Chapter Three - Even Underground Burns

"Because I want to live," she said quickly. "And because you already see it. This isn't refuge. It's delayed death." Sophie heard that and looked worse, but did not argue. As they were getting ready to move, the medical room erupted behind them. A heat patient being carried in started convulsing. His backpack hit the floor and spilled three unopened water-purification tablets and a folding knife. Everybody froze for half a second, then someone lunged for the tablets. "Stop!" Mara shouted. Nobody listened. Not because they were evil, but because underground shelter or not, hunger was already clawing at everyone. And that was when Elliot heard another sound. Very faint. Metal giving way somewhere overhead under relentless heat.