Prologue
I looked across the landscape. The green of the plants and shrubs that grew on it were highlighted. Though all left of it is rubble, I'm home.
The home I grew in, the home I went back to after school, the home which I rested in - it was my home. Nobody may change it. Nobody will.
No matter how much is left of it, it was my home.
I searched through the rubble, in hope of finding something intact. And yes, I did. Oh, it was more than a something. It was special.
It was a cellar door.
Now, tell me. If a tornado hits a house, where - most likely - would a family be found alive?
I opened the door and entered the cellar.
It was dark and untouched - as if the last time it was opened was a hundred years ago. But no, there were fresh marks on the boxes.
Paw marks.
I looked around. I heard a rustle.
There was nothing behind me, other than the other boxes.
I looked back at the box. I decided to open it.
I was speechless.
There was preservatives there - jams, water, corned beef and powdered milk.
I decided to open another box.
Yes, it had the same contents, just as I thought.
Then I smelt an unusual smell.
Smoke.
I followed the scent. There was a lamp - it was recently put out.
Beside the lamp was an opened box.
People had been living in here. I knew it. The paw prints, the boxes and the freshly put-out lamp!
I heard a whisper from behind the opened box. I slowly approached it, trying not to scare off the person behind it.
Suddenly, a blue cat hugged me tightly.
"Darwin, you finally came, I thought you were dead, oh!" Nicole sobbed hugging me.
"I missed you mum," I said silently, hugging her.
When she finally let go of me, I looked up at her.
"You have been gone for years and you have come back! Why?" Nicole asked.
"For all of those years living in New York City, I was so lonely and sad," I said, about to cry, "I was only allowed to come until the tornado season ended!"
Soon, the rest of the family was hugging me.
Then suddenly, a strong wind came.
A tornado.
"Everybody! Hide!" I exclaimed as I ran to my truck. "Close the cellar door! Lock it!"
When I got outside, I went to my truck and drove off, only to be sucked by the strong tornado.
I managed to press the com button.
"Gumball," I said, "help end this."