Chapter Four - After The Storm

Matt woke up on a soft bed. His vision came back to focus as he yawned. A struck of horror came to him because he realized that this room was not his and all he could remember was falling. In fact, the bed he was sleeping in was different than his. This bed had lightning insignias everywhere. He then thought that some one must have saved him from the lightning storm and took him into a guest room, which is where he is right now.

However, he had no more time to think because he heard a sound of keys rustling on the other side of the door. Someone’s coming! Matt ducked under the bed and looked at the door, breathing as slowly as possible.

A young woman appeared with a knife. Matt’s heart skipped a beat. She smiled and an electric current shot out of her arms. The current engulfed Matt and it brought him towards the woman. Her eyes were green and had a stream of blue on the pupils. She had a good smile that glistened in the moonlight.

“Hello.” She said with much enthusiasm.
“Uh…hi. Where am I?”
“In my house.” She said.
“Who are you?” Matt blurted out. He had the urge to ask and finally he spilled out his desired question.
“I am Bonette, daughter of lightning, and the first ancestor of the Lightning people.”
“Who are these Lightning people?” Matt asked.

“Let me tell you a story…

“Once, when Reshna was created long ago, a man appeared. He was called Lightning man because he could shoot lightning. The descendant chain broke down, and when you were born, you were the chosen descendant of the Lightning man.

“What about my parents?” Matt said. He still did not believe that he could actually shoot lightning.
“Somehow, they did not get any powers.”
“But, what does this have to do with the lightning storm?” Matt asked.
“Lightning people don’t get their power by magic. To get their power, they get hit by a lightning bolt. Then, they have powers of a lightning bolt forever.”
“And the dream I had about the mansion.” Matt said.
“I gave you that dream. It was to see whether you are able to handle lightning.” Bonette said.

An hour passed as Matt and Bonette talked about the lightning power…

“Well, Matt. This is the end of our meeting. I hope I will see you soon.”
“Wait…” Matt said.
“Sorry, Matt. I have no more time to talk.”

A rustle of wind appeared and Matt disappeared. He appeared in his backyard. Bonette’s face appeared. “Remember, Matt. Say “Lightning powers on” to shoot lightning, and say “Lightning powers off” to temporarily shut off your powers. When you are in your lightning state, be careful with rubber and water.” She disappeared.

Making sure no one was looking, Matt said, “Lightning powers on.” Matt shot his hands in the air. Nothing happened! Matt tried to point his fingers at an object. “Why won’t this work?” Matt roared frustrated. Static filled his body as Matt knew that it might work this time. Matt did the same movements as last time; however, nothing happened. Matt put his finger in a gun-shaped way, hoping it would work. Matt shot his finger in the air. A small zap was heard, but nothing came out. Matt “tore his hair.” Frustrated, he kept trying. Finally, he cupped his hands together and jerked it. A lightning bolt zapped out and struck the tree. It was weak, but Matt had finally done it. Matt was elated.

Chapter Three - The Lightning Storm

Matt woke up after a one hour nap. The sun shimmered in the sky and the blue jays and robins were chirping in the bright sunlight. Matt sighed as he remembered today was a school day, and that meant another six hours of boring Mr. Oren, Matt’s teacher. Everyday, he would speak in that dull voice that reminded Matt of a six hour opera. To Matt, sixth grade was not tough. It was just boring to have a teacher like Mr. Oren and worse, a principal like Mr. Gen. It seemed that the only word he knew was stop. Every time, when a problem happened at school, Mr. Gen would just say, “Students, stop!”

The bell rang and Matt went to room 5. The first hour began… “And we multiply four, three times, because that is what exponents are, children. Remember, exponents are spelled E-X-P-O-N-E-N-T-S. Some people in this classroom say Eaxpoonentes, its exponents. Also, parenthesis…”

“I cannot stand Mr. Oren,” Matt said to his mom.
“Listen, Matt, school is over for the day. Be happy.”
“First, I had a boring day, and now there is a stupid thunder and lightning storm.” Indeed, a lightning storm had started, and every second there was thunder rumbling in the distance.

Thunder boomed in the sky as Matt was enjoying hot chocolate with his mom. Matt stared into the clouds and saw the occasional lightning bolts that struck the trees, igniting them. Of course, that was far away, and Matt could see fire fighters throwing out the flame with hoses filled with water.

Mrs. Wu looked at Matt and said, “That reminds me. Matt, take the garbage out.”
“Mom, there’s a storm out there.”
“Relax, Matt. What could happen?”

Matt walked outside, holding the stinking garbage bag in his hand. There was only one garbage dumpster, which was at the end of Matt’s street.

Unlike most towns, Reshna was a poor city. There weren’t many attractions. Reshna always spent money to buy unnecessary things.

Matt tossed the rotten, dulcet garbage into the trash can that was at the end at the street. Turning around a full 360 degrees, Matt saw a red X mark on the sidewalk, hidden and overshadowed by the trees and shrubs.
Matt peered closer, and saw that it was drawn in a reddish color- perhaps blood. Curiosity got the better of him, so he stuck one of his shoes in the heart of the X mark. Suddenly, lightning bolts that appeared out of no where struck around Matt. Static was created, flowing from the ground to his chest.

One of the accurate bolts struck his chest in the left side, where his heart was. It was a burning sensation; heat and electricity rippled all around his body. He saw exploding stars and flashing lights, as he was loosing his consciousness.

He fell, to the floor…