Chasing the storm

Chapter 4: Into the Unknown

(Sienna's POV)

I was going to lose my mind.

Rowan Carter was a menace. A reckless, adrenaline-addicted, disaster-magnet of a human being.

And somehow, I was still following him.

The storm outside hadn't calmed. If anything, the wind had picked up, slamming against the gas station walls, rattling the windows. It sounded hungry. Like it wasn't done swallowing up everything in its path.

And now?

Now we were supposed to go back out there?

I turned to Rowan, who was smirking like this was just another day at the office.

"You seriously want us to go out in that?" I snapped, gesturing wildly toward the storm outside.

He raised a brow. "Unless you want to leave Oliver's friends out there to die?"

I clenched my jaw. "That's not fair."

"Neither is leaving them to fend for themselves."

I hated when he did this. When he acted like his recklessness was some kind of heroic duty. Like he had to charge headfirst into every goddamn storm because it was the only way he knew how to feel alive.

Caleb crossed his arms. "We don't even know if they're alive."

Oliver swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably. "I mean… they were, twenty minutes ago."

Ava's voice was quiet. "That was twenty minutes ago."

The air felt thick. Heavy. The weight of the decision pressed against all of us.

And as much as I hated to admit it…

Rowan was right.

I exhaled sharply. "Fine. But we do this smart. No reckless stunts, no stupid risks—"

Rowan's lips twitched. "I feel like that was directed at me."

"Because it was," I deadpanned.

He grinned. "Noted."

I turned to Oliver. "Where were they last located?"

He wiped the fog from his glasses, pulling out his tablet. The screen flickered before loading a digital map. A red dot blinked just a few miles away, deeper into the storm's path.

"Here," he pointed. "About three miles out. If they were moving, they'd probably be near this abandoned highway stretch."

I studied the map. "And if they're not?"

Oliver hesitated. "Then they might have been pulled into the storm."

No one spoke.

I felt a cold weight in my stomach.

Rowan cracked his knuckles. "Well, only one way to find out."

I groaned. "Why do I let you talk me into these things?"

"Because you secretly love the thrill?"

I smacked his arm. "Let's just get this over with."

---

We moved quickly.

Caleb and Ava would stay behind, reinforcing the gas station in case the storm took a turn for the worse.

Oliver, Rowan, and I would take the truck and try to locate the missing crew.

"If you're not back in an hour, we're locking the doors," Caleb warned.

"Gee, thanks for the motivation," Rowan muttered.

I shot Caleb a grateful look before yanking my hoodie tighter over my head. "Let's go before I change my mind."

---

Back Into the Storm

The second we stepped outside, the wind nearly knocked me off my feet.

Rain lashed against my skin, cold and biting, making it impossible to see.

Rowan grabbed my wrist, steadying me. "You good, Vale?"

I jerked my arm free. "Let's just move."

We climbed into the truck, tires skidding as Rowan pulled back onto the flooded road. The high beams barely cut through the downpour.

Oliver sat in the backseat, squinting at his tablet. "Okay, keep going straight for about a mile, then veer left."

Rowan drummed his fingers against the wheel. "So… bets on what we're walking into?"

I shot him a glare. "Can you not?"

He grinned. "Come on, Vale. A little excitement never hurt anyone."

I exhaled sharply. "You do realize we might be driving straight into another tornado, right?"

"Yeah. But we might also be saving lives."

I hated how that actually made sense.

Oliver suddenly tensed. "Wait—slow down."

Rowan eased off the gas. "What is it?"

Oliver pointed at the screen. "We should be seeing their car by now. But I'm not picking up anything."

I sat up straighter. "So either they moved, or…"

Oliver swallowed. "Or they're not there anymore."

Rowan's jaw tightened. "Look sharp. We're close."

The road ahead was flooded, the highway cracked and broken from debris. The rain pounded against the truck, making it hard to see past a few feet.

Then—

A flash of movement.

"There!" I gasped, pointing.

A faint glimmer of headlights flickered through the rain, barely visible near the edge of the road.

Rowan cursed, yanking the wheel. "Hold on."

The truck skidded, mud spraying up the sides as we veered onto a side path.

As we got closer, my stomach dropped.

The missing vehicle was there—half-submerged in floodwater, the front windshield cracked, steam rising from the hood.

And inside?

Someone was still moving.

"Shit—" Rowan threw the truck into park. "We need to move, NOW."

I didn't hesitate.

I pushed the door open, rain instantly drenching me as I sprinted toward the wreck.

A figure inside the driver's seat lifted their head weakly—a girl. Mid-twenties, blood on her forehead, dazed.

"Hey! Can you hear me?" I shouted.

She blinked, unfocused.

Rowan came up beside me, trying to pry open the door. "It's jammed."

Oliver, catching up, scanned the area frantically. "Where's the other person?"

The driver swayed slightly, mouth moving, voice too faint to hear over the storm.

I leaned closer. "What?"

She swallowed, eyes flicking toward the water.

And then, barely a whisper:

"She's still out there."

My breath caught.

I turned toward the flooded stretch of highway, heart pounding.

A second person. Still missing.

And somewhere in that raging storm?

Someone was drowning.

---