Storm Warning!

(Chapter One)

*Our World *

I was heading to my car after a long day of work at the history museum, where I intern to earn college credits to get my Archaeology degree. Once I achieve this the curator of the museum has already promised to hire me. He's even gone as far as to compliment me, by saying that with how bright and enthusiastic I am; I may even win myself a teaching job in my field in two years or so. That's very quick for someone my age. So here I am lost in these happy thoughts...

"Hey, Beck!" I heard Kyle's voice call out my name.

"What?" I asked with a laugh in my voice twirling around toward him.

" You down for coming with me, tonight?"

"I don't know, Kyle."

Kyle is one of my dearest friends; I'd do just about anything for him, I've known him since second grade, and he's also gay so him and I going out has never been an issue. Kyle has lately thought that I work too much. Probably more accurate than I'd care to admit and for the past two months he's been bugging me to join him for a night out. I've been putting him off as long as I possibly can, but I've got a feeling that I may have to go this time. I'm hoping I can come up with a good excuse. I'm not a real big fan of drinking too much and I shake my booty enough as it is at my part-time job.

"Awww, come on Beck! You've been putting me off for the past two months. I want you to come out with the gang and me. You can't tell me you don't need to cut loose honey, I know you."

"Look Kyle, I know you mean well, but I don't think going out and drinking too much is going to help me relax, besides you know what I do to pay my extra bills."

Beck, "we haven't partied together in ages. Besides, I'll be with you the entire time in case any creepers decide to hit on you."

"Okay! Kyle, but only on the condition that I get to grab a few things first."

"Awesome! No problem Beck, whatever you want; you'll see this will be great!"

I squirreled home, put on a change of clothes, and packed my designer zebra print laptop bag with; my laptop, my IPad, my Blackberry, my iPod touch + headphones, the chargers to all this junk, a carton of cigarettes + two extra refillable lighters, and my external hard drive with cord. I'm not sure why I wanted all this crap, but I did. So, I packed it along with my purse and all its contents.

I met up with Kyle in my driveway, I guess he was worried I'd ditch at the last moment if allowed to use my car. If I'd thought I could have gotten away with it I would've.

Kyle eyed my bag and raised an eyebrow at me, he then asked, "Sure ya don't wanna take the kitchen sink ta tie yourself down as well, Beck? Why do I have a feeling you are going to try and ditch me, find some secluded spot, and work?"

Guilty!

We met up with Kyle's friends at Thatcher's Field, which is just a big empty field. In the Spring and Summer, it's covered with flowers and weeds; there are heath blossoms too, but the county has been trying to get those cleared.

I don't think they will ever manage it though, what with the petition and all.

Thatcher's Field is set to be a historical landmark.

See at one time Thatcher's Field was the site where Ezra Thatcher, his wife Winifred, and their three boys used to live. Ezra Thatcher was the founding citizen of Black Falls, the town, I live in.

Just a little back story:

The historical story goes that about thirty years after the town was founded and folks had begun to build lives here; Winnie Thatcher, that's Ezra's wife remember, lost her mind and killed her entire family, except for one.

It happened at the annual fall family function the Thatchers held, to try to keep the family close, every year. The Thatcher Boys were all grown and had families of their own by this time, it was the eldest Thatcher son, James, youngest daughter, a little girl named Sophia who escaped her grandmother's massacre though how she escaped has faded into local legend.

When this little girl, Sophia, was a grown woman she had the land cleared.

To be honest I would too. I sure as hell wouldn't want a giant reminder of the worst day of my life up and standing for everyone along with their dogs to see.

So now the place is simply known as Thatcher's Field; local folklore has it that the field is haunted every year on the anniversary of the massacre by the Thatcher Family all trying to escape Winnie Thatcher's murderous rage and always failing. The local folklore also goes that if anyone is in Thatcher's Field on this night they too become victims of Winifred Thatcher.

It's become really popular for the local kids and college borders to come here and scare friends or dates or hold wild parties.

Like the one, I have just been dragged to. Sigh.

"Hey, Beck! Ky finally gotcha out here with us, huh?" Jesse greeted.

"Hey Jesse, yea looks that way." I returned.

"Awesome!" Jesse asserted, echoing Kyle's sentiment from earlier in the evening.

"So exactly what kind of nonsense have I been roped into?" I asked as we were getting walking to where I presume is the party site.

"Nothing major Beck, don't worry. There is a light show on the horizon tonight so you will probably get lucky and will be able to bounce early." Eva said trying to reassure me.

"Light show?" I asked feeling a little nervous.

I did not like the sound of this!

"In English, Jesse chuckled, a Lightening Storm."

"Oh. I replied, thanks, Jesse."

Gee that makes me feel so much better, NOT!

I hate lighting!

I knew I didn't like the sound of this!

"No problem, babe." Jesse returned.

"Don't call her "babe"! She is not a pig and it's a sexist thing to say!" Eva snapped at Jesse.

"It's fine, Eva. I've been called worse." I said stepping in to rescue Jesse and head off a squabble.

Luke shook his head, smiled at me, and said "C' mon Becky-Girl, as we arrive by the lake, dance with me."

"Oh, Joy!" I volleyed at him sarcastically.

Luke let out a loud, huge laugh and leads me to the area where music has been set up; a whole bunch of people (college kids mostly, like me) are dancing.

"Thanks," I said wrinkling my nose.

"Always," he replied with a wolf grin.

"The Black Falls themselves, sweetheart. "

Oh, greeaaat, water plus lightning, what a wonderful combination.

"Is that a wise idea, considering?"

"Long as we're careful and get our booties out of here at the first sign of trouble we should be fine darlin', no need to worry."

Careful? Kyle and his crew, including Mr. Luke Bishop here, don't have the slightest idea what careful is! Hello, we are at a, technically illegal, party people!

Despite all the bad dancing, booze, and flirting going on, I am starting to enjoy myself, I just wish I could shake this uneasy feeling I've got in the pit of my stomach.

Have I mentioned that I'm not a fan of lightning?

All too soon the lightning storm made an appearance.

Thanks, Mother Nature.

The wind kicked up pretty quickly after the lightning storm had started.

Unfortunately around the time the wind started, people went into full-on panic mode.

Eva yelled out to Luke and me to get our butts in gear and get the hell outta there!

"Beck, c'mon!" Kyle yelled at me.

"What and miss the Light Show?!" I yelled back sarcastically.

"Beck!" I heard Jesse's voice call on the wind.

Some idiot in a panic to get outta the lighting and wind smacked right into me.

The next thing I heard was "Crack" "Crash". I screamed at the "Flash" of lightning right behind me and the sound of it hitting the tree, also right behind me.

A moment later the branch fell and knocked me into Black Falls Pool. The last thing I heard was..."BECK!"