Chapter Seven
Dad drove with a mission, it was inevitable there was no way he was going to be able to out run this storm.
"Gary we need cover, we can't stay in the open." Allison called out, you could hear the panic start to rise in her voice.
"It's moving too fast, we're not going to out run it." Dad stated look frantically for some place safe. I heard Allison's walkie talkie go off but I couldn't hear what Peter was saying; as the bus started to slow down.
"Dad! Pull over up here." Donnie instructed dad. I was a bit confused and I think so was dad as he asked Donnie why. "Dad trust me, I've filmed here. There's a storm drain right over there." Donnie explained as dad pulled to a stop.
"Alright everybody get out." Dad ordered looking back at everyone.
Time was definitely of the essence as everyone on the bus rushed to try to get to our safety. Jacob and Trey help me get up and off the bus as everyone started to follow Donnie. The terrifying sight of the giant tornado looming in front of us.
The unfortunate thing about when Donnie was last here and now was that the construction workers grated off the end of the storm drain blocking us from our shelter. "The manhole! We'll try the man hole!" dad shouted as everyone now followed him to our only hope. With the help of Peter and Allison, dad was able to pry the manhole open. We were certainly cutting our time close. I tried desperately not to look over my shoulder at the monstrous tornado.
I had to admit the team that Peter, Allison, and dad made to take charge of this situation was a pretty good one. They remained as calm as they could as they helped everyone through the manhole and into the storm drain. I prayed it would be safe enough for us down there.
Donnie had just climbed down when some large piece of construction equipment narrowly flew by us and smashed into the bus. I could help but let out a shriek of terror.
"Do you think you can climb down by yourself?" Trey asked me worried that I might be too weak from the fever my infection was giving me.
"I should be fine, Donnie's down there. He'll make sure I'm okay." I said as I started toward the entrance. Dad help ease me down.
"Be careful sweetheart." Dad whispered and I gave a short nod. Trey would be following after me. I shakily made my way down and like I had said Donnie was waiting for me at the bottom to steady me once off the ladder.
Dad was the last one to come down the ladder as he and Peter pulled the manhole cover back into place. Dad and Allison quickly made their way to the grated end of the storm drain to a location of the tornado. The sounds were horrible and I clung to Trey in desperation, Jacob sat on my other side.
As dad and Allison were looking out of nowhere an eighteen-wheeler came crashing into the grate they were standing out. They had managed to duck back out of harm's way but I couldn't stop myself from screaming and I wasn't the only one either.
The wind was strong enough to rip the cover off the manhole but the truck that had struck the grate had embedded itself blocking the hole. A small blessing I'm sure.
Allison started to yell that the wind was going to get a lot stronger in here and that we should hold on tight.
"Oh god the grate's loose!" Donnie called out as the once attached grate was now flopping in the strong winds threatening to pull away.
"Keep your heads down!" dad called out to everyone. You know that small blessing, yeah that was over. The truck flipped over again and came to rest on the other side of the drain.
The wind started to really pick up in the drain and I found that with pain in my arm I was having a really hard time holding on to one of the rails that was built into the walls. "Trey I can't hold on." I screamed.
"You have to." I felt two strong arms wrap around me, two arms that belong to two different people. Both Trey and Jacob each wrapped an arm around me trying to secure me to the wall.
"I got you!" Jake stated loud enough for me to hear but not actually yelling. I heard shouting from Peter and Allison, I turned my head to see Peter climbing out of the uncovered manhole. What the hell was he doing?
Some unfortunate soul lost his grip and went flying through the drain knocking Allison free from her grip on the ladder. Allison was able to grab onto something else but the poor man was sucked out of the space left by the loose grate. Please let Allison hold on tight. Dad tried desperately to reach Allison so that he could pulled her back into a safer part of the drain but he just couldn't. Just like Allison couldn't keep her hold she flew back towards the open grate only to be stopped as Peter rammed the grate back into place with Titus. Well now I know what he was thinking.
I let out a sigh of relief that Allison was safe but I couldn't get to excited the storm was still threatening all of our lives. Dad finally was able to pull Allison back to us. Peter's voice was heard once again through the walkie as he instructed Allison to attach the joyce of the Titus to the other side of the drain. Dad and Allison quickly set to work.
As the winds grew stronger I was grateful I wasn't the only one screaming. Then it stopped, the reprieve was greatly appreciated as we were able to stop and catch our breaths and let our aching muscles relax just a little. I heard someone coughing and I hoped they were asthmatic.
"Is that it? Is it over?" Donnie asked and Allison took the opportunity to contact Peter.
"Pete what's happening? Did it pass us?"
Peter's answer left me with a very ominous feeling. "It's not going to last, we're in the eye."
I looked to Jacob afraid to ask, but knew I needed to. "That's not a good thing is it?" Jacob just shook his head.
"Guys the trailing winds are going to be even stronger. You have to hold on." Allison instructed.
"Daddy I'm scared." I cried even though Trey and Jacob were helping me I felt like I wasn't safe, I was too weak.
"Its okay sweetheart, you're doing great. Trey you got her?" Trey nodded. "See sweetie your brother and Jacob they won't that anything happen to you." Dad finished.
The winds picked up again and the horrible sounds started to blare through the storm drain. I clung to the rail for dear life, feeling both Jacob and Trey's hold on me tighten.
The sound of metal pulling apart from metal pulled my attention to the grate again as I saw the Titus be pulled from its bumper and sucked up into the sky and as soon as that some buffer from the wind was gone it became too much for some us. It started as one person then two and then a third person lost their grip and was pulled to the grate.
The wind even started to suck dad up through the manhole and the blood shrilled scream that left me was deafening. "DADDY!" Dad was able to hold on long enough as the winds came to a stop we were finally able to truly relax.
"Everybody okay?" dad asked looking through the grate to confirm the storm was done. Dad gave Donnie a quick pat on the shoulder checking he was alright. "Trey?" I turned my head when Trey didn't answer and noticed he was struggling to get free from the plastic orange construction fencing. Dad walked over and pulled out Trey's pocket knife cutting him free. As I sat up against the wall, Jacob still had his arm around me and truthfully I found it comforting. I looked back over to Donnie in time to see Kaitlyn give him a very emotional hug.
Dad finished cutting Trey loose and gave him a loving smile before handing him his knife back. Trey immediately embraced him in a hug. Once dad was satisfied he was alright he turned to me enveloping me in a deep hug.
Placing a gentle kiss on my forehead my dad asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" he asked quietly.
"We needed to focus on Donnie." I answered leaning heavily into my father.
"You could have still told me, I need to know you three are safe. I love you so much." My dad said holding me tightly.
"I love you too, I'm so sorry." I cried, the floodgates now open my tears could not be stopped.
"Shhh. I have you now and everything is going to be alright." Dad calmed me as I continued to cry in his shoulder. Trey and Donnie eventually joined in for a family hug.
