I stepped back into the cold, metallic room.

The heavy steel door began to swing shut, cutting off the light from the warehouse.

“I love you,” Adrian whispered just before the door sealed.

The iron wheel spun, locking us inside with a heavy metallic clunk.

Suddenly, the world became completely dark and incredibly quiet.

The only sound was the breathing of my three children.

I sat on the cold floor, pulling them close to my body.

The air in the room was cool and smelled of copper.

I pressed my ear against the steel door, trying to hear what was happening outside.

For a long minute, there was nothing but silence.

Then, a muffled vibration shook the steel beneath my palms.

It was the sound of a gunshot.

My heart stopped.

Another shot followed, then a rapid burst of automatic gunfire.

I held my breath, squeezing my eyes shut as I held the children tighter.

Noah stirred, but I kept my hand gently over his ear, whispering a silent prayer into the darkness.

The gunfire seemed to move further away, toward the eastern side of the warehouse.