The truck bounces me out of my seat the more wheat we drive over.
“How is she doing this? There has to be a reason, right?” Ruka asks. “It isn’t possible.”
Oakley side-eyes me with a knowing look. After today, I might have to rope Ruka in on the paranormal world. It will be easier with him knowing the truth and understanding why I fell so hard for Oklahoma.
“Holy shit.” Ruka slams on the brakes, and Oklahoma slams his forehead against my seat.
“Give a guy a warning!” he shouts.
I turn around, holding in a giggle, and ask, “Are you alright?”
“I will be,” he winks. “Kiss it better?” He leans forward, and I can’t say no. I let my lips linger, wanting the kiss to stay on his skin hours after.
“I’m as good as new.”
“Ugh, focus you two. We are not in a good place for lovey-dovey nonsense, okay? Life or death here, people.”
Ruka points to the left, and I follow his fingers, my stomach filling with dread when I see another supercell. It’s a multi-vortex tornado. Three twisters hit the ground, tearing the earth apart. The bigger of the three has a satellite tornado, a smaller rope that circles the main vortex.
I’ve never seen anything like this before.
“Guys.” Ruka points to the far right, and I have to roll down my window to get a better view.
The wind swirls in the car, whipping my hair so hard, it stings my shoulders and cheeks. I toss it up in a messy bun to get it out of the way.
My brows raise at the wedge tornado coming our way. The sky is as dark as soot, reminding me of coals waiting to be burned.
The wedge barely moves. It’s slow and gaining width.
Meaning this tornado might be the most violent in history.
The other tornadoes to the left are heading right for it. I’ve never seen two cells combine. I know it’s possible, and given the circumstances, it would only mean this massive wedge will become more powerful.
“We have to stop her,” I say, adjusting my lens to zoom in on our unknown new friend. “If we don’t, she’ll destroy everything in her path. We can’t risk that. Too many towns and people have already died because of how strong this tornado season.”
“We can’t kill her,” I add.
“Might have to.”
“What? No. Oklahoma, I can’t believe you just said that!”
“Nariko, who knows where she will go off to next. She might destroy more towns and kill more people. We’re lucky right now. We’re in the middle of nowhere with nothing but land, but ten minutes away? Our friends are there, and they are in the path of this monster. There’s no way they would survive unless they got to a shelter. You know that.”
“Killing her isn’t the right thing to do!” I raise my voice, tears threatening to fall. I can’t believe him. I can’t believe he would suggest something so heinous and illegal.
“Killing her might not be the right thing to do, but it might be the necessary thing to do,” he dares to continue to speak.
I narrow my eyes at him and take a picture, wanting to remember when I was mad at him.
“How about we talk to her first?” Ruka offers, slicking his hair back and out of his face.
“Talking didn’t do much the first time,” Oakley reminds us, his fingers brushing against the back of my nape.
I love his touch, but I’m still mad at him.
“Doesn’t mean we sign her death certificate. She’s looking for someone. It’s only right that we try to help. What if…” I cut my eyes to Ruka, who is busy watching the tornadoes inch closer to us. I mouth the words instead, “What if she is looking for her fated mate?”
That does it.
