043. Nature's Fury

Summary: Original fiction drabble, part of my S.C.A.B.s series. Five-year-old Avery watches a thunderstorm from the window of his orphanage.

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New Thebes was experiencing its biggest thunderstorm in years, and in the Richard Wilkins Children's Home, five-year-old Avery Franklin couldn't help but stare out in awe of it.

He  pressed his nose against the window, watching as the rain fell in sheets against the glass. He could barely see anything, but then every thirty seconds or so there would be a FLASH!, followed a few seconds later by a BOOM! that seemed to shake the whole building. Every lightning bolt elicited a little gasp, and he would only exhale when the thunder sounded, not even realizing he was holding his breath. His heart raced. He felt exhilarated.

His hands were tingling. He rubbed his fingers together absentmindedly, trying to get them to stop.

His little sister, Nina, was cowering over on the couch with some of the littler kids, all hiding under the same blanket. Every time the thunder sounded they would let out a small, collective scream and squirm around in their seats. Avery did his best to ignore them.

BOOM! Another thunder crash and another set of screams. This time, however, they came right as Mrs. Powers, the head houseparent, was passing by the room, and she stuck her head in to see what was going on. She instantly frowned.

"Avery Franklin, move away from that window."

"Huh? Why?"

The boy looked up at the old woman, who stared back at him stoically. "Because lightning could hit the window and hurt you," she said simply. "Move."

"Lightning ain't gonna hurt me."

"Do not say 'ain't,' and yes, lightning can hurt you."

"No it can't. I got hit by lightning already, didn't I?"

Mrs. Powers blinked, which was actually quite a show of emotion for her. She had momentarily forgotten which child she was speaking to; for a moment she paused, idly wondering if he had a point, but quickly let the thought pass.

"Nevertheless, it is better not to take chances. Move away from the window, now."

Another flash of thunder split the air, followed by another crash—even the heavens seemed to back up Mrs. Powers proclamation. Avery grimaced, then scooted back about a foot from the window. Mrs. Powers nodded curtly, then moved to where the younger kids were, folding the corner of the blanket back to reveal Nina's face.

"Are you children alright?"

Nina nodded. "Uh-huh." She shot a quick look at her brother, then turned back to Mrs. Powers. "The thunder's scary, though."

"Yes, I know. But don't worry; as long as you are inside and away from the windows, it cannot hurt you. Understand?"

Nina nodded again, and Mrs. Powers patted her head briefly before exiting the room. Avery shot Nina a betrayed scowl, then turned back to the window, inching forward in his seat as another lightning bolt split the iron-gray sky.

Momma and Daddy had died in a lightning storm, Avery recalled vaguely, feeling the odd tingle in his digits once again. Probably a big one, just like this, he thought. But strangely, Avery didn't find this particularly disturbing. Sure, lightning was dangerous, but that didn't make it less cool. And it certainly didn't change the strange thrill that went through his body whenever a storm started.

And after all, getting hit by that same lightning bolt hadn't hurt Avery any.

Avery rubbed his fingers together more quickly, trying to dispel the strange tingling. Meanwhile, a few small sparks of electricity flew between his fingers, crackling like tiny bolts of lightning.