Aurora Sky: Blackout (Completed)

Chapter 1

Isaac Gray took a drag from a lit cigarette and coughed heavily from the burning tobacco. "It's been a while," Isaac chokingly let out. He smoked tobacco occasionally but never more than once a month. Probably should sit on it, he thought as he dipped the embers in the creek, making a sizzling sound as the flame extinguished. He laid back his tall athletic body in the dirt as he regained his breath, patting his chest with one hand and resting the other on his freshly shaven blonde hair.

"You good, son? Sounds like you're dying over there." His friend Paul Bailey said jokingly as he rolled up his flannel shirt to his elbow. His face was sharp with a long rounded nose, and his head covered with his neatly trimmed light brown hair parted to the side. His body was tall and lean, though it wasn't always this way. During their childhood, Paul was short, but in college he grew to over six feet tall and now was the same height as Isaac and their other friends. "Feels good out here man," Paul said as he sat high on a stone next to the creek. A gust of wind blew softly as he spoke, "I really dig this spot. It's the perfect distance from people. Not too close, not too far. I think it only took me about a half hour to get here." Paul inhaled a puff from his own cigarette and took a seat on a large rock near the running water.

"Yeah me too. It took me exactly 30 minutes to get here actually. I happened to notice I left at 4:22PM and arrived at 4:52PM," answered Robert Jansen, who commonly went by Rob. His long dark brown hair was brushed back in a ponytail, and he wore a pair of new wire framed glasses. His angular face was disguised under his bushy beard and mustache, and his gaunt body frame made his hair the largest feature on his body. Rob had been growing his hair long since his high school days with Isaac and the others. It looked natural on him and Isaac couldn't picture him looking any other way than the "Jesus" look that suited him well. Not only did he resemble Jesus, but his attitude was kindly like the prophet, always looking out for his friends and their best interests, doing whatever he can to make that happen. Rob let out a cloud of vapor from his E-Pen before he spoke, " It's so nice out here. And all of these beautiful woods to walk in. I'm jealous of you dude," His face maintained a look of slight envy on his face.

"Well Rob, you're welcome to come backpack here anytime. All of you are welcome for as long as you'd like to stay," Isaac responded heartfully. "Though, unfortunately I only have one other bed in the house at the moment, but I have two pull out sofas that you guys can fight over. And whoever doesn't take the couches can have an empty room to themselves. I got blankets and pillows for days. Seriously, stay as long as you want and come out whenever you want. This house is too big for just me and my kitty, and I don't expect to host yoga workshops every weekend."

Rob showed his excitement. "Hell yeah! Thank you so much man, I'm about to take you up on that. Work has been killer lately. But I don't think I'll need a room tonight. Honestly I'll probably sleep under the stars. It's supposed to be really nice out and I have my tent in the trunk of my car, so I'm definitely going to take advantage of it." He looked around at the surrounding forest in awe and said, "For real though, I really can't wait for tomorrow to play some airsoft in my ghillie suit." He laughed as he sat cross legged on the ground. "I made that thing years ago and I've only been able to wear it a handful of times. Trying to get some use out of it."

"Feel that. And that's funny I brought my tent here too. I was going to ride my motorcycle here but I drove my car instead, I got it in my trunk. I was thinking about setting up next to the walnut tree after we eat." Arthur Edwards responded, another childhood friend of Isaac's. Arthur had a tall, lanky built body with long arms, long legs, and a short torso. He had a soft face and a small chin that made him look young, but whenever he grew a beard that youthful face was replaced with vigor. He was sketching a still-life drawing of his surroundings as he spoke, "It's been too long and I just paid for a new pump for one of my guns. Maybe we can get a few hours in tomorrow morning if we have the time."