Chapter 12: Disaster

Sarah's young adult novel, "Peacekeepers/Truthbringers," continues

Sarah has written a young adult novel, “Peacekeepers/Truthbringers,” and we’re excited to share it with you. We’ll be releasing a new chapter every week. We’ll also continue to post occasional non-fiction reflections as inspiration and news arise.

They drove together into a storm. It was a smoky blue evening, dark gathering at the horizon and on the hills. One star shone in a clear, lapis sky. Below it, black curled toward the road at top speed, toward the truck. What am I to this force? Gaster thought as wind pushed him and his truck, which felt like an extension that joined him to the ground. Dry leaves that looked like strange, small animals skittered by, illuminated by pale headlights, their dim glow soaking into the black that surrounded him. He watched the sky, heart in his throat, electrified by the terrible, gorgeous world: thunderheads rising, black gods unmaking the hills.

Gaster could feel something wrong a quarter mile from the house. The skin on his neck and arms prickled; his hands began to sweat. Wrong. From the road he could see that the house was dark. His dad always left a light on.

In the yard, he threw the gear shift into park and ran toward the house.

“What’s going on?” Cora called after him as she wriggled down from the bench seat.

The front door was open. Old receipts, the odd plastic bag swirled around the porch. His sable dog lay in the doorway, a jagged rip at her throat, bloody bites on her soft coat.

“NO!” Gaster screamed, squatting down to pull Kola into his lap, tears streaming down his face.