9 Earthquake

Isabella was frightened at the stones and rocks which were sliding and falling from the mountain right ahead along the highway where she was driving. Presence of mind, she told herself. "Oh my God!" She had to pull the car back from where it was headed to avoid the landslide. "O God forbid, I am not ready to die yet." She immediately thought of Josh and Suzy.

She saw a huge boulder fall again, and she was shocked. A loud thud followed, and the earth trembled. She pressed the gear of her car. The car won't start. Isabella immediately got out and ran for safety. In one of the houses on the side of the highway was a table. She ducked off to evade a blow. Then she saw people running, getting out of their houses, running towards the highway. To their horror, the road cracked as the earth continued to sway. They were like mice scampering for a hole where they could be safe. It was a total pandemonium. Isabella was trembling. Minutes passed and the earth still moved. She again thought of Josh and Suzy, whom she left at home. She didn't know what came to mind, why se thought of buying these cheese, cakes, and delicacies without tagging the two kids along. She had always done that, every single day. She couldn't forgive herself should anything happen.

Isabella's mind roared. I got to be home; there must be a way. The trembling stopped. She ran to her car and got inside. As she sat, she started the gear. It did not work. She tried again. It failed. There was no other way to do it. "I won't stop until you start!" she told herself as she pressed on the gear again. Finally, she heard the car's engine spin. She ran it back, swivelled to the right to avoid the cracks on the left side of the highway and put the speed to the hilt. There was nothing in her mind but her son, Josh and Suzy.

Suddenly, the earth shook again. It was a mighty shake that she had no choice but to stop. The car bounced as it stopped, and she, too, bounced from the seat.

Then from the sky flashed a radiant white light that pulsated and shone to a point so bright and she didn't know if she imagined, a voice spoke.

"Isabella!" the voice thundered.

Isabella got scared that she covered her face. He had come back, she thought.

Honk, honk, honk… Isabella woke up from her dream. What a dream she had, now knowing that as she was in distress, she fell unconscious inside her car. Isabella ran the car to its maximum speed. She had to make sure that Josh and Suzy were safe.

"Josh! Suzy!" She banged the door of the house open. The house was messy; things were on the floor. The fear returned in Isabella.

The phone rang. Aaron called, worried about them.

"I am here at home," she said. He said he was stuck in the traffic.

"I will call you back." She remembered saying because all that was in her mind were their two kids.

She looked for them outside the house; called and called, but no one answered.

She returned to the house, and as she was almost losing her strength, sat on a chair, her elbow on the table, and hand on the forehead, what with the horror that she had just been through. Then, the dream came back. She was trying to recollect, "Who could it be that talked to me?" That voice was powerful.

Mama?"

Isabella opened her eyes at the small voice.

"Mama?"

In the bedroom.

She opened the closet and to her surprise the two kids were too scared that they curled themselves inside.

Isabella's heart thumped at the sight of her kids who were still trembling from fear. She hugged Josh first; then, she hugged Suzy, tears welling from her eyes.