STORM IS COMING

CHAPTER ONE

People think I am blind, but I'm not. I can clearly see people that I have to close my eyes to avoid what I don't want to see. My father said my vision was a blessing, but I think it's a curse. It's a well-kept secret from my family. I, Samantha Grey, am a seer.

I touched the table the edge of the table. I can feel the familiar marking and the scratches at the side that I intentionally mark to ensure that I am seated at my desk. Gently, I put down the books that I was carrying and reached out for my chair. My hand touches nothing. I could hear the laughter and giggle of my classmate. I'm used to their jokes and tricks. This is the life  I chose---constant darkness.

Our school accepted my limitation because it's the only school we have in our hometown. Thanks to my father, Victor Grey, who fought the system for me to study in a regular school with typical kids. It allowed me and other disabled kids like me to have a place where we could learn. Only some of us were bullied mercilessly, yet, I'm still thankful for the opportunity. Some of us withered and left school, while some remained and faced the music.

"Lost something, Sam?" I heard him whisper at my left ear. His stinking breath made me wince. I know his smell too well. He likes to tease me and follow me every time I leave school with his bully buddies.

"Give back my chair Dax." My hand clenched, trying to suppress my anger. The constant teasing and bullying all these years still make me mad. I cannot understand why he kept on making my life miserable. Even our teachers are getting tired of Dax antics that he was constantly sent to the thinking room or, as my classmates snidely call the bully haven since all problem students are always sent there. Nobody knows what happens there, but some bullies seem to crack from the place but not Dax. When he's back in our classroom, he will start all over again. It was as if his mission in life was to follow and tease me.

"I will if you let me see your eyes. Is it true that your eyes are crossed? Or one big the other small?" He tried to grab my dark glasses, but I was faster than him. I felt his movement, and I intercepted it with my hand. Being blind built up my reflexes that any slight movement, I can feel his next move.

"Return my chair at once, or I will break your fingers." I grabbed and twisted his fingers that made him scream with pain. My father teaches me self-defense at a young age. He made sure that I could handle any bullies that came my way.

Dax pulled my chair back into position using his other hand. I release his fingers. He took off swearing obscenities at me, returning to the back portion of our classroom. I can hear his friends teasing him about the incident. "A girl beat Dax..." and they laughed at him while he was silent. Something about his silence made me feel uneasy. Dax was not the quiet type.

"So, what did you do last Saturday?" A friendly and cheerful voice whispered at me. I turn at my best friend, Aliyah Page.

"I'm home..." I turned to her and smiled happily. I can feel her sunny aura emanating from her body. She looked at the world with optimism. We became fast friends because she did not treat me like a handicapped but a normal human being. One time, I peered at her and saw a beautiful girl with lovely green eyes with long blond hair. She was also brilliant. She was popular too and admired by all. Some keep on sending her love messages and gifts. I cannot imagine what she sees in me when I'm the opposite of her.

"Liar...I saw you with your adorable brother driving your ugly red truck." Aliyah teasingly tugs my ponytail.

"I rather not tell...you would not understand."

"Oh, come on...Sam, please tell," She begged sweetly. "Did you go again to that fancy mansion where your brother works?"

"No, we did not go there." I can hear the teacher coming inside the classroom. I sighed with relief. Lying is not one of my strong suits. I cannot tell her what happen that Saturday. I don't think she can understand what I am. I shivered, remembering what happened that day.

That Saturday was a nightmare. I woke up at dawn, sweating coldly and in pain. I can hear the thunder rumbling from afar, getting louder and closer to my home. Streaks of lightning flash up the sky. It lighted my room like daylight. It was a different kind of lightning...not caused by a weather disturbance but something else. My heart was hurting like mad. It was squeezing the breath out of my body.

"Papa!" I screamed and tumbled out of my bed. Cold sweat broke out of my body, drenching my white nightgown. The lightning struck a tree near my bedroom window. I screamed in fear. The tree glowed as it burned, consuming the life out of it. Scrambling to the window to watch what was happening outside, I looked up and saw something strange flying in the sky. The storm of lightning lighted the sky, and something was flying from up there like a bird...but not a bird. Forgetting the pain I felt, I opened the window and peered to see more clearly. The blast of wind struck me, freezing my body, but I was too petrified of what I saw. Yet, before I could determine what it was, a hand covered my eyes.

"Do not look, Sam!" my father whispered in alarm. He pulled me down, covering me with his body. "Don't look up. Just be still."

"What is that, Papa?" I tried to move my head, but my father pushed me down more firmly. I heard my brother enter my room, and he, too, crawled beside us. They were both silent; only the heavy breathing and sweat coming from their bodies told me they were afraid.

The lightning and thunder stop abruptly. The clouds started to part and the morning sun peered out from the sky as if nothing had happened. I watched in awe at the sunrise. I must have been dreaming, but the burning tree told me otherwise. It was real and not a bad dream. I looked at my father, who was worriedly looking up.

"What just happened, Papa?" He did not answer. Instead, he turns to my brother. They exchanged looks, and then he left me with my brother alone. I can hear my father's motorbike roaring out of our property in haste.

"We are going out today, Sam." Samuel, my brother, cautiously stood up from his crouching position and acted as if nothing had happened.

"You better tell me, what was that we just witnessed Samuel," I demanded, but like my father, he ignored me.

"I will go prepare breakfast. Hurry up; we don't have the whole day."

I stared at my brother retreating, perplexed at his attitude. He acted as if nothing had happened. I'm not the type to back down on a good mystery. And that one I just witnessed was perfect. I hacked a plan on how to get it out from my brother. Something was not right. I stood up and stumbled back to my bed. I was lying down on my back, staring at my old ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars. I know what I saw. People whispered about this celestial being that sometimes comes out from their dwelling. Talking about these creatures is a taboo topic because they might get affronted. The price of offending the creatures was sometimes death. That was the first time I saw them. I have a strong feeling that doom was coming to my simple existence. For now, I need to prepare mentally and emotionally. Slowly, I heaved up my body towards the bathroom. I need to shake the feeling that made my heartbeat jump in worry. I wonder, where will we go? Samuel was cryptic on the trip. He only told me to pack lightly. We will be gone for a day. He said some workers would come to fix our home after the incident, but I know it's a half-truth.

Samuel pulled out my bag and slung it on her broad shoulder. He turned to me and looked at me thoroughly, "Sam, don't inform anybody where we are going. Not even you, friend."

"Why not Samuel?" I stared at him suspiciously, "I know what I saw in the sky. That was not normal. What is it?"

"The less you know, the better. The most important right now was to keep you somewhere safe."

"Safe?" I stared at him confusedly. "Are we in danger, Samuel?"

My brother stared at me with those beautiful blue eyes. I always envied those eyes who looked at me with warmth and care, but I cannot fathom what he was thinking today. He looks at me coldly. "You're not in danger, Sam. You have me." He put down my bag and approached me. Gently, he hugged me and touched my face, "I promised to be on your side until the end, Sam. I will protect you until then…."

"Until then…" I frowned.

Samuel cryptically smiled at me. "Yes…until then."