Thunder

Chapter 13

Wind.

Thunder.

Rain.

And a train?

The noises are frightening, deafening. Even more so as I'm running closer and closer to the danger. The buckets of water pouring from the sky blur my sight, but the swirling cloud tearing through the field is visible enough.

How am I'm going to stop it? Simple, I just circle around it fast enough to cause it to stop spinning.

Can I actually do that?

Staying quite a distance away from the actual tornado, I begin to circle it in the opposite direction that it is spinning. I can feel the sucking force of the wind, trying to pull me closer, but I fight it as best as I can. I put all my energy into running, attempting to go fast enough. It only takes a couple seconds for me to circle completely around the storm, but the winds aren't weakening.

Maybe I need to get closer.

I decrease the distance between me and the violent tornado making its way closer and closer to town. Corn plants and other debris flies by and I try to avoid it, with some difficulty. I concentrate solely on running, trying to push any fear and uncertainty from my mind. I can't run fast enough.

My foot catches on a mangled corn stalk and I trip.  Suddenly, I'm being pulled in the opposite direction. The strong wind sends me tumbling through the air, screaming. My flight power kicks in as I attempt to break out of the dizzying spiral. Disoriented, I manage to escape, partially being thrown by the tornado. I land a 'safe' distance away, giving myself a moment to rest until the world stop spinning.

This isn't working. What do I do?

Maybe I need to run faster. Can I run faster?

Concentrate. Concentrate. Forget any fear.

I close my eyes, focusing on my objective. I can feel the tremedous power of the storm; the wind, the rain, the lightning. I can sense the power within me. I feel more powerful. The storm is giving me more power.

I open my eyes, determined to stop the tornado.

"Here goes everything," I mutter to myself. I run circles around the storm again, inching closer and closer with each lap. I receive more energy from the storm--I'm not quite sure how exactly I am doing so--and run faster and faster against the wind. I reach what I believe to be my previous top speed, but it still isn't fast enough. I will my legs to go even faster. It is difficult to avoid the crumpled corn stalks that get pulled into the air. Debris smacks into me, but I ignore the stings of pain it leaves on my skin.

Suddenly, kicking my feet out behind me, I fly, maintaining my momentum as much as I can. Using every single ounce of energy in my body, moving as fast as I can against the wind, somehow gaining power from the storm, I sense the tornado weakening. Pushing my arms out, I try to create a current of wind to blow against the tornado. It reduces my wind resistance for only a second. I repeat the action continuously, still flying, still maintaining my speed.

How on earth have my powers not drained out yet?

Once I've created somewhat of a balance between my powers, results begin to show. The funnel lifts off the ground and starts to disappear. I continue to circle it, having newfound encouragement to keep trying. The funnel shrinks and shrinks back up into the cloud until it's gone. The rain and thunder continue.

Having accomplished my goal, I attempt to stop moving. It doesn't go quite as planned. I try to halt abruptly in midair, but instead I'm propelled forward several feet, rolling through the air. Using my last bit of focus, I manage to slow down before landing in the muddy field.