For as long as he could remember, he had a super power. He could see 5 minutes into the future, no more, no less. They were like distant memories, hard to decipher, blurry, but nonetheless, he could see the future.

Most of the time it was an annoyance, anything major needed far more preparation than 5 minutes. Anything minor, like spilling his drink or bumping into someone, was difficult to discern from his visions.

As he sat at his desk, typing away on some non-consequential report.

Then, a scream. 10. 100. 1000. All screaming out in a perfect symphony. He saw fire, the city reduced to rubble. Glass melted to liquid before it had the chance to shatter. The building he was currently on the 20th floor of, leveled.

He stood from his chair, knocking over an Orange prescription bottle. He tried to stay calm as he started walking tense, sweat beading from his forehead. 

“Hey! I was wondering if you were-“ came an older, rough voice, heavy with the weight of age. His boss

“I’m sorry sir-“ he replied, the words slipping out before he considered them

“I’m not feeling well and I-“

“I know you had some issues getting your medication-“

How much time did he have left? 3 maybe 4 minutes? He certainly didn’t have time for small talk. Where could he even escape to in so little time he’d barely make it the lobby

He rushed past and aggressively pushed the button on the elevator

In red letters above it said “level 1” he waited, and waited eternity came and went before

A soft ding sounded.

It now read level 2

“Mr Smith! I don’t know what’s gotten into you-“ returned the rough voice from somewhere behind.

The visions showed only continued destruction, the feeling of dust clouding his lungs burning his eyes drying his mouth

The stairs. The stairs might work.

He rushed to the nearby door. Bolting downward as fast as one could manage. A blur of desperate movement. The stairs seemed to never end as he continued down flight after flight. By the time he reached the bottom his knees ached and sweat drenched his shirt and tie. 

Finally, the bottom of the stairs.

He dashed through the lobby and burst through the door out into the parking lot. Sprinting to his car. 

He sat catching his breath fumbling with his keys.

A flash, a blinding flash. On the horizon, like a second sunrise. Then another, and another. Heralded by thundering booms Dimming moments later to reveal towering clouds of smoke and fire, that reached into the sky and curled over itself like a mushroom.