In the Shadow of the Mountain

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The clouds were moving toward the car show, darkening as they threatened rain. A man tossed a few coins into the tips the young performer was receiving, the sound of coin, music, and words covered by a clap of thunder. Chins lifted as people startled and looked toward the sky, their once joyous expressions now tempered by concern or irritation. Wind picked up, throwing wrappers and kicking up small dust clouds. There was the smell of rain on the wind; auto owners were hurriedly packing up and throwing tarps over their beloved vehicles. Slowly, people were starting to migrate out of the park and up the hill to the nearest parking lot or, if they had walked, into nearby buildings. Some were even taking refuge in the small caboose that was one of the park's historical attractions.

The next peal of thunder was much closer, the lightning strike hitting a tree just across the river from the park. People began to move faster, some running as the first drops of water hit, soon followed by the rapid onset of a downpour. A gust of wind turned over a vendor table, scattering collectible pocket knives and money along the ground. A child stumbled and fell and her mother, in a hurry to help the young one to her feet, knocked over several trophies. Most of these were topped with cars, but one was instead topped with a rather colorful globe, which popped off and rolled into the crowd, illuminated briefly by another flash of lightning and then lost in the rush of people trying to gather family members, cover cars, save their wares and get out of the deluge.

The orb rolled by each of the gathered gifted in turn as it was kicked back and forth, sending a soft jolt out. The feeling was strange, like the feeling one gets when they know they are being watched. Only, instead of that easily dismissible piece of paranoia, this feeling would refuse to leave, and would definitely be coming from that orb. That thing, being shuffled about in the crowd, glimmering with so many tiny dim lights that it could almost be mistaken for having an opalescent glow, had a pull to it. It just felt familiar somehow, the way the town did, only moreso. A relic of the past. A half a memory from a forgotten dream.
 
Rain?! Ah well, thought Perry, rain never bothered me. Besides, just look at the chaos. Oh gawd! scattered freebies! if no one claims them... well the five second rule is good enough for me!

pocket knives, money, trophies, food, trash, so many things!! It's almost too much!

But then. The globe. Why is THAT so clear? All of Perry's attention seemed to be drawn to it as half-memories and isolated details flood his mind. Loot forgotten in the bedlam, Perry makes his way almost trance-like to it. It must be important!
 
Suddenly, rain! Harry didn't mind the rain but if it got him too wet he smelled slightly unpleasant. Thunder rumbled and also suddenly came chaos. "I think Marcus and Danica are having a fight." Harry got up was about to find a place to get out of the rain for a moment, and instead felt something move through the range of his radar. What caught his attention about it was that it felt like nothing else ever had.

He turned and looked around for what ever it was and found it pretty fast. It was some kind of ornament or what ever. Harry wiped the water off his glasses and followed the ballular thing. It creeped him out but he had to know what the hell it was.
 
The young musician tipped his hat, to nice people.

"Thank you, guys." he whispered.

Looking up he could see the pending storm. This made him sad, for he had only played one song. Next time, we would give them more. Rich felt musically, blue-balled. Waving to everyone, the equipment was easily disassembled. Just as the case shut, the raindrops started to fall. A sigh excited the gullet.

The wind blew off his fedora.

"FF--" he muttered.

He chased it a little, before shoving his head into it. It barely shielded his face from water pallets. The lightning made him jump a little. This storm seemed like it was from no where. What's worse was the borderline carnage of the knives, trophies, and food oh my. Is this happening? All the while, he didn't even notice the Orb until it was glowing. Rich felt almost dirty. It was liked someone was watching him.

Curiosity taking him, he was compelled to follow his orb. Memories fluttered in his head. What was the story behind his shiny object? The musician intended to find out.
 
Ander seemed to actually be starting to enjoy himself. Despite the blizzard of feelings pressing in on him, the girl was a nice distraction and someone to focus on until business came up. Her comment about rain seemed so strange, though. Hadn't those clouds been far away? He looked up, frowning as a large raindrop struck him in the middle of the forehead.

"I think you have a point about the rain. I'll get you that lemonade." He stepped away, barely noticing that someone else was moving to speak to the girl. It should not be so overcast today. But then, he was a child of media and knew just how often local weather forecasters got it wrong. Shaking his head, he started to make his way to the lemonade stand.

By the time he made it there, it was thundering and pouring rain. The stand was closing before he had a chance to get to the front of the line and he found himself shoving his wallet and the now soggy twenty back into a pocket, fixing his hat and making his way to Esther. However, with the crowd in such a panic, he couldn't find her, the press of people and sudden irritation and fear overwhelming him. Ander stumbled, going down to one knee on the pavement. So much noise! So many feelings!

Then, he saw it. It was just a glimpse of the faintly glowing orb, but it was there, teasing through all the other feelings. It felt strange, not quite an emotion. So why was he feeling it like he would a person's emotions? It vanished into the crowd as Ander rose to his feet, darting to the last place he'd seen it. Water was streaming down his hat and clothes now as the storm increased in strength. But that orb! There it was again! If he could just hold it, maybe it would be enough to distract him from the white noise of emotions.
 
His first question had made Annabel chuckle, biting her bottom lip bashfully as she quickly looked away. Yes, he definitely thought there was something wrong with her. What a pity because Mr. Sandwich seemed like a decent, handsome young man.

However, Annabel didn't have time to worry about first impressions, her concern directed toward the sky as there came the first of what would be many rolling booms of thunder. The remark about the clouds fighting only made her laugh more, making it difficult to dig around in her satchel for the umbrella she'd had a little forethought to pack early that morning and when she finally yanked it free with a little "Aha!" she found herself alone.

Popping open the umbrella to shield herself from the rain, she rose to her feet and searched the panicking crowd for Mr. Sandwich, her gaze flicking from face to face. A strange feeling enveloped her then and it was as if the world around her had melted away into nothing but black. The chatter of the disgruntled crowd vanished along with the pitter-patter of the rain on the clear plastic of her umbrella. Even the rumble of thunder ceased to exist as it and everything else was overwhelmed by a feeling that could be best described as being watched.

Now Annabel had never been the paranoid kind, but she had to admit that this wasn't the first time she'd felt this way, as if something otherworldly was keeping a close eye on her for whatever purpose. Though...never had it been this strong and lasting before.

When her surroundings returned, she found herself taking small steps forward, pulled along by the feeling like she and it were a pair of magnets and no matter how she resisted she couldn't will her feet to stop moving. Umbrella raised to avoid hitting people in the face, she danced here and there through the crowd, her steps nimble like a deer in the woods, making her way deeper into the unsettling feeling until she caught sight of an unusual orb playing the part of 'soccer ball'. It bounced off the feet of the crowd and the abandoned objects of the little carshow; things like trophies, knick knacks, garbage, a teddybear.

"Wait up, Mr. Glowyball!" she called to the orb when she became trapped behind a wall of people.
 
The ball kept getting kicked around by all the people freaking out about the storm and it was getting difficult to keep track of. Or it was until Harry started focusing on it more. He could feel the people all around him and orb as well. After a few seconds he got the feel of everyone's movement and could predict where the orb was going to get kicked to and even slide easily between the people.

Everything else faded from his sight except the orb. He could feel the people moving but that's not what concerned him, it was almost instinctive how to move through them. Harry continued to weave and duck through the crowd until he got what he was waiting for, an opening. He flicked his leg foreword and kicked the orb. The thing flew over the heads of the people and landed out of the crowd. Harry couldn't quite see the ball, but he could tell where it was using his radar and quickly extracted himself from the tide of people

Hurriedly he made his way to where the ball landed and neeled down to pick it up out of the grass with a mixture of emotion. The ball made him feel wary but it also felt like he needed to obtain it.
 
As Perry observes the others approaching the object of his fixation, he becomes uncharacteristically possessive.

"Hey! back off all of you! I saw it first!" he shouts at the other approaching figures who have braved the sudden squall.
 
The ball came to rest in the moist grass, glowing faintly in the haze caused by splashing raindrops. The closer they would come to it, the greater the feeling of familiarity would grow. As Harry reached for it, the crowd was clearing, allowing the others to make their way there should they choose. Another crack of thunder sounded, lightning illuminating the scene with momentary clarity. The wind was picking up now, blowing the rain in a strong slant. They were soaked through their clothing, but the draw of the ball was getting stronger and stronger.

Suddenly, the feeling stopped. The glow dimmed, and it rested there, a tiny replica of the planet earth, as though it was just a decoration from a trophy for a world class car. It could have been mistaken for something completely worthless were it not for the feelings it had practically pulsed with but a moment ago.

With the crowd gone, the only noise was the voices of the few remaining and the downpour and howling wind.
 
He tried to keep out of sight. Angling himself behind a tree, he watched. Others gathered around the now mundane looking piece of trophy. Rich decided to stay back, just in case. For all he knew a portal to hell could open. The young man would need a head start.

The wind and rain made goosebumps appear. Were they like him, perhaps? Did they have abilities? All these thoughts were slightly delayed. That was attributed to the water smacking the face every .35 seconds. Remembering his keyboard, Rich slipped back across the across the street.

"What the...?" he whispered to himself.
 
Well that was anti-climatic. Harry stood up straight and looked at the miniature metal earth. Just a second ago this thing looked like it was alive and now it was just all not alive. With the distraction of the globe now gone Harry realized how wet he was and turned around to swiftly seek shelter, and nearly knocked some one over. "Oh! Excuse me I uh...." There were a few people actually, right there, in the rain.

Harry was no math expert but he knew five plus one, no wait there were six of them. Plus one, equals seven and seven people staring in the same direction, all soaking wet was probably not a coincidence. He made eye contact with each one of them as he held the ball out in his hand. They all had looked at it, probably even that person behind that tree he picked up on his radar. He closed his hand around the ball and let his arm fall to his side.

He cleared his throat "Well I'm uh going to the diner...." With that Harry made his way past the people, across the park, a little down a street and one turn around the corner. It was a good thing the diner had stayed open, there were a few other people inside to get out of the rain. Looking around he spotted the most secluded booth away from the other and on his way over to it he waved back at the girl behind the counter with whom he was slightly familiar. Harry removed his jacket and set it across his lap, which was almost as drenched from the rain, and dried off his glasses with a napkin he took from the holder.
 
Esther turned around just in time for the lightning to hit that damn tree. Nearly jumping out of her skin, she snatched her necklace back from the man's hand, stuffing it into her coat pocket and pulling the garment over her head. Thank god for waterproof mascara, at least…

She didn't get a chance to thank him, or say anything to Anders, before the stampede started. She would have been a part of it, too, if she hadn't noticed that strange little ball. Before she knew what she was doing, she was chasing after it, pushing against the tide of the crowd in hot pursuit. Sure, it was a glowy shiny bauble thing, in the way most glowy shiny bauble things were, but it didn't attract her because of its aesthetics. She just needed to go after it.

Her head was pounding. Her skin was crawling. And yet she stayed, enduring the shoving until nearly everyone was gone and only a handful of people and the ball remained. One of them reached out to touch it, and just like that, the sudden ache in her system was gone. She was still stunned, but she wasn't so out of it that she couldn't recognize the bizarre nature of the situation she was in. It was just a damn globe. What had come over her? And this was a strange menagerie of folks; Anders, that musician, the cook, a few people she didn't recognize… and a hobo?

"Jesus, take the wheel," she muttered, taking a few steps back. The musician and the guy that had picked up the globe were already retreating, and she was tempted to follow suit. She'd never experienced hallucinations just because she'd skipped a meal, and deep down, she knew this wasn't all in her head, but it was just too weird for words for her to willingly process.
 
Ander felt sudden and acute discomfort that had to be his own. He was soaked, surrounded by strangers or people only just met. He knew it had something to do with that orb, the one the man had walked off with. He also knew he couldn't leave this alone. Something very odd was happening here, and all he knew is that the orb had actually overridden the crushing emotions. He needed it. It could help him.

"Wait! Hey, wait a second!" He started to trot after the man who had taken off with the globe, trying to ignore the battling feelings of confusion he had felt from the others.
 
"What the hell?!" Perry shouted at the somewhat shorter dark haired man in the wire-frame glasses who had maybe two days growth and... "Give that back!"

Fighting his way through the people going in exactly the WRONG direction... wow she has an interesting necklace there... and he's got quite the umbrella that would sell for at least... and hey those other people want the ball too! No!...

Fighting his way through the people going in exactly the WRONG direction, except for a handful that were following him, Mr. Richguy included strangely enough, Perry chased the man who had picked up his precious ball. Why it was so alluring, he couldn't say. But his beggar's nose told him that it had more meaning and worth than the fraction of a cent a broken piece of painted material was actually worth. And he wasn't the only person who knew it. He had given up five dollars and fifty seven cents, half a sandwich, and sundry other odds and ends in favor of that damn little ball.

"...going to the diner" he caught the words through the throng as the taker departed. Well I'll just have to make a scene won't I? I may be young but I can sure put on the 'crazy bum' act. If nothing else I'll get a free night in the detox ward... and that means medical thievery when no one is watching!

Perry jogged his way through the rain, purposely breathing through his mouth to evade his own brand of 'wet bum' stench, all the way to the diner, not even bothering to look around and see if anyone was coming too. All the way he found that he could not remember a time he had EVER been so focused or intent. Not even the sixty eight cents, the lost earring, or the myriad other sidewalk trash could distract him, though he could not deny that it intrigued him.
 
As the three men headed toward the diner, leaving the others behind, the rain continued to pour. Lightning struck again in the newly vacated park. It would have been just another startling lightning strike, but it seemed to linger. The electricity crackled and popped, rolling around itself and slowly forming a staticky outline. The shape was decidedly humanoid as it rose to its full height, a towering eight foot tall electric monstrosity.

The shape began to move toward those still remaining, flashes of lightning arcing off of it to strike nearby metal or tree branches. It seemed to pause now and then, looking around. Suddenly, it surged forward, losing most of it's form as it swept toward Rich, popping and crackling at him. It darted away, then, toward the girls. Back and forth it moved, trying to drive them together, hissing and spitting like an angry electric cat. Close inspection would reveal a shard of twisted, burnt metal in the thing's center, but the creature was too dangerous and moving far too fast for anyone to just grab it. And slowly, not only was it going to drive them together, but it was going to push them into the street itself, where rainblind drivers were trying to get home.

Meanwhile, as the men arrived at the diner, another lightning strike hit nearby. This one was less remarkable, except that it illuminated the figure of a thin, worn looking man as he stumbled in out of the rain, manic eyes sweeping over the gathered. He started to push past any in his way, grabbing the occasional person and staring into their eyes. Something was very off about this young man, who looked much older at first than his clothes would indicate.

"You're all in danger! They're coming, and when they do, this town's gonna end if you don't get where you belong! You have to! They can save you, all of you!" He stopped, grabbing Harry and staring into his eyes for a long time before doing the same to Ander and then to Perry.

"You three! Yes! You all have to go! You have to find them! They did this to us! They did it!" He fumbled in his pocket, shaking hands managing to pull out a large manilla envelope, the top few inches spattered with rain. He shoved it at the three, trying to get one of them to take it. "I can't have it, they'll kill me if they find me with it!"

By now, most of the diner had written off the eccentricities of the man as just that and had gone back to what they were doing. The waitress was quietly dialing the phone to have the local police come and collect the bums who seemed to have infested her eatery.

"Please!" continued the man, urgency staining his voice. With that, he let go of the envelope whether or not anyone had taken it and rushed past the three, pushing the emergency exit open and running out, sending the sound of alarm bells shrieking through the diner.
 
Perry takes the envelope and stares as the man bolts out the door. A stunned silent moment is passed before he yells after the man.

"The crazy act was supposed to be MINE!" he shouts before slumping down into a chair next to the man with the ball. He does his best to appear calm and non-intrusive, certain that the police might well be on their way by now. Best not to cause any waves.

"That thing you picked up," he said as softly as he can manage, "Is mine. I saw it first. I don't know what's going on, but somehow... I need it. There's something about it. Now, we can do this the easy way, and play innocent when the cops arrive, or I can go nuttier that that guy who gave me..."

Perry looks at the envelope, showing it broadly to the two others the crazy guy had mentioned, one of whom he was sitting next to.

"Did he say three of us? How could this be for all of us?"
 
It was pretty unsettling having a stranger grab your cranium and stare at your eyeballs, especially a crazy guy. Or he seemed crazy...the things he said made no sense. He left, abruptly as he showed up, leaving an envelope on the table. Harry eased himself onto the seat of the booth and slid over to the wall.

The rough looking guy sat next time, shouting at the crazy dude about him acting crazy, before addressing him. He stared sideways at him for a while, examining him. Finally he reached into his pocket and pulled out the now ordinary piece of decoration, setting on the table while keeping his finger on it, rolling it around. He didn't see how the dude could know if he was the first one to see it out of so many people that were going after it. It didn't really matter though, the item was seemingly ordinary now. He rolled the little globe over to the crazy guy and took the envelope as he took the globe.

Harry was going to rip the thing open but stopped immediately and tossed the thing forward in a small flash of paranoia, making it fall onto the seat next to Ander as a waitress came by to take an order. "Ah I'll have a bottled water and some fries to go." He looked at the two others to see if they wanted anything before sending the waitress on her way.
 
Ander stumbled back against a booth before the man had even gotten inside. Once again, he was surrounded by people, their curiosity, happiness and irritation like a slap across the cheek. Then there was the rapidly approaching crazy. Only... his emotions weren't irrational panic. Ander had felt that from enough people to recognize the tang of it. This man, no matter who he was, wasn't completely mad.

As his shirt was grabbed and his eyes met those of the envelope wielder, Ander let out a yelped curse. He darted away, sliding into the booth, eyes glazed over. Too much! There was just too much. The next several minutes were a blur as Ander's head spun. He didn't notice the others sliding into the booth, though he did note the smell of wet bum. He only vaguely registered the sound of a trilling alarm. There was someone speaking, and then an envelope landed next to Ander. He picked it up, looking at it stupidly.

Slowly, things slid back into focus and he realized where he was. He also noticed his company for the first time. Ander cleared his throat, running his hand over his face before speaking.

"So, do any of you happen to know what's going on?" His voice was a soft mumble, not quite a whisper. "One minute, the sky's clear, the next we're chasing a ball through a crowd of people like a group of deluded cats."
 
He wasn't sure what was going on. This place was a riddle and a half. Everything was a scratch away from being a borderline catastrophe. The weather, people, and their possessions had a case of bi-polar disorder. Problems were only getting worse, it seemed.

At that point, there was now an large electric monster in his face. It was even chose to start pushing. The sudden close proximity and audacity, instantly annoyed him. Are you serious? What was this world coming to? At first, he swung his case at it. It was too fast.

Upon further inspection, Rich seen that it had a metal shard. Looking across the street, he eyed the monster trying to pester a couple of girls. What could he do? There was one thing...

"Hey! You over there! Find some rubber gloves. I am going to see if I can stop us from being getting splattered!" he bellowed pointing to the follow victims.

Could he? Should he? Could he be? He signed and closed his eyes. The musician knew what would happen if he didn't act fast. Roadkill. This town was in for a potential show. A villain was afoot.

"Excuse me, if you please. Sparky, go to--"

Puffing up his chest slightly....his mouth released a loud, piercing vibration.

"--HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

Rich tried to focus on the metal when it was in front of him. Using the force, he tried to pin it to a tree.
 
When she was finally able to catch up to 'Mr. Glowyball", Annabel wasn't at all surprised to find others had grouped together around the mysterious orb. Inching closer, she took a peek at the ball now in Mr. Sandwich's hand and was a little disappointed to see that the lovely, intriguing glow had diminished into non-existence. Now the object was nothing more than a tacky trophy topper that reflected the dancing lightning on its shiny surface. A visible pout spread across her face at the less-than-eventful end to her chase, bottom lip protruding so far that, if her Great-Aunt Pia were there at that very moment, the older woman would have claimed that Annabel was likely to trip over that lip of hers. How silly an image that would be - someone tripping over their own lip. It sounded like something that would be found in a Dr. Seuss book...or a country song.

The wind had picked up and now the rain felt more like tiny daggers than droplets of water and her umbrella was hardly holding up its end of the bargain since she was just about soaked to the bone. Pushing some of her sopping hair out of her face, she lowered the umbrella and then closed it up, tucking it under her arm. It was then that she realized for just how long she'd spaced out, as half of the group was now missing and a strange occurance was currently in progress.

Lightning was taking a humanoid shape. This was unlike anything she'd ever seen, though her teacher had been a good one and she'd long ago been prepared to one day face such supernatural entities like this one before her. And judging by the way it was slowly forcing them back toward the road, Annabel was almost certain this thing was intending to hurt.

At a moment like this, she couldn't very well decide whether or not she wanted to expose herself for what she truly was. Others depended on her to keep them safe. And so she immediately began hatching a plan, searching her memory for spells she could do safely to use on the strange eletricity monster.

It was good timing that a man brandishing a keyboard called out to the group then, because the young witch could do nothing to prevent their inevitable death. And although she was unsure of this mysterious man's intentions, she had no choice but to follow his advice, digging deep into her memory to find a spell for gathering material. At that moment, Annabel's docile demeanor vanished. Her lips began to move, low, bone-chilling alien words slipping from her mouth in a whisper. The spell was activated and immediately it began to drain her soul, so she reached outward to the souls around her. The rain that fell on her sizzled into nothing three inches from her person, the grass around her feet dried up and browned. Even the wind itself was consumed by the spell. And all the while, bits and pieces of rubber from the area congregated together on her outstretched hands, from the discarded trophies and knick knacks, lost shoes, and even the wheels of the cars left behind. The rubber boiled and changed color and melted together until she had a pair of classic housewife yellow rubber gloves almost up to her elbows.

She snapped out of her trance then only to see the monster pinned to a tree by Mr. Keyboard. Without any regard for her own safety, she rushed forward and clamped both hands around the metal core, tugging and wrenching at it.
 
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