Night crept over New York, a dark, silent blanket that seemed to muffle the last gasps of a normalcy about to vanish forever. Inside the hotel's presidential suites, the air was thick with anticipation, a suffocating mix of fear and a strange, almost feverish determination. The clock, with its luminous hands, marked 9:00 PM, and with each passing minute, the tension grew, a knot tightening in the stomach of every adult present. The children, oblivious to the gravity of the moment, had been persuaded to try to sleep, their small, innocent bodies sprawled across the makeshift sofas and mattresses, their soft breathing the only sounds that brought a shred of peace.
Thiago, however, was far from at rest. He moved through the master suite, his steps silent and calculated, like a predator surveying its territory. His eyes, which had seen hell for twenty years, scanned every corner, every face, every shadow. He could feel his parents' anxiety, the restrained nervousness of Lucas, Gabriel, and Sofia, the quiet apprehension of Hiroshi and his family. They were all there, because of him, because of his "premonition," because of his promise of salvation. The weight of responsibility was crushing, but it also fueled his determination.
"It's only a few minutes before 10 p.m.," Thiago said, his voice low but firm, cutting through the silence. He addressed Lucas, Gabriel, Sofia, and Kenji. "Come on. It's time to seal our perimeter."
The four nodded, their movements tense but resolute. They had mentally rehearsed every step, every movement, ever since Thiago had revealed the plan to them. Discretion was crucial. They couldn't alarm the few guests and staff still milling about the lower floors of the hotel, living out their final moments of ignorance.
They moved silently through the luxurious corridors of the presidential floor. The thick carpets muffled their footsteps, and the soft hallway lights created an almost unreal atmosphere. Their first objective: the elevator doors. There were two sets of elevators on the floor, each with a digital control panel. Thiago had acquired specialized tools, an "emergency maintenance" kit he explained as necessary for "unexpected electrical problems" at the hotel.
With Lucas and Gabriel in one set of elevators, and Sofia and Kenji in the other, Thiago supervised. He knelt before the control panel, his fingers nimble and practiced, the result of years of disabling improvised security systems in the future. The panel was a tangle of wires and circuits, but Thiago knew exactly where to cut, where to deactivate. A soft, barely audible click, and the panel went dark. The constant hum of the elevators ceased, replaced by an eerie, profound silence. It was as if the heart of the building had stopped beating. Lucas and Gabriel replicated the process in the other set, their movements slower but equally precise, guided by Thiago's silent instructions.
Next came the emergency exits. There were two on the floor, heavy fire doors leading to the stairs. Thiago had provided solid steel chains and sturdy padlocks, which he explained as "extra security for valuables" in the suites. With the help of his friends, they wrapped the chains around the doorknobs and frames, pulling them tight, and then, with a final, metallic click, the padlocks closed. The sound echoed in the hallway, a sound of isolation, of separation. It was a seal, a physical barrier against the outside world, an invisible wall separating safety from chaos.
When they returned to the master suite, the clock read exactly 10:00 PM. The air was heavier now, charged with the gravity of what they had just done. The families were gathered, their faces pale, their eyes fixed on Thiago. Harumi and Yumi, the older women, sat near the children, their hands clasped, trying to convey a calm they didn't feel. Hiroshi, with his usual serenity, watched Thiago, a glint of understanding in his deep eyes.
"It's done," Thiago said, his voice calm but filled with solemn gravity. "The perimeter is secure. No one enters, no one leaves this floor. Not without our permission." He looked at each face, hope and fear mingling in their eyes. "Now, we wait. The night will be long. Get as much rest as you can. And remember: no matter what happens out there, in here, we're together. And we're ready."
The night dragged on. Each hour felt like an eternity, each minute a reminder of the countdown. Thiago didn't sleep. He patrolled the hallways of the suites, checking the doors, listening to the sounds of the city outside. The usual hubbub of New York gradually faded, replaced by an eerie, almost unearthly silence. He could hear the distant sound of sirens, more frequent than usual, but still not alarming. Occasionally, the muffled sound of a police car or ambulance passing by, an echo of the life that still lingered.
His friends and family tried to rest, but the anxiety was palpable. Some dozed, others stared at the ceiling, their minds racing. The children, in their innocence, slept soundly, oblivious to the fate that awaited them. Thiago watched them, each face a reminder of what he was fighting for. He remembered the sleepless nights of the future, the constant vigilance, the fear that never left him. But this time, he wasn't alone. This time, he had a family to protect.
As the hours passed, the faint light of dawn began to creep through the cracks in the curtains. The sky, normally tinged a soft blue and then a vibrant pink at dawn, began to take on a strange hue. A deep, almost crimson red began to spread across the horizon, tinging the clouds with an ominous hue. It wasn't the red of a sunset, but an oppressive red, as if the sky itself were bleeding.
The silence of the city outside began to be broken. First, a distant, almost imperceptible sound, like a murmur. Then the murmur turned into a low growl, a drawn-out, guttural sound that seemed to come from every direction. The growl grew louder, mingling with muffled screams, the sound of breaking glass, the metallic clang of collisions. It was the sound of chaos, the sound of the end of the world.
Thiago glanced at his watch. It read 7 a.m. The sky outside was a bright red, a hell painted on the horizon. The city's growl grew louder, transforming into a chorus of terror. He felt a shiver run down his spine, but it wasn't from fear. It was from a cold, unwavering determination.
He turned to his family, who were already awake, their eyes wide with terror, fixed on the window, the red sky, the sounds coming from outside. Thiago's parents were hugging each other, Lucas and Gabriel were standing, their hands on their pistol holsters, Sofia had the radio in her hand, and Hiroshi, with his serenity, held Harumi's hand, his eyes fixed on Thiago.
Thiago took a deep breath, his voice calm and controlled, but laden with solemn gravity. He didn't need to shout. The silence of the suite, broken only by the sounds of the outside world, amplified his words. He looked at each face, his eyes conveying the truth he had lived.
"It's begun," Thiago said, his voice a whisper that echoed in the silence of the suite, a final sound of acceptance and defiance. Hell had come. But this time, they would be ready.