At first, Shinji thought it was an earthquake, but the shift of the ground followed by a shockwave alerted him to the familiarity of an explosion.
His better judgement told him to get to shelter, but there really was nothing like that here to shield against such a blast. At least, not that he was aware of. The rumbling felt like it came from a certain direction, and a look out the window confirmed his fears.
Smoke is billowing from the horizon near Rika’s house. Perhaps an experiment gone wrong, but that doesn’t matter now.
He couldn’t stay here. If he’s being totally honest with himself, he shouldn’t go to Rika, either, but his legs begin carrying towards her house. He reaches for his phone first, and sets it to call her. When she doesn’t pick up, Shinji sets out at a run. She could be hurt, and he’s certain that he is the closest one to her right now--he knows basic first aid, and he could call for a ride to the hospital--
His thoughts continue to buzz around the worst case scenario, but Shinji suddenly comes to a stop about a block away from Rika’s house. It’s only when he gets close enough that he realizes that the smoke cloud looms closer overhead--almost deliberately.
“Rika?!” he calls out in a panic, but it’s likely she can’t even hear him from this distance.
It only takes Shinji a moment or so to realize that it isn’t smoke moving towards him at all. Light catches on metallic shapes, like a warning beacon, and Shinji has only enough time to duck behind a parked car when they begin firing an onslaught of explosives. Shinji covers his head and neck, but rubble and debris start flying, crumbling all around him; a very heavy piece is flung towards Shinji’s skull, and all he sees is black.
