Chapter 1
First light dawns upon a morning’s eve as a rising mist of storm clouds gather across the crimson horizon. The sunrise is visible – radiant and beaming – as daylight scatters across layers of the looming atmosphere. A cooling ambiance of warmth envelopes, over mountains and lush fields, as the motions of whirling winds bring a soothing calm before an inevitable brewing storm.
To the north, olive green pastures of rural lands remain undisturbed by the urbanization of cities as the locals start their day – harvesting the fruits of their labor over towering stocks of diverse crops and fruits alike. Downtown, the irresistible fragrance of fresh homemade bread makes its way across the small village as children can be heard getting ready for their day of school.
The ignition of car engines echoes into the landscape, while above gradient clouds hover overcast into the formation of rain clouds.
A thunderous boom breaks the silence as an illumination of lightening strike across the sky miles away. This does not stop the locals but they prepare for the coming rainstorm with umbrellas and such. As moments passed, the rain carried an ambiance of droplet sounds, followed by ripples of flowing water as it scattered across the soil.
A draft of cooling wind howls, splashing the citizens caught in it’s wing with a shivering cold sensation. Tucking themselves deeply in their coats, a familiar warmth glaze across their faces. A tiny glimpse of the sun is breaking through the clouds. The rain falls harder, pouring it’s heavy load over the landscape shifting the humidity from a calm, into a cold moist air. After being drenched, their boots and socks wet with rainwater, a roaring flare of thunder strikes closer.
Another flash of lightening illuminates. And then another. These continuous booms echo like mortar shells firing across the basin.
A slight glance to the west revealed something was brewing. The sky had darkened, with clouds interwoven together and gusts of winds circling around. A towering formation began to take shape – a tornado morphing together- set course towards devastation as it slowly began to reach the groomed earth.
Seconds later, an emergency alarm was raised in every building of the town. With an evacuation issued and precaution edicts launched, teachers gathered anxiously as frightened children were being rushed to take shelter. The locals hurried to do the same, abandoning their work into basements below the buildings.
Then, the tornado reached the ground. Uprooting forest trees and dirt into dust across the open plain, the storm winds shatter neighboring glass from houses and cars alike. Under darken skies, flocks of birds fly away desperately over the horizon as the wind further the disturbance.
– She rose in a daze breathing heavily. Disoriented from consciousness, she tucked herself comfortably against a pillow. It was just a dream.
Present next to her bed, there was a note on her phone:
“Hey! Call me when you can! ” the text message read. It was from Emma, her best friend.
From the corner of her room, the walls were decorated with anime and impressionist scenic paintings she drew many years ago which began her catalyst into the arts as a painter. Her primordial yearn was to bridge what came to her mind into a detailed visual expression of her thoughts; a panorama of her dreams transposed into her paintings. From time to time, she would work on her cherished project: a collection of landscapes visible with the sun, moon, and stars put together, as a single grandiose canvas stretching across her room.
Glancing over to her window, she arose to greet the outside view. Suburban homes bathed in sunlight with small critters roaming across fields, her breath pulsated as she felt the passing wind.
Taking a step away, she quickly got dressed and addressed what was needed in preparation for class. Text messages exchanged between her and Emma scheduled a short meetup at a local cafe, then go to school. Moments later she was outside opening the car door as she proceeded en route to her destination.
