Chapter 1 #2
Dust Bunny is decked out in weather gadgets, navigation systems, shatterproof glass, special tires, dash cameras, and external cameras.
Bright pink steel sheets make the entire SUV, lightning rods, and an anchoring system that lowers us to the ground, then bolts us into the dirt to keep the tornado from lifting us.
Granted, that will only work under certain weather conditions. If the conditions are too bad and we get too close, then we will be victims of a deadly storm.
What’s great about a partnership with a major auto company is that they provided not only this car, but a van with the same equipment. Millie drives the van while Jessica controls the drone, and Reina collects all data.
We’re nearly at ‘the station’ when dozens of cars come into view, parked on the side of the road. Most of the people here are watchers or tourists wanting to see some action. They won’t get too close to a tornado to keep themselves safe.
The closer we get, the more strangers begin to jump and wave with big smiles on their faces. My cheeks heat from the attention. I’m not used to being “semi” famous.
When it comes to weather, the Dust Bunnies have made a name for themselves all over the world.
“I’ll never get used to that.” I point towards the crowd of people following our car.
Every chase, someone wants a picture or even an autograph, which I still can’t wrap my mind around.
“Me either. Out of all the ways to become famous, I didn’t think this would be how it would happen.”
“Aw, did your good looks not get you as far as you thought?” I pretend to pout my bottom lip towards my brother.
“Shut up. I’ll have you know, this face is the face of Dust Bunnies.” He rubs his cheeks, checking himself out in the rearview mirror.
He knows that’s not true. The face of the business is me, and that gives me enough anxiety.
“It’s a face only a mother could love.” I pat his shoulder, swinging the door open to make my escape before he puts me in a headlock.
“You little shit.” He reaches for me just as I slide out of the car, my feet touching the warm ground.
“Hey, hot stuff!” Millie yells from the driver’s side window.
Her cute redheaded bob sways when she waves, a big smile taking over her that causes her cheeks to press against the bottom of her round glasses.
“Hey, girl.” Ruka holds up his fist for Millie to bump.
“She was talking to me.” I nudge him in the gut with my elbow.
“Mmm, she was looking at me.” Ruka winks at Millie, which causes her to giggle.
“Stop flirting with my wife, Ruka!” Jessica shouts from the other side of the van, where she must be tinkering with the drone.
Ruka walks backwards towards the gas station, his arms spread out. “She started it!”
“And I’ll finish it,” Jessica calls out to him.
The big smile on my face fades when Evan, the leader of the Twisted Trackers, strolls from his vehicle towards me. He’s flanked by two of his guys.
I hold up my hand to stop him before he gets too close. “I’d rather not waste time talking to you, Evan. We both know you’re going to ask me what cell we’re going to chase, and I’m not telling you. Figure it out on your own.”
His hand flies to his chest, feigning that he is hurt. “Aw, what? Can’t stand a little competition?”
I snort, crossing my arms over my chest. “I think it’s you who can’t stand it.”
Evan Miller. The founder of the Twisted Trackers.
He has been my nemesis since college, and every day that passes, I hate him a little more.
He has always tried to cheat his way to the top.
When Evan is around, my hackles rise. I wouldn’t put it past him to sabotage our vehicles or figure out a way to steal our data.
He’s done it before to our older cars, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did it again.
Not only is our team better and smarter, but it kills him that a team of girls has taken the spotlight he thinks he has a right to. If anything moves me forward in this business, it’s the pure rage I feel towards him to make sure he will never have the top spot in storm chasing history.
That will always belong to the Dust Bunnies.
Evan narrows his eyes at me, his ass kissers trying to get him to go back to their vehicles. The creaky door of the gas station opens, the bell ringing, and Ruka is biting into a beef stick with a plastic bag in his hand full of everyone’s favorite snacks.
That’s his ritual before every chase. He grabs our favorite drinks and snacks for the entire team, then we head out.
“Is there a problem?” Ruka stands next to me, ripping another bite off the beef stick.
“Need big brother to fight your battles, Nariko?” Evan and his group of pathetic friends laugh.
I glance around, noticing a crowd of people in their plastic rain ponchos who are holding up their phones to record the interaction.
“You’d prefer that, seeing how you’re so threatened by me and my team, Evan. Take your insecurity elsewhere. We have a storm to chase. Maybe you should do the same.”
Ruka takes another bite of his snack and shrugs his shoulders.
“I don’t have to fight her battles when it comes to you, Evan.
She seems to hold her own just fine.” Ruka shoos Evan away.
“Go on. Before you embarrass yourself any further.” My brother wraps a protective arm around my shoulder and guides me to the other side of the van, where Evan can’t see us.
The van door is open, allowing us to see the radar on the screens while Jessica tinkers with her drone as she sits on the floor. Millie is in the driver’s seat, her legs tucked under her, and she grins with a cute, excited wave.
“I can’t stand that guy,” I mumble, doing my best not to look over at Evan.
“No one can. Everyone here is rooting for us, not them. Let’s just think about our success. It’s the one the Trackers wish they had,” Jessica explains, never looking up from her drone. “I’m about ready. I wanted to give a few updates to Dusty.” She gives the drone a soft pat. “He’s ready.”
“Perfect. Reina. How are we looking on the radars?”
Reina rolls the small stool from one side of the van to the other so she can see me through the open door.
“Good. There are a few cells that we can run after if we want, but I think our money is on this one.” She points to the screen, tapping it.
“I think this one will give us the action we are looking for.”
“Well, let’s load up and go. Here.” Ruka hands over the goodies he got for everyone. “Fuel for the day.”
“You’re so nice, Ruka,” Millie beams, catching a bottle of her favorite sweet tea.
Jessica lifts her head and narrows her brown eyes at my brother. “Zip it, Ruka. Don’t even think about flirting with my wife for the second time today. Once a day is your limit, remember?”
Ruka bends down and takes Jessica’s hand in his, kissing the tops of her knuckles. “Why would I flirt with her when I have you?” He bats his eyelashes at her, and she rolls her eyes, tossing her long locs over her shoulder.
There are gold charms clipped through her hair, sparkling under the darkening sky.
Jessica laughs, shoving Ruka away before he inhales her in a tight hug that she happily returns. Millie gets up, wrapping her arms around both of them. Reina piles on next. My brother spreads an arm out for me to join, and I do, embracing my team.
My friends.
My family.
We always hug before a chase. It’s our tradition. Anything can happen. Any of us could die. We all could. It’s the chance we take to capture the beautiful evil this world creates.
If I die doing something I love, then my life has not gone to waste.
“Ready, Millie?” Jessica begins.
“Ready. Ready, Reina?” Mille echoes.
“Ready. Ruka?”
“Ready as ever. Nari?”
“Ready!”
We unwrap our arms from one another, and I pull my camera from the strap attached to my shoulder. “Everyone knows the drill. We will lead the way.”
Millie hops into the driver’s seat. “We will be right behind you.”
“Don’t forget to flip on the live streams,” I remind them.
Jessica and Ruka spin like a tornado, circling one another like sister funnels would do.
It’s a dig at me.
“I’m not spiraling.” I laugh, watching them fall against the van from being too dizzy. “And that’s what you get.”
“Excuse me? I’m sorry to interrupt you. I was hoping I could get a picture?
” A teenage girl asks, her grin showing off her braces.
She can’t be more than seventeen. She points over her shoulder.
“My parents are over there. This is the first time they have allowed me to see a tornado from a distance. So wherever you go, we are going to follow.” She bounces on her heels as she talks so fast, I can hardly keep up.
I lean in for the selfie, meeting her enthusiasm with a smile. “I love that, but don’t follow too closely. We get too close for a reason, and it isn’t safe for someone who doesn’t have the training, okay? Promise you’ll hang back.”
She nods fast. “Oh, definitely. I have to be careful, or my parents won’t ever allow this to happen again.”
I peek over her shoulder and give them my friendliest wave. They reluctantly wave in return. By the looks on their faces, they do not share the same joy as their daughter.
“We’ve got to go!” Reina shouts from inside the van. “We have a hook echo on the radar!”
The moment I hear those two magic words, adrenaline soars through my veins, my heart rate kicking up a few notches.
“I’ve got to go. It was lovely meeting you. Stay safe. And far behind us! I don’t even want to see you in my rearview, got it?”
Her head bobs in agreement, her eyes round with fear, and the poor girl freezes on the spot.
Ruka jumps into the driver’s seat, smacking the door with his palm. “Come on, Nari. We’ve got to go!”
I grip the girl’s shoulders. “It’s okay. You’re brave. You’ll be safe because you’re going to listen to me and stay far enough away. Or you can stay here. There are plenty of people who like to watch from the live stream.”
“I don’t want to watch a screen. I want to see a tornado.”
I spin her around and give her a slight push towards her parents. “Then what are we waiting for?”