Even the clouds smile
The bedroom was a sealed Fort Knox. An old black fan stood in a corner: the last bulwark of defence against the terrible heat of that day of August. The heat from its engine was exceeding by far the supposed cool that it should have been producing from the movement of the scorching air.
"... I’m going down to the store to help mum."
"Recently, the young dandy is getting his ass busy."
"You could do something too, every now and then," Santiago thought, managing to keep his mouth with a bridle at the very last moment.
"There is an article on the International on how bad news are preferred to positive ones and their effects on society," he chose instead to answer.
But the 15:00 news were now efficiently irrigating the paternal synapses and absorbing his whole focus.
"After 3 months from their first appearance, the research on cumuloids continues by the international expert pool led by Dr. Venters. All the analyses confirm that their molecular composition is not different from that of any other type of cloud: minute particles of condensed water and / or ice crystals. In the meantime, yesterday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved the resolution requesting the member states of... "
"Chemtrails were not enough, eh Tiago?"
"I do not know, I try not to look at them. Those faces in the sky might also be harmless but they frighten me," Santiago cut short.
The quasi-dialogue would have certainly not produced anything positive in its prolonging, thought the twelve year old son. On board of his Zanella Motoneta, Santiago darted away from home, heading for the beach.
Down there, among the umbrellas reserved for the guests of the Los Reyes hotel, there were Vicky's deep black eyes waiting for him. Maybe today they could have been alone, maybe there between the waves or under the umbrella, he would have finally told her words that, for long days, had been banging in his head like the ocean’s backwash.
He still thought of those enigmatic clouds, the cumuloids, whose immense faces had formed and flaked in the skies for months now. With no exception, their eyes were covered and they displayed a subtle smile, similar to that of those Greek statues he saw in one of the rare occasions he opened his school books.
"What an idiot." Two rosy dawns light up on Vicky's cheeks to contradict the apparently cynical exclamation.
In front of her, two hearts drawn with a wooden stick on the sand of the shore with their initials inside. Tiago floundering.
A sharp cry pierces the silence. Dazed looks of the two twelve-year-olds jumping first on Vicky's younger sister, then, through the kid’s expression of terror, bouncing on the celestial vault behind them.
A cumuloid, alone, stands out clearly in a fake turquoise sky like the wing of a theatre stage. There is no trace of a kouros smile on the gargantuan cloud, which now seems about to drift on the sea shore. The ivory jaws widens deformed, vomiting a myriad of other faces. Distorted mutations depart ferociously from the obscene atmospheric funnel just to pierce back the smooth nimbus’ face, devouring its ephemeral flesh.
Time slows down around Tiago and Vicky, holding hands together without even realizing it.
My Ending
Vicky's little sister cried out and it broke two from the trace they had fallen into. VIcky ran to her sister while Tiago glaced once more towards the cumuloids watching the deformed faces rush closer to the beach. Tiago grab both girls hands and started to pull them towards the Los Reyes hotel. He did know why but he felt they had to get inside. A chill was starting to descend that he didn't understand but knew wasn't natural. Ass they rushed through the lobby Vicky pulled away and said "what is going on? Why did they come here? Tiago looked around the front desk was empty with everyone looking out the big windows, tourist acting not scared at all had been taking pictures when they ran by. We had to get inside he said. I just know something was wrong! Tiago headed around the desk he had been in this hotel often enough to know where the keys to the rooms are kept he grabbed one and pointed to the stairs. Vicky took her little sister and they headed up. Room 303 faced the beach he felt unlucky but at the same time he wanted to see them again.
Once in the room Tiago pull a spare chair in front of the door they went over to windows to make sure they were closed. Vicky's little sister started to cry so Vicky went to hold her while they sat on the bed. Turn on the News Tiago said but turn it down and put on the captions. Vicky started to look for the remote. Tiago look out onto the beach as the faces started to reach the shoreline. He couldn't believe a few people still stood on the beach fancy phones in hand taking pictures. As the cumuloid faces started to reach the sand it looked to dry out and crack. Then the first one reached a man, he tried to back away as it ran into him and disappeared. The man just stopped and stood still for a minute before dropping his phone in the sand as he began to walk towards the water. Tiago saw the same thing repeat few times before he looked away.
Tiago join the girls on the bed looking up at the TV. Emergency broadcast had taken over all the channels but it was just telling people to stay inside and close all windows. To avoid contract with the cumuloid shapes at all cost. Then a man appeared on the screen with the name Dr. Venters underneath his face. "Today the united nations in a group effort tried to destroy one of the cumuloid clouds. The plan was to use a bomb to heat up the air and remove them. But it had failed and instead the cumuloid broke apart and started to move. Shortly after the faces had appeared all over the world. He then explained that contact with shapes was leading to people doing very strange things that lead to their deaths. That at this time they shapes had not been able to pass thrrough walls or windows so that if you stayed inside you should be okay. That they are working on the issue and would update everyone once they knew more.
Vicky looked at Tigao with fear building in her eyes still holding her younger sisters head. He headed over to the windows and opened the curtain enough to look out. The shapes still roamed the beach and he saw some of them going down the streets towards the rest of town. Vicky sister had credit herself to sleep. What should we do? He heard the words but didn't know what to say. For now we stay here he said looking at the TV hoping for more news.
VIcky's eyes opened, how long had she been sleeping she wondered. Tiago was at the window looking out into the dark. She looked up at the TV still the same. Vicky joined Tiago and looked out again taking his hand. I think we can avoid them in the dark if we are careful he said she looked out and could see that the faces had a glow in the dark that made them look more like ghost than clouds. Vicky also wanted to go home she worried about her parents. We should be able to see them coming. Vicky woke up her sister and the three headed to the backdoor. They headed for Vicky's house. I have to get her home he thought. They started to near the first major street. Tiago could see a glow coming from the right almost like car headlights so they ducked behind some crates.Two shapes floated past the ally wandering slowing as if looking for something. Tiago held is breath as they passed. He relaxed and they kept going. They were almost there. He could see Vicky's house there was a light was on inside. Suddenly Vicky’s sister yelled “Mom” and ran for the house. From above came a glow as Tiago looked up he could see a ghostly shape ominge dow.n Vicky creamed butr it was too late. It crashed into Vicky's sister and disappeared.
She stopped moving and fell to the ground. Vicky ran to her. She was cold as ice and seemed to be sleeping. Tiago ran up. They both looked at her then she opened her eyes. Vicky what happened? She said as she started to stand. Tiago was amazed she seemed fine they all headed to Vicky's house and got inside where her Mom was waiting. Mom what is going on Vicky asked. I don't know. At new cast started it explain what they had seen the ghostly shapes didn’t seem to affect children.
Dad he yelled as he ran thrrough the door. Tiago had run all the way home right through a few ghostly shapes. He was no longer afraid. He yelled but no answer came.
They world had changed so fast. Many people say it was god others blamed man. Tiago didn't know who to blame but he had lost his father that night. He might never understand what had happened but what every caused this to happen he was not happy. Will I ever know what happened he thought.