People Of The Storm [ORIGINS]

Strange Machines

We waited inside of the cave for the storm to pass, contemplating what we realized was going on. Clara was right. We really are cursed. The problem is that we don't know what with. This was a whole new concept to come to terms with. I think that, deep down, we all knew something was special about Cio, and us.

Ryan was sitting next to me, his arm draped over my shoulders. He spoke over the noise of the rain pounding on the ground. "Well, I'm betting Julie gets thunder," he said sarcastically. Mack laughed at the idea, shaking his head, while Julie just looked horrified at it. Clara comforted Julie, but nodded her head when she wasn't looking. Leave it to Ryan to change everyone's mood. I rolled my eyes, leaning my head against the wall behind me. Ryan moved his arm down around my waist so that it wasn't stuck between my nape and the stone. The action made me freeze a little, but I let him. Clara glanced at us for a second before turning to Mack. "If anything, Julie would be wind, right?" she asked. Mack agreed with her, running a hand through his golden hair. Julie spoke up before anyone else could pitch another idea. "Either way, all the curses are scary!" she pouted. Clara flinched slightly at her choice of words, scrunching up her nose. I noticed, and tilted my head at her. "Let's not say curses, Julie. That's a harsh word. Let's say.... Abilities. Okay?" I said, smiling a bit at Julie. Julie got the hint and nodded, her curly hair bouncing as she bobbed her head.

The storm was only getting worse, lightning striking the sand in front of the mouth of the cave more often. Ryan stood up and crept closer to the opening, gesturing for Clara to come over. Reluctantly, she stood and walked over, staying a few steps behind Ryan. "Try and do it again. Practice controlling your ability," he suggested, his brown eyes sparkling with curiousity. This was obviously just an attempt to see Clara's "magic" again. Clara rolled her eyes and punched him on the arm, making him flinch and cradle his arm with the other. A small snicker came from Julie. "Idiot. That's a terrible idea. What if I hit someone?" Clara proposed, her voice harsh. Ryan shook his head, forgetting the punch to the arm. "We're all safe inside the cave. This is a good time to practice. You'll need to know how to control it eventually, you know," he said. He squinted at the sky, looking at something near the clouds. Mack paid no mind to the two of them, leaning his head on the wall behind him. The sound of Ryan's voice made his eyes fling open and head angle towards him.

"There! Use that as a target!" Ryan said, pointing to something. I leaned my head towards the opening to try and see what it was. The object looked small and black against the clouds, making me scrumch up my brows together. Clara did the same, but nodded grudgingly. "Fine, idiot. But only once." Holding her hands in front of her, Clara concentrated on using her newly found ability. She squinted her eyes a bit, looking as if focusing on it was painful. Flashes of lightning struck near the area she was focusing on, turning the ground black with ash. Ryan watched intently, taking a small step bsckwards as the lightning streamed down. Finally, a bolt of lightning struck the flying object, making it move downwards towards the ground. Clara turned to everyone with a slight smile, but slight terror in her eyes. Her hands were shaking, and so was her voice when she spoke. "I hit it...." she said. Ryan jumped up and down, celebrating. I laughed at his behavior, but clapped my hands to show support. Maybe we could figure out this new thing after all. Mack gave a small nod at her. I'm assuming he was still a little worried about the ability, but I don't blame him. Julie got up to her feet, looking out of the mouth of the cave. "What did you hit exactly?" she asked. Her dark eyes scanned the skies for the object, which was dissappearing into the treeline. Clara shrugged. "Dunno. Probably a bird."

Then came the booming sound of a crash. Even Ryan stopped celebrating and turned his attention to it. Mack got up and looked out the mouth of the cave, me following after him. This wasn't thunder. It was too messy of a sound to be. The thud came from the object that Clara hit, I'm sure. There was no way that was a bird. The pounding rain and thunder covered any other sound that might have emanated from that spot.