16 Shaken

Upon impact, a strong earthquake was felt all over Subangdaku and the neighboring districts. The ground shook violently. It was strong enough to cause cracks in some old buildings, but not strong enough to topple any structure. Thankfully, Subangdaku was a small old district and not much high structures could be found.

Like the boys, the villagers had seen the spectacle and they felt the same fear from the last time, though it was now much greater and bothersome. They believed they would all die from the impact, especially that an earthquake ensued. The bright light felt like coming from heaven, ready to take them all already. However, it was not and they survived the collision.

The boys were thrown at different directions and were unconscious for a few minutes. Unlike before, they had no dreams. The fright and the will to live urged them to rouse quickly.

"Guys, where are you?" Jamie called out as he was the first to get up.

It was again pitch dark that he kept squinting his eyes to adjust to the darkness. His pace was unsteady because he was still dizzy from the light and quake. Yet, he pushed himself to look for his friends.

"Here!" Kiko yelled.

He struggled to stand up because the wound on his knee still hurt. Hurriedly, Jamie ran up to him and helped him up.

"How are you?" Bogart was saying while running towards them.

The two chuckled upon seeing his shadow wobbling in the night. Through everything, his gestures would bring smile to them. Bogart immediately hugged his friends upon reaching them.

"Has anyone seen Tonton?" asked Jamie.

"Coming!" Tonton's whisper echoed in the silence.

They ran up to him, with Kiko painstakingly limping behind the two. They hugged each other, thankful that they yet survived another impact from a meteor or some heavenly object.

"It happened again," Kiko finally said.

"I really thought we would all die," Bogart tearfully commented.

"I am happy nobody got hurt, maybe except for that scratch on your knee, Kiko," Jamie said with a smile, happy to see that his frienxz were all in one piece.

"That must be what my dreams and the whispers mean," Tonton said thoughtfully. "That anothet meteor will hit us."

"You were given a vision," Jamie surmised. "Did you dream again just after the impact?"

Tonton shook his head. He looked at Kiko and Bogart and they also shook their heads.

"Neither did I," Jamie answered the unspoken question. For a while, they stood in silence.

"What could have happened to the village?" Bogart asked worriedly.

"We'd better go home now," Jamie suggested.

His friends nodded and they instantly looked for their bikes. After which, they hurriedly went home.

Upon entering the village, they saw that everyone had gone out of their houses. The entire community was flooded with lights as people opted to stay outside, just in case another impact or earthquake would happen. They quickened their pace, eager to reach home fast.

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Bogart was the first to arrive who was instantly swept by both his parents. They were hugging and crying when the three left. Kiko reached his house next who was met by his brother Jackson.

"Where's father and mother?" he asked.

"They looked for our little sister," Jackson answered. "She was not home yet when the meteor fell."

"We'll keep going," Jamie called out, and after waving goodbye, he left with Tonton.

The sight along the way was heart-breaking. Young kids were hushed by their parents. Dogs and cats were restless as owners tried to pacify them. Some house items were put outside, like huge refrigerators, television sets, sofa, emergency bags, and many others.

In the corner of their street, a more depressing thing happened. A large branch from an old acacia tree had fallen, smashing the roof of a retail store. It was their favorite store and they used to hang out in the place when having their afternoon snacks. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and the owners were busily fixing the damage.

"This is more scary than the first," Jamie remarked.

"Yes," Tonton agreed. "So much had been damaged. Hope the store opens soon. I love the place."

"You did not see any of these things in your dreams?"

"No, I just saw the meteor falling. How I wish I did, I could have warned everyone."

"I doubt they will believe you. I mean, we are just a bunch of regular kids."

Tonton pondered on those words and said, "I guess you are right. We are not scientists and people will not just easily believe anybody's horrible dreams."

Jamie chuckled and stopped himself after realizing something. "How about the monster jellyfish? Could that be true as well?"

"I'm not sure," Tonton answered inaudibly. "I hope not. Monsters are not true. They are just in the books."

"But what if this time, it is true?"

At that moment, they were only a few houses from theirs. From a distance, they could see their parents anxiously waiting for them on the gate. They called for their names, breaking their conversation.

The sight of them stirred emotions in their hearts that the boys started crying. Upon nearing a distance, they abandoned their bikes and ran up to them. For a long time, they cuddled one another.

"I think we can breathe now," Tonton's mother remarked after wiping off her tears.

Jamie's mother let out a sad laugh and said, "These kids are really making us worry sometime."

"I could not agree more."

After a few chitchats, the women bade farewell. They were about to enter their gates when a loud boom echoed in the night. It was like a thunder but louder and creepier. They were startled and instantly gazed at the direction of the sound.

"Mother, what was that?" Jamie inquired.

"I don't know, son. You'd better go inside now."

"Jamie!" Tonton called. "Did you hear that?"

"Of course, he did," his mother answered for Jamie. She flashed a reassuring smile to her neighbors.

"Is that a fire?" Jamie suddenly asked, therefore getting their attention. With his point finger, he then indicated the bright orange glow in the sky from a distance.

To their disbelief, both mothers was stunned by the site of a burning cloud.