Arrow

Chapter Four

   My parents stumble into the room, tugging us downstairs. Sydney having a panic attack and me just severely confused and scared.

We are pushed into the basement in a family huddle. Sydney slips into the dark corner where she is almost invisible. I start on my way over to her when I remember the barn, with the horses. I left the barn door open. An image of the stables out in the rain comes to mind. The horses frantic. My parents conversate by the stairs talking about how long the storm would last.

"I heard it was from a distant hurricane."

"The forecast said it will last for a day or two."

"What about the house?"

I walk over to my parents and shout at them. Mostly because I'm terrified of what's to come.

"What about the barn?!" I say my voice echoing in the empty basement.

We stayed huddles in the basement for hours. I never saw Sydney, not once. She stayed hidden in the corner. I stayed hidden in my thoughts. I need Warrior to be good for this weekends race. We are at the top of our game there's no room for error. I start pacing the room listening to the rumble of the thunder as it shakes the entire house.

Thankfully the house is fine but I can't say the same for the barn. My parents wouldn't let me leave the house. She said there was flooding and major damage to the barn. I begged her to tell me about Warrior. She said that the barn flooded and he escaped. I know we can still find him he has to be out in the woods behind our house. If he's not dead. The storm finally dies down leaving the town a mess. The power is out, my horse might be dead, and my sister is blind. She is acting a bit more normal and she is glad she can't see what went on outside. She is up and actually walking around but obviously she is not getting anywhere fast. We are playing around a little and talking about the storm when my father comes in.

"Tara we found Warrior" He tells me his tone sounding a little off.

"Really!?" When I realize what he means something inside me breaks.

"Oh you mean he is gone?"

"Yeah" He replies before rushing out of the room.

My career in barrel racing is over and so is my life. It was me and Warrior for however long we could compete. Sydney tries to comfort me but what am I supposed to do when my best friend dies. We could have put him somewhere else, boarded him anything. The day we brought him home I picked the first stall on the right. The first stall. My anger takes over and I throw myself onto the couch and away from Sydney. I start punching pillows and raging around the bonus room. I look back to Sydney and she seems confused with my sudden hostility.

"Are you okay?" She whispers.

"NO I'm not okay I'm never okay. I'm also never barrel racing again my career is over, no more rodeos, no more training, and no more Warrior. We hadn't compete in the state finals yet, it was only in a month. We still had more medals to win and more times to beat. But he's dead now and that'll never happen." I say.

She stays quiet after that shrinking back against the couch. There will never be another horse like Warrior. No other horse like my Wild Card. I rush out of the room slamming the door on the way out. I don't have to stay here my life is a mess anyway.