Everyone raced for the elevators at the same time, hovered like a swarm of bees at the gaping doors. When each was full to overflowing with people layered five high, the doors slid closed with a clank. Those left behind synchronized like schooling fish to the stairwells. Several tripped over a foot or the left arm that had been neatly severed by the elevator doors.

It was the usual Friday twelve noon game of musical chairs for survival and Haaji was a player.