Schizogenesis [chapter 25]

The storm’s first wave ended, but mushrooming clouds bloomed across the sky, promising another round. Beside the large van, Blender inhaled from a cigarette. He quit them a year ago, but either due to impulse or because of his growing frustration, had bought a pack. He looked at its tip with distaste and tossed it at the gutter.

Lightning splintered across the sky and thunder rumbled. A gust of wind ruffled his dark hair.

Where the hell was Minton? And how long before the machine’s effects wore off?

Blender became more anxious with each minute. After the massive downpour, voices over the listening devices in the van were diminished. Were they asleep this early? Or were they still whispering escape plans? Blender had notified everyone to keep on their toes and be ready for anything.

The sky grew darker as black clouds lowered. A flat crack sounded as lightning struck somewhere near. The flash was immediately followed by an explosion of thunder that stunned the landscape into silence.

The streetlights which had turned on automatically with the storm’s gloom went out. Blender turned in a circle. The van’s interior lights were on, but all other lights in the neighborhood vanished.

Damn it. “Jackson!” he bellowed.