Tornadogenesis | Tyler Owens x OC

- S I X -

Tyler climbed into the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition. Dana clicked her seatbelt with trembling hands.

"So, where to?" He put the truck in drive and proceeded through the parking lot.

"My apartment, please." She told him the address. He didn't say anything, fixing his eyes on the road.

Dana could see the look on his face. One of concern and worry.

"Cool truck, by the way," she said as she looked around the interior, hoping to spark conversation amidst the silence. "What's these things?" She pointed to the lever and switches in the console.

Without looking away from the road, he pointed with his right hand. "Augers, firework rockets-"

"Fireworks? What would you need those for?" Wait, let me guess. Storm chasing?"

He stole a quick glance at her and smiled. "Maybe I should show you."

Dana fell silent. She didn't want to see a tornado again, let alone go towards one. Her heart quickened at the thought of it. Perhaps Tyler noticed her discomfort, because he switched on the radio. Country music. He kept the volume low enough for them to still talk if she chose to.

She didn't.

They approached El Reno to the tune of "Ghost Riders in the Sky."

Chills went up and down her body. Trees had been torn out of the ground. Buildings had been stripped of roof tiles, awnings, and fire escapes. Some building corners had collapsed completely. Her street was a few more blocks down. She wanted to bail.

"It could've been a lot worse." Tyler spoke as if reading her mind. "They'll be able to rebuild. Others aren't so lucky."

Luck had nothing to do with it. The nurse told her she'd been lucky, too. That her condition was better than most. The dull ache arising in her chest reminded her. But luck didn't determine the path of a tornado. It didn't control the wind speed or the damage.

She was anything but lucky when they turned onto her street and saw the collapsed apartment complex.

The world stood still until she felt Tyler's hand on her arm. They'd parked a few yards from the building. It was unrecognizable.

Her hand grabbed the door handle and she stumbled out of the truck in a hurry.

"Dana, wait! It's too dangerous!"

She could hear his shouting but she didn't stop. Approaching the mangled staircase, she was suddenly held by strong arms. They spun her around.

Tyler held her arms firmly. "Are you crazy? You go in there you'll disappear under what's left."

She wanted to pull away. "Everything I have is in there." Looking back, she knew she wouldn't be able to retrieve anything.

"You have to leave it."

"I can't start again! I don't have anything left. What am I going to do?" Her shouting turned into a cry. A plea for help. She pulled away from his grasp. He was ready to stop her again, but she only turned around and stood still.

Her work laptop was in there. Her books. Her keepsakes. And everything else that she owned.

She looked down the parking lot toward the storm shelter. As she approached it, Tyler followed. Peeking inside, she saw it had been partially flooded. Debris had made its way inside. She didn't know if everyone made it out. She didn't want to know.

Her head and chest throbbed. Memories returned. She stepped back from the shelter slowly, straight into Tyler. His hands rested on her shoulders. He could feel her trembling. He slowly turned her around and pulled her closer. Her trembling grew into shaking as her heart began to race.

"Take a deep breath. You'll be alright."

She wasn't alright. But he promised she would be.