Rain

Chapter 2

The first, agonizing scream comes from outside. On the driveway! Ualli throws of the thick blanket that we had draped over us, leaving me open to get up as well. The TV sputters, then goes black. Then the lights blow out too. Ualli runs to the window that faces the driveway. Michi and Gelda whimper, and I decide against going to look with Ualli. "Stay here with me." I tell them in the calmest voice that I can muster. Forgetting all about their drinks and food, they climb up to the couch and snuggle up to my sides. Burying their faces in my side and wrapping their sticky, chocolate covered fingers around me as much as they can. But right now, I don't care. Then, another scream. Longer this time. I can hear the agony and pain behind it. Shuddering, I clutch Michi and Gelda closer to me. "Plug your ears. When I tell you to, then you can listen again. I don't want you to listen to this, ok? Plug your ears." I whisper urgently to them. I fight the urge to shut out the noises as well, but I know that's I have to stay strong for the two, frightened girls clinging to my sides. Ualli finally comes back, face white. His breath is coming fast, and is moving towards me like he's walking through syrup. His dark brown eyes are bright with held back tears. "What did you see?" I whisper. I don't want Michi or Gelda to hear whatever Ualli might have to say. By the expression on his face, I can tell that the news that he carries IS NOT good.
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Ten minutes later, when Ualli has stopped shaking enough to tell me what happened, I detach myself from Michi and Gelda. Taking Ualli's shaking arm, I gently guide him to another room. "What did you see out there?" I ask him gently. I fear that if I don't get him to talk now, he won't talk ever again. "Take a deep breath." I order. Ualli does, but his voice is shaky when I finally get him to talk. "I saw a horrible thing, Kikiamah." I freeze. He hasn't used my full name since...... since he told me to pull myself together after the Incident. I realize. Now I know what he's saying is serious. "Dad. Dad got out of the car. That was the first scream." Ualli says. Taking another shuddering breath, he continues. "When the rain touched his skin, it melted him like a candle. His skin melted like the wax and the rain was the fire. Slowly dripping. Dad fell and Mom got out of the car to help. She ran all around the car to get to him, but he was already half melted. By the time Mom made it to Dad's side, she started to melt too. She collapsed next to him. That was the second scream. They both are." Ualli gathers up his remaining courage, and stands up straight. "What happened to them?" I ask, my heart dropping into my stomach. "They both died." I stumble back, away from Ualli, trying to process what he just said. "You- you said that they WHAT?" I still can't fathom what Ualli said. If what he said was really true, then..... Eget and Hymenaeus are really gone. I don't want to believe it. "No." I whisper to myself. "No! No no no no NO!" I say more forcefully. I grip my temples, trying to banish the truth. Hoping that what Ualli said was just a joke. Ualli grabs my shoulders and pulls me to him. "Kia. I saw it happen. I'm not lying. I wish I was, but I'm not." he whispers into my hair. Salty, wet tears start to soak my head and Ualli's shirt. We hold onto each other for a long time, just crying.

Ok, I know it's short. I'll try to edit it and write more. Sorry!