Inicio / When the Hurricane Passed / Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

Todos los capítulos de When the Hurricane Passed: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

10 Capítulos

Chapter 1

"Don't send a rescue boat to the first floor of Building Three. Concentrate all available resources on Building Five."Natalie's calm voice came through the rescue team's radio.Holding Tyler's hand, I drifted above the floodwaters and listened in silence."But Director Strickland, Emerson called earlier. He said the water was already up to his neck." The young rescue worker, Daniel Foster, sounded anxious."Daniel, you're new here, so you don't know Emerson very well. He has a habit of exaggerating." Natalie let out a weary sigh. "He knows I'm out in the field, so he's making it sound worse than it is because he wants me to make an exception and rescue him first. He's a grown man. Can't he take care of himself for once?"I'm the director of the neighborhood committee. If I give my own family special treatment, how am I supposed to expect anyone else to trust me?"Daniel hesitated. "But Emerson said Tyler has a high fever...""I know Tyler's health better than anyone. He's a t

Chapter 2

I pulled Tyler into my arms, unsure how to comfort him.Natalie reached into her pocket and took out a box of medicine. It was Tyler's backup fever medication."Hayden, keep this with you, just in case." She pressed the medicine into Hayden's hands.I'd begged Natalie to bring that medicine home. Not only had she never come back, but she'd given our son's life-saving medication to someone else.But it didn't matter anymore. Tyler was already beyond saving."Director Strickland, the water level around Building Three has risen again." One of the logistics coordinators, Megan Carter, hurried over, looking flustered. "The first floor is completely underwater now. Should we send another team to check on them?"Natalie's brow furrowed, a trace of irritation flashing across her face. "I already said Building Three isn't our priority. Emerson knew the water would rise. He's perfectly capable of getting Tyler up to the second-floor landing."Megan hesitated. "But I just tried calling Eme

Chapter 3

Morning gradually broke, and at last, the rain began to ease. The floodwaters slowly started to recede.More and more evacuees arrived at the shelter, and everywhere, the sounds of survivors weeping after narrowly escaping death filled the air.Natalie hadn't slept all night. Her face looked pale as she organized the day's rescue operations."Today's priorities are pumping out floodwater and clearing debris." She pointed to several locations on the map. "Move both high-capacity pumps to Building Five first."Daniel frowned. "Director Strickland, Building Five sits on higher ground. The flooding there isn't that bad."Building Three is the lowest point in the neighborhood. The first floor is still underwater. We should pump that area out first."Without even looking up, Natalie replied, "Building Five may be on higher ground, but the basement stores the community's important records."And Hayden's apartment still contains many of his late wife's belongings. If those are destroyed

Chapter 4

By three o'clock that afternoon, crews finally began pumping the water out of Building Three. Only a few low-capacity pumps remained, so the water drained painfully slowly.After eating a boxed lunch at the evacuation center and changing into a fresh pair of rain boots, Natalie finally decided to return."I'm going to see if Emerson's done throwing his little tantrum," she commented to a colleague in an easy, almost amused tone.Tyler and I drifted silently after her.The floodwater inside Building Three had receded to about knee level. Mud and debris covered everything, and the air reeked of stagnant floodwater.Natalie stopped in front of our apartment's security door, her brow knitting together.The lock was caked with mud. She grimaced as she jabbed at it with her key for what felt like forever before it finally clicked open."Emerson, enough hiding. Come out." She pushed the door open, impatience lacing her voice. "The water's gone down. How long are you planning to stay up

Chapter 5

Natalie's eyes widened as she froze in place.I was still wearing my old T-shirt, the one I always lounged around the house in, my arms wrapped tightly around Tyler.His cheeks had turned a bluish purple, and his tiny hands were still clutching my shirt.Our clothes were caked in mud, our bodies swollen and pale from soaking in the water.Natalie's throat bobbed as a strange, strangled sound escaped her lips. She didn't scream or rush toward us. She simply stood there, staring at us with an eerily blank expression."Emerson, stop this." Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling despite herself. "This isn't funny."She slowly walked toward us. Every step seemed impossibly heavy. Muddy water splashed against her pant legs, but she didn't even notice.She crouched in front of me and reached out to touch my face. "You think smearing mud all over yourself is going to make me feel sorry for you?"Her hand stopped in midair, and her fingertips trembled.Only then did she notice the d

Chapter 6

Just then, Hayden's voice came from outside. "Natalie? Are you in here?"Wearing a pair of rain boots, Hayden stepped cautiously into the apartment. The moment he saw the scene inside, he gasped and covered his mouth."Oh my God... Emerson... Tyler... How did this happen?"He walked over and tried to help Natalie to her feet. "Please don't do this to yourself. They're gone. There's nothing you can do now. Emerson's time just came too soon. You have to take care of yourself."Natalie slowly turned to look at him. The warmth that usually filled her eyes was gone. Only icy emptiness remained."His time came too soon?" She repeated the words softly, tasting each syllable.The look in her eyes made Hayden instinctively take a step back. "Natalie, don't look at me like that. Emerson couldn't save himself. It was an accident..."Natalie slowly rose to her feet, muddy water dripping from her pant legs. She ignored him completely and walked toward the security door she'd locked herself.

Chapter 7

Natalie's breakdown didn't last long.Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that she forced it down with a kind of frightening self-control.She stood and gave Daniel a series of instructions: "Contact the funeral home. Have them send a vehicle."Her voice had returned to its usual calmness, though her eyes were utterly lifeless."Notify the community office that the cleanup in Building Three will continue as planned. This incident is not to delay the schedule."Daniel stared at her in disbelief. "Director, Emerson and Tyler are… You're still worried about clearing the mud?"Natalie didn't answer. She quietly picked up a rag and began wiping the mud from my face. Her movements were impossibly gentle.Outside, the rain had finally stopped. Sunlight streamed through the shattered window.One by one, the residents of Building Three returned to the neighborhood.The moment they saw two body bags being carried out of the first-floor apartment by medical responders, the crowd erupt

Chapter 8

Outside the basement of Building Five, Hayden was directing a few volunteers as they helped move his belongings."That box is lighter. It's just my daughter's clothes."Careful with that cabinet. If you damage it, you won't be able to afford to replace it."He'd slipped right back into his usual act—appearing gentle on the surface while finding fault with everything.Then he turned and saw Natalie, covered head to toe in mud."Natalie?"He froze before quickly putting on a look of concern as he hurried over. "Shouldn't you be with Emerson... seeing him off? I've got everything under control here."Natalie stopped three steps away and quietly looked at him. "So your photo album, and Aviana's clothes… You managed to save them?""Yeah. Thanks to the pumps you sent over, nothing was damaged."Oblivious to the change in her tone, Hayden sounded almost pleased with himself.Natalie nodded. Her gaze dropped to his spotless rain boots. "Did Aviana's asthma flare up?"The smile on Ha

Chapter 9

Night fell.With no electricity restored to Building Three, the apartment was swallowed by darkness.Natalie lit a candle and set it in the middle of the dining table. She'd changed into a clean set of clothes and quietly took her usual seat across from mine.Two place settings sat on the table, along with the half-eaten bowl of mac and cheese that had long since spoiled."Emerson, dinner's ready."Natalie picked up her fork and twirled a strand of swollen, soggy mac and cheese into her mouth."You always used to say I was too busy with work, that I never ate with you and Tyler, and that you were the one carrying this family all by yourself."From now on, I'll eat with you every day. Okay?"She kept eating as tears fell into her bowl one after another.Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Daniel stood outside holding a folder."Director Strickland, the district disciplinary committee is here." His voice was heavy."They're opening an investigation into your suspension. It'

Chapter 10

The white light grew brighter and brighter until it completely enveloped Tyler and me.Natalie seemed to sense something. She jerked her head up and stared toward the glowing light. Her eyes were bloodshot from days without sleep."Emerson? Tyler?" She reached out, stumbling toward the light. "Are you... are you coming back? Don't go... Please... Don't leave me..."She threw herself into the light, only to grasp empty air. She crashed hard onto the floor, her chin striking the cold tile with enough force to split the skin open.Blood trickled down, but she didn't seem to feel it. She crawled forward on her hands and knees."I'll take you to the hospital. I'll buy Tyler the best fever medicine. I won't care about the greater good anymore. I just want you..."Standing within the light, I looked down at her.For the first time in my life, I saw Natalie stripped of every ounce of pride. The composed, accomplished public official was gone. So were the lectures and the self-righteous

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