Page 114 of Through the Storms

“Oak!” Lana yelled. “What’s going on?”

“Sorry. Just a little debris.” Oakley thought downplaying what they saw was the best course of action.

“Where are you?”

“Nothing to worry about,” Oakley said in a reassuring voice, although her heart raced, and hail pounded the van. “We’re about six miles out from Summerton. Coming in from due east.”

“You need to get out of there.” Lana raised her voice. “Now.”

“What?” Oakley said loudly, trying to be heard over the golf ball-sized hail that hammered the van. Visibility lessened as they exploded against the mesh covering the windshield.

“The tornado isn’t taking the usual northeast path. It’s heading due east.” When Oakley didn’t respond right away, Lana yelled, “I’m looking at the radar now.”

“Shit,” Oakley said. She glanced at Britt. “Did you hear that?”

Britt gripped the steering wheel and yanked it hard to the left. Time seemed to slow down, and Oakley experienced the moment in slow motion.

Oakley wasn’t sure who screamed first, but she thought it was Chloe, followed by Riley yelling,no.The van slid sideways, and Oakley stared out the side passenger window at the road that should have been in front of them.

Finally, Oakley realized what caused Britt to put the van into a skid. A large red blob fell from the sky, hit the pavement about twenty feet in front of them, and bounced into a ditch.

Oakley’s eyes widened.Tractor?The wagon attached to it broke free and crashed onto the pavement, splintering into a thousand pieces. One of the side panels bounced up and landed a glancing blow to the back of the van.

The van spun like a top, and Britt fought to keep it under control. The van continued to twist like a Tilt-A-Whirl, but somehow, Britt managed to keep them on the road, instead of flying off into the ditch.

After a few more rotations, they came to a stop.

“Holy fuck,” Britt said. Her knuckles were white as she continued to clutch the wheel.

Oakley frantically swiveled in her chair. The seat belts had held. Riley had her arms wrapped tightly around Chloe. And other than being as white as ghosts, they looked unharmed.

Oakley heard her name being called from the floor. She must be in shock. She glanced down.Lana.Oakley lunged for her phone, but her seat belt prevented her from reaching it. She stabbed at the release with her shaking fingers and was finally able to free herself.

“Babe, I’m here,” Oakley said into the phone once she’d retrieved it.

“You scared the shit out of me.”

“That makes two of us.” Oakley glanced around the van. “No, that makes five of us.”

“Is everyone okay?” Lana asked.

“Yeah.” Oakley’s heart raced. “I think so.” Oakley turned to the others. “Everyone okay?”

Britt nodded and finally released the steering wheel. “I’m good.”

“What about you two?” Oakley said to Riley and Chloe.

Riley loosened her hold on Chloe. “I’m okay. What about you?” she said to Chloe.

Chloe sat up straight and took a deep breath. “I’m okay.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Does this mean we aren’t going to make it to Summerton?”

“No, no,” Oakley said. “Lana, what’s it look like?”

“You said you were six miles east?”

“About,” Oakley said.

“Then the storm’s passed. It’s still on the ground, but it’s turned again and heading northeast.”