The giant Silver Gate Bridge is slowly tumbling down, every supporting tower are gently falling to the sea like giant dominoes. The more they walk, the more for Martin walks away from his home and parents at the mainland. The sorrowed panoramic view like an artist painting was indeed a saddening sight.

"This is terrible..." Martin quietly said with a frowned, heartbroken face.

Epicenter 6 - Day 2

Walking - the lightest mode of travel that existed for centuries before man had discovered the wheel. Kaiden and Martin began their journey to their closest evacuation points. Kaiden suggested to go to Soleado Park. Like Manhattan, is a large place to feel less and away from the city. Mass foliage, artificial ponds, children's playground, monuments or statues and art sculptures. By now is a place for mass evacuation for unlikely events such as this.

Martin is mixed with decisions in his mind. He feels too quiet with the tiger-man, but he doesn't want to make some hindrances with him, like distracting him. He looked too focused, really serious-looking as stoic. But talking with him might calm him down a little and could at least get to know him a little.

From the looks of him, he's obviously built as a trained marine. Maybe he's really trained like situations as this. Wait, if he's a soldier, then why he doesn't have some dog-tags around his neck? It may sound typical but is true in military practice for identify.

Walking a little close beside him. "Hey, Kaiden..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you, by any chance, a soldier?"

"What? No." He answered. "Why?"

"Well... You look like you have been trained or... You have been taught."

"I just know the basics, kid. Um, I mean, Martin, heh. Well, my father taught me these kinds of stuffs when camping, so it doesn't mean I took some training at the military."

"Huh, I see."

"Last time I've check, before we left, I see you have a dog-tag of your own." Kaiden said.

Martin, in fact, has a dog-tag under his green, sleeveless jacket. He placed his right palm on his chest. He answered, "Oh, this?" Martin pulled it out. "It's a gift from my brother before he left for Kodiak. He joined the Coast Guard and assigned him in Alaska there."

"Cool." He nonchalantly said without sarcasm. He was cool with it.

"So, what's this part of the city?" Martin asked. "Looks familiar."

"Palm Springs Boulevard. It's like Vegas, but without casinos." Kaiden answered.

"We really are far from behind the rest, aren't we?"

"We'll catch up soon."

For the first time since the beginning of their journey, arriving a familiar street that Kaiden had been before during his living while Martin only saw it either in pictures, videos or live events on tv etc. The Palm Springs Boulevard street, like Vegas, but now dead. No longer the dazzling, bustling and hustling street that Kaiden had seen.

Beyond ahead as a background, the second tallest building on the island, the Zenith Tower, is catastrophically leaned and resting against the tallest of all buildings, the Pacific King. The cyan-tainted glass building is still standing proud while the Zenith's top half embedded the skyscraper's upper-half middle structure. It was unsettling. They will never be going to see the Tower of Pisa the same way ever again.

Talking about how too quiet they were in earlier, the only sound they can audibly hear is the wind passing through buildings. Like the largest flute ever made is powered by the wind naturally. It changes in tunes by the wind constantly changing direction. The same wind is blowing countless of papers flying against the ground: yesterday's newspapers, flyers, and other garbage littering what was once a cleaned city.

Martin suddenly startled when his phone in his pocket vibrated. He fetched his device out and looks at the screen with trembling hands. He got decent bars but not 5G signals, he sees an unknown caller, but hoped it was his father or mother calling. He swiped green to answer. Kaiden watches him tentative.

"Hello? Mom? Dad?" Martin's heart was full force and breathing this unexpected call.

"Martin, are you okay?" That deep baritone voice; it's his father.

"Oh, Dad! I cannot believe you're calling me. I've been trying to call you, but I couldn't."

"It's all right, Martin. I'm using satellite-remember? When got stranded in our camping trip?"

"Yes, I remembered."

"Martin, is Burke with you?"

Martin paused, looking at Kaiden. Martin doesn't have a clear or good answer, most of them are upsetting. "No, Dad. I never made it to the station. I don't know where Burke is."

"Can you go to his house? Is by the Conquest Street-"

"I can't, Dad, I cannot go there." Martin voice risen. "It's too far from here. I'm at Palm Springs Boulevard. There's nobody here. We have been fallen behind."

"We?" Martin's father tried to interrupt him. "Who's there with you, Martin? Are you alone?"

Again, Martin glanced at Kaiden. "No. I... I'm with a bystander. He...um." Martin would like to explain, but it's really a long story to be shortened.

"Martin, come on-speak up!" His father ordered. "Who's with you? Can I talk to him?"

"Oh, well...okay." Martin's feelings to hear at least his father's voice since they had split up at the station where he had dropped him was relieving and made him emotional, too overwhelmed in front of Kaiden. The older tiger-man didn't mind his sensitive personality, he would feel the same way if... Martin awkwardly hands his phone to Kaiden. "My dad wants to talk to you."

Taking it in his right ear, he voiced. "Hello? Sir?"

"Who am I speaking to?" The voice sounded desperate. Wanting to know about his son.

"Kaiden. Kaiden Kostas." The tiger kept himself formally to speak, hoping to calm a little the man at the other end. Martin quietly waited, Kaiden seemed to have quite of a chat with his father. The gray-looking tiger-man glanced at him a few times and words of half-missing dialogs were sounding a little vague, before Martin could make up Kaiden's dialogue, he gives back his phone. "Here."

Having it back, Martin talked. "Hey, Dad..."

"Martin, you're in Palms Springs Boulevard. You both are on your way to Soleado Park, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Listen, I'm glad you're with this man who knows well around the island."

"You're not doubting him?"

"I need hope. I want you to come back home. Your mother is worried about you. We can make this up. Everything what'd happened us the other day, we'll make sure is left in the past. Please, son. Come back."

"Alright, Dad." Martin sighed. "Can I talk to Mom?"

"Sorry, Martin. I'm not calling from home. I'm at West Harbor Ferry Terminal. Waiting for you."

"Okay, Dad, we're on our way."

"And don't worry about Burke, he could be looking for you or waiting for you."

"Did you tried to contact him?"

"No, I'd tried, no response." His father pauses. "Martin, we'll do our best, but my first priority is you."

"Okay. I love you, Dad."

"I love you, too, son." His father voice felt weak. "I'll keep you in touch as possible."

After the hang up, Martin wipes his teary eyes and sniffles. Kaiden didn't said a word but lead Martin to kept on moving with one arm behind the young tiger's shoulder. His head down, not looking at next to Kaiden.

Epicenter 7 - Day 2

More aftershocks. They're so interruptive. The tall buildings swaying in menace. Depending on their designs, they can handle between magnitudes of 6.8 to 8.9 on the richer scale. Palm Springs Boulevard is equivalent of ten blocks in New York street standards. So long that there's endless possibilities of never getting bored spending one night in there. From entertainment to cuisines, Palm Springs Boulevard is the place to be.

Well, not anymore...

The two forgotten survivors remained right in the middle of the street away from both sides of the damaged buildings in case of anything that could fall from above. Just ahead of them they saw a giant LED billboard screen falling and slammed on top of a red Ferrari. Not even the most luxurious cars are safe...

Martin and Kaiden walked through the blocking obstacles covering the street, fallen palm trees, big and small vehicles like they had ended up boarding a double-decker tour-bus that was blocking their way, so they can see further ahead and climbed back down next to a hybrid car's roof and slide down. When they were at the top of the roofless double-decker, they could only see more post-earthquake scenarios. More blockades ahead and more obstacles to avoid. It wasn't dangerous though, they dared to climb over smashed cars and go under a still standing container truck. Walk under or over the fallen palm trees and light poles. The ruptured street even has its own obstacles for ankle injuring hazard. Good thing for both they have shoes that protect fully their whole feet and ankles.

Preserving their energy by walking is the only way, unless danger appears, they will use it as last resort. Running may be their solution, but they must think quick on their feet. So far, they have done some heavy physical strength for their survival from yesterday and earlier today.

It was probably around nine in the morning, finally nearing to the end of the famous street, Kaiden stopped when his ears flickered as if the sixth sense hit him.

Martin turned at him and ask, "Kaiden?"

Not another quake, but something is falling apart. Both turned back where they came from. Far buildings are sinking one by one, cars and heavy vehicles are shaking and blaring their alarms, a crack is creeping up in parallel through the street; coming at them.

"Run!" Kaiden reacted. Martin startled by his reaction the way he shouted and the face of "that's an order". Martin complied, he went straight ahead from Kaiden. "Don't stop!" Martin boots further, the rocky creaks are sounding stronger. Ahead is a "T" junction, to his fright, the crack reached first, it stopped at the entrance of an apartment building. It went through under and the 10-story building's windows shattered. Martin turned to the right before he could hear Kaiden. "No! Martin! Don't go!"

Martin stopped, turned around and made a huge mistake. The crack spread wide. When it all ceased, the building sunk vertically to full collapse. Splashed water swallows the dust debris. Martin could not make up the former street they had walked through, everything on the crack's path got swallowed into the formed crevice. At the other side is Kaiden with his arms waving in the air.

Martin shouted with hands as a megaphone, "Kaiden!"

The visible figure shouted back. "Martin! Are you okay?"

Martin made himself as a letter "Y" with his arms lifted diagonally for yes and shouted back. "Yes!"

"Martin, you have the map!"

This sparked his mind. He fetches his backpack and was sticking out from one of the small compartments. He showed it to him. "I got the map!"

"Good! Now, listen, Martin. There's a Police Station near. Let's meet up there! Are you listening?"

Martin shouted, "Okay! But what about you?"

"You need the map more than me, it will help you on your way. I'll be fine."

"Alright!" Martin nodded.

The two stood silently apart. Martin couldn't dare to move away, barely little, he kept on staring him from distance. Kaiden upon noting this, he shouted. "I'm not going anywhere if you go ahead first!" Martin weakly nodded, it wasn't noticeable from Kaiden's distant view. Martin slowly made his first step, he still looks at the other side of the crevice where Kaiden still stood. Reluctantly, Martin initiate his walk. Turning his head back ahead.

Kaiden kept on watching him go, he had to face the fact he has to go all alone in an unfamiliar part of the city, that is in this case: an island. But he knows he can take care of himself, twenty-years old, but afraid. Last night, when he was sleeping, Kaiden heard him whimpering and shaking in his sleep, pure fear with his eyes closed. Likely a nightmare, but they are in a real one.

Not too soon, the green jacket of Martin was very visible from a distance, acting a like a safety vest for construction workers. It shrunk slowly until there was no sign of him. Kaiden resume his walking to his next destination: the police station.

Located around further east in Ariana Ave., it was originally an art gallery museum, but when it was nearly built, the owners when bankrupt and left the unfinished building with an uncertain future. So now the county bought the building and turned it into a police station for West Coast City Police Department's sole division of Neo Island Police Department. Kaiden at some point in his two-year living, knows to get there and had in fact visited once when his motorcycle was stolen by a thug.

As long there isn't any expected blockaded paths, he should be now taking Romero Street and up further to Ariana Avenue. He hopes for Martin that he should be taking Gracie Street and then meeting a roundabout that should lead him down to the station through the avenue.

Throughout his journey, Kaiden felt mentally that he had been given his first strike of warning for neglecting the responsibility of protecting others that are in need and cannot find a way out. Especially to strangers. But Martin isn't a stranger, he's someone in need. Just imagining where he could be is up to debate his luck. He has the map, he's not going to read it upside-down and find himself on the underground sewers.

Passing two blocks of Romero Street, he meets the near south side of Ariana Avenue. Up north he should be finding the police station and Martin there. If only it was easier if it wasn't for the crashed cars piled up everywhere.

Epicenter 8 - Day 2

Martin quietly kept himself together. He's now back to zero without anyone to follow. A visitor that tried to go visit his godfather with very little of topography to wander around freely as a local city islander. To make matters worse, even if Martin has a map, the possibilities of the expected walk path is blocked by collapsed buildings and formed crevices. As Martin looks at the map, the police station is at Ariana Avenue which is two blocks across from this street. Looking closely, he finds Gracie Street where it leads to a round about. This should be the effective path.

Martin took a deep breath and exhaled. "I can do this..."

Nothing he had ever seen before or expected -or worse- because school never teach about how to handle earthquakes in the aftermath. Crouch down under the school desk and duck? Duck and cover? Like that is useful. Well, it is worse than standing under the doorframe, that is no longer safe as it was before. California: where there is likely an earthquake can occur everyday. Even expecting that one day the San Andreas Fault will bring down a huge chunk off the country into the Pacific Ocean, but Martin knows he lives the northern part of California and the radio had not mentioned anything like that. It didn't mentioned Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and not even where he studies in Rexville City, Costa Blanca County. It was just West Coast City and nothing more.

Martin saw Gracie Street's sign upon coming closer. Making a turn to the left, he examines the path: all clear. Aside from the good news that's all clear, Martin's guts are turning into knots. The breakfast he had earlier could barely satisfied him until is lunch time, but Martin is having the uneasiness. Maybe feeling temporary alone is making him anxious like he couldn't live without someone before sunset. With the number of thoughts putting weight on his shoulders; there's the primary of survival mode, his instincts, his energy, his backpack of small supplies, and what else could it be? Is he really alone and left behind from the evacuees?

Just passing by the first block, "Well, what do we have here?" His tail stood up, Martin froze. The voice didn't sound like someone who should have been surprised or saying thankful phrases of seeing someone still alive and well in this dreadful environment. Martin had a small fear thought of such encounters. He, in fear, turned at the voice.

Not one, but four figures are slowly approaching him. They were all injured-free, but their clothes are dusted and ripped. Their faces are covered with just their eyes visible, clothed in a hoodie. One was black, and two were gray and the other dark-green. With just this menacing sight, Martin's heart panicked, he started to run.

"Don't let him get away!" One them shouted.

Just once, Martin looked back and one of them pulled out a pocket knife. Raging panic, Martin boosted up his running pace. How are they? What do they want? Why are they after? These thoughts crossed Martin's mind. Criminals will always be criminals with dozens of motives to attack on innocent people, especially looting on survivors for the sake of their survival. Martin ran through the roundabout and head south through Ariana Avenue. If Kaiden is there waiting for him, maybe he could scare them off. But he's one person against four thugs with light weapons. Martin cannot find out.

Thinking ahead before making a move through the obstacles coming in his path. He avoided the narrowed gaps between vehicles, but he exceptionally jumped through over a gap of two cars facing each other. Then he slows down his running, but his active feet are blasting off on full adrenaline before continuing where to go through. Finally, there was wider clearance and rocketed off away to the station. Turning back, two of the four had made it pass through the obstacles. Martin cannot shake them off.

"Kaiden, where are you!" Martin cried.

And there it was; the police station. Martin made a long turn at the entrance. Climbing the marbled stairs up at the double doors, one was opened and other in closed position. Clear automatic actions, he slams the near-heavy door shut. He catches one last glance at one of the approaching thugs; the dark-green one with death-stare eyes.

SLAM!!!

Finding the locks, he twisted one and slide another to lock. Exactly when thundering bangs hits the big doors. Hearing their claiming pleads, they rather sounded threatening.

Martin turned around, and maybe find something to hold that door, but all he sees is a darken huge lobby, save for the emergency lights. There wasn't anyone present. All police staff had abandoned their stations and focused on the evacuation along with the fire department and the medical team.

Martin subconsciously shouted, "Hello, is anyone here? Kaiden?" The doors banged again and abruptly stopped. The four made some unconvincing pleads to let them in.

Martin ignores them when another aftershock erupts. The lighting fixtures sways, the chairs came alive and dance around, Martin made his way under the reception desk. Duck and cover like they had taught them in school. The computer on the desk fell and break the screen with unorganized colors to black. Light fixtures from above broke off and crashes into shards of glass blowing in the air. Martin remained still with eyes closed until it all ceased into silence.

Epicenter 9 - Day 2

Kaiden the tiger passed through the uneven avenue that was piled up of wrecked vehicles from the initial earthquake. Now that he has a better clearance facing at north, he can see the tall tower signal of the police station ahead on his right. But some more cars are blocking the path, mostly are police cars and one gray prisoner bus. He walked about almost the whole length of a football field, meets with the abandoned cars blocking his way. The gray prison bus had sunk into the ground and police cars made some impossible positions of a pile up. Examining, Kaiden must get somewhere to be at the station.

"Even the police aren't making this easy." Kaiden muttered.

Turning at an alleyway, he proceeds through it. Kaiden would not need to worry about thugs or street gangs that appear out of nowhere when meeting a dead end. Even these typical scenarios of assault from films may be exaggerated or possibly real from victims who have gotten lost at night and face an uncertain fate of either rape, theft, or beating up for leisure.

Kaiden passes through the large trash containers that are empty but still smelly and catwalks for quick fire escapes with ladders been lowered down from the rushed residents. To his surprise, the alleyway leads to another path, if this leads to a backdoor, he may find a way in to the station as a shortcut and meet up with Martin. Turning sharply to the left and further in, he's seems to be nearing...

Kaiden stops, and to his luck, a walled, concrete fencing had fallen into bits. Daring to trespass, he's surely now in the station, but not entirely. He's in a parking lot. Trying not to waste time, he finds a way in to the building. With no power and just the emergency lights, unknown to where he is, it's probably a hallway. "Glad to be blessed with night vision", Kaiden muttered but could make up a little through the dimmed corridor.

With one hand against the side of the wall, he resumes his walking as his left-hand slides through. Moving slowly without tripping, he felt a door frame. With one hand, he finds the lever knob and it was open. Without thinking it through, he found the light switch, but it didn't respond. Trying to get the idea of what's this dark room is, his night vision eyes makes up as the archive room. Full of records and evidences of hundreds of cases that had occurred on the island. Kaiden turned around and leaved the room immediately.

He made dozen of stops through each door and checks at it to where it leads to. From Chief office to conferences rooms, he stops at the security room. The door was left opened. Without worry, he examines the single desk room. All monitors screens are on and running, probably a backup power. Of the thirty screens, seven are working well. Two are a little static, but one was recording outside of the entrance. To his surprise, Kaiden saw a running figure in a green jacket from the north side of the avenue.

"Martin..." Glad that he made it, but four figures are running behind him. "Who are they... No..." Kaiden whispered.

Feeling helpless but run to meet him at the reception area seem too far. The camera records live at Martin climbing at the marbled steps and out from the camera's view. Looking at the other screen at the reception area, Martin closes the door right before the first hooded figure could have entered in. Holding his breath, Kaiden watch tentative at Martin's actions, stepping back from the locked door and looks around the reception area. He moved his lips wide as if of a shout. Kaiden didn't pick any echo.

Again, it came back...

The screens were cut off and Kaiden covers down the desk. "Son of a bitch..." He grunted. The intense rattling vibrates as a full-on-blast volume amp at a nightclub. The power of earth cannot be predictable. The aftershock passes abruptly. Quieting down like nothing happened. Kaiden leaves the desk and looks again the screens. He couldn't see Martin. Where he'd go? Thought Kaiden. But he quickly relaxes when he reappears from under the desk. Moving slowly around as if from being spotted. Wherever he's going, he went for a door by the camera's right, it seemed looked. He moved to the other on the left, locked. Kaiden looked at the controls and see if he can move the cameras around the department. Seems all complicated, but the basics of the key board's classic arrows responded a few moving lefts or rights. The others are wide-lensed. He found a way to switch within the same screen and face a different angle of the reception room, Martin found an opened door and disappears. Switching another screen, Martin walks sneakily faster through a corridor, he disappears again through a wall when he turned in a corner of the corridor. Switching another angle, this one was recording the parking lot, two figures appears approaching the "back door" that Kaiden had entered in, he had left the the door opened, the other two thugs appeared on screen being signaled to come over. Kaiden leaves a quick and slowly closed the door without any noise. Good thing the door opens inwards.

The incoming voices risen as they pass by the security door. Kaiden carefully listened...

"...What an idiot, he thought he could be saved by coming in here." This one was a raspy one. It followed some soft laughters.

"Did you see his face? He really crapped himself!" This one was deeper.

The raspy one said. "The poor bastard is lost in the city. What do you think was doing?"

"Dunno, but the idiot is now hiding away from us."

This other voice has an unfamiliar accent. "Let's play prey, then. When we find him, let's get what's he's possessing in his backpack. He could be holding water and food."

"And what are we going to do with the tiger?" The raspy asked.

Fourth voice sounded sinister. "You know what to do..."

The voices slowly fade from Kaiden's ears. Giving up, Kaiden decided to find Martin instead to lead him through the cameras. Otherwise, those thugs are probably looking a way to deal with Martin and his belongings. Kaiden's fears are rising.