The Incident

“Watch out!” a worker shouted, but the warning came too late.

A young woman, Dalia, slipped as a section of unstable ground gave way beneath her. She plummeted down into the quarry, her scream lost in the cacophony of activity.

The workers froze, silence spreading in waves as the reality sank in. Victor was the first to move, climbing down to the crumpled figure. His face was pale, but he barked orders with practiced calm, directing others to assist.

Dalia was breathing but barely. Blood seeped from a wound on her temple, and her leg was twisted at an unnatural angle.

“We need to get her to the medic,” Victor said, his voice steady but strained.

As they carried her away, whispers began to ripple through the crowd. It wasn’t the first injury since Victor had taken charge, but it was the most serious.