Chapter 16
Chapter 16: The Blackout
Summer brought fierce, rolling thunderstorms that rattled the windows and painted the sky in flashes of violent purple.
One evening in July, a massive crack of thunder shook the house, and the power instantly died. The house plunged into absolute, pitch-black darkness.
In her previous life, a blackout meant terror. It meant her ex-husband pacing the house in an irritable rage, blaming her for not having the flashlights ready, the tension thick enough to choke on.
Leo let out a frightened whimper from the living room rug.
Ava didn't freeze. She immediately reached into the side table drawer and pulled out a heavy tactical flashlight. She clicked it on, casting a bright, reassuring beam across the room.
"I'm right here, Leo," Ava said cheerfully.
Arthur walked out of the kitchen holding two battery-powered lanterns.
"Who wants to build a cave?" Arthur announced.
Ava grabbed the heavy blankets from the sofa. Together, they draped them over the dining room chairs, creating a massive, cozy tent in the center of the room. They placed the lanterns inside, casting a warm, golden glow against the fabric walls.
They sat cross-legged inside the tent. Ava made shadow puppets against the blanket—a barking dog, a flying bird, a clumsy dinosaur that made Leo laugh so hard he hiccuped.
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The storm raged outside, pounding against the roof.
But inside the makeshift tent, there was only warmth. The darkness was no longer a weapon; it was just a canvas for the light.
