Chapter D5: Peril In The Park

Peril In The Park

After that kiss by the skating rink, Damien thought about little else but spending more time with Yuri.  Over the next days and weeks they visited almost every venue and event in Aurora Skies.

One of the most unusual, for Damien, was the time they went to one of Yuri's favourite pubs, the Dealers Arms.

He was rather surprised that, apart from the barman and himself, there were no other men there at all.

When he pointed this out to Yuri, she was a little taken aback.  "Really?  I hadn't noticed.  Maybe all the men are busy.  Fixing cars.  Or fishing.  Or pumping weights, or something?"
"Hmm, yeah, that's probably it."

Damien wasn't sure he believed her, but everyone was friendly, the beer was good, and they had a shiny new table football game in the side room.

-- * --

Although the AS days had started to cool as autumn set in, after a particularly energetic walk through the woods and hills around the town, when they got back Damien suggested a visit to the Serenity Sands Beach spa.

Despite the encroaching evening chill, the hot coals and enveloping steam kept them warm and cozy and it proved to be the perfect way to relax their aching muscles after the day's exertions.

Naturally, it wasn't just the steam of the sauna that helped keep them warm.  As they spent more time together, the feelings they had for each became stronger and less resistible.  In a location as beautiful, and at this time secluded, as Serenity Sands ...

-- * --

A particular treat that Damien had been forward to for some months was a trip across the city in a hot-air balloon.  There was only one company offering flights in AS and it wasn't until early autumn that they had a slot for him and Yuri.


When the day arrived for their flight they headed to Perspective Park where a crowd had already gathered to watch the balloon being inflated and prepared for take-off.

After a quick chat with the pilot about the planned journey Damien returned to the park office to join Yuri who had checked in and was collecting an armful of brochures about other possible balloon journeys.

As he walked the few dozen metres across the park, the afternoon sky darkened, as if an ominous dark cloud had suddenly appeared.

Hearing gasps and shouts from the crowd assembling for the balloon flight Damien looked around, and up where others were looking.

A fireball was streaking through the sky.  It must be close as he could here the rushing of the wind as it sped over the town.  But, he and the crowd soon realised, it wasn't going over the town at all, it was coming down into the town!

As they watched the fiery spectacle, it's trajectory soon became frighteningly clear.  It was actually going to land close to the town centre. Very close, in fact, it could be heading directly for them in Perspective Park!

Damien raced back into the park reception to, somehow, protect Yuri from the damage the meteor would inevitably cause.

Within moments, the meteor had crashed, practically a direct hit on the balloon itself.

With a terrifying explosion the propane tanks in the basket erupted into intense flame, disintegrating the basket and envelope in an instant.

As searing pieces of wicker and metal from the balloon and chunks of smashed rock from the meteor flew across the park Damien threw himself down and across Yuri in a desperate attempt to minimize their exposure to the flying debris.

Within seconds the intense flash flame of the propane fire dissipated, with only the smouldering remains of the park furniture continuing to burn.

Luckily the explosive force of the released propane had thrown a most of the debris far across the park and also quickly exhausted the fire so, as they lay on the floor of the park building Damien felt pretty confident that they had escaped serious injury.

As he looked down at Yuri, still holding her close, her limbs felt rigid but her chest was heaving rapidly as she gasped for breath.  Slowly sitting her up and checking for any obvious injuries, Damien tried to calm her.  "It's fine, we're OK.  The fire's out and we're both safe, try to relax.  We 'll just sit here for a moment, we're fine."

Barely able to even mouth words, Yuri just stared at the devastation wrought on the park as Damien continued to comfort her.

Within a few minutes the emergency services arrived on the scene and a paramedic rushed over to them.  Gently supporting her Damien brought Yuri to her feet as the medic directed them to one of the ambulances.  "C'mon babe, just get to the hospital for a quick check-up and then we can get you home."  Feeling her hand tighten it's grip of his arm, "Don't worry, I'll be here with you, you won't be alone tonight."




Chapter D6 coming soon ...

Intro



Authors Note:  The Dealers Arms pub is available for download from my Exchange studio: Dealers Arms.