It's not an S // Superman

Chapter 7

It took only seconds for Clark's words to sink in and in that short time I witnessed so much. The traffic had slowed to a stop all along the highway. Dozens of cars and trucks were backed up across multiple lanes. Then the hail started. It fell from the sky in white sheets, bouncing off the ground and windshields. This wasn't good. The Tornado we hadn't been expecting to hit for another 48 hours had come to surprise us and it wasn't a surprise any of us wanted to face.

Mr and Mrs Kent shared a worried look from their seats as Clark and I stared open mouthed out at the events occurring in front of us. I was dumbfounded, numb with fear, but there was one thing keeping me together if only barely, Clark. I knew somehow and someway that as long as I was with him I would be safe.

As the sky grew ever darker and the hail even louder within the space of a few moments I was pulled out of my thoughts by a shouting Mr Kent.

"We need to get out of the car. It's the worst place to be. A ditch would be better than this."

I didn't even have a chance to offer an answer before all 3 Kent's began scrambling out of the SUV, Clark quick to come to my passenger door pulling it open and lifting me out of my seat to stand outside amongst it all.

Quickly he grabbed hold of my hand in a vice like grip and pulled us towards his parents.

"Don't let go of my hand whatever happens," he screamed at me through the madness of people running, wind blowing and hail falling.

The air was muggy and still full of warm, moist air. As Clark and I joined his parents at the side of the highway we noticed that everyone was staring towards the southwest. When we followed their eyes, Clark still holding firmly to my hand we spotted ominous black storm clouds racing towards us. Before even 10 seconds passed the low hanging clouds flattened on top so much so they resembled a blacksmith's anvil and a wall of grey hung beneath the billowing, black thunderheads.

To top it all off that's when it appeared, when it was created. The funnel. The infamous visual that signified disaster was coming our way. It snaked above the ground in a stovepipe formation making the crowds of scared citizens even more terrified.

"We've got to do something," Mrs Kent, voiced loudly through the noise, the Tornado siren suddenly going off, warning everybody to seek cover.

Maybe people could rush back to their cars, do some kind of u turn and try to out drive the storm, but no that wasn't possible. With the vehicles being bumper to bumper as they were it was impossible for anyone to get away. We were stuck, we were stranded.

I just stood staring at the scenes going on around me. I'd witnessed a lot in my life, travelling across the country since I was 14 gave me a lot of life experience I wouldn't have had otherwise, but nothing like this. Nothing that made me question whether I was going to live or die.

"Go for the overpass," Mr Kent suddenly screamed at full voice, pointing towards a concrete structure several yards up the road. "Take cover."

Turns out most people had the same idea and a sea of people ran past and amongst trying to avoid the falling hail and debris as they made their way to some kind of safety.

Chunks of ice, some as large as fists crashed into the parked cars, denting hoods, cracking windows and setting off car alarms. As they continued to rain down I noticed one bounce harmlessly off of Clark's scalp, I'd have to question that later. I however wasn't so lucky.

"AHHHHH," I yelped suddenly in pain as we were running towards the overpass, one of the ice cold, rock solid spheres crashing into the back of my leg and making me halt abruptly.

"LAUREN" Clark screamed towards me when he heard my cry, still pulling us forward when he saw me limp, blood running down my calf.

"I'm fine, just keep moving," I answered with gritted teeth knowing every second was precious.