The fluorescent light fixtures swung back and forth, creaking on their chains and raining dust down onto cardboard boxes full of various home electronics, which were also swaying. The fire extinguisher fell from its hook on the wall and crashed onto the floor, then rolled out of sight. The wire mesh of the cage trembled and clanged. Jeff opened his eyes, unsure of what was happening or how long he’d been sleeping. Yawning, he stood up and stretched, wondering for a brief second where he was, and what the hell he was hearing. Then he remembered, and the realization was like a kick in the gut. The noise made his teeth and ears ache. His feet were numb—asleep. He stumbled around, wondering why the signal had gotten louder. And then he saw why. The warehouse door stood open again. And Simon walked toward him. It was his turn. “Shit.” He mouthed the word, but realized that he couldn’t hear his own voice over the roar. The sound throbbed up through the floor, boring through his feet and then his legs and then surging into the rest of him.
