Sanctuary

The thunder roared at them with much humor and delight. The children, terrified of the noise quickly scrambled under their bed for temporary shelter.


The thunder roared again with much power and might. Louder than the last. Delighted than the last. The children, now with their hands covering their ears were screaming for comfort but alas, there was no one for them.


The thunder with its most maleficent state gave out the most deaf-inducing thud yet. The children, screaming more violently than ever were already shedding tears of cowardice.


What can they do? They are just mere children. They still are ignorant and ponderous of the world, of the weather conditions, of the present situation they are in. Crouching under their bed they were vulnerable, scared out of their wits.


Pfft.


The lights at home suddenly went all out! Panic flowed from their every vein. Their pulse were beating so fast that it's almost impossible to count. Their respiration were as if they were stricken with asthma. Their temperature were getting colder by the minute. After waiting for what seems like forever; the rain seemed to ebb, the wind toned down its howl, the lightning flashes dwindled in numbers and the thunder roars tamed down its disposition. The children were relieved but till when? Darkness already crept from every corner of their house like monstrous vines out for a mission to conquer and not be conquered.


The two scanned the place, trying to search for a source of artificial light. Failed. Their only hope is the emergency light located at the other room, the master's bedroom, in which, they would have to get out of their comfort zone, walk towards a sea of darkness, and luckily obtain what might be their source of strength and light, literally. 


Slowly they crept out of their shelter, no hint of light in sight. Boogie Monsters, Kapres, Tikbalangs and White Ladies entered their imaginative minds. The older one let out a loud shrill and soon the younger one followed. They dashed towards the other room as fast as they could never minding if they bump into a wall or a furniture. Stop. With the two still catching their breaths they looked around the room. They saw their father's closet and their mother's closet plus a cabinet on the far side of the room.


Where do their parents keep the emergency light?


Is it at Mom's closet?


Is it at Dad's?


Or is it at the cabinet on top?


They started doing their eenie meenie, pointing out the best closet to find what they were searching for. They don't want to meet anything strange! So they were playing safe. Hopefully if they get it right and play their cards excellently then there would be no trouble of such thoughts.


The older one pointed at their Mom's closet.


The younger one pointed at their Dad's closet.


They looked at each other with question marks on their faces. The older one suddenly pushed the younger child in front of their Dad's closet. The younger one looked back and saw the older one's expression of: well if that's your choice go ahead and open it then! The kid had no choice. Seniority power proved to be stronger than what was expected. He was afraid, afraid if ever he sees an unknown being upon opening the closet or he gets punched on his shoulder for being a chicken.


Crossroads? For the kid, this will be a good start of better plan management but for the meantime it seems he's more scared of a knuckle sandwich than a ghost floating in the cabinet looking for a human to scare.


Together with a clenched fist and a huge gulp sliding down from his throat to his stomach, he opened the closet very, very surely. Halfway through he closely peered around looking for either a luminous character or a whitish shape. He saw none. He opened the closet fully. With still an arm of courage he scoured and tussled the clothes around to get what he needed. Like an irritated accountant looking for lost account sheets and logbooks the clothes flew one, sometimes two, out of the closet and onto the floor. Frantic. Anxious. What must be done must be done!


And finally, he tapped on something made of plastic.


Is this the one that they were looking for?


Is this what will save them finally from the hopes of seeing a ghoulish being from appearing out of nowhere?


Is this what they think it is?


The younger child thrust it up with force and strength. With a smile on the child's lips the emergency light was finally unveiled.  


The young one eagerly held it up with pride and full ego. Their lives would be saved. For the time being. With excitement now crossing through his every vein rather than fear earlier. A turn on the switch would mean the world to them!


Hooray for the inventor of light!


Hooray for the inventor of florescent light!


Hooray for the inventor of the emergency light!


They were jumping for joy. Overwhelmed. Simply overwhelmed. 


And for the finale, a mere switch will make them see the world as a better place again.


Pzzt.


One by one, the home finally had lights once again.