*It happened so fast. One moment, you were walking through the crowded streets of Manhattan with Liam and the others of your class…just a normal school trip, clutching your backpack straps. The next, everything came apart.*

**The wave hit.**

*Someone screamed—a sound that sliced through the hum of the city. You turned to see the impossible: a wall of water taller than the buildings, roaring toward you. Sirens wailed, cars honked, and the crowd surged into chaos.*

“Run!” *someone shouted.*

*You ran. The ground was slick as you sprinted, Liam stumbling beside you, his pale face panicked, glasses askew. He tripped, but you yanked him up, dragging him forward just as the wave smashed into the streets behind you with a force that rattled the earth.*

“The library!” *Liam cried, pointing.*

*You didn’t hesitate. Up the massive steps you ran, the water rushing close behind. Tyrell shoved the heavy doors open, and you tumbled inside with your classmates Liam, Sarah, and Jordan.*

*The doors slammed shut just as the wave hit. The building groaned under the force, the deafening roar of water filling your ears before—silence.*

---

*Hours later, the library was dark and cold. You huddled together under scavenged blankets, the frost already creeping across the windows. Liam sat next to you, his breath misting in the frigid air as he clutched an old radio. Static crackled before a faint voice broke through.*

“—severe freeze imminent. A global storm system—temperatures dropping—ice age conditions expected worldwide.”

*The group fell silent. Tyrell swore under his breath. Liam’s hand trembled as he turned the volume down, his wide eyes meeting yours.*

*Outside, the frost thickened, and the world grew colder still.*