Dead Cloud

Outbreak in the City part 1

My grandfather stared at the TV with his eyes growing heavy from stress and exhaustion. I too, had a long day, and couldn't help but to yawn a couple of times during the current news reports. The lights were off so the screen flickered and reflected off of the walls like party lights. It was a little chilly tonight and it felt warm sitting next to grandpa on the sofa. I loved spending time with him and I bet my sister would agree. Her name was Lana and she and I weren't exactly close. We got into a lot of fights and were complete opposites. She liked sports and movies, I liked art and music. We hated each other, but in a sister way. She created a lot of drama and grandpa always had a reason to punish her, which sort of made me wonder how he could handle her so well.

He told me it was because he knew that he could teach her what is right, and that someday she'll learn, but it didn't seem like she had learned anything. A bag of chips sat between us as we munched on them together. We didn't talk, nor did we look at each other, we just sort of sat there glaring at the screen. I wish dad had been there to laugh and make jokes about the news, but grandpa was a more serious man. Mother would've turned on the lamp and told us to get to bed, but apparently the dead can't laugh or turn on lights. I sighed and watched the reporter ramble on about some issue in Korea. Lana was asleep in her bedroom, so it was just grandfather and I, but I was soon feeling myself falling asleep. The screen became hazy, the noise became distant, and my head began to lean on the side of the couch.

I guess I must've passed out, because everything faded to black behind my eyelids and I began to breath steadily. I didn't dream or anything, or at least that's how it felt. I just sort of laid there in the darkness with my mind blank for a couple hours. It was blissful and made my day, but then, I heard a loud shatter and explosion from outside! My eyes burst open and I shot straight up! I sat with my back straight on my bed and stared out the window. Less than a moment later, another explosion of fire and light occurred in the area beside the first one! I slipped out of bed and put on my boots from beside my door. I walked towards the window and rubbed my eyes to be sure this was really happening. Yep, this was real!

I backed away from the window and slipped on my jacket. I wasn't freaking out, but my breath did get a lot heavier. I turned the door knob, entering the dark hall with a faint squeak, and stepped in. The moonlight shined through the window at the end of the hall and casted a ray of light onto the floor, but it was still hard to see. I walked down the hall towards the kitchen and looked around. It was empty and dark. A small red light flashed beside the fridge, but it was just the phone. I turned on the lights and glanced in all directions. He must've been in bed. He came down here often for a water break, but I still wasn't surprised that he wasn't here. I walked into the living room where the TV was still on and flashing. More shadows casted along the walls.

I glanced down at the couch, to find grandpa snoring with his body outstretched and his feet resting on the couch-arm. I glanced over a the TV, but there was nothing but static. Was the cable dead? I turned off the TV and sat beside grandpa, who continued to snore endlessly. He was so calm even in his sleep. I heard something just down the hall near my bedroom! I cocked my head in the other direction and adjusted to the lighting. I stood up and walked back into the kitchen where the hallway lead. Was my sister awake? I crept towards the hallway, trying to see through the darkness. A figure, a little taller than I am, stood at the end of the hall and was creeping towards me. A loud whisper echoed from it.

"Haxel?" It said, it's voice shaky. I knew that voice, that obnoxious, hateful, girly voice. So it was my sister. She ran towards me, trying not to make too much noise. "Did you hear that big boom?!" She said sort of freaking out. I only nodded at gestured towards the window that showed the city.

"It was an explosion in the city, although I'm not sure what caused it" I whispered back. She bit her lip and swallowed loudly.

"Do you think we're safe?" She asked, shaking in cold and fright. I would've smirked if my answer had been different.

"I don't know, but I think we should wake up grandpa and see what it is" I said. She nodded and walked towards grandpa. We both began shaking his arm and whispering for him to wake up. His snores stopped and he snorted showing sign of consciousness.

"Grandpa! Grandpa wake up! Something happened!" He opened his eyes and looked up at us sleepily. He groaned and grunted as he woke.

"Girls, what are you doing up this late? What time is it?" He muttered. We both swallowed hard and shook harder.

"There was an explosion in the city and it looked really bad!" I said. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"An explosion? Are you sure?" He asked still sleepy. We both nodded.

"We both heard it and Haxel saw it!" She said anxiously. Grandfather got off the couch and checked the time. He frowned and turned towards the sink to grab a drink of water.

"It's two in the morning. Why would there be an explosion at this time?" He mumbled. We both shrugged and walked close to him.

"We have to check it out! It could be something really bad!" Lana said. Grandpa sighed and drank some water. After getting a few gulps he sighed in refreshment and set down the cup.

"If we go we could get in danger. It's best if we stay here and let the people in the city sort this out" he said. We sort of slumped in disappointment.

A few minutes later, we were talking about the explosion and what might've caused it. "Maybe a fire broke out?" Said Lana.

"Maybe a vehicle accident?" I said.

"A gas leak sounds more realistic than that" grandpa said. He sipped water out of his cup and stared at the countertop. We both looked at each other and then at grandpa. That did sound a lot more legitimate than the other possibilities, but in the middle of the night? What was going on? The reporter from earlier, they did seem a little panicked from something. Did something else happen that we hadn't been informed about? Grandpa sighed and put the cup in the sink.

"It was probably just an accident. It happens" he said and sat back down at the counter, "although I can't guarantee that it's nothing. It could be serious which is more of a reason to stay away"

We all glanced at each other. That was a bit of a drag for me. I loved adventure and risky situations, but a gas leak did sound a little too dangerous. People probably died! I pondered about it for a moment. How could anyone survive an explosion so big? I fixed my hair and pushed my pajama pants into my boots.

Suddenly, we heard a horrifying noise from the back room! A shatter, a thump, and then a screech!