WWW: Dawn of the-

[Event !]

Not everyone would go to the mall in the aftermath of a massive snowstorm, but since the mall still has heat and electricity, and a working food court, it becomes more attractive to those who are missing one or more of those right now.

[Sophie Tillman]

The trouble with shopping malls, apparently, was a lack of windows. Oh sure, there were entrances to the parking lot here and there, but the individual stores gave no clue how foul the conditions had turned while Sophie shopped that afternoon. Had she been paying attention, perhaps the slowing trickle of shoppers might have tipped her off. Instead Sophie now stood face to face with swirling winds and two feet of snow, with only a pair of glass double doors separating her from them.

Should she risk the drive just yet? Would there be snowplows out tonight? Sandy was at home, alone... Her dog had enough sense to come inside during a snowstorm, and the yard was fenced in anyway, but what had she left the thermostat at? Would he be tracking snow in through the dog door? Oh Lord, she hated driving in this kind of weather. Every year Sophie thought she was a little more used to the Vermont snow - so much heavier than anything she'd ever seen back in Georgia - until the first big squall like this one hit.

Sophie's foot tapped anxiously against the slick tile floor as she checked the weather report on her phone. It looked like Google didn't expect it to let up soon, either, she read with a grimace. She took to tapping the phone against her chin while she paced in front of the doors, debating - wait or go?

Freezing air blasted in Sophie's face as the doors opened and a pair of would-be shoppers hurried inside. She shivered, even in her heavy purple peacoat, and made up her mind. She wasn't facing that mess just yet, at least not without a warm drink in her hand. Sophie turned on her heel - nearly slipping in the slush that had been dragged inside - and headed towards the food court Starbucks.