In the quiet corner of a small suburban town, where cookie-cutter houses lined the streets and the familiar hum of lawnmowers was an indication of normalcy, an older woman sat hunched over her computer, Eleanor Thompson, or "grandma El", as her grandchildren affectionately called her, was engaged in her favorite pastime: online gaming. She was a wizard in the virtual world, navigating pixelated dungeons with a grace and agility that belied her age of sixty-six. Her wisdom, gleaned from years of gaming experience, was rivaled only by her collection of RPG guides and gaming memorabilia that adorned her modest room.
"Hah! Take that." She cackled as she quickly mashed some buttons and lights flickered across the screen. Delightful groans and funny little noises emitted from the speakers her grandson set up for her in the corners. She didn't often go into the PVP play area, but when she did. It was cathartic.
"Well, I suppose I've harassed the kids enough for now. They are starting to send in the creeps. I hate those slow sneaky folks." She chuckled to herself and chose not to queue for the next battleground. Pushing herself away from the desk she stretched slowly and stood. Her back made a few uncomfortably loud pops and cricks as she looked out the window. El lived alone in a quiet cul-de-sac. Most of the time it was fairly quiet; yet, this evening was different. A storm was brewing, winds had been fairly brisk all day and had been gusting more powerfully as dusk fell. Ominous clouds darkened the skies, a hint of green color tinged the light and if she didn't know better she could scent just a bit of ozone.
"Feels like we might be due for a twister." Tornadoes were not a common occurrence where she lived but they were enough of a possibility that the city had a once-a-month siren they diligently let loose with every final Wednesday at 10:00 am. When she heard the familiar alarm she nodded. It was not 10:00. Nor was it Wednesday. Tornado. Huh. When was the last time one was spotted. Wonder where it is. Surely, not out the back way I can't see anything. El wandered across the house to look out the front window, the siren still going and squinted to look out the front window. Nothing. Hmph. As she stood there in her thick fuzzy socks the walls began to reverberate as the winds outside quickly began to increase. She could hear the siding of her home vibrate with the rapidly up ticking forces. The siren continued to warble.
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Well now, I think I will head on into the bathroom and just park myself in the tub for a bit. I mean, I think I could sit in a doorway, or under the table, but... no, it would take at least a minute or two to crawl under the table and her knees would be screaming at her. She grabbed a pillow and a throw off the couch and moved into the bathroom and tossed them into the tub, she then climbed in and curled on her side while the shaking and pounding noises continued to increase in intensity around her.
"Unbelievable..." She muttered to herself. As Eleanor settled into the tub, the cacophony outside reached a fever pitch. The walls shuddered, and she could hear something heavy crashing against the side of her house. Her heart raced, but she remained oddly calm.
Suddenly, there was a deafening crack, and the bathroom door flew open. El instinctively ducked, covering her head with the pillow. When she looked up, her jaw dropped. Where her bathroom door had been, there was now a swirling vortex of green and purple light.
"Well, I'll be," she muttered, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Before she could process what was happening, the vortex began to pull at her. El gripped the edges of the tub but her fingers, already showing the aches of arthritis, barely hesitated before sliding. With a whoomp and a slam, El was gone.