Chapter One: Homecoming

Fourth quarter. Three minutes left. The score was 7 to 35. Rain clouds inundated the sky above the field, and thunder crashed in the distance every few seconds. The rain was cold. It was games like this that made me question why I chose to be a cheerleader.

Our coach called a time out, and AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" echoed over the speakers. Instantly, the student section of the bleachers erupted. Every few lines, when the singer would say "thunder" the Summit View High School fans would respond by saying "birds!" When the first verse started, the school mascot, an eagle sporting a green and white football uniform ran up and down the hundred meter line of the track waving a giant Thunderbirds flag. Soon, he ditched the flag and was handing out high fives to various fans. I never understood why Garrison could be such an attention hog on Fridays and spend the rest of the week hiding behind his camera. As the timeout ended, the football players ran back onto the field.

The band played a rendition of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song and we cheerleaders continued to offer chants of useless encouragement. There was only a minute left. We were toast. With a final count down, the game was over. What a way to start the season. The football team would find a way to blame it on the weather.

"You sure you don't want a ride home?" Kelly said before pulling out of the school parking lot.

"I'm not afraid of a little rain," I smiled, twirling around with my palms turned towards the clouds like I was five years old again.

Kelly laughed, "If you say so. Be careful. Call me if you need anything."

"I won't," I said.

"I know."

She rolled up her car window and I waved as she drove away.

I've always loved the rain. Something about the cleanliness of the air as it washes away the dust. The fact that it was almost ten o clock at night didn't bother me either. Even though it was dark, the moon was bright and lit my way. My house was only a half of a mile past what was going to be a cul de sac. The contractors had invested in a ton of acres to develop a neighborhood of model citizen homes, but then the market crashed and nobody really wanted to move, so the idea crashed before it could ever lift off the runway.

The wind picked up, giving me goosebumps from my already drenched blonde hair. I shivered. Turning to look over my shoulder, I saw a shadow following me. Deciding to pick up my pace, I started to jog. This, of course, only added to the coldness.

"Wait!"

I stopped when I recognized the shadow's voice. The eagle head had probably been left at the school, so the rest of the mascot's costume made his shoulders three times the size of his head.

"What are you doing out here?" I called over the rain.

"No one should have to walk home alone in the middle of a rainstorm," Garrison said.

I smiled. His lived on the opposite side of town.

"And I kinda want to catch a shot of lightning."

Suddenly, the rain became torrential. I started to sprint. I couldn't see where I was going. I almost slipped once or twice. The sound of thunder became closer and closer until CLASH! I felt an electric force hit my back. I slipped and fell forward as my head felt clouded and my arms scintillated.

"Hang on!" I heard Garrison yell. He sounded distant. Like an echo through the Grand Canyon. I looked around a moment later and he was gone.

I felt light headed. I should have died. The next thing I remember was the clock tower. I had never seen the building before, but somehow I found myself ascending its steps. As I climbed the metal staircase, my head throbbed as though I had suffered from some sort of concussion. I heard stories about people getting hit by lightning. This was different. I cupped my hands, and the electricity continued to dance around them. I found my phone in the pocket of my bag. I unzipped the bag, but as I picked up my phone, a second shock made the phone short circuit and instantly die.

"What's happening to me?" I yelled, dropping my phone as my hands erupted in bolts of static electricity.

I fell to my knees and sobbed, each tear encased in a cocoon of electricity.

Then, everything went black.