Another Storm

Jardan stepped through the trees and moved to the side. When she caught up to him, Callie gasped. The scene was breathtaking.

Before them lay valley after valley rolling between the range of mountains. Luscious green trees flowed over the land like a never-ending river. A small creek flowed down through the lowest levels and meandered past where the eye could see.

“Wow,” Callie whispered. “It is beautiful.”

“Yes, it is.” Jardan moved toward the edge of the cliff and looked out over the land. “I love it here. I come here often and just think.” He pulled the camera up and began taking shots.

Callie moved up by him and soaked in the scene. “I can see why.”

“Here we’ll eat a bit and rest before heading back down. We should get back about an hour before night falls.” He sat his backpack down on the large clearing that hung out over the cliff.

Callie sat down on a fallen log and sat her pack down beside her. It felt good to rest for a bit. So engrossed in soaking in the surroundings, she had not realized how far they had walked and now felt the weariness in her muscles. Now she just wanted to let her body rest and her mind enjoy the scene.

Jardan opened up his pack and pulled out several wrapped packages. He handed Callie one and sat one down in front of himself.

Opening hers, Callie smiled at the sight. It was one of her favorite sandwiches, egg salad with cheese. She looked up at Jardan. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “You bring it almost every day for lunch.”

“You noticed?” Callie blinked in surprise.

Jardan gave her a quick look before looking back down at his own food. “I notice a lot like how you twirl your hair when you aren’t sure of an answer in class or you sit back relaxed when you understand what you hear.”

“Really?”

Callie saw a light blush rise up from Jardan’s neck. She felt her own face flush. Having no idea what to say, she picked up the sandwich and took a bite. It was delicious.

“Thank you.”

Jardan gave her a smile as he dug into his own sandwich. Along with the sandwiches, there were bags of chips and wrapped brownies. Bottles filled with cool juice topped it off.

Callie thought of asking Jardan about the other students but was scared to. She was the outsider and implying that the others were rude could push Jardan away. It was better to just keep quiet.

Jardan broke the silence as he took a bite of a chip. “What was it like...where you lived before?”

Callie shrugged. “Just like any place with teens. The town is just outside a major city where we went a lot of the time to different hangouts.”

“Where did you hang out?”

“Pizza places mostly. There were a couple of hamburger drive-ins that we’d go to. It just depended on the mood. Where do you guys hang out here?” He had opened the door for her to learn more, and she was going to take advantage of it.

Swallowing his food, he answered, “Usually down at The Boat House.”

Callie nodded. She knew of the popular club. They passed by it going to the supermarket each week.

The Boat House was a local restaurant that had a dance club for teens and a large beach section where many of the teens hung out at night with fires and food. Callie had never been invited to go, though her mother and Jasper had gone a few times with other couples. Callie had always been left out.

“Have you been there yet?”

Callie shook her head. “Mom and Jasper have gone.”

“But not you?”

“Never invited.”

Jardan crumpled up the remains of his lunch. “I’m sorry it has been hard to fit in around here. We’re not used to strangers. And I’m really sorry I haven’t reached out until now.”

Callie gave him a reassuring smile. “No problem. I don’t exactly fit in around here.”

He raised his camera and quickly took a few shots of her. “You might fit in more than you think.”

Callie frowned as she tried to avoid the camera. “What do you mean?”

Jardan looked up at the sky and said, “We need to get going. It will be dark before long.”

Without her question answered, they picked up everything and began to make their way back down the mountain. Callie gave one last glance up the trail wondering what else was further up the mountain. Though her thoughts turned instead to the evasive answers she seemed to get from Jardan and others in town. Even Jasper didn’t seem to be straight with her at times.

They were halfway back to the car when a loud noise above them stopped them in their tracks. Callie noticed that the clear sky now grew dark with clouds swirling as they had the night before. Lightning struck across the sky, causing her to jump.

Jardan swore under his breath. Turning around, he grabbed Callie’s arm and pulled her close as the wind began to whistle through the trees. She leaned against him as the force of the wind was stronger than expected where they were under the trees.

“We won’t make it back home before it gets worse. We have to find sanctuary.” He had to raise his voice above the howling winds.

“Where?” Callie noted the choice of words he used.

“We’ll have to go down to the ruins. Nowhere else to go. Come on and stay close to me.”

Callie nodded. Jardan turned and made his way down the mountain without a path to lead him. They were still a long way from the path that branched off to the ruins they had passed earlier. Callie followed close behind. After a few minutes, Jardan reached back and took her hand to keep her steady and close.

Above them the clouds darkened the sky to the point where it appeared to be the middle of the night. Callie lost her footing several times as she could not see anything around her except when the lightning flashed above her. Jardan stayed beside her and helped her through the rough terrain. She noted his urgency to get them to their destination. There was no slowness to safely walk over the uneven ground. He was in a hurry.

She felt the ground beneath her level out. Jardan led her through the thick trees and into a small clearing. She looked up with wide eyes. The sky was black. Not a star in the sky. Not even lightening at that moment to show her where they were. Before she could comment, Jardan tugged at her hand. She looked at him and noticed the serious look on his face.

“Come on! Hurry!”

He led her through a thick, vine-covered area to a tall marble arch hidden within the greenery. Pulling her through it, Callie found them in a small room. She couldn’t see much due to the dark sky. The flashes from outside showed her a round ceiling of marble and walls covered in vines.

Just as they entered the small building, thunder roared angrily. Rain and hail pelleted down on them, but the roof protected them. Jardan pulled her into the center of the room and into his arms.

Callie didn’t protest. She welcomed it as the weather outside became scary. She felt like a tornado was about to drop on them. Clinging to Jardan, she looked up.

“What is happening?”

A glance at Jardan showed her a worried face. “Bad timing.”

“What do we do now?”

“Wait it out.” His voice was calm but with an edge of worry in it.

“How long?”

“As long as it goes on.”

She shook her head and then buried it against when thunder slammed down on them. The earth shook under their feet. “Do you usually have these frequent storms?”

“No.”

“Then what is going on?”

Jardan looked down at her and pressed his lips together. “A lot it seems. Why don’t we settle down here and try to relax?”

“Relax?” Callie shouted over the thunder.

Jardan laughed. “It could happen.” He led her over to a far wall and set down against the thick vines. Callie settled down next to him and welcomed the arm he put around her.

A little feeling of warmth settled in Callie’s stomach. It felt strange to have him so close and holding her, yet it felt right. It also felt safe. That was what she needed the most at that moment with the storm wrecking havoc around them.

Sitting there, the storm raged on. Callie relaxed and breathed in the earthy smell of Jardan. Now that the initial fright of the storm had passed, she felt her heart beat fast for other reasons. Telling herself that it was foolish to even let her mind flirt with such ideas, she forced herself to listen to the storm.

“Will this last all night?” Callie whispered.

“I have a bad feeling that it will.”

“With all this rain, will this area flood?”

“No. There are many natural drainage points that keep it dry.”

Confused about his reply, she started to ask him to clarify but she had only opened her mouth to ask when a thunderclap shook the building they were in. She pressed up against Jardan as he pulled her tightly to him.

“Are you sure we are safe here?”

“It is a sanctuary, but it doesn’t mean we won’t hear it.”

She buried her face against his chest and prayed for the storm to pass. Jardan rubbed her back until she relaxed and fell asleep.

****

Jardan laid his cheek on Callie’s head and closed his eyes. Despite the turmoil outside, he felt a peace settle within him. He knew she was special when he first saw her walk into class. Yes, he knew who she was, but it was a type of special only for him.

He had been told not to approach her too soon. It had been hard, but he waited until his father said it was time. Nothing could be rushed. Callie had to adjust like any normal teen until the time was right.

Jardan argued against the strategy. He thought it was wrong of them to deceive her so. She was strong enough to bear it though she wouldn’t understand it. Not raised in Shadowfort, it would be alien and scary for her, but he was determined to be there for her through it all.

Now the storm tried to pull her from him and those around her. He wouldn’t let it. He had promised to protect her with his life, and he would. Let the evil outside beat down on them. They were within the protection that could not be penetrated.