Friday: We’re Paying for All of It
That evening, the group sets up camp near a ridge, the flickering light of their fire casting long shadows over the flooded valley below. The distant sound of rushing water mingles with the crackling of the flames, and Ivy Mae breaks the silence.
“You know, when the stock market crashed, I thought it was the end. But looking at all this, I see now—it was just the beginning of the chaos.”
Jas looks out at the darkened horizon, eyes narrowing. “Do you think we’re still paying for their mistakes?”
Roman stares into the flames, his voice low but steady. “We’re paying for all of it. The greed, the denial, the refusal to change. It was never just about money. It was about a system built on ignorance and profit, and now... we’re living with the consequences.”
Suddenly, a sharp crack pierces the night, followed by a loud, rumbling sound from below. The group scrambles to the ridge, hearts racing as they peer down into the valley. The dam they had heard about—massive and imposing—shudders and groans under the weight of the rising floodwaters.
“Ivy Mae, look!” Jas yells, pointing. The dam is visibly cracking, water seeping through the fractures.
Ivy Mae's voice trembles, “Oh no.”
Roman doesn't waste a second. “We need to move. Now.”