Chapter 3 [takes place just after Chapter 1]:
"Batten down the hatches, kids. We're in for a long night."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
She should have stayed at Karen's, she sighed to herself as she lit yet another candle in her room. The power had been out for about an hour now, and the looming sky outside only added trepidation to the darkness. Why aren't my parents here? the little Haley within her squeaked with fear in her voice. They had left a message earlier profusely apologizing for their absence and begging her to stay inside all night. She heard what she hoped was a branch bang against her window. Right, like she was going to go out in that!
Against her better judgment, she walked towards the window. She felt a strange compulsion to look outside. Perhaps it was the sadist in her who always stopped (for a very small moment, anyway) to glance upon car crashes. Or maybe it was the change in the winds. Something was different outside, and she wanted, no scratch that, needed to see what it was.
Another branch flew by, and Haley drew in a sharp breath. Her eyes traveled the landscape outside and settled on a dark figure beyond her house. She should have been scared, but there was nothing menacing about it. The figure was familiar. The shoulders sloped at an angle she knew from touch. The eyes, although she couldn't quite see them, were searching. She was sure of it. They were always searching. For love. For reassurance. For some peace in his chaotic life. Nathan.
He stood amidst the chaos raging outside. His unyielding frame almost daring the flying debris of trees, mud, and, was that a mailbox? Before she even knew what she was doing, her legs swiftly took her downstairs and out the door. She pulled at her sweater, trying to keep warm amongst the strong gusts of rain. It was futile, though. She was soaked within seconds. She wished she cared, but the only thing she was concerned for was the person in front of her.
"Nathan?" His eyes locked with hers. Something, was it confusion, filling the liquid pools. She heard him mumble something that was promptly carried away with the wind. "Nathan," she cried grabbing his hand, "we need to go inside."
"Batten down the hatches, kids. We're in for a long night."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
She should have stayed at Karen's, she sighed to herself as she lit yet another candle in her room. The power had been out for about an hour now, and the looming sky outside only added trepidation to the darkness. Why aren't my parents here? the little Haley within her squeaked with fear in her voice. They had left a message earlier profusely apologizing for their absence and begging her to stay inside all night. She heard what she hoped was a branch bang against her window. Right, like she was going to go out in that!
Against her better judgment, she walked towards the window. She felt a strange compulsion to look outside. Perhaps it was the sadist in her who always stopped (for a very small moment, anyway) to glance upon car crashes. Or maybe it was the change in the winds. Something was different outside, and she wanted, no scratch that, needed to see what it was.
Another branch flew by, and Haley drew in a sharp breath. Her eyes traveled the landscape outside and settled on a dark figure beyond her house. She should have been scared, but there was nothing menacing about it. The figure was familiar. The shoulders sloped at an angle she knew from touch. The eyes, although she couldn't quite see them, were searching. She was sure of it. They were always searching. For love. For reassurance. For some peace in his chaotic life. Nathan.
He stood amidst the chaos raging outside. His unyielding frame almost daring the flying debris of trees, mud, and, was that a mailbox? Before she even knew what she was doing, her legs swiftly took her downstairs and out the door. She pulled at her sweater, trying to keep warm amongst the strong gusts of rain. It was futile, though. She was soaked within seconds. She wished she cared, but the only thing she was concerned for was the person in front of her.
"Nathan?" His eyes locked with hers. Something, was it confusion, filling the liquid pools. She heard him mumble something that was promptly carried away with the wind. "Nathan," she cried grabbing his hand, "we need to go inside."