Gregorin69: I am Storm-Scarred

I finally get what you’ve been saying
Now that we’re knee deep side by side
The storm clouds are circling above us
As we struggle against the tide

I feel your grip firm on my shoulder
But this fear in my head won’t subside
They patiently circle around us
As we hold out…
~Celldweller – “Against The Tide”

I’ve always suffered from intense, crippling migraines, ever since I was a child. Impending rain storms made them worse. I knew they were coming, but there was nothing I could do but brace for the onslaught. The tang of ozone in the air still sets my teeth on edge and the sickly sweet artificial orange smell of Baby Aspirin makes me nauseous to this day.

It got so bad I began to believe the thunderstorms were out to get me, racing across the sky to eat my brain. It came as no surprise the day the lightning chased me down and struck me. Yeah, it hunted me down like a hungry animal, that miserable afternoon, ripping across the ground as I ran for my life. It destroyed the tree I hid under and tried to blast my head off.

I survived that attack though. It blew out all the veins on the left side of my face, but I survived. The burst blood vessels left a distinct mark on my face that mirrored my elemental assailant.

People always thought me odd before, now they had a visible reason to shy away from me, a concrete reason beyond, “Damn, that kid’s intense eyes give me the willies!” What the hell did they expect from a scared boy desperately trying to block out the pain of an assault he knew was coming and could do nothing to prevent?! I just grit my teeth and ignored them all.

I wore that scar like a hero’s wound; had it turned into a tattoo as soon as I was old enough to pay for it. Mum and Dad weren’t too thrilled, but they never said anything. They knew I fought some unseen battle with unknowable demons and there was a quiet understanding for being able to endure more than any kid should.

Things went quiet after that showdown. Life became almost normal. I felt like I’d passed a great test. I’d survived. I grew into a man and thought I could get on with my life. Boy was I wrong.

Fate? Never been much of a believer. What I do know is that there are forces in this world beyond the imagining or understanding of most of the people on this planet. Ignorance is bliss. Mercifully so.

I’d always known something was gunning for me, had me in its cross-hairs. I believed I’d dodged the bullet that was coming for me the day the lightning tried to eat me, but that was merely the first sucker-punch of something massive looming on the horizon. I was standing in the eye of the storm and dark days were coming.

Sure, I’d been tested. I’d been found resilient, tenacious, capable. Just what they were looking for. Then the bee came and the real war started.

I’ve allied with the Illuminati. For now. Yeah, Kirsten’s a bitch, but better the bitch you know, right? She doesn’t fuck around, shoots straight from the hip and gets shit done. I respect that. This war is going to be won by the people pulling the strings, making the others dance. If I’m going to dance, it’s going to be to my own gods be damned music. I am Storm-Scarred, and #IAmTSW.