Chapter Text
Kate sat up in bed. Her heart was racing as she attempted to take deep breaths to calm her anxiety. It was the dream again, one where she’s back in the storm watching as her friends were ripped away from her and taken by the darkness. A tiny, furry bundle of energy launched itself onto the mattress making her smile. “Good morning, Brisket.” He was her emotional support dog, a lifesaver the last few years. Pacing across the cold apartment floor she reached for a glass of room temperature water and tossed the tiny blue pill down her throat. For five years now, she had taken the same anti-anxiety tablet daily.
Placing a dish of food, consisting of boiled chicken, rice, and some veggies, on the floor Brisket came running. “Time for breakfast buddy.” Yes. She spoiled her baby.
After a short ride on the subway, she entered the office for another day of monitoring the weather. John approached her desk, making sure to pet Brisket, “Hey Kate um there’s someone wanting to see you. He’s in the briefing room.”
“Okay thanks I’ll head there now. Brisket stay.” He was trained. Standing to her feet, nearly stumbling over the heeled shoes, she rushed to the room anxious to see who would be visiting her. She half expected it to be her mother, but never Javi.
“Hey Kate. It’s been a while.”
Whatever breath she took upon seeing an old friend standing in the room before her, finally came out as he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. “Javi, what are you doing here?” His hair had been cut and he was wearing pants. A nice suit to that. Was this the same Javi she knew from school?
“I’ve been trying to reach you, even stopped by your mom’s house and she told me you had moved to New York. I never pegged you as being a city girl.”
“I had to leave. You know why.”
He did and it pained him to think about it. They were his friends too. “I know.”
“Are you visiting the city or what?”
“Not exactly. I came here to bring you back to Oklahoma.”
“Get out.”
“Kate I’m serious.”
“Javi I don’t do that stuff anymore.” She touched her temple and massaged it with her thumb. “I…I can’t go back.” Suddenly the scar on her leg began to pain her and Brisket came running into the room to her side. He must have sensed a change in her mental state.
“What if I told you everything could be different now?” He touched her palm and the dog growled. “You got a dog?”
“Yes...Why now Javi?”
“There’s an outbreak ongoing and I believe it’s time for the…” he began to whisper, “storm slayer to come home and finish what she started.”
“It’s tamer. Storm tamer. And no, I’ve given up that life now. The taming storms part of me died with them that day.”
“Hey, look at me. The Kate I see standing before me, is afraid. However, the Kate I’ve known since kindergarten is fearless.” He pointed to her heart. “Deep down you know it’s true. These storms are getting stronger, and you are our only hope. Please consider my offer.”
She chewed on her pink lip peeling some of the skin off until it was scaly. Something she did upon finding herself severely anxious. “What do I get out of this?”
“Saving lives and some of your mom’s brisket.”
Her mouth began to water at the thought of her mother’s delicious brisket. Oh, how she had missed it. Even named her dog after the dense, savory meat. While she wanted to help, the fear of him finding her was terrifying. The thought of seeing her mom again made her feel at ease. Perhaps a hug from her mother along with a home cooked southern meal would do her soul good. Then again, the worry of putting her mother in harm’s way upset her.
“I can see it now. You’re thinking too hard.” He handed her an envelope and patted her shoulder. “I’ll see you in three days.”
“Javi, I never…”
“Don’t speak Kate. Just come home.” With that, he departed the office and waved the first taxi he saw down. Once he was out of ears reach with her, he dialed a number. A man’s voice answered.
“Update?”
“It’s done. I delivered an offer she can’t resist.”
“Wonderful.”
The phone call disconnected. Javi took a deep breath and whispered under his breath, “you’re going to save the world alright.”
--
Kate sank to her knees with Brisket on her lap as she opened the envelope to find a one-way ticket to Oklahoma and a picture of their friends with the words, 'for them' written on the back. “I don’t know boy. It’s been years.” Her therapist had described it as, ‘Oikophobia’- an aversion to her home environment, the fear of being back where it all began and everything that surrounded Oklahoma. “Brisket, looks like we are going to Oklahoma.”
Her boss Linda stepped into the room. "Kate? You alright?"
She managed to get to her feet and brushed the stray hair out of her face. "Yes."
"I think you need to see this. A huge system is brewing in the west and it looks promising for another outbreak."
Kate stopped after taking a look at the screen. "I know, which is why I need to go home."
"Back to Oklahoma?"
"Family emergency."
"I see. Alright Kate, be safe."
-
A storm was brewing. One that would change her life forever should the cards be dealt right. She took a deep breath as she boarded the flight for Oklahoma with Brisket. After the flight was in air, she closed her eyes for a nap and began to dream of being in complete darkness.
In an open field, surrounded by wind turbines and wheat, the sun had vanished as intra-cloud lightning began to light up the sky. A flash with a spider like pattern illuminated the night as she spotted a figure of a male approaching her. She felt drawn to him in a way like no other. Her feet began to move faster than expected and soon she stood in front of the faceless figure reaching her hand out to take his. A voice interrupted the moment followed by an eerie cackle “I’m coming for you.”
Kate opened her eyes and Brisket began lick her hand to calm her heart rate. A brief moment of turbulence startled her. “Maybe napping was a bad idea boy.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent into Tulsa.” The captain announced and soon they were on the ground.
“No turning back now.” Grabbing her bag, with Brisket in tow, they walked outside of the airport to find Javi waiting as promised standing in front of a white truck.
“You made it!” He threw his hands up.
“I am here.”
He hugged her and Brisket snapped at him. “What’s it going to take to get this little shit to like me?”
“Treats for starters and if you’re lucky he might let you pet him.” She smiled.
“You ready for this?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She got in the truck, and they sped off.