Eternal damnation

“It’s noon, and here is your hourly weather and air quality update for December 3,” a smiling weatherman chirped from the television. “Five new extreme weather alerts and a rapid decrease in air quality for this afternoon. It’s definitely a day to be wearing your air purifiers with cooling options…”

Vesta glanced at the TV and sighed, pulling her straight red hair back into a ponytail. She leaned over the young, freckle-faced girl beside her and closed a thick book.

“Okay, Sammie,” Vesta smiled. “Lesson is over for today. Read the next section and I’ll see you next week for another tutoring session.”

“Yay,” the little girl smiled, revealing two missing front teeth, “See you next week…Festa…Festa.”

Sammie and Vesta shared a giggle at the girl’s attempt to say Vesta’s name.

With a pat on Sammie’s head, Vesta gathered her notes and put them in her handwoven, multicolored bag, then moved to open the front door.

“Don’t forget your mask!”

“Thanks, Sammie! See you,” Vesta reached back and retrieved her modified ‘PEM Mask’ (personal environment mask with temperature control).

She stepped outside and closed the door. Even though it was December, the heat was close to unbearable. Vesta’s vivid blue eyes squinted instantly in the brightness of the Sun’s rays, and she added sunglasses to her mask. There was a harsh, dry wind blowing steadily under the hazy orange sky.

“Man, I miss the snow,” Vesta sighed. She headed down the familiar sidewalk towards her parents' home, her shoes becoming dull with the dust that was always lining the streets. Snow had stopped falling a few years ago, but Vesta could remember it like yesterday. Winter had always given her pale skin a break from the sun and heat, but not anymore.

Vesta reached the quaint, two-story, stucco home and instantly received a text from her younger brother.

“Hey, I’m out with friends. Since you just got back from university, don’t eat all the food like you did last time.”

Vesta could feel the weight of her brother’s sarcasm. She quickly texted back.

“Ha ha, Tanner. Looks like you already ate everything. Get a job.”

Feeling satisfied with her comeback, Vesta tossed her tutoring bag onto the kitchen counter. An angry growl erupted from one of the kitchen stools. She carefully sidestepped a swipe from a paw.

Her phone emitted a text alert from Tanner.

“Don’t forget to feed Merlot.”

Vesta groaned and turned to face the kitchen stool that now revealed a black, fluffy, swishing tail.

“Come here, Merl. I don’t know how you survived when I was at university. You can be fed by other people.”

A large, fluffy, black, green-eyed cat flopped from the stool to the floor, keenly eyeing Vesta as she prepared his food. To Vesta’s surprise, Merlot wouldn’t leave his spot under the kitchen table.

“I thought you were hungry,” Vesta frowned. Merlot growled, his tail twitching anxiously.

“Come on, Merl! Kitty kit kitty…”

Merlot gave a low growl, then flinched. Vesta turned in time to see something blow by the window. Looking out, she noticed a couple of tree branches and a poor neighbor’s barbecue cover blowing through the yard. Turning back, Vesta noticed Merlot was gone.

“Hey, you fluffy criminal. No hiding, what’s up with you…”

The windows began to rattle softly, and Vesta shut the door. She had barely gone two steps when the wind rattled the windows even harder. Vesta’s phone began to buzz incessantly. Ignoring the texts, she answered her phone.

“Hello?” Vesta began.

“Vesta? Oh good, you’re home. Is Tanner there?”

Vesta was surprised at the intensity of her mother’s voice, “Mom? Yeah, I’m home. Are you okay…”

“Is he there, Vesta…please,” her mother, Lucy, cut Vesta off breathlessly. “Did you get the weather alert?”

Vesta grabbed the television remote and turned on the weather channel. The once-smiling weatherman was now speaking quickly and wiping sweat from his face.

“No, I haven’t. I’m looking now. Tanner is with his friends…”

Her mother cut her off, “Get in the shelter, if it gets worse I will be coming home. I have to call your dad, text your brother. Now. Vesta, I love you.”

“Mom?” Vesta looked at her phone, but her mother had already hung up.

“...state of emergency, along with several other countries along the fault line…,”