Flash Flood (17 page)

Ryan peered out at the inclement weather. “Alina, I’m sorry. I was way out of line.”

“No, you were right. I’m fickle. Thank you for getting us back here. I mean, you could have left me back there, and who would blame you?” Her words were surely nothing more than pathetic hot air to the man who had saved her life.

He whirled around in the shadows. “We’re a matched pair, Alina. Neither one of us has the guts to admit we still care for each other.” His shoulders lifted and fell. “Better take off those boots.”

She started to move toward him, but fear of what that meant yanked her back into reality. She would only hurt him when this ended. Tears pooled in her eyes. Were her tears for the man she loved, or were they for herself? She shivered and bent to remove the boots and socks with cold, trembling fingers.

“Alina, I’m sorry for tearing into you like that.”

“I heard you the first time. Let it alone. It’s over.” She pulled off her wet socks. “We aren’t the same people.”

Ryan opened the door and dumped the water from his boots. He took hers and did the same. Both of them stood shivering in their bare feet.

“I think I can find us some dry clothes,” she said.

“And I’ll call the police.” Ryan disappeared down the hall. Her feet hurt from the cold, but she had a job to do. Inside the utility closet, she hoped to find everything they needed, even dry socks. A distinct chill had taken over her body and seemingly numbed every part of her. In the dark, she rummaged through all the paraphernalia belonging to the service people until she wrapped her hands around a pair of jeans and then another.
Socks. Surely there is a pair here
. Alina crawled around on the floor of the closet until she had searched every square inch. When she found none, she sat back against the wall, willing her tears to stop. She had better control of her emotions than this.

No socks, but she found one pair of boots, two pairs of jeans, a lined coat, a couple of sweatshirts, and a towel that smelled of engine oil. After piling them on the floor outside the closet, she searched for flashlights and found three of them. Alina gathered up her treasures and headed to where she believed Ryan had disappeared. She promised herself to be cordial to him. Ryan leaned against the doorjamb.

“Are the police on their way?” she asked.

“Not exactly.”

Her heart plummeted. “What’s wrong? What did they say?”

“The phone’s dead.”

“But we have our cell phones.”

“I can’t get through on either of them. And naturally there’s no Internet service.”

She wanted to see his eyes, for there lay the truth of their plight. “We’re in bad shape, aren’t we?”

“I’m sure we’ll think of something. We’re out of the weather, and yes, we’re without power and communication. Looks like the generator finally ran out of gas, which means the two-way radios don’t work either. But things could be a lot worse.” He glanced around them. “I’ll get Fred’s radio from his office. I want to keep up-to-date on the weather and see what emergency procedures are in place to help those stranded.”

She pulled the clothing articles closer to her, and one of the boots fell. “I guess we’re in for the night.”

“Maybe not.” He retrieved the fallen boot. “I’m not giving up on a rescue team until we’re dry and warm.”

The lump in her throat felt like a baseball. “I have a few things we can use. These boots are for you.”

“And you?”

“Oh, I have what I need.” At least she could be a little unselfish with this mess. She handed him a pair of the jeans and a flashlight. “These should fit and are most likely a little big, but anything is better than standing here in these wet clothes. The rest of these will help us bundle up as the night wears on.”

“Thanks.” He took the items and moved toward the men’s room. “Didn’t find any sleeping bags, kerosene lanterns, or dry towels?”

“I wish. We’ll be all right until morning. A little chilly maybe, but these coats and sweatshirts will help.” She moistened her lips and wished she felt as optimistic as she tried to project. “We could look upstairs, too, although mostly equipment is stored up there. Oh, the break room has a few supplies.”

“Extra batteries for the flashlights and Fred’s radio would be nice. Say, are you hungry?”

“Starved. There’s food in the break room,” she said. “Let’s change and look for a little supper.” She had to take charge of her emotions. Do something, anything to keep her mind off the weather and the water.

“Alina … thanks.”

The lump in her throat grew to mammoth proportions. “No problem.”

Once she got out of her wet slacks and secured Fred’s radio, she met Ryan in the hall. She gave him the radio and tightened her belt on the men’s jeans that must have been twenty sizes bigger than her waist. But they were dry and they hung below her feet. He’d not see her bare feet unless he shined a flashlight on her. “I think I got the bigger pair.” She tried to laugh, but the sound seemed more like the whimper of a sad puppy.

“Do you want to trade?” he asked.

Thunder shook the building.

“Nope. These are mine, and I’ll manage just fine, thank you.” Hopefully her response sounded light and didn’t betray the terror rising in her faster than the floodwaters outside.

They made their way to the break room. Fumbling around in the dark with only the aid of a flashlight gave her an eerie feeling, even with Ryan alongside her.
Later on tonight or in the morning, we’ll be rescued. I’ll never take electricity for granted again. Never
. The long night loomed ahead.

She aimed the flashlight toward a drawer in the kitchenette. Inside lay a package of matches, candles, two packages of batteries, and two light sticks. Whoever had been in charge of equipping the break room had included a candleholder. She’d buy them a steak dinner when life got back to normal. With the strike of a match, the candle lit the small room just enough to switch off the flashlights.

“I think,” she began as she opened the cabinet above the counter, “we have a lantern.” She pulled it off the shelf, then set it down beside the candle and switched it on. “I rather like dining by candlelight, and the lantern may come in handy later.”

Ryan sorted through the supplies. “I wonder if there are any six-volt batteries in here.” He opened the cabinet door and found two batteries. “Jackpot.” He flipped on the radio, which was tuned in to a station out of Cincinnati. Not exactly what they needed. He played with the tuning dial until a station came in clear and crisp.

“Radisen has been the hardest hit by the flash floods. The rains continue, and rising water has forced most of the town to higher ground. The downtown and east-side areas already have several homes and businesses under water. Fortunately, emergency personnel state that the downtown area has been completely evacuated.”

“No, we haven’t been rescued!” Alina sucked in a breath to still her ragged emotions. She forced her attention to hear the rest of the news report.

“Emergency officials warn residents who are in dry areas and higher elevations to stay at home. Roads are washed away, and two deaths have been reported due to the flooding. One woman employed at Radisen Bank drowned when she took an elevator down to the parking garage and water rushed through the door. The Red Cross has set up shelters at Radisen High School and First Methodist Church on Adams Street. If you are near a flooded area, secure higher ground. I repeat, secure higher ground. Water has reached second-floor levels in some low-lying areas. Many individuals have volunteered boats to help find stranded victims. Phone and power outages are reported in and around Radisen. The weather forecast says more rain through tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates.”

“I can’t swim,” she said.

“What?”

“I said I can’t swim. So if you’re thinking that is a way out of here, you’re on your own. I simply can’t go out there again.”

“Alina, trying to swim to safety would be foolhardy.” He paused for a moment. In the flickering candlelight, she saw the sadness on his face and bit back the urge to weep. “I didn’t know you couldn’t swim. Doesn’t matter anyway; I’m not about to leave you stranded. We’ll be rescued. Remember, I talked to the police department and told them we were here. It’s a matter of time before someone knocks at the door and escorts us out.” With a smile, he wagged his finger at her. “Where is your optimism?”

“But they think everyone on this side of town has been evacuated.” Her lips quivered. Didn’t she just tell herself to be stronger? “I’m whining. I’m so sorry. This isn’t your fault.”

“We both would like to blame someone or something, but the truth is we’re in this together. I don’t have any answers.” He shrugged. “Let’s get something to eat; then we can talk about what our next move should be.”

Alina recognized the calmness in his voice, an echo from years before. Lashing out at him solved nothing. His words were meant to pacify her mounting anxiety. “You’re probably right. Fred keeps the refrigerator stocked.”

She pulled out sodas, lunch meat, cheese, fruit, and bread. Paper plates, napkins, and cups rested on the end of the countertop along with a bag of corn chips. A few moments later, they took turns warming their hands over the candle.

“This feels so good that I hate to stop to fix my sandwich,” Ryan said.

“I agree, but my stomach has been grumbling for hours—and you’ve witnessed what happens when my blood sugar drops.”

“Go ahead and make yours. I’ll keep the fire stoked.”

She made sandwiches for both of them in silence and brought them to a small table.

“Thank you. How about I bless,” he said.

“Go ahead; and you can mention our predicament, too.” She bowed her head.

Ryan took her hand. He didn’t ask permission, but she wasn’t about to create another scene. “Father God, we thank You for bringing us back here safely. We ask that You send a rescue team and keep all those safe who are in danger this night. Thank You for this food and for this shelter. Amen.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and released it.

“I never thought bologna and cheese could smell so good,” she finally said.

He bit into his sandwich. “Or taste as good as a steak dinner.”

She broke off the bread crust and tossed it in the trash. “They now make a crustless bread.”

“I bet you save hours of time.” He chuckled, and it broke the tension. “Here I thought you’d outgrown the habit.”

“I still remember your lectures about all the vitamins in the crust. You even talked to a nutrition expert about it.”

“And I still remember your response: ‘I’d rather swallow a vitamin.’”

She smiled; it seemed to come from her heart to her lips. Time ceased to exist in a few captivating moments. Sensing her emotions soaring beyond her control, Alina turned from his gaze.

“It was good then, Alina. We didn’t have the Lord, but He had given us the gift of love.”

She laid her sandwich on the paper plate. A myriad of responses whisked across her mind, but nothing she dared say.

“I understand,” he said after a moment’s silence. “Perhaps it’s enough for us to be friends.”

The radio repeated the same news interspersed with country-western music. The electrical storm had faded into the distance, but the relentless rain and wind continued to pound against the building. Her fears consumed her. A whole night at Flash, in the dark, with Ryan? What purpose did God have in trapping them in a building surrounded by water? She questioned whether the turmoil outside the building matched the upheaval in her heart. Better to let humor disguise her anguish than to go with honesty.

“I think I know how Noah felt,” she said. “Claustrophobia must have been a biggie.”

“Look at it this way. We don’t have to feed any animals … find the snakes that wiggled out of their cages … walk the tigers … or find out if anyone is playing hide-and-seek with the monkeys.”

She laughed at the whimsical image. “Do you ever wonder how they cleaned the stalls?”

He wrinkled his nose. “I never thought about it, but I’m sure you have.”

“It’s crossed my mind, especially if it all piled up.”

“God had it all worked out.”

“Like us?” She reached for a corn chip.

“I’m certain of His plan, and it’s reassuring, too.”

“I feel bad for the woman who was trapped in the elevator—makes it hard to trust God when tragic things happen.”
Like Anna. Dear, sweet Anna
. “And I hope all the other employees are high and dry.”

“But, Alina, we don’t have a choice. As followers of Christ, we know the flip side of not believing in His almighty hand.”

She nodded. “I’m afraid, really afraid, but I’m glad you’re here with me—another Christian.” She bit into her sandwich.

“This may be the reason we’re together,” Ryan said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

When Ryan finished at Flash and they went their separate ways, she’d look back on this evening and cherish the closeness. A haunting image kept piercing her thoughts. “Do you think the building will flood?”

Ryan glanced above the candlelight. Lines had been added to his face since the morning. “It’s a strong possibility.”

She dropped her sandwich and nearly knocked over her soda can. “What will we do?”

He paused. “Guess we’ll simply head up to the second floor, but I hate to think of our companies dealing with damaged flooring or losing some of the equipment.” His eyebrows lowered.

“What are you thinking, Ryan? What should we do?”

“My thoughts are we have no idea when rescue efforts will reach us. In the meantime, I want to carry computers and any other equipment upstairs. Files, too.”

She picked up her napkin and whisked away crumbs from her hands. “I’m ready to help. Fred deserves more than to have everything he’s worked for destroyed, even if it belongs to Neon now. I understand insurance pays for catastrophes, but I want to do all I can. Sitting here and waiting will drive me crazy.”

Ryan stood from his chair. “Why don’t you begin by taking some of this food upstairs—and anything else you can think of. Who knows how long we’ll be here.”

“Sure. As soon as I’m finished with that, I’ll help you carry equipment to the second floor.”