Calm Before The Storm

The Storm

I reccomend listening to Orange Juice by Noah Kahan while reading this 

Alex, a former storm chaser who is 28 and  used to work with Jo Harding, was on the balcony of her apartment in New York with her sister Auttumn, talking about drama. Alex looked at the sunset, but there was something... Off about it.. She could see something moving in a circular direction in the sky.

"Hey, Auttumn." Alex said, still looking at the sky

"Yea- Woah." Auttumn replied, looking at the circular thing in the sky.

It was spinning and it looked grey and rapid.

Suddenly, Alex's phone rang. She picked it up. It was Jo

"Alex, there's a tornado heading your way. You need to get out of there." Jo's voice said from the phone after she put it on speaker

Alex's heart pounded as she watched the swirling grey mass in the sky. The peaceful sunset had transformed into something ominous and menacing. Auttumn's eyes widened, mirroring Alex's own concern.

"Alex, you need to move now!" Jo's voice crackled through the phone. "The tornado's on a direct path to your location. Get to safety!"

Alex's fingers trembled as she ended the call. She glanced at Auttumn, who was already moving toward the apartment's door, panic evident in her eyes.

"Let's go, Auttumn!" Alex shouted, grabbing her thirteen year old  sister's arm. "We need to find shelter. Now!"

They raced through the apartment, the sound of the approaching tornado growing louder with every second. The balcony door slammed shut behind them as they hurried to the hallway, where Alex's mind raced to remember where the safest place was.

"We need to get to the basement!" Alex called out, urgency in her voice. "It's the most secure spot in the building!"

The two sisters bolted down the stairs, the building's emergency alarms blaring in the background. Alex's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—her past as a storm chaser, the friends she'd left behind, and the sudden shift from a calm evening to a desperate fight for survival.

As they reached the basement, Alex could hear the tornado's roar growing louder, the walls vibrating with the storm's fury. They found a corner of the basement, away from any windows, and huddled together. Auttumn's hands shook as she held onto Alex, who tried to steady her breath.

"Are we going to be okay?" Auttumn asked, her voice trembling.

Alex put a reassuring hand on her sister's shoulder. "We're going to be fine. Just stay calm and keep low. The storm chasers I used to work with—they know what they're doing. They'll help us through this."

The basement's dim light flickered as the tornado's fury battered the building above them. Alex's mind flashed back to her days with Jo, the adrenaline of storm chasing, and the close calls they'd survived together. She felt a pang of regret for leaving that life behind but pushed the thoughts aside. Survival was the priority now.

As the storm's roar reached its peak, Alex held Auttumn close, doing her best to provide comfort amidst the chaos. The sounds of the tornado were deafening, but Alex knew that every second they remained safe in the basement was a victory.

Alex's phone buzzed again, and she quickly put it back on speaker. "Alex, listen to me. Bill, Dusty, and I are on our way. We'll be there as soon as we can. Just hang tight and stay safe."

Auttumn clung to Alex, her eyes wide with fear. "What if the tornado gets worse? What if—"

"Hey, hey," Alex cut in gently, trying to keep her own voice steady. "We're going to be okay. Jo and the team are coming. They've dealt with worse. Right now, we just need to stay calm and stay put."

Auttumn nodded, trying to steady her breathing. "Okay... I trust you."

Alex glanced around the basement, taking in the makeshift safety measures. The walls were reinforced, and there were supplies stacked in a corner. She found some blankets and handed them to Auttumn. "Here, use these to stay warm. It might get cold down here."

The roar of the tornado above them was deafening, and the building seemed to shake with each gust of wind. Alex could hear debris hitting the building, and the alarms outside were a constant reminder of the danger they were in.

Suddenly, the phone buzzed with a text from Jo. Alex read it aloud: "We're about ten minutes away. We've hit some traffic. Just stay put and keep your phone charged. We'll get through this."

Auttumn's voice was barely audible over the storm. "Do you think they'll make it in time?"

Alex looked at her sister, her own anxiety masked by a determined calm. "They will. Jo's the best storm chaser I've ever worked with. She won't let anything happen to us."

Minutes felt like hours as they huddled in the basement. Alex thought about her past with Jo—how they had faced storms together, how they had survived against the odds. She realized that even though she had left that life behind, the skills and instincts she had developed were still with her.

As the tornado's roar began to subside, Alex could hear faint sirens and voices in the distance. She looked at Auttumn, who had fallen silent, her eyes fixed on Alex with a mixture of fear and trust.

"We're almost there," Alex said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Auttumn's face. "Just a little longer."

The storm's intensity began to wane, and the basement's dim light flickered less violently. Alex could feel the adrenaline slowly draining from her body, replaced by exhaustion. She kept her focus on the sound of approaching rescue, knowing that Jo and the team would be there soon

There was a knock on the door and Alex knew it was Jo, Bill, and Dusty

"Hang on, I'll be back." Alex told Auttumn while getting up to let them in

The tension in the basement gave way to a flicker of hope as Alex approached the door. Her heart raced, not just from the adrenaline but from the relief of knowing help was near. She wiped her clammy hands on her jeans, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

Jo, Bill, and Dusty stood in the doorway, their faces lined with exhaustion but relief. Jo immediately stepped forward, her gaze shifting from Alex to Auttumn.

"Are you two okay?" Jo's voice was a mix of concern and relief.

"Yeah, we're fine," Alex replied, her voice shaking slightly. "Just a bit shaken. Thanks for coming."

Bill nodded, giving Alex a reassuring smile. "We're just glad we got here in time. How's it looking out there?"

Alex glanced back at Auttumn, who had risen to her feet, clutching one of the blankets tightly. "It's starting to calm down. I think the worst of it has passed."

Dusty moved past Alex and began checking the basement's structural integrity. "We should stay here for a bit longer, just to be sure," he said, his voice practical. "Make sure there's no residual danger."

Jo stepped closer to Alex and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You did great, Alex. We couldn't have gotten here without you. How's Auttumn holding up?"

Auttumn looked up, her eyes still wide but with a glimmer of relief. "I'm okay now. Just scared. But Alex kept me safe."

Jo's eyes softened. "That's good to hear. We'll make sure you both get home safely once we're sure everything's clear."

As Jo, Bill, and Dusty began assessing the situation and preparing for the next steps, Alex felt a wave of exhaustion and relief wash over her. The storm's roar had diminished to a distant rumble, and the basement, once a refuge from chaos, now felt like a place of tentative safety.

Alex sat down next to Auttumn, who leaned into her gratefully. She looked up at Jo, who was now making calls and coordinating with other emergency teams.

"Thanks again, Jo," Alex said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. "I didn't realize how much I missed this—being part of the team."

Jo glanced back at her with a knowing smile. "Sometimes it takes moments like this to remind us of what truly matters. And it's never too late to jump back into the fray. If your intrested, we do need some help with Dorothy and we'd love to have you back on the team."