---- With the main power shut off to prevent electrocution, they had to use shlights for light. Standing on the stairs, Thalia surveyed the situation by shlight. Manon was carrying a box through murky water that reached her calves. Thalia frowned. "Has this happened before?" "Five years ago during a major flood," Manon replied. "I didn''t expect it this year. I''m so sorry, Thalia, that you''re stuck here because of this." "It''s fine," Thalia said calmly.


    "Let me help you." Manon handed over what she was carrying. "Just take this to the second-floor living room, please." "Sure." Thalia leaned forward to take it. With a ssh, her phone slipped from her jacket pocket and fell into the water. ---- Manon gasped and quickly reached down to retrieve it. When she handed it back, Thalia tried the lock button, but got no response. She tried a long press to restart it. Still nothing. "Does it still work?" Manon asked anxiously. Thalia shook her head.


    Manon looked distressed. "What are we going to do? There''s flooding everywhere-roads are underwater, deliveries have stopped, and trains and flights are canceled. We can''t get out, and no one can get in. You can''t get a new phone for days. You''ll bepletely cut off." Thalia frowned. "I can borrow my friend''s phone to call my family and let them know I''m safe." Manon sighed with relief. "That''s good. I''m really sorry, Thalia.


    I never expected a flood, and now you''re trapped here." "It''s not your fault. The rescue team should arrive tomorrow." ---- Early the next morning, as soon as na woke up, Thalia asked to borrow her phone. na picked up her phone but saw it had only 1% battery left. "How is this possible? I plugged it in before bed," na frowned. "Quickly, while it still works. I need to call home," Thalia said urgently. "Here." na handed over the phone.


    Thalia found Randolph in the contacts and dialed. Fortunately, he answered. Thalia got straight to the point: "Dad, it''s Thalia. My phone fell in water and doesn''t work. I''m borrowing na''s to let you know I''m safe. Don''t worry about me." ''Thalia, are you-" Randolph''s voice suddenly cut off. Thalia looked at the phone-the screen had gone ck. ---- The battery had died. "What happened? Didn''t it charge?" na asked, confused.


    Thalia exined, "No, the flood water got into the house, and Manon shut off the main powerst night because of electrocution concerns." na said, "That''s simple enough. We just turn the power back on and charge it. Thalia frowned deeply and walked to the window to look outside. Water was everywhere. Trees had been blown down by the wind. It looked serious. She wondered if power lines had been damaged. Her concern proved justified.


    Manon knocked and entered to tell them that power lines throughout the vige were damaged, and the entire vige had lost electricity. ---- "Fortunately, we normally cook with a propane stove. I brought some supplies upstairsst night, so at least we''ll have warm food." That morning, Manon prepared a cup of instant mac and cheese for Thalia. After eating, Thalia asked with concern, "No sign of the rescue team yet?" Manon shook her head with a sigh. "There are several viges ahead of us. We''re so remote that the rescue team probably won''t reach us until tomorrow."