Page 88 of Lucky Night

Edvin? she cries. Edvin!

0:02

call ended.

Nick! She jumps up, holding the phone in both hands. He answered! Then the call dropped. Is the reception bad in here?

She moves to the window. He’s off the bed, right beside her. She dials again.

It rings. Then:

0:00

0:01

Edvin! she yells. Edvin, are you there?

Silence. No, some kind of rushing sound. Breathing?

Nick leans close. Edvin! Can you hearus?

Auta,says a voice from the phone.

Edvin! she cries. Where are you?

No answer.

Where are you, Edvin? Are you okay?

Auta.The voice is weak and flat.

Tell us where you are! Nick shouts. We can call the fire department. They’ll send someone to help you!

They hear nothing in response. Just that rushing, windy sound.

Edvin? Edvin!

call ended.

Try him again, Nick says.

But before she can, it happens.

It. What isit?

She can’t tell, not at first.

The room goes silent.

As if all sound has been sucked out of it. The air feels strange, almost charged, like—

Then comes sound.

A massive boom. Rolling up from below.

So loud, so horribly loud! Like a monster trapped in the center of the earth has broken free and is roaring, mouth wide open, sound pouring out.

It’s a blast of sound, an intolerable wall ofit.

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