1930 Chicago

The streets were filled with people, all in a hurry to be somewhere.

Some waiting to meet close ones, while others having the time of their lives.

Some on their way to work, to provide for their families, while others flaunting their luxurious outfits strutting on the sidewalk looking for something to appease their hunger.

So many stories unfolded that day, yet their busy lives could never have comprehended what was about to come.

All of a sudden, the ground split into multiple cracks, spreading like wildfire beneath all the houses, shops, and pedestrians. For a brief moment too, the earth shook, startling all the busy travelers.

They huddled together in groups whilst some tried scurrying away like mice. The shop owners ran out of their stores, in despair.

That day concluded with a lot of casualties.

In the coming years, with the help of scientific research, it was revealed that the earthquakes were not actually earthquakes. They showed no movement of the tectonic plates and neither did they produce any seismic waves.

This phenomenon, which was later called "Dianchian," was a wonder for scientists. Some saw it as an aberration of nature and called for further research, while others advocated for preventive measures to reduce the damage caused by these events. 

The magnitude of the Dianchians decreased after the initial mega earthquake in 1930, bringing some relief to many. However, they did not stop.