Storm Warning

The Best Laid Plans

                      It was hours later when we brought the current situation back up. Maddie, being the planner of the group, was the one who insisted we devise a plan. “I just think that we need a plan. I mean, people are trying to kill you, Ari.” Maddie plays to my heartstrings for the nickname she game me when we were younger and she thought my name was too long to say.

                     I nod. “I’m not arguing with you.”

                     Derek sighs. “Good.” Derek and I look at each other with knowing looks before tuning back into Maddie’s verbal monologue. “Let’s start with what we know. 1) Sarah is dead, not just dead, but killed.” I wince but Maddie keeps talking and doesn’t notice. “2) Sarah left behind a journal with a map, basically. 3) We cannot trust anyone right now. This means that you need to get far away from here. The journal provides us with a place to go… Freedom Park in Vermont. You have the money at that train station to help support you and your travels. Although uncertainty is still aplenty, you also seem to have an ability of some sort.” Maddie paces back and forth a couple of minutes before I take over.

                     As I watch Maddie pace, I continue the plan from where she stopped. “We need to break it all down to small workable units. First, I need to get that money from the train station and make a to-go bag with essentials.

                     Derek nods. “What kind of essentials are you thinking? Like are we thinking clothes? Or maybe food? Or money? Or weapons until you learn to control your power?”

                     Maddie and I look at each other with shocked faces. Neither of us had considered the need for weapons, but I guess it does make sense. In unison, we reply, “Yes.”

                     “So… assuming the books I have read and the movies I have seen have any truth to them, we will need to keep this to-go bag light. It should not have anything we don’t want my enemies getting or anything that cannot be replaced in some form. The only non-replaceable item will be the journal. No telling what will happen out there.” Derek grabs his phone and shows me his note app. Reaching out, I remove the phone from his hands and turn it off. “No phones. Easily tracked. The resources that they have at their disposal makes it harder for us to stay hidden. There is nothing we can do about that… yet. BUT no reason to make it easy on them. In fact, I am going to make it as difficult for them as possible.”

                     Derek curses. “Damn. You’re right. I didn’t even think of that, but I should have.”

                     Sighing, I place my hands on his shoulder as I toss his phone onto the table. “Why would you? This is new territory. Why would any of us have thought this is the way our lives would be turned upside down? It is not really your responsibility to know the terrain. Hell, it is not even mine. But these are the cards we have been dealt, and we need to make do.”

                     He shakes his head, but doesn’t broach the subject. Instead, he plans the items for the to-go bag. I can’t blame him for focusing on the problem he could do something about. “We want to be sure to account for the weather. If you are traveling, you will come across different states with different climates. I am thinking two shirts, one pair of pants, two pairs of underwear, …”. I open my mouth to point out that I’d prefer he not deal with my underwear but he steamrolls through with the rest of his list. I decide to let it go; since, it won’t be the first time he sees my underwear, and frankly, because my life does not allow me modesty any longer. I have to be focused on survival and not frilly things like parties or boys seeing my underwear. “… and two bras. Dang, this is going to be nasty. You don’t want to use up all of the space in the bag. You will have to buy lady products when necessary but I don’t think you should keep those on hand when not in use because it takes too much space. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself; nights at hotels or motels will be limited and so will your showers. You will need a sweater, an additional pair of pants, socks, shoes, and a shirt. You will wear all of this and the extras will be in the bag. This allows you to have two pairs of clothes essentially.”

                     Maddie jumps in with “Don’t forget about provisions! She is going to need food; so, she doesn’t have to keep buying some.”

                     Derek turns on his heel with his fingers snapping mid-pace. “That’s right! Thanks Maddie! There will also be water bottles and snack bars. Hopefully, this will get you through. You can refill bottles, but can stock up on food as needed. We want to use money sparingly because we aren’t sure how long you will be gone, how lengthy this path may be, or if there are emergencies that come up where you need the money.”

                     I smile to myself as all three of us are currently having three didn’t conversations with ourselves. Picking up with my train of thought, I continue my own ramblings. “Now that Derek has identified my to-go bag items…” He ducks his head as his cheeks redden. “ANYWAY, the second step is to figure out this ability Sarah says I have. It is some kind of weather manipulation. I saw it with that cop, but if I can’t use it when I need to, it is of no use to me, and I will find myself dead pretty soon. This may need to happen as I travel. Not sure how much time I should be here. Probably best to keep moving.”

                     Maddie nods and looks at me. “Third, I need to figure out… EMPHASIS on NEED…to figure out what to do with the money. I don’t want it on me if they catch up to me. That will get me no where real fast.”

                     “I agree, but Derek and I are going with you.”

                     I shake my head and berate myself for not seeing this coming EVEN though I know they would not have wanted me to be there out on my own. “You canNOT come with me. It is too dangerous! You could get hurt. You both have lives here that no longer include me… or Sarah.”

                     Maddie grinds her teeth. “THE HELL WE ARE NOT! You can’t be out her on your own! Who will look out for you?”

                     I smile sadly. “Listen. I love you! Both of you! Maddie, you’ve been my best friend and my family for years. You are a part of me as I live and breathe. Derek… although we did not work out, you and Derek will. I need you here… looking out for each other.” Maddie gapes at me in shock before looking at Derek with worry. “Yes. I know. It is a good match. I did not see it before, but perhaps, I should have. I knew something had changed before Derek and I got back together this last time. I just never fathomed that it could be in preparation to this. I wouldn’t have been able to leave you behind if we stayed together. My body, my mind, my heart knew this. But I can leave knowing that he is here watching out for you in a way I am no longer able to do. Besides, this relationship is worth pursuing. I am fine, and you have my blessing… not that you ever actually needed it. That is why I cannot let you give up your lives for mine. My life as I know it… is over, but yours is not. Hell, it might be the beginning for both of your lives. Thanks to Senior Year and all.” I sigh. “And other than that, there is nothing left to plan. This course of events is too unpredictable. I can’t plan something because this path has too many unknowns. I will only be able to do one step at a time, and I will not be surprised if even one step ahead is too much. There are entirely too many obstacles.”

                     Maddie taps her foot as she struggles between happiness that I understand about her and Derek and between wanting to give me hell in the form of agitated finger wagging and yelling. Maddie having made her choice fumes as she continues to tap her foot on the floor and stares at me. She starts moving to the door with her arms crossed. “Derek! Come with me!” Shrugging, Derek follows Maddie out of the cabin. I give him a sympathetic smile as he passes by me and walks out of the cabin, closing the door with a gentle pull. While focused on Derek and what comes next, I never noticed Maddie grab the journal on the way out the door, which was sitting on the table right inside the front door.

                     Sighing as the car roars to life and is heard pulling out of the overgrown driveway, I start to focus on the one thing I can do. I walk out of the front door the front door and into the woods as I prepare to identify and practice my ability.

                     About 20 minutes later, I have twigs in my hair and scratches on my cheek from branches fighting back as I moved them aside. Removing the twigs and rubbing my cheek, I find myself in an empty clearing with several targets placed at various angles and distances. I remember a story that I had long forgotten Derek told me. Smiling, I picture that time when Derek told me on our first date about his favorite place— a clearing at his aunt’s house, where he practiced shooting his BB guns. This must be that clearing. There is a chest off to my right that is surrounded by weeds that seek to claim the box. As I wander over, I see broken weeds scattered around the box. Opening the chest, I catch targets off in the distance with my peripheral vision. Upon looking inside the chest, I see the BB g*n of Derek’s childhood. I run my fingers gently down the body of the g*n before my eyes move on. The BB g*n sits alongside several used and unused targets. Despite the time that has passed since his aunt’s death, the clearing and the materials still look as crisp as the first day this clearing was put to use. Interesting. Derek never mentioned coming up here but he is the only logical choice for maintaining the materials in this chest and the rest of the clearing.

                     I bite my lip as I notice a small yellow corner among the targets. With a gentle pull, the folded note comes away with ease despite of all of the wrinkles. The words are smeared but legible in its small carefully placed penmanship. I laugh to myself as I recognize the note is on the back of an old receipt. I unfold the note and read:

                                                                                    “Arielle –

                     I knew you would eventually wander. You always do. Especially, if you need time to think. If you guessed, this is my favorite place. We discussed it on our first date. I may have been wrong about the upkeep of the cabin, but this I am sure of. I come every weekend for a couple of hours and keep the place clean. I am glad you get to see it, but not about the circumstances of why it is necessary. Use these materials to practice your aim and intensity. This is your best bet for survival.

                                                                                        -Derek”

                     Turning over the note as if more information would appear on the receipt side of things, I sigh, roll my shoulders, and place the note gently back into the chest. My only proof that he knew I would find this place and expected me to take advantage of the privacy was the note. A gust of wind picks up the note from where I lay it, and I quickly grab the note from the air. I tucked the note into the side of the chest to protect any more escapes. The note was further proof that he had come to the same conclusion as I. I needed to learn to control my ability before I lose my life.

                     I close the lid to the chest and walk about 5 yards away to a small log at the edge of the clearing. Sitting, I try to find a place to start. Thankfully, Jenny recorded our abilities. Despite the journal belonging to Sarah, it is still as if it was recorded by a different person. I, supposedly, control the weather—the hows of which are unclear.

                     Staring at my hands, I stand up and fling them in front of me palm out and… nothing. I put them out palm up like spider man… nothing. I squint my eyes real hard… nothing. I hold my palms out in front of me and wait… nothing. I continued for two hours like this… with nothing to show for my efforts. What a letdown, huh?