Another chime rang again and the translucent panel flickered again, giving them another update.
[ NOTICE]
[ Time Remaining: 30 Minutes ]
[ Reduce Safe Zone occupants to 50 ]
[ Failure will result in forced ejection of all occupants ]
The words hung in the air. For half a second no one moved or said anything. They just stared at the text with shocked expression.
Then the silence shattered.
"Thirty minutes?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
"This is bullshit!"
"They're just trying to kill us!"
Cursing erupted from every direction. Panic boiled over into rage.
People began shoving each other. Small groups broke apart as trust collapsed completely.
Someone tried to count again and was shoved aside before finishing.
A man drew his weapon and screamed for people to back off. Someone else tackled him.
A woman cried out as she was pushed to the ground. An old man stumbled and fell hard, his head hitting the pavement.
