I’m stronger.
My wind field has expanded, and the tall, spinning clouds and blue skies surrounding me indicate that my eye has formed.
I’m moving with it, my mind overwhelmed by the pressure and my thoughts. They don’t hurt physically, but they do emotionally, and I wonder if it’s because of how quickly I’m intensifying. I wish I could stop it, but that’s beyond my control. I’m just a Spirit who doesn’t know right from wrong, not since the turtles, not since the cruise ship, and not since those Hurricane Hunters started investigating me. They won’t leave me alone. They stay for eight hours, gather their data, and use it to protect people so they can cause more destruction.
But… are some of those people like the little girl and the captain? No, no! It’s happening again! I can’t think straight.
A familiar sound snaps me out of my trance, signaling that the Hunters are here for another day of work. I need to get used to them, but Helene tells me to take them out. Risk killing hundreds, if not thousands, more people.
I want to be like Mom, right? We lost our island home because of rising sea levels and died together. We need to avenge ourselves. Mom’s revenge was Helene, and I’m supposed to be Erin.
I chase the Hunters to distract myself and watch as they scan the area. I’m tempted to lure them into my eyewall and destroy their radars, but something stops me.
I back off and let them do their research, then I remember the icebergs and my island. There’s one below us that looks like mine—small with a cove, palm trees, and a sandy beach. I must be nearing the Caribbean, but the good news is that I am not yet a hurricane. However, the ocean is exceptionally warm here, and there is almost no wind shear, so I don’t know if I can outmatch Mother Nature.
Hold on, why am I hesitating? I want Mother Nature to help me eliminate the humans. Come on, Mother Nature! I want to be the next Helene, the next Katrina, even. So, let’s do this thing.
Into my eyewall with the Hunters I go, ready to crash them like the Titanic and her iceberg.
Whoa! Even I can feel myself growing in size and strength.
The Hunters’ jet wings remain level, but they still occasionally shake from turbulence and my thunderstorms.
Just a little further, Erin. Destroy the radars first. Just a little—!
That’s when it hits me. These Hunters, these humans, risk their lives every day to protect others. Are they… good… like the captain? Not everyone takes them seriously—I’ve seen it.
No, I can’t do it. I can’t. I can’t! I’m sorry.
I leave the Hunters and return to my calm eye, resting in the sunshine. I know what I need to do, so why am I struggling so much? Why?
What are you trying to tell me, Mother Nature?
ns216.73.216.174da2
and then Add to home screen.