The sun blared its scorching summertime rays heating the grassy well maintained grass and shrubbery. Cicadas chirped merrily in the trees within Uminari City Park, a slight but overly welcome breeze blew used napkin against a chain link fence. Not even the squirrels dared to leave the sanctuary of their shade trees for the bountiful fruits nature had to offer. People sought refuge indoors, quietly contemplating cooler days, eagerly awaiting for autumn, despite all the chores associated with the season.
The park may have been dreadfully quiet, baking under the Sol Star, however, deeply underground, buried in a long forgotten crypt something began to glow, not unlike a modern-day black-light. This however, was indeed more ancient than all recorded history for the planet.
Kimiko stared out the window during her boring teacher's dull lecture about earthworms and composting. The blue sky with its cheerful sun beckoned her to come and play, chasing the butterflies daring to be giggled at. As she gazed longingly toward her eventual freedom, she noticed the light dimmed, but there weren't any clouds a moment ago? She looked harder, turning her head to face the large window. The scene had changed to one of dark storm clouds that looked like a vortex was forming not too far away from her school.
"Heel unto me, thy child.", I heard inside my head in a dark, deep voice that reverberated against my skull.
A loud crash of thunder slammed into the ground and a moment later the lights went out. Some of my classmates screamed as the building shook, but I was too preoccupied with the voice. Who was that, and where did it come from, and the lights with the thunder were all too much of a coincidence to ignore.
I must go find that voice. It's outside, somewhere, and I just know it's close by.
Matilda quietly commented to herself amidst all the chaos and screaming of the other children. Unlike her classmates, Matilda preferred the darkness. And she finally could show off her nails, as the sharpened points on her fingers glowed a soft deep purple. She glanced around the room, tuning out the teacher barking orders to hush and settle down, her eyes fixed on a classmate who appeared to be just as still as herself. In fact, she just stared toward the window, gazing at the storm clouds that weren't there only moments before.
I glanced around, feeling eyeballs on me, that creepy feeling you get when someone is staring at you.
Oh, it's her, that freak.
I grabbed my purse from under my chair and stood up. Nobody paid any attention to me as I walked toward the door, which had been left open from when the teacher checked the hallway. Only a couple of sparse lights were on, drawing their power from the emergency batteries installed inside them. I walked down the hall to the staircase, and carefully held onto the handrail. The last thing I needed was a broken ankle or something.
When I got down to the ground floor, I realized I wasn't the only student out roaming the hallways. But that didn't slow me down any. I had to get outside. The front door was only a few more meters ahead of me. Curiously has completely overtaken all the responsibility I possessed. One footstep in front of the other, I madey way to the door, and walked through it.
Once outside, the wind tore through me. It's cold chill embraced my body, but I kept walking, right towards the park.
Matilda subtly smiled, though nobody could notice under the cloak of darkness that enveloped the classroom as Kimiko glanced back at her. She watched as the girl quickly packed up her things and made a beeline towards the door. Matilda watched quietly as Kimiko vanished from around the door frame to the right.
"She's going outside. I must follow."
Then Matilda quietly got up, leaving her things behind. When the lights come back on, they'll start looking for me, maybe. It'll be a good distraction to kill time for the others. Matilda walked down the hall and followed Kimiko from a distance. Unsurpassed by the complete lack of discipline from her fellow students, she smiled inward. Chaos was a fine partner, indeed!
Once outside, the wind scattered Matilda's long raven hair all over. Thunder echoed with a boom all around, and bright streaks of lightning filled the cloudy sky, Green leaves flew through the air, helpless throughout their travels towards destinations unknown. Matilda kept her gaze fixed upon Kimiko. A dainty girl like her could easily get blown away in such a wind.
The park was only a ten minute walk, following mostly deserted sidewalks along sparsely driven roads. This area was home to mostly residents, who would be slaving away at their jobs right now. Yet despite the eeriness of the storm and lack of people around, Matilda felt a calm peace as she entered the City Park, closely observing her target.
As I walked into the park, suddenly I felt warm. The wind settled around me, but I could see trees swaying, leaves and trash blowing around outside of the park. I turned around and didn't expect to see her walking toward me.
"Hey! What are you doing out here in this storm?! You're gonna get struck by lighting and junk!", I screamed over the howling wind at the two newcomers to my refuge. "Come on, let's go. It's gonna start down-pouring any minute now!"
I grabbed both girls by their hands and pulled them toward a large tree. A rope ladder dangled from a branch.
