From Within

The Storm

"A rainy day's coming. Luckily it's a Sun's day. We don't have to go out for work either way.", the old man comments as we jog away from the Eris' gate.

"But you're still going to.", I said.

The old man answers with silence and a slight laugh.

"Why aren't you giving yourself a break? What's there else to do for you on a Sun's day? And besides we don't know how violent the storm will be.", I said to him.

"A day spent doing nothing for me is a day lost, boy. And there are supplies that need unloading from the boats that landed yesterday.", he told me.

Halfway to our house the wind started picking up. A cold, sour wind blew northward up the climbing street. Wearing a sweater helped tremendously.

"Aaargh.", the old man expresses in distaste.

"Cold one, eh, old man?!", I poked at him.

The sound of the wind started to become deafening.

"Indeed, boy! Run faster! It could start raining anytime now!", the old man started running faster after saying this.

I matched his tempo and we made our way home together. We quickly entered the house and we both stood still a bit to catch our breath. The old man seemed as if he didn't even break a sweat, while I breathed heavily, almost hyperventilating.

"You alright, boy? Nothing like some good old cardio.", the old man then laughed.

"Go and wash yourself, boy. And get yourself some sleep. We stayed at Finn's longer than I expected. You must be tired.", he told me.

I made my way upstairs, then the sound of rain started to rattle on our roof. I undressed and headed into the bathroom to shower. The water is even colder now, hereafter I dried myself and threw my old clothes in the basket with all the other old ones. I put on my regular light clothes, before I jumped in bed.

I let out a last sigh then let myself be taken by sleep.

~

"Finn, the boys know about the device."

"The Heart of Talos? How do you know?"

"Ben told Gray's boy while you were conversating with him upstairs."

"Hmm.."

"This is what two-six-two said would happen before he left. Aren't you a bit worried about what might come next?"

"As long as it's just our boys, we don't have to worry. It's a good thing that two-six-two left when he did, better for the young ones on the island. All we have to do is not mention him at all."

"I guess it helps too that we split the old caretakers out across the island. Please make sure nothing like that ever happens again. We owe it to ourselves and the world. This island is a Pandora's box and we can't let these demons out into the world."

"They're not demons, El. They're human too. They were born from human mothers. We just have to watch over them as if they were our own. As dangerous as they may seem to be, we have to live with them, to make sure that there's peace between us. We'll be okay."

"Okay.."

"The other towns... Winston came by earlier to pick up the tokens. He told me that his town had seen three of their gifted ones escape in the past month."

"Did you ask who?"

"He said that it was Dennis, Tess and Brandon. Their caretaker, Mr. Jacobs, died a week prior. Now the island totals about 229 escapes since two-six-two's."