"You know my name?" She said.
"Of course." His response.
* * *
Years being told she is only hell bound and her sinful life is putting distance between her and angelic beings.
Her earnest call is answered.
Camryn sees a horse stable.
"No!" She said.
* * *
One-year-old Camryn crawling away from a tipped over playpen and pulling herself up to walk a few steps. Gloria and Ralph peaking around the corner watching her while muffing laughter.
* * *
Four-year-old Camryn giggling as she made her toys dance in the air. Gloria grabs Camryn and prays for God to save her.
10-year-old Alison tying a belt or rope around her bedroom door and the hall closet door across from her room. Alison setting a fire and Camryn is trapped in her room, so 6-year-old Camryn jumps out of her second story bedroom window breaking her ankle.
* * *
8-year-old Camryn sitting on a row alone wearing a black dress. She looks around the room and relatives stare at her. Many seem angry with her.
“That girl is of the devil.” She hears an old relative say.
12-year-old Alison walks to her. “You killed our parents, and everybody knows it. I hate you. I wished you had died instead of them.” She says.
“Alison! I know you’re upset but stop acting like an asshole.” Grandma Sarra guides Alison away from Camryn. Grandpa Ariel sits by Camryn and places his arm around her.
“I got you baby girl. We’ll get this figured out. You can’t help it.” He says.
“Can’t help what?” Camryn asked. Ariel kisses Camryn’s forehead.
12-year-old Camryn getting slapped by a boy. Camryn remembers the little dick. The boy had been saying hateful things to her about her parents dying. She told him the only reason he was here was his father was too lazy to wear a condom. He kept his distance…after she set his shirt on fire. He told people she started a fire, but no one believed him.
* * *
16-year-old Camryn, getting too much attention from a high school student teacher Mr. Lewis. He is always watching her ... the way guys do when interested in a girl. She kept her distance from him. Camryn shutters thinking about the damage the man has done since.
* * *
17-year-old Camryn getting her first kiss from a boy named Jared. He lived a few houses down from her grandparents. Camryn recalls he was a sweet boy. She wonders what became of him.
Oh yes, Russell the lovely exchange student she meets when she was 22. He was from Wales. He was caring. She lost her virginity with him. No apologies.
She punches and scratches Wesley to no avail. Her eyes bulging out. She kicks him. He shakes her while squeezing her neck.
* * *
"You fucking bitch!" He screams.
"I wished your mother scraped you out!" He shouts.
* * *
Manny and Jeremy try to pull Wesley off Rosemary. They have no success. Rosemary is turning blue. They know if they can't stop him he will kill her.
* * *
Devon is afraid but he places his hand on Wesley's shoulder.
"Let's go find Camryn. Let her go and let's go find Camryn." He said.
Wesley's eyes dart towards Devon.
Rosemary falls to the ground gasping for air and crying.
Foundations of buildings, broken and pulled up trees, cars turned upside down, horns blaring on a few vehicles then silence.
Wesley runs his hands through his hair and places one over his mouth. He shakes his head as tears stream down his face.
* * *
He screams. He rests his hands on his thighs while taking deep breathes.
"Let's follow the path of the tornadoes. We'll be careful looking, and we'll find her." Manny said.
"What about me?" Rosemary said with a raspy whisper.
"What about you?" Miyu said. "How many people heard her say, you can die to Camryn?" She said.
"Not now!" Jeremy said.
"It became one giant tornado. Camryn's probably dead." Gabby said.
* * *
Wesley glares at her. Gabby's never had anyone look at her the way he did. She's terrified. She places distance and other people between herself and Wesley.
* * *
"We need everyone in the vehicles and ...Wesley, Manny?" Jeremy said. He called out to them.
* * *
Wesley, Manny, Kathy, Devon and Miyu walk away from the group heading for Hugo. Jeremy couldn't allow them in Hugo. They would discover the system malfunction.
* * *
"Wesley! Manny!" Jeremy shouts.
Manny stops for a moment. He looks at Jeremy.
"When you find her tell me," Jeremy said.
A bouquet of white roses is delivered to Alison from Parker.
* * *
"This kid has better manners than some men." She said.
* * *
"He's smitten. What do you plan to do about him?" Eugene said.
* * *
"Nothing...for now,” Alison said.
* * *
"There's a world breaking tornado happening in Kansas. Three tornadoes and merged into one massive ass tornado." Claudia said.
* * *
"Nature is a diva. Doesn't matter what shit we humans create nature will always outdo us." Alison said.
* * *
Eugene's phone rings. "Hello...oh hello ...yes I would love an earlier appointment with Saul. 1pm Thursday will be perfect. Thank you." Eugene said. He hangs up. "I want to pick out the next person." He said.
"You're not ready," Claudia said.
"I decide who's ready," Alison said. "Your passion for our mission is admirable. You have training to do and to finish your law degree.” She said.
“I am ready.” Eugene insists.
"Do you have a kit, Eugene?" Alison said.
"It's not complete." He said.
"It's not complete because you're in the research phase. Eugene, each of us, has strengths for this team. My strength is training and assessing the recruits. I plan. I learn and adjust. The foundation time is important. It's the difference between learning and refining or getting 25 to life. What do I always say?" Alison said.
"Being sloppy equals a dick in my ass and leaving this world in shit-covered diaper from the electric chair," Eugene said.
"There are a lot of people in prison believing they were too smart. Police are dump on TV in real life...many are smart." Alison said.
"I get it," Eugene said.
"No, you don't," Alison said.
"I've killed." He said.
"Yes. Do you remember you kept leaving the room during clean up?" Alison said.
"I did clean up," Eugene said.
"Yes, you did. I was there to help you, but that option will not always be available to you. So you crawl, walk and run." Alison said.
Camry blinks rapidly as a bright ball of yellow and red hurl towards her. It’s fire. The ball of fire smashes against her angel. A bright glow encases them.
* * *
Things are bizarre the tornado it twists counter clockwise. A train car bounces around like a toy. Something is burning. This amazes her how anything is on fire with this torrid rain? She sees various objects in the tornado with the lighting flashes. The thunder sounds like a drum line.
* * *
This angel's eyes are gray, and a face is light. Objects hurl to the ground. Chunks of earth being ripped out of the ground and she wonders how the heck some clouds, wind, and rain causes such destruction. A piece of a wall flips towards her but breaks apart before reaching them.
"You're protected." He reminds her.
"Did I need a tornado to come shake me back into my life?" She asked him.
"Oh, Camryn." He gently cradles her head. "This isn't punishment." He said.
The tornado going counter-clockwise she never knew a tornado could do that! Camryn is relieved her angels found her to be like a silly child. She guesses in th
eir...eyes humanity was like silly children.
Various parts of the tornado are on fire. It is loud inside the tornado but with her angel, things were quiet and still. The tornado spits out various objects on fire. She doubted anything would stay on fire because of all the rain.
Camryn saw the horse stable. "I'm not ready for that place." She said.
Camryn sees herself and Wesley dancing, fighting, laughing, singing, eating food together. She smells the tree tea oil shampoo he uses---pretty boy. The after shave...she doesn't know what it is but its yummy on him. She was hugging him one day smelling his neck and well…that lead to sex.
She sees Hugo making its way around debris. Wesley, Manny and Devon lifting things and helping trapped people out of cars. They couldn't wait for First Responders to reach everyone.
Miyu examines people. Kathy collects names and phone numbers of people they find. She locates dry cardboard and makes notices so people can find help.
Wesley sits in Hugo. He needed a moment alone. Camryn was pulled out of his hands. She could be hurt. She could be …she could be.
Kathy and Miyu watch him from a distance.
"The scream," Kathy said.
"I know," Miyu said.
Kathy's eyes follow Miyu as she walks away. She misses Lance. She hopes they find Camryn.
"The tornado crossed into Oklahoma and still going strong," Manny said.
"How's he doing?" Devon said.
"Wesley? I don’t know." Manny said.
* * *
Wesley recalls Camryn telling him when she's stressed or needed a moment to catch her breath she likes to listen to classical music. The piano music is soothing. The song is short, so Wesley keeps hitting repeat to listen.
He sees her flipping into the storm.
He couldn't fall apart now. He must find his fiancée. The stupid tornado is still going! What the fuck! He thought.
Wesley picks up the radio receiver "Liz, what's your 20?" He asked.
"Tornadoes in sight. Wesley this is incredible! I think we have footage of someone in the tornado. Liz said. She is excited.
"What's your 20?" Wesley repeats.
"Oklahoma City, 35.481918, and the longitude is -97.508469...this is about to turn. This tornado is the biggest tornado in the US possibly the world. It's appeared in four states I believe it's going to stop in Texas." Liz said.
"We’re heading your way." He said.
"Tell Jeremy if he's not here he's missed this tornado and should hold to North East Texas like around Wichita Falls for a better position on the storm. By the way, you all be careful a private zoo around Oklahoma lost some animals during the storm. "Liz said.
"Copy that," Wesley said.
Wesley waves over the group to Hugo. "Liz told me a private zoo lost some of its animals in Oklahoma City so need to be careful." He said.
"Of course," Devon said.
"It's heading for Texas," Wesley said.
"I wish we had another vehicle," Manny said.
"We don't. I'm driving." Wesley said.
"Are you sure?" Manny said.
"Keys please," Wesley said.
Miyu with her medical training made her in demand with the residents. She knew they had to press on. She watches Wesley who is still but not peaceful. He is a better driver so it makes sense he takes over. Wesley had a mission to find his woman and couldn't allow himself to freak out.
Jeremy got the group to a hospital in Guthrie. Rosemary spoke to an officer to press charges against Wesley, but no one from the tour group would back up her claim. George felt a little bad for Rosemary. She been attacked. Delia is pissed at the sympathy her husband is showing to this pathetic racist's moron. She reminds him there was plenty of room for everyone in the ditch.
"A woman like that is accustomed to being in ditches. She was jealous that's what this is all about. Why do I need to explain this to you? "Delia stated.
"Everyone live matter," George said.
"Camryn's life matters so why are you having sympathy for a murder?" Delia said.
"We don't know if she's dead. It not likely she survived but... "George blinks he couldn't tell his wife.
"She's been keeping a catalog of our activity? She thinks we’re terrorists." Delia said.
George is insulted and now worried...she wouldn't document they had sex the other night. If she thought he's a terrorist why did she fuck him? George is confused. If she mentions they did it...it's not like Delia would believe her.
The other tourists told the officers Rosemary had murder Camryn by pushing her into the path of the oncoming tornados. Delia relayed a previous story Rosemary told her she liked being choked during sex, so her injuries happened with sex not when Wesley allege to kill her.
"They're saying he didn't try to kill me! What? There was only so much room in the ditch." She said. Rosemary is outraged. She shit her pants, and no one will support her claim! The officer took the complaint and told her he'll follow up on it. He gave Rosemary a sideways glance indicating to her unless she stays after him he will not follow up.
Jeremy views the news footage of Camryn being sucked into the storm is making headlines. The storm's not over, and the media frenzy over the mystery woman being pulled into the tornado has begun. Jeremy paces the hallway. He considers his options. On the one hand, the media’s going to find out who she is and he could be the person everyone comes to for the story. Liz's team is still chasing the tornado but no one but Camryn ...if she's alive can tell them what it was like in the tornado. ...if she were dead...he'll be the person everyone had to call. A slight smiled covers his face he finds a working phone to call the local media.
Thin sheets of ice form on Camryn's arms. The new angel's eyes are green, face of light and there was something different about this angel. A distinct female presence about it which confused her. She was always told all angels were male.
A gentle laugh from her angel. "Oh Camryn, human beings struggle so much to answer what's considered the unknown." She said.
She, yes she, Camryn knew in a huge host of angels some had to be female!
"Is this almost done?" Camryn asked.
* * *
An older woman walks towards Camryn.
"Hello Camryn, I'm Momma Pow. My child, you're a decedent of a power line of women. You didn't cause the tornadoes today. You did influence the strength of them. It's time," She said.
"I don't want to go into the horse stable," Camryn said. She insisted.
"What if you're wrong Camryn? If the stable didn't happen the way, you remember things." Momma Pow said.
"No!" Camryn shouts.
"Sometimes child you go through shit and find beauty." Momma Pow said.
"Not your decision!" Camryn said.
* * *
Lightening flash.
Gloria wears a Texas-Arlington t-shirt, Niecy and two other women sitting on the floor.
"Share the joint Emma," Niecy said.
"Screw you," Emma said. She gives Niecy the finger.
"Hurry up Ava," Gloria said.
"You think these drinks mix themselves?" Ava asks.
They were drinking whiskey and water while smoking pot. Camryn always suspected her mother was a little wild as a young woman. They laugh and play with an Ouija board.
"This is the site of past devil worshippers if there is a demon around make yourself known," Gloria said.
Niecy and the other women scream when the planchette moves.
"Shut up!" Gloria said.
"What's your name?" Niecy said.
The planchette moves and spells out a name.
"Ethan?" Gloria said.
The planchette points to the word yes.
"Ethan?" The women laugh.
"That doesn't sound like a demon name," Emma said.
"Emma, that's what it said," Niecy said.
"Hello Ethan, I think ... a new boyfriend." Ava jokes.
"Ava, it would be an improvement over some of your boyfriends," Gloria said.
Emma bumps into a guy who gives her an awkward look as he comes out of Niecy's room.
"Niecy your date ate the rest of my lunch," Emma said.
"He ate me...many things got eaten. Damn!" Niecy said.
"What?" Emma said.
"I didn't get his name or number. Oh well, there's no problem finding dick. There's only the problem for finding dick worth having." Niecy said.
She sounds like Anna. Camryn always suspected Anna was more like Niecy than her aunt would admit.
Lightening flash.
Gloria and Ava return from class and finds the house ransacked, but nothing was taken. They are convinced Emma and Niecy have something to do with this and an argument ensues.
Emma sitting at the kitchen table turns her head to look at her roommates entering the house. Ava, Gloria and Niecy are stunned Emma's head is turned almost to the center of her back.
Emma laughs.
Lightening flash.
Gloria and Niecy are packing.
“What do want to do with Emma’s things?” Niecy asked.
“Throw it away. We don’t have money for storage.” Gloria said.
“It was just a game,” Niecy said.
“Ava is dead and Emma is missing. Everything fell to shit after playing with that stupid Ouija board.” Gloria said.
“Pastor said the holy water killed Ethan,” Niecy said.
“Don’t talk about that thing like he’s a friend. It was never alive, so it can’t die. It goes away and waits. We have to be valiant and not do something that invites it back into our lives. We go back to Texas and tell no one about this.” Gloria said.
IF: Nowhere To Run (Camryn Morgan Series Book 1) Page 22