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It all happened so fast. The metal pipe was torn away from Dana's hands, but the vacuum brought her with it. She was thrown clear across the street, landing harshly into the side of a convenience store. Her lungs felt ready to collapse as any breath was stolen. Through the wind, rain, and debris, she couldn't see anything. As the building shook, she felt herself being dragged down the street. A train roared in her ears.

The wind first carried her across the pavement before she felt her body leave the ground. Like weightless paper, Dana was tossed around in the air. Up, down, left, right. She couldn't tell what was before, behind, or beneath her. Debris joined in flight. A broken canopy was flung in her direction. The metal legs narrowly missed her middle, but the fabric carried her like a net through a building's window. She'd been thrown into a laundromat. On the floor of the trembling building, she cried, begging for it all to stop. She found a support beam in the center of the room. Crawling around rattling washing machines, she stayed low and took hold of the beam. The canopy got pinned to the wall.

If the building caved in, she'd be right there with it. But she wasn't going to let the wind take hold of her again.

Dana clung to the beam as the machines around her shook and threatened to be taken by the wind.

Her body ached and throbbed, but adrenaline dared her not to let go.

Her ears stung as metal scraped against the floor. Some of the dryers were losing the battle.

Her eyes squeezed shut as dizziness took over.

The wind roared. Debris crashed. The building shook. Dana cried.

As she continued to hold on, the screeching stopped. She felt the vacuum stop. Breathing heavily, Dana opened her eyes. The weather still raged outside, but it no longer tried to take her with it. Unwilling to let go, she kept her arms around the beam. Wind still tossed debris around outside, but less violently. The building creaked, but the shaking stopped.

Dana shut her eyes again. Her breathing didn't slow. The fear was crippling.

"There's someone here!" A voice called from outside.

When she finally opened her eyes, she saw a man climb through the broken window, quickly scrambling around scattered washing machines and clothing racks. The dizziness hadn't stopped. She couldn't see him clearly, but it was enough to know someone had found her.

He stepped behind her and gently pried her arms away from the beam. "It's alright. We'll get you out of here."

She wanted to throw up. Disoriented, she couldn't stand. He caught her and held her up. The man hooked his arm around her legs, lifting her up in one swift movement.

Dana's heart raced. Was she hyperventilating? Her breathing came in rapid gasps, occasionally interrupted by coughing fits. Dirt and dust lingered in the air.

"You're going to be fine," the man reassured her as he focused on navigating through the destroyed laundromat. She winced as he stepped out through the smashed window.

Her body trembled as she squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to see the devastation around them. Cold rain slapped her face and the wind that remained howled against her ears.

"It's alright," the man repeated. She wanted to believe him.

Sirens sounded. Different ones this time. Emergency vehicles from surrounding areas flooded into El Reno in the storm's wake.

Dana heard new voices.

"There's not enough transports."

"We'll take who we can while they continue the search."

The man changed directions. He carried her the opposite way, back past the laundromat. Funny, there wasn't a laundromat in her neighborhood.

He quickened his pace, shouting something unintelligible to someone. When Dana opened her eyes, he had approached a red pickup truck. Someone else had opened the door for him. He climbed in to the back seat, holding her close. Once inside, he laid her on the seat, supporting her upper body in his arms.

"Just drive, Boone. I've got her."

The truck's engine came to life, and soon after, it roared with acceleration. The sudden jolt was unnerving, but she was held steady.

Her dizziness subsided enough that she could turn her head and gaze up at the man. He was peering ahead through the windshield, his hold on her tightening before every bump and curve of the road.

With the adrenaline rush coming to an end, the pain came in its place. Her chest and legs throbbed. Her head pounded. Her entire body ached and pleaded for the pain to stop. The man looked down as she turned and groaned in pain and discomfort. "We're getting you to the hospital, ma'am. You just hang on tight, you hear me?"

Dana's body demanded rest. Weakness and fatigue overtook her, and she could finally relax in his arms.

Tornadogenesis  |  Tyler Owens x OCWhere stories live. Discover now