Chapter 55: Tempest Brewing

Anticipation hung heavy over Eldridge Falls. The night wrapped the little town in a blanket of dark cloud cover, sweeping moon-hiding clouds across, and casting an eerie shadow along the streets. The wind whooped like ghosts as if some kind of emotion hung in mid-air-as if the town itself held a collective breath, waiting for something. Standing on her porch, she looked up to the sky and felt the weight of the town's fear weigh upon her spirit. Her friends had returned from what must have been a harrowing adventure, yet for all their effort, serious was the threat against them now as ever. The grim reminders of dark figures faced in the forest stood for an assurance that the danger was far from over. You think it's going to hit tonight?" Nathaniel asked, coming to stand beside her. His voice was low, almost indistinguishable from the wind. "I don't know," Emma said, shivering despite the warmth of her jacket. "But we have to prepare for anything." Just then, Donovan sprinted up the stairs, his face white. "You guys need to see this!" he exclaimed in a panicked voice. "What is it?" Emma asked, her heart racing. "Come on, I'll show you," he said, ushering them inside. They drew around the small TV in the living room where a news broadcast was playing. Whatever was going on around the town square was chaotic. "What's going on?" Julian asked wide-eyed. "There's been some kind of explosion," Donovan explained, pointing at the screen. "The old library-look!" It had cut to a shot of the outside of the library roof billowing smoke, licks of fire dancing in the windows. Firefighters scurried about, trying to fight the fire onlookers were standing and staring in murmurous horrified tones. "People could've gotten hurt!" Nathaniel exclaimed, his hands clenched into fists. "We gotta do something! Emma nodded, the cogs in her head practically whirring. "This being part of the darkness we are dealing with, we cannot let that be left unchecked. We have got to rally them all. " "Right!" Donovan said, determination crawling back into his tone. "We need to get them all at town hall. We have to have a plan. She went straight to the town hall, where she immediately felt the fear in the air. The streets were so quiet; every stretched shadow now started to creep a little further out. Her conversations with several of her friends were anxious: what if this was only the beginning? When they finally did, the hall was packed with townsfolk, their features carved out of consternation and anger. Emma took a great breath and mounted the make-do front stage. "Listen up, everyone!" she yelled, turning to the crowd- her voice considerably stronger than it was when she first spoke to her sister. "I know this all seems bad right now, but we cannot let fear control us! We have to rally together and face whatever this threat is. A murmur of whispers went through the crowd. "But what if it's too powerful?" someone yelled from the back. She was shaking internally, but nothing else could be done except push forward. "We gotta believe in ourselves and in others, too. Just remember what we went through. We fought against dark forces before we could get up and fight them now! They had muttered to each other; she could feel faces before she began to set with a course adopted. At this moment, one figure all too familiar to her stepped forward. It was Grace, the librarian of the town, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Emma's right!" Grace cut across the doubt, her voice going higher. "We built it together and shared our joy and sorrow. It's not history that will define us, but we shall create the future! A murmur of assent whipped through the crowd, and low in her stomach a fire lit. "We gotta organize," she said, turning and scanning the sea of faces. "We can create watches, patrols, and defenses. We can't let them catch us out again." "What about the library?" someone whispered. "What if that's next? "We can make a sort of community centre in the town hall here," Nathaniel explained. "We'll be keeping one another informed and safe." With the remark, the tension that had built up inside this room began to break. People were nodding as spirits started to lift. The energy was building inside Emma. They were ready to stand together. Time dragged on with ideas and plans being tossed about. Small groups formed discussing what was to be faced next, and Emma found herself at a table with Nathaniel, Julian, and Donovan discussing rations and how they should handle things. "First, of course, we have to take all the food and the first-aid kits," Donovan began to enumerate some things. "Of course, flashlights also are going to be our big nemesis, darkness in general. "Good thinking," Nathaniel told him. "I need to go check my dad's generator. We may need extra power if things get really bad." She felt this unease all the while, and it was as if her conscience gnawed at her, telling her they were wasting so much time, so valuable. Fully well, Emma knew the explosion in the library had been just the beginning, and the darkness would come for them once more, this time stronger. Suddenly, the doors burst open and a frantic villager spilt in, her face white with terror. "It's back!" she panted. "The shadow! It's in the streets!" Emma's heart fell. "What do you mean? Is it attacking?" "Yes! People are running, but it's chasing them. And it looks even bigger this time!" The room fell dead silent, the weight of fear upon them all. Emma looked around at her friends, a fire that had been building in her chest finally reaching its peak. "We need to go!" she said, firm. "We have to protect our town! They ran out into the night air thick with tension. The streets were chaotic: running people going in every direction, shouting, screaming. There it was larger than a dark flicker between buildings, more ominous than ever. "Stay together!" Emma shouted, pushing through the crowd. "We need to stand our ground! As they drew closer to the middle of town, Emma saw that swishing shadow sucking light and hope from around it. The villagers all huddled together, seeking shelter and someone to lead them. "We can't let it take our spirit!" Grace yelled above the din. "We have to stand firm!" Concreteness-ready had been provided by the people for a wall of resistance against the tendrils of shadow that were to engulf them. She felt the energy ebbed through the crowd in surges of bravery that spread along the lines. They were ready for battle. But in the very same moment, the ground shook with a rumble concussion that tore through the bottom of Eldridge Falls itself. The clouds churned darker still, and the winds cut in across the air with a loud, angry howl. What's happening?" Julian yelled above the din. It's going to strike! Brace for impact!" Nathaniel screamed. In one leap, the shadow sprang forward, a dark lump of anarchy-and the earth right next to them rent itself open in one giant slash. Emma watched in horror as the villagers tumbled back and the chasm gaped its maw as if to swallow them up into the void. Everything she fought for, everything she had ever believed in, was torn apart at the seams.