69. Reformation

Elliot gripped Sheree's hand as he looked around. Burned and trampled foliage covered the ground in a wide area around them. It had been days since that night, but the air still smelled like burning wood. He bent down and ran his finger along a scorched leaf. Its vibrant green coloring was cut short at the edge by dead, pale gray char. 

"You good, bro?" Albert asked, probably wondering what he was thinking about.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said and stood back to his full height.

 He didn't like being here. It reminded him of how senseless and uncalled for that whole situation was. He looked back at the leaf. One minute everyone was fine, minding their own business, and then suddenly everything was being destroyed. Those of them that survived the encounter would be changed by it forever.

"That's not all bad. At least we're still here," Sheree spoke into his mind. She rested her head on his shoulder as professor Klein approached with a grumpy-looking Rayne.