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Chapter 2 - Devon Ralosh

Devon had to rub his eyes two or three times before he finally decided what he was seeing might not actually be a hallucination. After his shift, he’d waited outside in the pouring rain for a good half hour before a bus finally decided to stop by.

That, coupled by the horrible weather, dampened his mood considerably. It was weird how easily he could go from being cheerful from seeing Ella, to downright depressed in the pouring rain. It didn’t look like anyone else was feeling as down from the weather as he was, but then again, people didn’t tend to show off their emotions like trophies.

No only Ella did that.

It’s while Devon’s thoughts were filled of his best friend that he spotted something odder than ice cream in a burger. He’d been staring gloomingly out the wet bus window, when a face appeared in the water streaming down the side of the bus.

Devon’s first reaction was to back up into the seat next to him. Thank god nobody had dared sit beside him.  It took a blink and the image was gone, however it was oddly clear in his mind. He could easily recall the face of a young woman with pale blond hair – quite like his actually – and wide open eyes. Something really bright had been shining over her head and she’d been looking around in a frantic panic.

After Devon had recovered, and examined the running water, he’d settled back into his seat. He’d been a bit shaken, but other than that he was resuming his mind wandering. But it wasn’t meant to last. Moments later he saw someone jump off a building.

They were passing through town where all the buildings competed to touch the sky, and Devon was witness to what he could only assume was a suicide. He didn’t actually see the girl with the freaky long hair jump from the building though. He only saw her wavering form amidst the thousands of rain drops separating them.

In a matter of seconds he’d pressed his face on the glass to try and see clearer. Her fall was almost…graceful. He could also swear her hair fluttering upwards actually kind of looked like wings.

Devon finally started to worry when he realized the bus was driving on the road adjacent to the building. In other words, with every turn of the wheels they got closer and closer to the falling girl.

“Mom is that an angel?” A little girl’s voice asked in the back of the bus. Devon turned towards the sound as if someone had intruded on his own private activity. He was surprised by the rapidity of his action, but he set his worry aside and looked to where the little girl was pointing. It wasn’t at the falling girl like he’d assumed. She was pointing at plain air.

Her question, however, served to make Devon realize everyone in the bus was captivated by something outside. They were all looking in different directions, but they were all looking, wearing the expression Devon had worn just moments before.

Devon looked back to the front of the bus, trying to spot his strange phenomenon again. He turned just as the bus driver slammed his foot on the brake. All the passengers were propelled forwards from the shock, but the bus kept moving. The rain was so thick it was practically carrying the bus down the road like it was a stream.

The bus driver grabbed the wheel  and swerved to the left, trying to avoid lamp posts and buildings – there weren’t really that many cars out to avoid.  Devon was thrown against the seats and the walls of the bus. He was disoriented and panicked and he tried to grab on to something as the bus suddenly tilted to the side. It was still skidding at an incredible speed, but the moment it tilted Devon’s time slowed down.