Thank goodness this world has pasta and cheese. What would I do without my two favorite food groups? I was sitting on a picnic blanket, happily eating my second helping of the noodle dish Xana's moms brought. Large, disk-shaped noodles were mixed with ground meat and herbs, topped with soft cheese and a tangy pepper sauce. It was official. Xana was my friend. I was definitely going to invite myself to her house to eat this!

Once I finished, I thanked Xana's moms. “Thank you, Mrs. Indy and Mrs. Karria for the food!” They both grin, Mrs. Indy pats my head. Despite being pretty full, I manage to stuff myself with a few desserts. I lay down on the blankets, contentedly. Other kids, having similarly over indulged, flop down next to me. Several kids start to doze off, and I soon fall asleep too. 

I'm awoken by a shout. “Found you, you paffo!” I sit up to see a disheveled man screaming at a woman in a red jacket, just a few feet in front of me.

 “You thought you could get away from me!?” She tries to step back, but the man pulls out a knife.

 “DON'T MOVE!” He bellows. She freezes in place. The adults around me gasp and grab their children. Several jump to their feet and begin rushing away. Mama starts to move towards me, but the man shouts again. 

“NO! All of you stay where you are!” Mama freezes, fear on her face. Children around me begin to whimper and cry. Crap. This was bad. Did anything like this happen in the book? I tried to think, but nothing came to mind. What good was knowing about the original plot if I kept encountering events that didn't happen in it? What was the point of me being here?!

 “Gerro, please don't do this.” The woman tries to placate the man, her trembling voice breaking me out of my swirling thoughts. “We can talk about this! Please, just-” 

“SHUT UP!” He bellows. “I'm done talking! You're coming back with me!” He reaches out and grabs her arm. 

Another woman runs up, and grabs the hand of the woman in red, pulling her away from Gerro. “Rea isn't going anywhere with you!” 

The second woman stretches her arm towards the picnic blankets. A platter of food floats towards her. She jerks her hand towards Gerro, and smacks him in the face. 

Giggles erupt from the children, as the plate slides off. Gerro trembles with rage. The telekinetic readies another plate, but before she can throw it, Gerro grabs a child. He holds a knife to the boy's neck. The child whimpers in fear. His parents scream his name, “YORRI!” 

“Drop it, paffo.” Gerro growls, his voice as cold as ice. The plate crashes to the ground.

Shit, shit, shit. Things were going from bad to worse. Something needed to be done. No one could risk attacking the man, not while he was holding Yorri hostage. We needed a distraction. Something! Anything! My eyes dart upwards. 

“Please,” I think to myself, “If there are any gods in this world, do something! Please don't let that man hurt anyone! Stop this please!” 

Nothing happens. 

But then, a cold breeze cuts throughout the park. The sky darkens, black clouds blowing in. Large drops of rain began to pelt down, causing the children to cry louder. A bolt of lightning strikes a tree, about 20 feet straight in front of me. Everyone jumps, including Gerro, who mercifully drops his knife. Several adults rush towards him, grabbing him and pinning his arms behind his back. Yorri's parents run towards him, and clutch him tightly. Other parents follow suit and grab their children. Mama scoops me into her arms, and holds me close. I can't tell if my shoulder is wet from the rain or from her tears. 

City guards drag Gerro away. Others take statements from park-goers, sheltering under pavilions. Mama continues holding me as she recounts what happened from her prescriptive. Soon, we are permitted to leave. The rain lets up as we head out of the park. I notice the streets are dry. How strange. It seems the storm was very localized. 

“Mama, did it only rain in the park?” I ask, curious if concerted storms are common here. 

“I suppose so,” she answers. “Perhaps it was a miracle.”

Did the gods hear my prayers? Or did everyone in the park pray loud enough to pierce the Heavens? Or was it all just a coincidence? A sudden wave of sleepiness hits me, disrupting my questions. Oh well. Everyone was safe, that's all that mattered. I knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. I yawn, and nuzzle into my Mama's still tight embrace. I drift off, safe and sound.