Sickly Sweet

Thunderstorm

Sophie slept good that night, safely wrapped in a warm pink blanket knitted by Lochlan.

She wasn't quite sure how she felt about him. They just met, true, but it felt special. Like something real.

Sophie did have crushes when she was, well, on Earth, but they never returned her favoring. But now Lochlan had nobody but her so he didn't really have a choice.

Was she crushing on him? He definitely was attractive...

But now wasn't really a good time to fall in love. Mainly because she was trying to get home and once she found a way, she'd have to choose.

Lochlan or her family.

It was a pretty obvious decision. She had grown up with them. They loved her. She had a true home there.

But here she had something even better than a home.

A friendship with someone other than her pencil and paper.

Sophie turned to Lochlan and smiled at the dreamy expression on his face. It was way too early to think about a strong relationship with him. After all, they had just met only a few hours before.

She leaned her head against the scratchy wool pillow and sighed. So many things to think about...and just with Lochlan alone.

Never mind Martek and Lana.

Sophie wondered how Lana was doing. Where was she? Was she safe? Or had Martek murdered her?

~*~

Lana walked through the park, clutching her jacket. She carefully scanned the benches for Sophie. Nope. Where else?

Maybe the hardware store by the arena...or possibly the soup kitchen for the needy. Somewhere nobody would find her.

Lana sat on one of the cold benches and thought. Just as she was considering back at Martek's, lightning struck only about a quarter mile away and she jumped.

It was dangerous out there. Rain had begun pouring about an hour ago, and now there was a crazed thunderstorm ambushing Sickly Sweet. Lana decided it was definitely time to head back.

Rushing through the downpour, she raised her face so guards could spot her. But they were all inside. She suddenly remembered the castle protocol for thunderstorms: bring in guards, position five around perimeter in closed boxes to watch, and lock up castle. Royal family proceeds to basement.

Lock up castle. Royal family proceeds to basement.

Gulping hard, she forged through the splattering drops of water, shuddering whenever lightning struck.

"Help! Please, help! It's me! It's Lana! The Princess! Please, somebody, help!"

But similar cries rang out unanswered through the courtyard and Lana remembered something: during disasters, the poor always staged as the royal family in order to find shelter.

And the guards were strictly ordered not to let anyone in.

She began to scream, tears mingling with the rain on her cheeks. Lighting struck only twenty yards away and thunder boomed.

"Help me! I'm gonna die out here! Help! HELP!"

She sunk to the ground, defeated. Was this it? Would she die?

Another blast of thunder woke her senses and she began to run. Just run. Not in a particular direction. She sprinted in circles and figure-eights, throwing her arms in the air.

She was going insane.

More stabs of flashing lights impaled the beautiful gems and houses as the Princess screamed and sobbed manically.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh," she shrieked.

Sharp drops of water stung her freezing hands.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,"

Thunder shook the ground.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,"

The water slowly rose until it bit her ankles with its cold.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,"

Lana looked toward the sky, frozen in her place.

"Oh!"

A blinding flash zipped from the sky, making her pupils dilate as far as they could. Everything was in slow motion.

Lana watched as the white zigzag came down upon her.

Pools of lavender marked with flecks of gold welled with tears as she let her muscles go slack and her body fall to the ground.

"Oh."