Carl stared at the crack, then looked at the section of old wiring that had been dug out in the corner.
“Perhaps…” he said, “we don’t need to clear this road.”
Chen Hao was stunned: "What do you mean?"
Before he could finish speaking, a soft sound suddenly came from the crack above, like stones slowly rubbing together. Dust fell in clumps, landing on their shoulders. Susan instinctively raised her hand to shield her face and took a half-step back.
Nana immediately looked up, her eyes scanning the wall: "The stress at the top continues to rise; the current area may collapse entirely within three minutes."
"Three minutes?" Chen Hao's voice trembled slightly. "We haven't even pulled the steel beam out yet."
“Then don’t pull it out.” Carl released the clamps, stood up straight, panting. “This way we can’t save him; we have to go somewhere else.”
Chen Hao looked around. The entrance to the passage was completely blocked by rubble and broken steel frames. The small gaps they had desperately cleared earlier were now blocked by newly fallen debris. Further inside, the walls were leaning violently, and the ceiling looked like it was about to collapse.
He wiped the dust off his face, slapped his thigh, and said, "Fine, I quit! Let this broken wall fall or not, we're leaving!"
"Where to?" Susan asked, her hands on her shoulders, her brows furrowed.
"Where else can we go? Find an open space to crouch down and wait for the shaking to stop." Chen Hao turned and walked back. "Don't just stand there, get out of here!"
The four men quickly left the work area and retreated to the relatively stable main corridor. Just as they stood still, a muffled "boom" came from behind them, and the entire passage was buried, sending dust billowing high into the air.
Susan glanced back and whispered, "The road is gone."
“The road may be gone, but we’re still here.” Chen Hao patted her arm. “As long as we don’t die, we’ll find a way to survive.”
Nana stood at the front of the group, her eyes flashing rapidly, as if she were retrieving some data. After a few seconds, she spoke: "According to geological database records, this area was once a buffer zone surrounding an old-era research base, with three designated open areas for refuge."
"Which three?" Carl asked.
"The first location is 1,200 meters to the northwest. It was originally a helipad, but is now covered by a network of underground pipelines, posing a high risk of passage. The second location is 900 meters to the southwest. It used to be a training ground, but recently excessive vegetation growth has created the possibility of hidden subsidence pits. The third location is 800 meters to the northeast. The terrain is flat, there are no large structures, and no subsidence has occurred in the past."
“Let’s go to the third one then.” Chen Hao made the decision immediately. “It’s close by and clean, better than waiting to die here.”
“But we don’t have a map,” Susan said.
“I have it.” Nana pointed to her head. “The database has generated a 3D path model, which can be navigated in real time.”
"Wow." Chen Hao grinned. "Your brain is more reliable than the security guard in my neighborhood."
“The security guards don’t have terrain analysis capabilities,” Nana said expressionlessly. “I suggest we depart immediately; the main tremor is expected to arrive in seventeen minutes.”
"Seventeen minutes?" Carl grabbed his toolbox. "That's enough time to run eight hundred meters."
"The premise is that the road doesn't collapse again." Susan moved her shoulders and gasped in pain.
"It's okay." Chen Hao reached out to help her. "I'll carry you on my back."
"Stop it." She pushed him away. "I can walk."
The group immediately set off. Nana led the way, projecting a pale blue light from her wrist to mark the path ahead. Chen Hao brought up the rear, keeping an eye on what was happening behind him while occasionally glancing back at Susan.
As soon as I turned out of the main corridor, the ground began to vibrate slightly. The corridor ceiling light flickered a few times and then went out. The emergency lights came on, their red glow reflected on the walls like someone had spilled a bottle of ketchup.
"This place really knows when to cut off the power," Chen Hao muttered.
"The power system is affected by the vibration." Nana said without turning her head, "A complete power outage is expected in five minutes."
"Wouldn't that mean it would be pitch black?" Susan asked.
“I will continue to provide lighting.” Nana raised her hand, and a ball of white light shone from her palm. “The output power can last for two hours.”
"You even brought a flashlight?" Chen Hao asked in surprise.
“This is basic survival gear,” she said. “It’s not for showing off.”
"So this is Versailles," Chen Hao laughed. "Even robots can show off."
No one answered. They quickened their pace, crossing an abandoned maintenance tunnel. The ground was covered in gravel and fallen metal pieces; every step was fraught with danger of slipping.
Halfway there, a strange sound came from above, like sheet metal being slowly torn apart. The group stopped.
“There’s a problem up there.” Karl looked up.
Nana immediately scanned the area: "The ventilation duct connectors are loose and may come loose. We recommend you move quickly and avoid stopping."
"Then run!" Chen Hao shoved Susan. "Hurry up!"
The four of them started jogging. Just as they rushed out of the passage, a loud crash came from behind them as a large piece of sheet metal slammed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Susan staggered, and Chen Hao grabbed her arm: "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing," she said, shaking her hand away. "I just slipped."
"Your injury needs to be treated," Chen Hao said, frowning.
"We'll talk about it when we get there," she said. "Stopping now is tantamount to suicide."
The group continued onward. Outside, the sky was overcast, the clouds hung low, and the wind was so strong it was hard to open one's eyes. The distant mountain outlines were blurred, as if someone had rubbed them a few times with an eraser.
Nana's navigation light remained steadily moving forward. She walked quickly, almost jogging, her mechanical legs as steady as tank tracks on the gravel ground.
"Are you tired?" Chen Hao asked, panting.
"It has plenty of energy," she said. "It can support continuous operation for six hours."
"Comparing yourself to others will only make you miserable." Chen Hao looked at Karl. "Don't you think so?"
Carl ignored him, focusing only on his journey. He carried his tool bag, his forehead was covered in sweat, and his clothes were soaked.
"Take it easy," Chen Hao called out to him. "Don't exhaust yourself."
“I’m not as fat as you,” Carl replied. “I have a lower oxygen consumption.”
"I call it being sturdy!" Chen Hao retorted. "Besides, so what if I'm fat? Fat people are more resilient to falls!"
No one answered. The wind grew stronger, making it hard to stand. Susan gripped the wall with one hand and gritted her teeth to keep up.
Finally, the view ahead began to widen. The once narrow alleyway gradually opened up, and the buildings on both sides became sparser. The ground also became much smoother, with less gravel and more soil.
"We're almost there," Nana said. "The target area is about 300 meters ahead."
“I see it.” Chen Hao squinted and looked ahead. “A large open space, not even a blade of grass grows there, it’s very clean.”
"It is precisely because it is open that it is suitable as a refuge area," Nana explained. "With no obstructions and no load-bearing structures, it will not cause secondary damage during an earthquake."
"Got it." Chen Hao nodded. "It's just a big square, you can lie down anywhere."
“Theoretically, yes,” Nana said, “but I recommend maintaining a vigilant posture.”
"Couldn't you just say 'relax'?" Chen Hao sighed.
“The data does not support that conclusion,” she said. “The risks remain.”
"Can't you just lie to me?" Chen Hao said with a wry smile.
“Deception is against the security protocol.” She continued walking. “Please follow.”
The last section was a slope. There were obvious cracks in the ground, as if someone had slashed the earth with a knife. The group carefully descended, testing the ground with each step.
Halfway up, the ground suddenly shook. It wasn't a big jolt, but it was enough to make someone lose their balance.
"Here we go again?" Susan grabbed Chen Hao's arm.
"A small tremor." Karl looked around. "It might be a foreshock."
“The frequency is increasing.” Nana stared at the data. “The main shock may occur earlier than expected.”
"Then run!" Chen Hao gritted his teeth. "Don't leave! Charge!"
The four of them started running. Susan was struggling to run, her shoulders aching from the jolting. Chen Hao tried to help her, but she shook him off.
“I can do it myself!” she shouted.
They sprinted the last few dozen meters. Suddenly, a clearing appeared before them—a flat area the size of two football fields. There were no tall buildings or utility poles around, only a few isolated concrete blocks, as if signs had been erected there before.
"We're here!" Chen Hao rushed into the center and plopped down on the ground. "Ouch, my back..."
Susan followed him in, leaning against a concrete block, panting. Carl put down his bag, bent over, and knelt, also breathing heavily. Nana stood at the front, her flashlight still shining, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
“The environment is safe,” she said. “No structural threats have been identified.”
"I'm finally alive." Chen Hao lay on his back. "If I had an ice-cold Coke right now, I'd die happy."
“Cola isn’t on the supply list,” Nana said.
"Can't you even fantasize a little?" Chen Hao rolled his eyes.
“Fantasy won’t replenish your fluids,” she said. “I recommend drinking from a portable water bottle.”
"You're such a spoilsport." Chen Hao sat up and looked at Susan. "How are you?"
"It's alright." She unbuttoned her coat, revealing bloodstains seeping through the shoulders of her inner garment.
"You're bleeding!" Chen Hao exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"It's a minor issue," she said. "We'll deal with it after the earthquake."
"No!" Chen Hao stood up. "The wound will get infected if it's not treated!"
He rummaged through his backpack and pulled out his first-aid kit. Just as he opened it, the ground shook again.
This time it was stronger than before. Everyone lost their footing, staggering and falling. In the distance, the muffled sound of collapsing buildings echoed, raising a cloud of dust.
"The main shock is coming!" Karl shouted.
"Get down!" Chen Hao shoved Susan to the ground and lunged forward to shield her head.
Nana quickly knelt down, digging her hands into the soil to steady herself. Karl hugged the concrete block tightly.
The tremors grew stronger. The ground undulated like waves, and it felt like your feet were floating. In the distance, an old building collapsed with a deafening roar, raising clouds of dust.
At that very moment, Chen Hao caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye—
The alleyway they had just passed through had completely collapsed.
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