The sky was on fire. The clouds struck a golden red hue above the tops of burning buildings. Tracers danced in front of the hellish backdrop chasing the long gone planes that were killing the city. The scene was scored by the staccato burst of gunfire, the steady baritone thump of explosions and the various noises humanity makes when presented with annihilation.

“Come on!” At street level his shout broke through the din. He stood poised at the entrance to a subway station, waving others over in expression of a chivalric death wish. “Get underground, you’ll be safe there!”

As the last person in sight scurried down the stairs he took a final look at his home. The next time he saw it, if he did, it would be unrecognizable. Finally he turned down the stairs. Inside the air was filled with dust and the vaulted concrete ceiling groaned and shuddered under the unrelenting barrage above.

“What’s going on?” One of the others asked, “What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know.” He muttered in response, “I don’t know.”