The P.U.L.L || #Wattys2017

Chapter 30: Disaster

The three of them looked in horror as the tornado rampaged everything on its path. They knew that it's just a matter of moments before it reaches them. As the tornado began to loom, Joshua, Rick, and Emma headed outside the evacuation center. A strong gust of wind continuously blew at them as they desperately tried to move.

"Emma! Rick! We need to get as far away as possible from the evacuation center!" Joshua began to shout. "If this is the works of the PULL, then that tornado is probably targeting us!"

"Yeah! That's what I was thinking." Emma responded. "So, where do we go?!"

The three of the continued to fight the storm, not knowing where to go. They knew that they cannot outrun the tornado all by themselves, but if it manages to catch up, then, they just need to accept it.

To Joshua's amazement, a pair of headlights blinked from afar. He knew that there's no way that it could be an illusion, but he looked at the direction from where it came from to confirm.

Blink!

"Guys! I think I found our ride!" Joshua exclaimed as he waved at the truck.

After seeing the headlights blink  few times, Joshua began to realize that the truck driver never thought of stopping. The truck just kept on getting nearer and nearer while accelerating rapidly. The truck driver is probably trying to get away from the tornado as far as possible.

What?!

Joshua couldn't believe his eyes. He finally knew why the truck seems to be out of control.

There was no driver on the driver's seat!

Tsk! Still, we need to risk it. We need to lure that tornado away at all costs! Joshua said to himself as he got out of the way of the truck.

"Let's just hitch a ride at the back of the truck!" Joshua told them.

After seeing them nod in agreement, Joshua prepared himself to jump and cling at the back of the truck.

.....

The future was looking pretty bright for the mastermind. Not only did he manage to make the power source of the PULL a hundred percent efficient, he was also able to control it pretty well. In a matter of moments, his self-made disaster would rampage everything on the country, and he would be able to see what the PULL is really capable of.

"Those Quillers didn't even respect this project of theirs." The mastermind said to himself as he admired the power source that he had successfully built. "If they didn't decide to stop their project, the PULL would have been more successful. But they had to stop it just before it was completed!"

Although he was quite exuberant because of his success, the recent news brought to him by the Tratzkies didn't seem so promising. 

For one of the teenagers managed to escape.

"Joshua, was it?" The mastermind began to wonder. "Well, what could a single teenager do to foil my plans?"

He smiled at himself as he internalized the plan in his mind. He knew that his plan was fool-proof, now that there's no one to stop him. He's already a few steps away from accomplishing his plan.

Because he had captured the Quillers, as well as their parents, he knew that his plan is unstoppable anymore.

Conquering the world is now within his grasp.

Ring!

"Hello?" The mastermind answered the phone.

"Sir! Rick and Emma escaped! We don't know how they did it, but they were just gone from the car!" Karl exclaimed from the other side of the line. "We entered the clearance a few miles from here and when we exited it, we suddenly noticed that there were just cut ropes in the seat!"

"What are you saying?! Why are you dumb enough to not search their belongings?!" The mastermind exclaimed. "Find them at once and bring them to me!"

"Yes, sir!"

"On second thoughts, just get over here as fast as you can. I have a different job for you." The mastermind changed his mind.

"Sir, but how about the kids?" Karl responded as he panicked.

"Oh, the kids? They'll come sooner or later since you were dumb enough to lead them here in our hideout." The mastermind sarcastically said. "They are not dumb enough to let themselves get caught, you know!"

"Yes, sir!"

Click!

The mastermind clicked his tongue as soon as he put his phone down. Such a hindrance! He began to think as he rested his head on his hands.

Anyway, once they come here, it will be over for them. He smiled at himself.

After the call, he began to turn the television on as he eagerly looked at the screen. As soon as it turned on, a reporter immediately flashed on the screen, reporting everything that has been happening just outside. A huge and rampaging tornado began to show up in the screen, wreaking havoc in its path.

The mastermind contentedly smiled as he relaxed on his seat.

.....

Without a second to spare, the three of them jumped at the rear of the truck, simultaneously hitch-hiking at the back.

The truck began to accelerate forward faster and faster as the three of them tried to hang on. Joshua knew that there's no one driving the truck yet they gambled on clinging at the back. Although perplexed, the three of them began to focus while trying to avoid falling down.

"Guys! I think we need to jump right now!" Emma suddenly exclaimed.

"Why? What do you mean?!" Rick asked.

"It's just an intuition but I think this truck is a trap."

What do you mean it's a trap? Joshua began to think as he looked at Emma. From recent experiences, he knew that Emma's intuition is the best in their party. Although he didn't know if the truck is a trap or not, he knew that they should rely on Emma right now.

Without hesitating, Joshua immediately jumped from the truck. 

"Rick! Emma! Jump!" Joshua exclaimed the moment he began rolling on the dirt.

After nodding, Rick jumped. Emma actually jumped the same time as Joshua, but Joshua didn't see her since he began rolling on the ground.

Dopaan!

A sound likened to a loud gunshot was heard a split second after they jumped. Suddenly, a lightning streaked from the sky and hit the truck with sheer force, making it explode in the process.

Joshua, Rick, and Emma closed their eyes as the heat of the explosion brushed past their face. Since they were stuck on the ground, the shock of the explosion didn't send them skidding backwards, however, the shock left them momentarily deaf for a couple of minutes.

The group didn't bother standing up as the explosion faded. The fire after the explosion was quickly washed by the huge storm, and the heat that the group felt immediately cooled down.

Phew! Good thing we jumped! Or else we wouldn't be alive now. Joshua sighed in relief.

"Thanks Emma." Joshua muttered. The group was still lying down on the muddy road.

"My intuition was right after all." Emma forced herself to smile.

The two of them looked at Rick who was face down in the mud. They knew that anytime now, Rick would talkatively complain about everything.

But to their surprise, Rick just stayed face down on the mud, probably unconscious.

And that's when they noticed it.

The clothes on his back part was completely burnt.

Apparently, he was a split second too late to jump, making him receive the shock of the explosion and at the same time, sending him face-down on the mud.

"Rick!" Joshua exclaimed as he rushed to his aide.