Chapter 7 #3
He goes to step outside when he pauses midstep.
He tilts his head back, the sun shining upon his tan skin, illuminating him like a god.
When he peers down at me, the darkened cobalt is back.
His features are human. When he smiles, his teeth are normal, not sharp or pointed like they were only seconds ago.
“Where did you go?” I don’t like that he has hidden himself. I want him to be who he is when he is with me, who he is meant to be.
“Where no one else can find me.” He tucks a wet piece of my hair behind my ear.
Stepping out from a hole in one of the last walls standing, a rainbow arches over the sky, showing beauty after destruction. The firefighters and paramedics run towards us, but they aren’t as fast as my brother.
Ruka darts to us, sprinting as fast as he can. “Nariko! Nari!” he calls for me.
“Can you stand?” Oklahoma asks, his grip tightening on me, not wanting to let me go.
“Yes, I’m okay.” I pat his chest.
He buries his nose in my hair, inhaling and kissing the top of my head. Much to Ruka’s dismay, he sets me on my feet, staying right next to me.
“Ruka! I’m okay.” I spread my arms out in time to catch him. My brother engulfs me in a tight hug. “I’m okay. I promise. I’m okay.”
He leans back, tears creating clean paths on his muddy cheeks.
“Holy shit, I was so scared. We tried to find you. I thought…I thought I had to call Mom to tell her we lost you.” He cups my neck, staring at the wound on the side of my head where the blood dripping down the side of my face makes the wound seem worse than what it really is.
It actually feels better since Oklahoma licked it.
Maybe I’ll have him lick it again later.
“You’re okay.” Ruka checks me over again, then hauls me against his chest. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you.”
He’s talking about our fight.
“It’s okay. I love you too. We wouldn’t be family if we didn’t fight.
” I squeeze him as tight as I can. “I might not have been found if it weren’t for Oklahoma.
” Pulling away, I step closer to the man who saved me, the man who has overcome my soul.
“I would still be waiting to be rescued if it weren’t for him, Ruka. ”
Ruka holds out his hand to Oklahoma. A truce, an understanding forming at last. “I don’t know how you did it, and I don’t care. Thank you for saving my sister when I couldn’t.”
“I’ll save her anytime. I promise, Ruka. I’d give my life for hers.” Oklahoma slaps his own palm against my brother’s, a firm handshake that must provide some sort of weird peace between men.
“Ma’am, I’m Tony. How are you feeling? We need to check you over and go to the hospital.” The paramedic drops his bag, and the other has wheeled a gurney to us.
“I’m fine. I don’t need to go to the hospital. No need to fuss,” I say.
“You’re going,” Oklahoma says in a way that leaves no room for argument. “You need that wound looked at.” He points to the side of my head.
Millie, Jess, and Reina come running up to me next, all three of them wrapping their arms around me.
“I knew you’d be okay.” Millie wipes her cheek. “If anyone would find a way to survive a tornado, it would be you.”
“Damn right. She’s the fucking best!” Jess shouts.
I roll my eyes with a smile, wincing when the cut on my head stretches. Oklahoma’s fingers run up and down my spine, the pain becoming a dull ache. It’s as if he can absorb my agony.
“Damn, you lot!” Jazz, if I remember correctly, shouts from the driver’s side window of his car.
“Can’t bring you anywhere without a tornado following, huh?
We have fresh clothes, food, whatever you need in the trailer here!
” Jazz and Westin hop out of the truck, preparing the trailer for anyone in need.
“Speaking of,” Ruka sighs, pointing to our storm vehicles.
“Dust Bunny One and Two made it out alive, but now, we have nowhere to stay to call our main hub. We can search for another cell, travel to another town, but I know this area is the hot spot. What do you want to do, Nari? We could always go back home? Work from there. It would be inconvenient since it isn’t big enough to hold all of us, and we could only do local cells, but it’s better than nothing. ”
Oklahoma steps beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me against his side.
Jess winks at me, and Reina’s mouth falls open. Millie clasps her hands together and places them over her heart, grinning like she’s seeing two cute puppies.
“Ya’ll are more than welcome to stay with me, Jazz, and Westin. I have cabins all over my property. You’ll be safe there. Plenty of food and shelter. You’d have to be okay with animals walking around freely, but other than that, the invitation is there.”
“Thought you didn’t like storm chasers?” I tease him.
“I don’t.”
My heart sinks. All the hope I felt, gone.
“But I like you. Dead Man’s Ranch loves to rescue, haven’t you heard?” His smirk is all I need to know that everything will be okay.
He watches me. Happiness tugs on his plump lips that are still red from our kiss, yet there’s one emotion he’s trying to hide. I see it. I sense it.
There’s a sadness haunting him. His eyes are windows to his soul, and while he might seem happy, my savior has a storm cloud hanging over him.
And if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s chasing storms until I make them my own.