Distant Storm

I waited weeks for Abdalin to actually show up. When he did, he kind of caught me by surprise. He appeared next to me, grabbed my arm, and next thing I knew, we were back in California, at Kyle's house.

“Jeez, dude!” I said. “Warning next time!”

“Whatever,” he said.

“You realize you left Lana behind, right?” I asked.

“Don't care,” he said, walking out into the middle of the cul de sac and looking at the horizon.

“So, can you get me to the Board?” I asked.

He didn't answer.

“Um, hello?” I asked.

“Just as I thought,” he muttered.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“It's here now,” he said.

I looked where he was looking and saw what he meant. There were dark clouds in the sky, miles away from us.

“Is that a storm?” I asked.

“Are you just now noticing it?” he said.

“I just got here,” I said.

“So did it,” he said.

“What?” I asked.

“That's no normal storm,” he said.

Then he vanished. Weirdo...

Kyle and Seraph came outside immediately after that. Seraph slapped me across the face and then threw her arms around me in a hug.

“Stop ditching me!” she said.

“I can't promise that,” I said.

“You two have the weirdest relationship,” Kyle said.

“Shut up,” Seraph told him, releasing me.

I looked into her eyes for a few moments before pulling her back over to me and kissing her.

“Really dude?” Kyle said. “Right in front of me?”

“Yes, Kyle,” I said. “Right in front of you.

I turned my attention back to the looming storm. It looked closer now.

“What is that?” Kyle asked.

“I don't know,” I said. “But I don't think we should stick around to find out.”

Kyle handed the keys to my car to me and nodded towards it, parked on the side of the road.

“Where to?” he asked.

“We'll think of somewhere on the way,” I said.

Kyle nodded and walked to the car. I stood with Seraph for a while longer, looking at that strm. Abdalin was right. There as something off about it.

“You okay?” Seraph asked me.

“I dunno,” I said. “Things just keep getting more and more confusing.”

“It's okay,” she said, taking my hand. “You know we're here for you, right?”

“That's what worries me,” I said, looking at her. “You know that if you stay with me, I might get you killed, right?”

She laughed at that. “I can handle myself. It's you I'm worried about.”

My could feel my heart sinking when she said that. I think she could sense it, because her hand tightened around mine and her voice took on a concerned tone.

“Daniel?” she asked. “Are you... okay?”

“No,” I said softly.

“What's wrong?” she asked. “Tell me.”

“I can't,” I said. There was a lump rising in my throat now.

“Daniel,” she said. “Tell me.”

I took a deep breathe.

“It's what you just said,” I said. “That you're worried about me.”

“Yeah,” She said. “Oh coarse I am. What's wrong with that?”

“You know, don't you?” I asked. “About my destiny?”

“Daniel, what are you...?” She said, her voice trailing off.

“I'm going to die,” I said. “I'm going to die doing this.”

“Daniel...,” she almost whispered.

“That's the only possible outcome for me,” I said. I couldn't stop the tears any more. “I'm going to sacrifice myself for the people I care about. And I'll leave you guys alone, at their mercy.”

“You don't know that!” She said. “There's another possibility. You could be the victor. You could beat them!”

“No, I can't!” I snapped. “Not without my powers! I'm no match for them. I'm... I'm just...”

My legs seemed to give out on my. My fingers slid from hers and I fell to my knees. I had to put my hands out in front of me to keep from hitting the asphalt.

“I'm just a human...,” I said.

Seraph knelt down in front of me and slapped me. Hard.

“Daniel Xavier Ferris!” She said sternly. “You pull yourself together right now!”

I looked up at her.

“You are not just a human,” she said. “Do you know what you are?”

I looked at her, a little confused.

“You're the man you fired a gun at the Mother Of Snakes,” she said. “You're the man who trudged on with a mutilated arm and still kicked every ass that presented itself to you. You've taken on Gods, Sociopaths, and even yourself, and you've come out stronger every time, so don't you tell me that you're just a human. You are Daniel fucking Ferris! The most stubborn son of bitch I've ever met.”

I sat there for a moment. I breathed in and out, clearing my head. I got back to my feet again, and looked back at the storm. It seemed... not as dark, anymore... weird...

I looked back down at Seraph and held my hand out to her.

“Thanks,” I said. “I needed that.”

She took my hand and I helped her up.

“Let's get going,” I said.

“Yeah,” she agreed. “I don't trust that storm.”

I nodded, but to be honest, I wasn't so sure. I don't know what that storm is, but there's something familiar about it. I can't put my finger on it, but I get this feeling...

Whatever. I'll deal with it later. Right now, I need to think about what to do from here.