CHAPTERS: One | Two | Three | Four | Five
Recap of Chapter Three
Inside his jail cell, Frank’s thoughts shift between memories of Isabelle and the pressing realities around him. A guard outside his cell hands him a computer tablet that displays the swollen river and discussions about the city’s preparations for a so-called “100-year flood.” This sight immediately raises his concerns about the nearby Faraday nuclear plant. Flashbacks detail Frank’s prior role as a consultant for the plant’s emergency response team.
In the city, Ann Robbins, the pharmacist and interim guardian of Frank’s son during his incarceration, prepares for the impending flood. She joins a virtual emergency meeting, where Mayor Wendell Hobbs declares a state of emergency and contemplates the city’s safety measures. After pressure from Councilman Willie Arnold, Hobbs discusses the potential of dropping charges against Frank due to the flood emergency and his unique expertise.
The mayor reluctantly expedites Frank’s release, reaffirming that he acted in self-defense. As residents prepare for the flood, they are seemingly unaware of the even greater threat the nearby nuclear plant poses. Tensions rise inside the plant’s control room as the risk escalates. The dam upstream may potentially break, leading to a disastrous scenario. As the situation becomes critical, Frank contacts the plant, offering his expertise in hopes of preventing a catastrophic event.
Chapter Four: Breaking Point
Frank’s boots crunch over wet gravel as he surveys the threat of the water’s surge from the city’s outer barriers. He pulls his raincoat tighter, trying to shield himself from the pelting rain. The gusty winds carry the scent of damp earth, as if the ground were breathing. The roar of the river all but drowns out the sounds of the Faraday nuclear plant, standing in defiance a short distance upstream.
As he looks at the encroaching waters, images of his infant son flash in his mind, intensifying his determination to prevent any disaster.
His phone buzzes in his pocket, pulling him back to the present. As Mayor Wendell Hobbs’ name flashes on the screen, a raindrop trickles down his cheek, like a tear tracing a path from that tragic night at the Sweet Shop.
He exhales deeply, pushing the memory aside, and answers the call.
“Mayor,” he starts, but Hobbs cuts in.
“Frank, this isn’t about your past. We’re on the brink. I need you.”
“I get it. But my actions at the Green Frog were necessary and in the city’s best interest. The city’s about to be inundated, and we have the looming threat of the nuclear plant. We don’t have time for blame games,” Frank counters, frustration evident.
“Fear often blinds reason, Frank,” Hobbs murmurs, a note of resignation seeping through. “You’re a convenient target.”
Determination hardens Frank’s voice. “Just tell me what you need, Mayor.”
Hobbs’ tone becomes more business-like: “We’ve established a command center at the city hall. Get over there post-haste after your assessment.”
Frank nods, raindrops streaking down his face. “I’ll be there, Mayor. But there’s a few things…”
Before Frank can finish his sentence, Richard Daley beeps in on the mayor’s phone. “This is an emergency call from Faraday. I need to take it. We can talk when you get to the command center,” the mayor says, ending the call with Frank.
Before making his way to the command center, Frank decides to visit the nearby dam for a firsthand assessment of the situation. He understands the potential for downstream destruction should it fail.
The winding road to the dam reveals a decades-old structure, once a feat of engineering, now succumbing to time and relentless pressure. Should the aging concrete fail, a wall of water would be unleashed on the nuclear plant and city downstream.
As he approaches, the sheer size reminds him of its surreal majesty. The metered amounts of water passing over its towering walls create a halo of vapor, hovering stationary over the outbuildings.
Frank remembers consulting on the construction years ago. Back then, the city had just begun to discuss potential safety vulnerabilities, but as with many such projects, concerns were sidelined in favor of budgetary constraints. Now, the very concerns he had warned about seem to be manifesting.
Frank is instinctively drawn to the dam’s operations center. As he enters the control room, a familiar face greets him, the deep-set lines of age and stress making the recognition a momentary challenge.
“Frank? Is that really you?”
Sam Hartley extends a hand, a faint smile breaking through his otherwise troubled demeanor. His once jet-black hair has turned silver, but his eyes retain the same sharpness.
Sam, just a few years his senior, had taught him the ins and outs of structural engineering while Frank shared insights from his time in law enforcement and emergency response. It was a partnership founded on mutual respect, trust, and shared aspirations. They’d pored over blueprints together, celebrated each other’s milestones, and often grabbed drinks after work, discussing everything from dam pressure points to life’s pressures.
“Sam, it’s been a while,” Frank says, shaking his callused hand. “I see they finally gave you the keys to the castle,” Frank continues, motioning toward the vastness of the dam.
Sam gives a fleeting chuckle. “Sometimes, I wonder if it’s worth it,” he says, nodding to the overflowing water.”
“Tell me, what’s the situation?” Frank asks with a tone of encouragement.
Sam hesitates for a moment, then sighs. “We’re monitoring the stress levels closely. The recent inspections aren’t looking good, Frank. We’re approaching critical.”
Frank’s brow furrows. “I remember going over the potential risks with you years ago. I’m more concerned about how prepared we are on the ground. If this thing fails, evacuation and rescue operations are going to be a nightmare; there are thousands of people at risk.”
Sam nods, worry evident in his eyes. “I’ve been sounding the alarm for years, but you know how it goes. Until a crisis is upon us, no one wants to spend the money or time.”
Frank meets Sam’s gaze with a steady resolve. “Then let’s do everything in our power to prevent a crisis. Give me a copy of your readings and let me study them.”
He leaves the dam and makes one final stop before heading back to the city.
With the waters threatening, he needs a clear vantage point to evaluate. The ancient clock tower, not just a historic landmark but a place where he had once sought solace as a young boy, beckons.
Climbing its aged steps, he feels the wind’s cold, humid bite raise goosebumps on his exposed arms, causing him to shiver briefly.
As twilight bleeds into night, the chaotic murmurs from the streets below fade. Standing atop the tower, a mix of dread and determination fills him as he witnesses the city’s vulnerability against nature’s fury.
His father’s words from years ago whisper in his ear, “In moments of adversity, son, you’ll discover who you truly are.” Looking out at the rising water, Frank knows one thing for certain: he will not let this city, his city, fall without a fight.
Frank’s phone vibrates with Sam’s name. Before he answers, a deafening crack drowns the tower’s chimes, the horizon blazing in an eerie glow.
His heart races, fearing the dam has failed. “Sam?” he screams into the phone.
But the line is dead. In the chilling silence that follows, Frank braces for the impending catastrophe.
Author’s Notes:
Actual people, places, and events served as inspiration for some of the story’s elements.
Cover Image: © Jamison Brown