The Dust Bowl

Chapter Three

Authors Note:

Hey guys! Thankyou for reading up to now- It means a lot. Just to say that I might not be able to  update over the weekend because of the snow storms and our electrictricity keeps on going out which of course means no wi-fi so-yeah :D Would love if you could comment and tell me what you thought.

Buttons234 x

Two weeks earlier:

I was falling. Falling for those deep, dark eyes with sparks of gold- like stars blanketing the sky. The flapping of wings and the floating feeling. Then the fire in those eyes burned out and I was running. I don't know what from, seemingly nothing.

Then my mother was in front of me, holding my hand. Her skin a pale translucent, her black hair peppered with white. "Don't do as I did..."

Bang! I was awoken from my restless slumber by the nurse checking on my grandma. The steady beat of the heart moniter soothing me to sleep. "Sorry sweatie, I didn't mean to wake you." She said, giving me a smile. "You should go home and get some rest, she won't be awake until the morning." said the nurse, who's name was Madalene, seemed to be a kind woman. She had plump and rosey cheeks, a bright smile and looked to be in her mid forties. 

I gave a small smile back, "I know, but I don't want to leave her when shes like this." Madalene nodded in understanding. Once the kind nurse had left I sank into my own thoughts, replaying the events of that morning. The dark sky, the feeling of someone watching me, the blood and finally the phone call. It happened so quickly.

My Grandma had been having breakfast with our neighbour, Mrs. Eddison, when it happened. Mrs. Eddison was a thin woman with greying hair and was around my grandma's age. My grandma had just finished her breakfast when she collapsed. Turns out that supposedly harmless summer cold had developed into pnemonia.

Just then a doctor came into the small hospital room, startling me from my thoughts. "She will recover, but, you should know that the strength of her immune system will be lowered by a great deal." The doctor said, referring to my Grandmother. The doctor was a stern looking man, with thinning hair and spectacles perched on the end of his nose. "She's not going to be able to look after herself for much longer and you can hardly takeover if your at college." He said, pointing out the obvious. "What she needs is a nursing home" He stated, not waiting for my reply before walking out. Stupid old stiff, pointing out the obvious. I thought.

I felt my eyelids getting heavier, sleep calling me. I dreamt...

The Eyes. I could see more of who they belonged to now. They were framed by thick, dark lashes, the same flecks of gold. We walked hand in hand, wind chimes sounding in my ears. Words whispering on the wind..."Trust me, I will be there through The Change, I won't let you fall..."

Tap. Tap. Just then I felt a tingling sensation up my hand, someone tapping me. I peeled open my eyes to see my Grandma sitting up and looking at me. "Hello love." She croaked in a raspy breath. "Hi" I replied, giving her a concerned look. "Are you alright, do you need the doctor?" She chuckled slightly before breaking into a coughing fit. I thumped and rubbed her back, soothing her. "Sorry for scaring you like that" She apologised, still wheezing. "No problem" I assured her, it was now or never. "About nursing homes, I'm not sure wether I have enough money to-" My grandma cut me off, an appalled look on her face, "You have no need to worry about that, I can look after myself thank-you very much." I gave her a knowing smile, she always was a stubborn one. "But the doctor sai-" She cut me off again. "I know what the doctor said I will have someone to help me look after myself. I've put in a deposit for a house nurse who will check up on me now and then and when the time comes there's a place for me at Harmony Homes." My grandma said wheezing from the long sentance.

I gave her a big smile. I could see fatigue lining her eyes as she rested back down on the bed. "And anyway, that won't happen quite yet, I have to help you through the change..." She trailed off, giving in to her fatigue.

The Change. Those words seemed so familiar, but I didn't know why. I fished my phone out of my pocket, checking the time. It was already ten to seven (pm). I could make it home in time for seven, I thought to myself. Standing up, deciding it was an appropriate time for me to leave.

~~~

I shut the front door behind me, taking the stairs two at a time. I'd decided on a shower, stepping into the bathroom and letting the water run. I stripped off and stood under the jets, letting the steam engulf me. It was then that I noticed it. The message written on the steamed glass of the mirror. It was a date or time-? A countdown. It read: 13 days, 5hours and 49 seconds...