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The Vortex: Part 2
The Vortex.2[/]
Thunder rumbled overhead. The wind stalked across the grassland as Rain poured down. The cold touched everything. Lightning danced once more and sliced itself into the ground, like a fierce, honed sword. The tall grasses were flung everywhere, but were helpless to save themselves from the onslaught of the storm, powerless to protect themselves from the chaos that sought to destroy everything. The grey sky turned black, Thunder roared at the world, laughing, knowing what was to come. Lightning twirled, tightening itself into a spear of savage, golden light just before it hit. Striking the land, cutting deep into the grass and the ground and the graves, it felt no remorse or regret or pity. Rain fell harder, pelting me with tiny spears of ice. Lightning crashed. Thunder boomed. Rain fell. Then It came. Transcending the barriers of rational thought and logic, it slowly, breathtakingly grew and rose. Wind screamed, tearing at my body again, threatening to rip me into pieces, but I couldn’t do anything to stop it. My heart raced. The vortex came closer and closer and the wind grew louder and stronger with each movement. Touching the clouds, it swirled and swayed, even Lightning and Thunder ceased, but Rain kept straining itself to hail me with bullets of freezing water, biting and ripping and tearing. The Vortex came closer, closer than it had ever been before, closer than anyone had ever been to it. I was afraid. I was afraid of being taken by the Winds and drowned by Rain and struck by Lightning and destroyed by Thunder. Most of all, I was afraid of being devoured by the Vortex. It was so close, and it just kept coming closer and closer and closer.
My eyes snapped open and I gasped for breath as if I had been drowning, drowning in the rain and the fear. I couldn’t. I couldn’t let It get me. I was afraid what would happen if It got me. I was afraid I wouldn’t ever wake up. I was afraid of my dream. I sat up quickly; the blood rushed inside me and made me light headed. I put a hand to my heart, feeling it beat like the wings of a hummingbird. I looked up at my samurai and he looked down at me, his face unchanged. I wondered what he knew. I wondered if I was going insane. It felt like I was going insane, but I had never gone insane before, so I didn’t really know if I was or not, which led me to question if I was already insane. The clock flashed 6:00 am and my radio turned on.
“…Welcome to the hotel California, Such a lovely place, Such a lovely face, Plenty of room at the Hotel California, Any time of year, you can find it here…”
I still pretended like nothing had happened, I just took an extra cup of coffee today.
The yellow monster swallowed me again that morning and I reached school in much the same way I always did. The sun shone brightly outside and the clouds sailed about her like small Yachts. My eyes as I ascended the steps to the front entrance. The bell rang. I went to my locker, got my books and somehow managed to run to my class. After I said the pledge quietly in Latin, I waited and sat down again, looking at the dragons and presidents of the previous day. I added a fish here and there for effect. I felt the insatiable urge to doodle, so I quietly accepted it and drew all over my papers, hoping that it might keep me awake. I placed a manticore on the back of my essay and a gryphon on the back of my binder. My fatigue seemed to melt away as I put my pencil to paper. I felt the happiest I had been in days. On the front of my crossword I started drawing a ball. I shaded it and I kept adding things to it, making it look far different that it was originally supposed to be. I thought it was actually starting to become something interesting. When I took a good look at it, I realized what I had been drawing. A vortex lay on my paper.
After I realized what it was, I felt like I had aged 30 years. It was hard to keep myself awake after that. At lunch, it was even harder to keep a smile. My friends looked at me, concern in their eyes. I told them I had a cold and it kept me up all night, adding a bit of humor by exaggerating the silly, made up details. They seemed to take it for fact and told me not to get near any of them in a joking manner. Nobody likes colds.
I trudged through the halls once more, forcing my body to move. Math class started. I knew from the beginning I would not make it, no matter how many games were on my calculator. I was just so tired. I tried my hardest to stay awake. I tried my hardest to keep listening. I tried my hardest to overcome my fatigue, but I failed. The sun warmed my face. I found it ironic that the very thing I loved so much brought my downfall. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Unable to lift my head anymore, I placed it gently down on the desk, facing the sun. Folding my arms around my head, I gave up and closed my eyes. I’m so glad I don’t snore.
The bell rang, making my heart jump into my throat. Scrambling to use the newly released adrenaline in my system, I picked up my books. Looking back at my teacher, apologies in my eyes, I only received a glare. Tucking my tail between my legs, I ran out into the hall, racing past everyone to get to my locker. I gathered my things and scooted out the doors. My body was running on empty. Even with the hour or so I got from sleeping in Math class, I was still so tired. The monster in yellow growled, letting us in. I sat in the back again and stared out the window, ignoring the bright sunlight that waltzed across my vision, ignoring the brother that sat beside me.
I saw home. I could not run to greet it, but I got there as fast as my legs would carry me under the circumstances. My sister walked along with me and, for once, I was glad to have the company. I felt like I had been shattered and I needed some one beside me to make sure my pieces were not spread or snatched by the wind. Upon reaching the house, I smiled a tired smile at my little gazelle and left him to bark at everything and play with my siblings outside. I did my homework, but my mind was still as clouded as ever. I could not think straight. Fear rose up inside me. I knew it would come again tonight.
After I got ready for bed, I stayed up as long as I could, hoping to evade the Vortex. I knew there was only so long I could go without sleeping, but I was too afraid to sleep. I was too afraid of what could happen if I slept. I was too afraid of loosing what little of myself I had left, but I was so tired. I had to sleep. My weariness overcame my fear. Stumbling into bed, I left the covers below my head, knowing they would give me no protection from what was coming. Nothing could protect me. My clock flashed 11:49 pm. I let darkness veil my eyes and I drifted off into an uneasy slumber.
There was nothing. There was nothing at first.
Thunder boomed overhead. Lightning cackled at me with a crackle and seared the ground with hideous force. Rain came heavier and heavier. The grass did not move, as if it had given up, knowing it would never survive. The sky was pitch-black. It was as if night descended. Maybe it had always been night. Twice Thunder struck. Twice Lightning boomed. Twice Rain ran passed me. Twice Wind hailed, but It only came once. It only needed to come once. It came closer and closer and closer. Wind howled and Lightning raged and Thunder charged and Rain flooded. I stood amongst the grass. I could not run. I could not hide. It was coming. It reached into the sky, touching the dark clouds. Winds rose around me, like wolves, waiting for the right time to strike. Regaining my courage, I stepped back, making one last attempt to save myself, I ran across the ground, bare feet upon the soil. The Vortex raged behind me, coming toward me faster and faster. I dared not look behind, at what was left, at what was approaching. Suddenly I stopped. My body would go no further. It knew I would not outrun the storm. It betrayed me. There was nothing I could do. I turned to face that which besieged my sleeping mind. I turned to face my attacker, my enemy, my foe. I turned to face the Vortex and it devoured me.
I did not open my eyes. My fear kept them shut. Winds tumbled around me, like eagles, but would not drive the final blow. Then Wind stopped. Rain let off to a drizzle. Thunder sang in the distance. I opened my eyes. I was in the eye of the storm.
The sky was a placid grey, calming and relaxing. Lightning flashed like golden beams, but did not singe or scar. A gargantuan tree stood tall in the middle of the eye, branches hung low; low enough for me to climb. I was not scared anymore, so I climbed the tree. The gentle wind picked up my hair, playing with it. A young boy with soft grey eyes and grey hair gazed at me shyly. His hair and eyes, through grey, had not been dulled by age. They had been silvered by wisdom, like the samurai above my bead He was not afraid anymore either, I think. We both smiled and I sat down on the tree with him.
I woke up slowly, wanting to sleep. I love to sleep. I live to sleep. Sitting up, I looked around. Seeing everything from a different perspective, I smiled again. Outside, thunder boomed overhead. It would be warm today, but the sun would not be so bright. Not looking at the time, I got up and got dressed. I picked up a book I had not red in along while and sat down. My alarm clock clicked, but I ignored it. I had time to read. I had time to enjoy the rain outside. I had time to enjoy the thunder and the lightning and the wind.
“…You can turn the clock to zero, honey I'll sell the stock, we'll spend all the money,
we’re starting up a brand new day…”
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