Reaping the Whirlwind: Part One
Three people. Three stories. One globe-spanning storm.
Becky sat beside her colleagues in silence, looking up at the monitors showing the cameras covering the nightly news. Her hands shook as he picked up the half-finished bottle of whiskey and poured several shots into her coffee cup.
Drinking on the job wasn’t her usual approach, but that night was different. Her colleagues didn’t bat an eye.
Beck looked over to the monitor for camera three. On the screen, she saw Ray Patterson, Channel 9’s resident weatherman.
Ray was visibly disheveled, nervously adjusting his bright blue tie as he stared blankly into the camera. His eyes were heavy as if he hadn’t slept in days.
Becky leaned forward into the mic protruding from the console as her colleagues switched on the feeds.
“We are going live in three, two, one.”
“Good evening, and welcome to Channel 9 News. As we’ve reported throughout the day, the storm composed of strange matter particles has continued to make its way across the Atlantic Ocean towards the east coast of the United States,” Sharon said.
“Scientists from the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, continue to assure the people of the world that this deadly storm should dissipate on its own over the course of the next twenty-four hours,” Mark said.
Sharon nodded, taking a breath as she adjusted the papers in front of her for the second time since the broadcast started.
“We urge our viewers to remain vigilant. The dangers of the storm are well documented from early reports coming out of Europe. To learn more, we’ll go to Ray Patterson, who will tell us what we can expect and how we can keep our families safe through the night. Ray?”
Becky leaned forward and switched the main feed to camera three. Ray didn’t bother with pleasantries, instead opting to jump right into it.
“Thank you, Sharon and Mark. Folks, I’m not going to sugarcoat this. You know me for my wacky ties, my shitty weather puns, and my always positive attitude, but I can’t be that person for you this time. Reports coming out of Europe are horrific, to say the least. Death tolls are in the hundreds of thousands, possibly millions. This storm may not end the world as we know it, but for many of us, tonight will be the end.”
Becky sighed as she pulled up a video clip on the screen to Ray’s left. The looping video was filmed on a smartphone through someone’s window. It depicted a skyline filled with velvet clouds darker than a starless sky, churning like shimmering oil.
Massive tentacles plunged downward from the sky, ripping entire buildings from their foundations and pulling them into that inky abyss. Even though she had seen it already, the sight made Becky’s skin crawl every time. She reached for her cup of spiked coffee and took a gulp. The warm bite of the whiskey felt like a comforting hug.
As the video faded from the screen, Ray continued. “What you saw there was just one of the many horrifying clips being posted all over the internet. This storm defies all logic, and we’re being told that, as time goes on, strange creatures are also falling from the sky and wreaking havoc on the populace. However, as horrific as this sounds, these events only apply to the storm’s outer bands.”
Becky triggered the next graphic. A grainy image of a hallway revealed a person standing in the shadows. Their face was distorted and wrong. Their eyes, nose, and mouth were arranged like water swirling down a drain.
“As the storm passes over your area, you may also begin to experience frightening hallucinations. We have seen reports of people encountering doppelgangers like the one you see in this photo. Others have said that their homes have taken on twisting, non-euclidean geometries, such as new rooms or hallways that couldn’t possibly exist. Despite being hallucinations, the mere sight of these things does pose a very real threat to your sanity.”
Becky switched to the next graphic. It was a quick and dirty piece put together by the studio’s graphic designer. It showed three steps to take to prepare for the coming storm.
“You can find this image for download on our website now. I will explain the three steps in detail. Please keep in mind that these are based on conjecture and do not necessarily guarantee survival.” Ray said.
Becky switched to an image for step one.
“First, try to seek shelter underground. Cover any and all exterior-facing windows with wood, tape, foil, or anything you have on hand.”
Becky switched to the second step.
“Our second step is to dull your perception and awareness by any means necessary. This may sound counterproductive, but we have been told it’s quite effective. Regardless of your age or pre-existing health conditions, we recommend consuming alcohol, prescription drugs, or even illegal substances if need be. This will greatly reduce the risk of permanent insanity as the night goes on.”
Becky switched to the third step.
“Lastly, you must stay near a source of light. Power will go out, so have flashlights, a fire, or something else nearby. If one of the creatures from the storm gets into your house, any kind of light will deter and possibly frighten it. We’ve also been told that loud music or sound can frighten them. Conventional weapons and firearms cannot harm them based on early reports, so don’t bother wasting your ammo.”
Becky closed the graphic and watched as Ray lowered his head for a final thought.
“It has been an honor to be your source for the weather these last twenty years. It pains me to report on this inexplicable, unprecedented event, but as they say, the show must go on. My friends, hold your loved ones close tonight. Say a prayer to whatever god or higher power you place your faith within, and follow these three steps as best you can.”
Beck switched the camera back to the anchors for the closing remarks. She reached for the bottle of whiskey behind her chair and poured the rest into her coffee cup.
“Thank you, Ray. If the world is still here tomorrow morning, we will be back to report the news as we always do. Any final remarks, Mark?” Sharon asked.
Mark broke eye contact with the camera, staring off into the distance.
“We did this to ourselves. We shouldn’t have meddled with the fabric of the universe. I’m not much of a bible person, but Hosea, chapter eight, verse seven, comes to mind. For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. May God have mercy on our souls.”
Becky cut the feed and drank the last of the whiskey in her cup.
“Here comes the fucking whirlwind.”
Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing
Listen to this after reading, like pairing a glass of wine with dinner.
The description of the storm and its impact was perfectly done. Definitely something more to this one as always 👁️👁️
Damn!!!!! i love the how you ended this part one.. I never did get the chance to read and listen to this when you posted it but liked it as I got excited...and now I’m glad I came back to it. the ending was very ominous and immersive it did feel like I was watching the news...heading to the chapter 2.... 👏👏👏👏