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The Coming Storm

(Author's Note: Chapter is very rough, under construction)

Lake's Grandeur

The young woman watched the sun descending over the water. A gentle wind blew in from the lake, tugging at her her long, blonde hair. The water rolled in, not quite reaching where she stood.

The woman looked to the sun, large and low over the water. Her eyes focused, looking into the light, something that she was finding harder to do with time.

The world had been turned inside-out in the past half decade, but only in the last month had it touched her. People, already afraid of each other, already afraid of intimacy, had abandoned her.

How many more times will I see the sun?* she asked herself, as it began to sink into the horizon. The water, the beach, the cliffs behind her were bathed in a red glow. It was to be a new moon tonight, and soon the sky would fill with stars, something she had missed in her days of college down south.

She had not realized until recently how much she loved this land, the inland sea, the forests, even the winter snows. Everything about this place was *real*, and made her feel alive. At college so many people had been putting on airs, putting forward falsehood, pretending to be somebody else.

Just like they are online, on Facebook and Twitter. And just like Michael.*

The phone in the woman's pocket chimed. She considered for a few seconds not wanting technology, not wanting the unreal, to intrude into her life right now. But then it beeped again, reminder her that she could not escape the world, that there were still people in it.

Freya pulled the phone out of her pocket. A message on the lock screen indicated that her brother was trying to reach her.

Michael: Hey Freya! How are you doing? You took the car again, and you know you aren't supposed to drive right now.

Freya considered texting something back sarcastic, that Padraig was her brother, not her parents. But that would be callous. She knew he loved her, and was scared for her. And, she knew she loved him too, even though right now she felt no feelings for anyone, and just wanted to walk into the sea, to sink into it, become part of it.

After a little thought, she replied.

Freya: ima find. at beach (name?). omw

She turned away from the water, but hesistated. Her sight blurred, going dark for several seconds. That had happend to her occasionally when she was younger, but was becoming more common now.

As her sight returned, for several seconds, and she saw shapes flying above the water. There felt... real, but they couldn't be. A strange feeling ran through her arms and shoulders, a type of warmth, or warm water, running through her.

She blinked, and looked again, and the shapes were gone. But something remained in her, an odd presence. Freya felt off-balance.

She shook her head, until she felt almost normal. Freya then turned away, walking back up the beach to the parking lot.

Home

Pulls in. Describe car...

Walks in. Smell of food as soon as she opens the door.

Freya sits. Padraig serves up. Describe him.

Freya asks about Padraig's girl. *She's not here, had some things to do with her parents.*

How old is Padraig? How old is Padraig's girl?

I was worried about you* - talk about illness in very vague terms.

It might not be serious*

My sight is fading*

That could be anything*