10 The Thunderstorm

"Dad? Are you okay?" I ask scared.

He approaches me and puts his hands on my shoulders.

"Go to your room and do not go out until I tell you. It doesn't matter what you hear. Do not go out"

His eyes are full of fear.

"At least tell me what's going on!" I scream desperately.

"Do you remember that they were looking for us? They found us"

I'm paralyzed, seeing him in the eyes.

He gives me a hug.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen to me" he says more calmly.

"I'm going to stay to help you" I answer determinedly.

"Help me? We will just have a talk"

I hear the lies in his voice, but I don't want to force him.

"Fine, I'll wait for you to call me"

"Thank you" he says relieved.

He lets go of me and I run up the stairs.

"Alex, close the door and do not go near the walls" he tells me before I get upstairs.

I nod.

I enter my room and close the door.

I stay in the center.

I'm blank. I can't think or move.

Out of nowhere, I hear a strange sound.

A strange green material appears and covers the interior of my room.

I approach to touch it and it is solid, but transparent.

'Is it a kind of protection?'

Several steps are heard.

'It doesn't seem to be a single person...'

"Agnar, we know you're there!" a deep voice is heard.

Dad doesn't answer.

"We detected thunderstorm magic near this place, we know it was The Thunderstorm" continues to insist.

'The Thunderstorm? It refers to me?'

I hear the door opens.

'It seems he decided to come out'

"Agnar, so long without seeing you"

"Same to you, Asil"

'They know each other?'

"We have been looking for you for 18 years. You know your sentence will be

the execution, right?"

'What the fuck?'

"I'm totally aware of that"

'And he didn't tell me?'

"Why did you do it, Agnar? You were extraordinary xenons"

'Do what?'

"You would have done the same, Asil, but you just follow orders"

"I follow orders, but I also have a brain. And what you did, against your own race, has no forgiveness"

"It was an accident, but I know"

'I have no idea what is happening'

"I ask you as a favor, Agnar, surrender. I don't want to do this and you know it"

'He really sounds sad'

"Don't worry, I don't blame you, but you know I can't do that, not after what you did"

"You know we had no choice!" he shouts angrily.

"Yes you had it, but honor blinded you"

"Blinded us? What you wanted was for us to betray our race just for you, you don't think about anyone else "

"I don't think of anyone else? It seems you don't know me"

"Of course I know you, that's why I'm surprised, but I know you did it for them. I have a beautiful wife and 2 beautiful children, but what you did..."

"But your relationship is not forbidden! Why did mine have to be? It's not my fault. And you know what they do, I couldn't allow it "

'It seems like he's about to explode'

"Alyse really changed you. By the way, you're protecting The Thunderstorm with the shield, right?"

"Her name is Alexandria. And I don't want that, for the simple fact of being born this way, she lives locked up all her life"

"That's because the last time-"

"Is not the same! They are different people. I already told you the real reason, but you don't want to accept it"

"Because the government wouldn't do something like that!"

"Of course they would! You didn't work in the laboratories, you didn't see what I saw. I only warn you, do not trust them"

"You just want to blame others for your actions"

"I'm totally guilty, what I did is unforgivable, I accept it. I'm just trying to make you see that I didn't just do it for me"

Absolute silence extends throughout the place.

"It seems we are at a standstill. Don't worry about Alexandria, I will protect her"

"I know you will, but you will get into trouble with the government and I don't want that for your family"

Another silence encompasses the environment.

"So, shall we begin?"

A huge blow sounds in the air and everything trembles.

"Attacking by surprise, typical of you Agnar. Hahhhh! " he shouts loudly.

A metal hits something solid.

"I always wanted to have a real duel against you, Asil"

A red glow comes through the window along with the sound of a burst of fire.

"2 against 1? I didn't expect that from you Asil "

"It's not my decision"

'I can't see anything!'

I can only hear gusts of wind, fire, blows and see the flashes of lights.

'I'm just here, nervous, full of fear, unable to do anything, useless as always'

Another huge bang sounds, along with the sound of debris.

'Are they destroying the house?'

"I really am sorry Agnar, but you didn't leave me another choice"

"I know, this was my decision"

'Why, dad?'

The loud rampage almost destroys my ears.

The house doesn't stop trembling.

"You know? Even after what you did, I still have respect for you"

"Thank you, also for the moments that we lived together as kids, I hope you never forget them"

"I will not"

Another great boom emerges, this time destroying the wall of my room.

The shield protects me from the debris.

I can finally see what is happening.

Dad has blood everywhere, but the same applies to Asil, his armor is completely dented and bloody.

"Dad!" I scream in despair.

Asil turns to see me.

"You are Alexandria? You have the same eyes as your mother. I'm sorry that this are the conditions to know us"

I just stay still.

"Agnar, did you tell her?"

"No"

"I get it. Hey, Alexandria, after all of this ends, we'll have to talk for a long time"

"Speaking of which, Asil, do you remember that favor that-"

Asil's sword goes through dad.

But Asil was not the one who did it.

"Zeev! Why- " exclaims Asil, but he is interrupted.

"You have talked enough, just finish the job"

The shield diminishes its intensity.

Paralyzed by what just happened...

"Dad!" I scream intensely with desperation.

A familiar heat goes through my entire body.

Now it is more intense than before.

Memories invade my mind.

Since I was little...

"Hey dad, can we keep this horse?"

"It's not ours..."

"But I really want it!"

"It's okay, I'll do what I can"

To the most recent...

"I remember this place perfectly. It's beautiful"

"I know. No matter how many times I come, every time it's like the first time. I would love to see this forever"

"I understand you…"

My whole body is filled with electricity.

"Ahhh!" I keep screaming.

"Her eyes... are now white" says one of the companions.

Dad turns around, looking me in the eyes.

"Alex, calm, you'll be fine," he says in a totally serene voice.

I see him.

He smiles.

Seeing his tranquility made me calm down a bit.

"Hey, Asil, about that favor... could you leave my body here? And say hello to everyone from me" he says with his last sighs.

Asil is surprised by the request, but he accepts it.

"Dad, you're not going to die!"

"I'm sorry, Alex. I love you"

"Dad?"

The shield becomes small, only covering me.

A big rock comes out from under the floor and lifts me up, throwing me really high and away from home.

My electricity fades.

I just watch as I quickly get away from home.

'Father...'

I feel weaker.

Now I'm going towards ground.

I can't see how close I am.

In the middle of the fall, the shield disappears.

Unable to do anything, I lose consciousness.

I hear a very sharp sound.

I only see darkness.