<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><strong>Lasair Rowen</strong></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;">The stampeding students of Wagner Hall were not all completely mad; those that were in labs that morning had more since not to act out of context, well some anyway. Walking the halls here in this segment was less chaotic and more structured. Students filed out the laboratories and down the halls toward emergency exits that were generally for such emergencies. Other students opted to stay behind and continue listening to the news updates when and if they would continue after the incident last aired with the televised news cast out at the site.   </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><strong><em>“Professor Kratz and Professor Rowen, wait please!”</em></strong> came the serious voice of Professor Borden. A stout, pot bellied man who combed over his remaining head of dark hair to the left temple hoping by days end it would remain their through wishing. His dark brown eyes danced, having mentally patted himself on the back for catching up to the two sprinters who looked to be trying to get away. </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;">Out of breath he was slightly huffing and puffing by the time he caught their attention running behind them, he finally caught up once they heard him and stopped. Borden pulled a white handkerchief from his lab coat, mopping his brow, heaving a little unable to speak but in short sentences, <strong><em>“Well I am guessing…the students over in the lecture hall…went crazy, judging by the way you look James. Some of the other professors, fled as you two through here, while others have yet to be accounted. Here’s hoping that they are hunker down in their classrooms or somewhere safe. We have had a few mishaps over here ourselves; hence the smell of sulfur and the smoke of a very recent fire. The horror of what is going on is spreading like wild fire through the town. I had my radio stolen a few minutes ago as students moved to leave my class, as fast as they could.”</em></strong> He took a breath in and placed his hand to his head checking his hair. </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><em><strong>“We tried to calm them down, but it was to no avail. Many teachers gave up and left the building to go home, leaving the students to do as they liked. I know that these students are adults, some semi, but this is not right.”</strong></em> His words fell upon Lasair like bricks as she listened.<em><strong> “What do you mean Professor?”</strong></em> James asked. <em><strong>“Come with me to my lab. I just returned with another radio, but haven’t been able to get a good reception yet. One of my students who is going to remain on campus, is trying to see if it’s the radio, or if it’s a local black out. We lost the news team some time ago.” </strong></em></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;">Lasair felt a pit forming in her stomach as she followed the Professor and James was right beside her, looking as concerned. The noise outside the lab’s window, was unbelievable, as students filed outside like doped up hot heads; high on drugs. Pandemonium was everywhere from those fleeing on foot, to those that were trying to calm their friends down who were trampled in the mass hysteria. A heavy sigh came from Rowen as she stood there watching this scene. The classroom was not empty, five other students watched with them out the windows. “Yes as you can see sheer craziness out there. Before the announcements were even done, students were already leaving filing down the halls throwing offlab coats everywhere. i heard some say they had to get to Rockfor high School having family members there. Others soon followed jumping up trampling others to get out the to the parking lots.” He said this as if he were at a grave sight solemnly speaking to the departed while looking out the window with them. “Us too, Borden, us too.” James replied as if to implied that this same event must have played out all over the campus. They all watched as those who managed to get to their cars, started honking their horns, and cursing at those who dared to block them in. </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;">It was like watching a cartoon flick, seeing frantic students banging their cars against other parked cars repeatedly, until they themselves were free to move. These were once beautiful cars, that now looked like crumbled wrecks; speeding off down the road, burning rubber to get to the other side of town. Lasair turned to face the mildly frightened Professor to ask him one thing, <strong><em>“Professor, I live only 10 minutes away by car. Please tell me the staff parking lot is not like this?”</em></strong> It might have been how her voice sounded, that made his eyes grow wider she thought. On the other hand, perhaps it was how she unknowingly gripped hold of his lapels and began choking him about the neck as she spoke; that made his voice go high and squeaky. Whatever it was she snapped out of this hypnotic state, once James grabbed her wrist to try and pry Borden free of her iron grip.  </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;">“Oh, I’m so sorry Professor I didn’t …mean to. I didn’t even know I was doing it.” She practically whispered this under her breath, still looking at him for an answer to that very real question. Fixing himself, understood her actions and coughed a few times. <em><strong>“You must not know your own strength Professor Rowen; nevertheless, understandable. I do not know about the staff parking lot, I do not drive.”</strong></em> James nodded. However, he too couldn’t believe how much of an effort it took to get Lasair to let go. Looking at her, he saw her expressionless face. He knew her long enough to know when she felt helpless, she displayed no real emotion. “<em><strong>Are you going to be ok Lasair?” </strong></em>James knew it was one of the dumbest questions to ask anyone in this state of mind, and hoped she wouldn’t snap at him.  </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;">Still staring outside at the chaos there was to see, saw cars pouring into the surrounding neighborhoods as well. That only confirmed her fears to get out while she can. Lasair’s materialistic self, wasn’t leaving her car to walk home, even if she had to live in it during the state of emergency; she would. In the trunk, she had a large bag packed with emergency supplies, such as food, water, a few changes of clothing, and a heavy-duty fire resistant security box. In the box was money, lots of it for that rainy spur of the moment thing, or that needed vacation. It was in a black nylon drawstring close bag. She had marked the metal box as being a culture of live bacterium. What idiot would risk opening it, knowing who she was? Still she had to get a grip and wait this out as long as she could, or until she could safely get to her car. </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><em><strong>"I'm fine James. don't start treating me like a helpless woman. I'm fine, I just want to get home."</strong></em> She straightened herself up and walked over to a chair to sit. The other kids in the classroom eyed her from time to time. She hadn't that much room in her car for five passengers. She really shouldn't have mentioned leaving, as if being at the college was the wrong place to be right now; in front of the students. She kicked herself mentally. To change the atmosphere, spoke up to Borden, <em><strong>"I guess all those years at the firing range paid off for something; my wrist are stronger."</strong></em> She nodded looking down at them. </span>