Multi-Stories

Chapter 53 - Beneath Pt. 1

A bustling street fair occupies a bridge, stretching out to take place on both sides of the bridge as well. 

Caleb and Elizabeth are sitting at a table with some food, smiling as he adjusts the watch on his left wrist. 

Caleb: College sure sounds like it's been treating you well. 

Elizabeth: It has ups and downs. I've made some great friends, but there have also been plenty of nights where I've stayed up really late studying. 

Caleb: Yeah, well... still sounds like a life I wish I had sometimes. Then, other times, I can't possibly imagine doing anything else with my life. 

Elizabeth: Is that because of your dad? 

He lets out a sigh, looking down. 

Elizabeth: Hey, I didn't mean to... 

She trails off as he looks back up at her. 

Caleb: No, it's fine. You're right. When my dad died... I took over as CEO. Which meant everything else in my life had to get brushed to the side. Well, at least for the near future. But, at the same time, I always told my dad I couldn't wait to take over his position. I was just hoping he could've still been alive to see me do it. It's something that I want to do... but it also kind of feels like an obligation. 

Elizabeth: Well, from what I've heard, you've been doing a damn good job as CEO. 

Caleb: You've been keeping up with that?

Elizabeth: Yeah, when I can. It may have been a few years, but we're still friends. I had to see what you were getting up to. 

He smiles as another girl comes walking up with a donut burger on a plate. 

???: And how has it been going here with you two? 

Caleb: It's been really good reconnecting with Liz. 

Elizabeth: This has been thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you for helping to get this set up, Emma.

Emma: Oh, it was no problem. After all of the talking you've done about him at college, I knew I had to set up this reunion.

He looks at Elizabeth. 

Caleb: You talk about me all of the time? 

Elizabeth glances over at him before noticing the donut burger, averting attention to it. 

Elizabeth: Is that a donut burger? 

Emma: Yeah. I saw it while walking over, and got really curious about how it would taste. 

Elizabeth: Where can I get one?

Caleb: I second that question. 

Emma lets out a sigh. 

Emma: Come on. I'll take you to it. 

The three of them come walking up to a green canopy set up in the middle of the bridge, when the ground shakes. They look at each other immediately before the ground shakes more violently this time. An almost white noise like sound can be heard in the distance, quickly getting louder as it nears. 

They turn to look when people start yelling and pointing, seeing a massive wave of water rushing right toward the bridge. 

Caleb: Run. Run! 

Everybody forms a crowd as they try running off of the bridge, and Caleb keeps eyeing the wave as it gets closer and closer, eventually crashing into the bridge as they get close to getting off. 

Knocking some down, sending some slamming into the railing, while dragging others over, the wave continues traveling down the canal. 

Caleb is leaning against the railing coughing up water, looking around at the others lucky enough to stay on the bridge, seeing Emma laying down and coughing.