beneath the falls (8)

Time felt suspended as they moved through the streets, urgency propelling them forward. The sound of the water grew closer, a relentless crescendo that made the ground tremble.

. . .

With every step, Clara felt the weight of the town’s hopes resting on their shoulders. Back on the west side, Tommy and Jake had managed to gather a group of hesitant evacuees, their faces a mix of disbelief and determination.

“Is this really happening?” one man asked, glancing back at his home. “Right now, all that matters is your safety,” Tommy replied, resolute. “We can’t save what’s already lost.”