The continuous blasts were so thunderous and the screaming so ear-splitting that Matias could hardly understand a word that anyone was even saying. Nodding to feign understanding, he pushed a few people along to the exit to hasten their dash to safety. His breathing peaked, his brain going haywire with the onslaught of noise and noise and more and more noise. He darted upstairs nonetheless, following behind the others. He only prayed that this would be quick; he hardly expected it to be easy.