Chapter 1

Thunderstorms used to scare him. Not anymore.

Lightning was dangerous, but it wasn't much of a threat to Rowan and what he was around. Most shelters didn't have much electric appliances, what little devices that were available were often battery-powered, and a nomadic lifestyle meant that weather often changed in a matter of minutes - storms overhead would disappear quickly into the distance. For Rowan, a fear of the distant rumble of thunder was a thing of the past.

The natural kind, at least.

Thunder rumbled overhead as Rowan trudged down the hallway, exhausted. The day hadn't ended particularly well - Rowan and his group had been forced to march 10 miles to the nearest outpost because their transport had broken down in the middle of nowhere, and the middle of nowhere is exactly where the danger is. They had stopped for the night, but nowhere was perfectly safe.

They were always hunting.

A flash of lightning and rumble right after made Rowan flinch. The storm seemed to drawing closer and closer, causing the lights to flicker. Someone called out to him from a doorway, "Hey, Blink, the food's ready. You coming?" Rowan smiled. "I'm coming, Tex. Just give me a moment" Tex was his friend. He didn't know his actual name, but nicknames were common amongst people like them. It made it faster and easier to communicate, especially if they had long names.

Rowan leaned against the wall, slowly breathing in and breathing out. There was something there that he couldn't quite place; something that held him back from entering the mess area, something that screamed at him. Perhaps it was the adrenaline coursing through his veins, or maybe it was the storm overhead, and his body was reacting to it. Whatever it was, Rowan was sure there was nothing wrong, but it seemed like-

The bunker shook as an explosion hit right about and clouds of dust fell onto Rowan, who stumbled and fell to the ground. 2 seconds later, the alarms sounded.

Terror and dread suddenly filled Rowan as people rushed out of the mess hall and into the reinforced areas. Tex ran past and shouted "Come on, we have to go!"

But Rowan stood there, realizing what he had felt before, and what had arrived.

The Thunder was here.