Code One Alarm

A Building Almost Fell on Me

I've been prepared for a Code One Alarm since I could walk, yet today, when the red light started flashing and the speakers started blaring, all my that my body was able to do was freeze. 

"THIS IS A CODE ONE! EVERYBODY REMAIN CALM! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! THIS IS A CODE ONE..!"

I never really understood why we were told to remain calm. The siren is there for the purpose of warning us that we could potentially die, so surely we should do the opposite of remaining calm. 

Luckily, I snapped out of my daze when all of the customers from The Mug House began to scream.

Cordelia, decided it would be appropriate to jump on the table and start shouting orders at everyone. 

I swung my apron off and ran behind the counter, pushing my way through a sea of panicking people. I unclipped the silver keys from my belt and jammed them into a locked draw. The Emergency Draw. I bit my lip as I reached into it and pressed the only thing inside it. A Code One button.

All of the doors in The Mug House swung open. Correction- I mean door. I began directing people towards the exit. Cordelia abandoned her post on the table and came to help me usher everyone out. 

"Quickly!" She screamed. "I don't want to die today!" She turned to an old woman on a walking stick. "D'you think you can hurry up slightly? Go! Go! Go! "

She then spun on her heel to warn a man, who was still holding a cup of coffee, that he would have to pay for it. 

I watched as everyone tried to squeeze out of one door. Then I looked over at Cordelia screaming at everyone to hurry up. Then I remembered I could die today. So I decided to have a cup of tea and pass the time. After all, the alarm did tell me to stay calm. 

By the time Cordelia had managed to get everyone out, the alarm was still blaring and I was only half way through my cup of tea. 

"Come on, Keya! We have to leave! Drop the cuppa tea, idiot!" Cordelia yanked me up by the sleeve and I splashed my drink all over myself. 

"Cordelia, you've stained my shirt!"

"That is not what you should be worrying about right now. Besides, you should've been wearing your apron anyway, according to The Mug House rules."

"Well, I didn't think it would matter that much considering the building might collapse on us."

"Which is exactly why we need to be running right now instead of chatting!"

We sprinted out onto the street together just as Royals Building began to shake

"RUN!" I screamed.

"No, I think I'll just pleasantly stroll!" Cordelia screamed back. 

I grabbed Cordelia's arm and we sprinted away from the wobbling building. 

We had barely made it a safe distance away by the time the building came crashing dow. "That was not the time for sarcasm, Cordelia."

"It's always the time for sarcasm."

"Even if a building's about to fall on you?"

"Especially then."