the heat rose slowly from the pavement, waves shimmering and distorting the world. alex shaded his eyes and watched the distance. dark clouds danced with lightening on the horizon. the smell of rain had not yet reached him, but he knew that it was coming along with a scouring wind that would blow hot, then cool. he licked his lips in anticipation. the rain would be welcome after a long, hot summer where everything had withered into sickly shades of brown and yellow - not even the trees had green leafs remaining.
thunder rumbled faintly in the distance and more lightening lit up the horizon as the clouds boiled slowly closer. alex felt a subtle shift in the air around him as if everything was reaching towards the coming darkness now instead of standing in place. he watched as people seemed to suddenly spring into action around town. they rushed to the grocery for water and batteries, to the farm supply to refuel propane tanks and get kerosene for lamps. the gas station saw a sudden surge in cars.
the clouds edged closer more quickly and the ominous wind racing before the storm blew in. people scattered in its wake like the leaves blown from the trees. the thunder crashed closer and the streets cleared as stores were locked up and the few townsfolk still about headed quickly for home. the wind picked up and the air became heavy with the promise of rain, then electric with static from the oncoming storm.
alex raced home as the first heavy drops descended. the fell hard, stinging his skin even through his shirt. he was drenched long before he reached home. shaking, alex dropped his bike in the yard and ran into the house, slamming the door on the storm as it enveloped the world in black split only by the blue-white lightening forged in the turmoil it unleashed upon the town.
