Chapter 37
THIRTY-SEVEN
LUCAS
I listen with half an ear as Dr. Chen, the data center director, launches into his passionate explanation about the benefits of geothermal power.
Something about unlimited water cooling provided by seawater and how they’re revolutionizing sustainable computing.
His enthusiasm is infectious, but honestly, most of it goes over my head.
Cash and Matheo, however, hang on every word. They both eagerly follow our guide around the site, asking technical questions about thermal efficiency and environmental impact.
Kyren catches my eye and rolls his eyes. We’re the odd ones out here, watching our more intellectually inclined packmates geek out over renewable energy infrastructure.
“The initial investment was substantial,” Dr. Chen continues, gesturing toward massive cooling units. “But the operational costs are virtually negligible. We’re essentially borrowing the Earth’s natural heat and the ocean’s cooling capacity.”
“Your financial projections were very impressive. I wouldn’t be here otherwise,” Cash replies. “Pending board approval, I’d think a leasing contract with OurLog is very likely.”
I glance at my watch. We’ve been here for several hours, and Josie’s wedding is this afternoon. Not that I’m complaining about seeing Cash this animated—his passion for his work is one of the things I love most about him—but we promised Trinity we’d be back in time.
Kyren suddenly stops mid-stride, his nose wrinkling. “Does anyone else smell something weird?”
I pause, inhaling deeply. There’s definitely something different in the air—a sulfuric scent that wasn’t there when we arrived. Sharp and acrid, like rotten eggs mixed with smoke.
Before anyone can answer, an alarm sounds. Not the gentle chime of a smoke detector, but a loud, urgent wailing that echoes across the facility.
“That’s our emergency alert system.” Dr. Chen’s expression immediately shifts from enthusiastic to serious as he checks a message on his phone. “Gentlemen, I’m afraid I’ll have to cut our tour short. You’ll need to either return to your hotel immediately or shelter in place with our employees.”
“What kind of situation?” Cash demands, his business instincts kicking in.
“The volcano on the eastern side of the island has begun erupting. We’re not in the direct path, so it is safe to remain here, but volcanic ash will make it unsafe to remain outside for extended periods.”
My heart drops. “How long until?—”
“The ash cloud should reach us within the hour,” Dr. Chen explains, already moving toward the exit. “Your resort is on the opposite side of the island, so you should be fine if you leave now. But I wouldn’t recommend staying outdoors any longer than it takes to get back there.”
Kyren has already spun on his heel. “We need to go. Now.”
We quickly say our goodbyes to Dr. Chen and leave the data center building, rushing toward the rental car parked outside. The sky that had been clear blue when we arrived has already darkened to the color of smoke.
“Everyone buckled in?” Matheo calls as he starts the engine.
The answer is barely out of our mouths before he’s peeling out of the parking area, gravel spraying behind us. Matheo drives with the same focused intensity he brings to everything else, but there’s an edge of urgency I haven’t seen before.
We race down the winding dirt road that connects the data center to the main highway. The landscape rushes past in a blur of tropical vegetation and volcanic rock formations. In the distance, I see a dark plume rising from the horizon—the volcano making its presence known.
“How far to the main road?” Cash asks, gripping the door handle as we take a sharp turn.
“Maybe ten more minutes,” Matheo replies, downshifting as we approach another curve.
That’s when we hear it—a low rumbling sound like thunder, but deeper. More ominous. A sound you feel in your bones rather than just hear with your ears.
The car shakes, subtle at first, then more violently. Matheo fights to keep us on the road as the steering wheel vibrates in his hands.
“What the hell—” Kyren starts.
“EARTHQUAKE!” Cash shouts, his voice cutting through the noise .
The rumbling intensifies, and suddenly the ground in front of us splits open with a sound like the world tearing in half. A jagged crack appears across the dirt road, maybe six feet wide and impossible to tell how deep.
Matheo slams on the brakes, the car sliding sideways on the loose gravel before coming to a stop just feet from the new chasm. We all sit in stunned silence for a moment, hearts pounding as we stare at the impassable gap.
“Well,” Kyren says finally, his voice unnaturally calm. “That’s not ideal.”
Cash lets out a shaky laugh. “Understatement of the century.”
I lean forward to get a better look at the split in the road. It stretches as far as I can see in both directions, effectively cutting us off from the main highway. And with volcanic ash approaching, we can’t exactly sit here and wait for a rescue crew.
“So,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “Anyone have any brilliant ideas about how we’re getting back to the hotel?”
Matheo turns the key in the ignition, but instead of the engine roaring to life, all we get is a pathetic sputtering sound. Like a dying animal gasping for air.
“Come on,” he mutters, trying again. The engine turns over weakly, coughs once, then falls silent.
We all exchange glances before wordlessly climbing out of the car. The acrid smell hits us immediately—sulfur mixing with something else. Something mechanical and wrong.
I crouch down beside Matheo as he pops the hood, Cash and Kyren on either side of us. What we find makes my stomach drop to my feet.
A massive tree branch, thick as my torso, somehow lodged itself under the engine during the earthquake. Dark oil pools steadily beneath the car, dripping onto the cracked asphalt like blood from a wound.
“Shit,” Cash breathes, running his hands through his hair. “That’s not good.”
Matheo straightens, wiping his hands on his jeans. The tree has torn through something vital. I see twisted metal and severed hoses where the branch punched through the engine block.
“We have bigger problems than the road being out,” Matheo says grimly, gesturing toward the growing puddle beneath our feet. “This car isn’t going anywhere.”
The volcanic rumble grows louder in the distance, and the sky continues to darken. Ash begins to fall like gray snow, dusting our shoulders and the disabled vehicle.
“How far are we from the data center?” I ask, though I already know the answer won’t be good.
“Maybe two miles back,” Cash replies, checking his phone. “No signal.”
I look around at our options—jagged volcanic terrain stretching in every direction, an impassable chasm blocking our path forward, and a disabled car that’s bleeding oil onto the ground. The wedding starts in less than three hours, and Trinity is probably already wondering where we are.
Trinity. The thought of her waiting for us, expecting us to return as promised, makes my chest tighten with something close to panic.
“We need to get moving,” I declare, a sense of determination washing over me. “Now.”