Brian and Ron found themselves amid a quarry of broken office furnishings. Chalky clouds of demolition dust obscured the daylight from blown-out windows. Brian waved his flashlight, calling “Who’s there? Where are you?” Before they heard a reply, Ron DiFrancesco felt overwhelmed by smoke. He pressed the fabric of a gym bag to his mouth as a filter, but it didn’t help. Fearing he’d pass out, Ron scrambled back to the stairwell. Knowing that the others in their group had acquiesced to the woman’s pleas and gone upstairs, Ron climbed24 after them.
