The night sky hung heavy, stars flickering like distant warnings. In a dimly lit garage, a tall Black man stood with his arm around a woman's waist, his eyes darting to the open door. Outside, the street lay deserted, houses crouched in eerie silence, as if the world held its breath."Move it, man!" the tall guy barked toward the SUV parked inside.
"Chill, bro. Everyone's holed up in shelters by now," came a laid-back reply from the short Black man hunched in the driver's seat. He fished a slender wire and a battered screwdriver from his pocket, his hands moving with practiced ease. Squinting, he slid the wire into the ignition slot, probing for the sweet spot.
"I'm not stressing," the tall man shot back, glancing at the woman beside him. "Just don't wanna miss the aurora with my girl." She flashed him a warm smile, then leaned in for a soft kiss.
Click.
The ignition lock gave way.The short guy's lips curled into a smirk. He twisted the wire, jammed the screwdriver in place, and gave it a hard turn. The SUV roared to life, its headlights slicing through the garage's gloom as the engine growled.
"Done!" he crowed, grinning like he'd cracked a vault.
"Get in!" The tall man yanked open the back door, ushering the woman inside before sliding in beside her. The second the door slammed shut, the short guy floored it. The SUV rolled out of the garage, tires whispering against the empty street.
"Babe, you sure the aurora's still gonna show?" the woman asked, nestling into the tall man's shoulder.
"Positive. Green Mountain had a light show five hours ago. It'll hit again," he said with quiet confidence.
The SUV passed a weathered sign: Huntsville.
The driver flicked on the radio.
A sharp, urgent broadcast crackled through: "This is the National Weather Service. A coronal mass ejection will reach Earth's magnetic field in approximately 25 minutes. Seek shelter immediately."
He spun the dial, irritation flaring.
Every station repeated the same warning: "Coronal mass ejection in 25 minutes…"
"Damn it!" he snapped, killing the radio. "Nothing but countdowns!"
"Everyone's bunkered down. What'd you expect, a talk show?" the tall man said from the back.
"Is it… dangerous to be out here?" the woman asked, her voice tightening.
"Solar storm? Pfft. Government's just hyping it up," the tall man said, waving it off. "We've seen worse."
"But they're saying it's different this time. Like, end-of-the-world different," she pressed, her eyes searching his.
He chuckled, brushing a hand against her cheek. "Worst case, we lose power for a few hours. But listen, sweetheart—if it is the end, what's more romantic than watching the aurora before it all goes dark?"
The driver glanced at the rearview mirror, smirking. "Yo, can you two quit the lovefest? I'm getting cavities up here."
"Shut it and drive," the tall man fired back, grinning. "We need to hit Green Mountain. Best view for the lights."
The driver floored the gas, the SUV surging forward.
The woman lurched, bumping into the front seat. The tall man steadied her with a quick hand."What the hell, man! Drive straight!" she snapped, half-laughing.
"Relax, let's vibe." The driver pulled a USB stick from his pocket and plugged it in.
"It's 1 a.m. on the 25th. Got any Christmas tunes on that thing?" the tall man asked, a playful glint in his eye.
"Christmas? Who puts that on a drive?" the driver shot back, chuckling. "Hold up, I got something better."
The speakers kicked in, Marvin Gaye's smooth voice filling the cabin: "I've been really trying, baby. Trying to hold back this feeling for so long…"
The driver whistled along, tapping the steering wheel to the beat."And if you feel like I feel, baby…"
He glanced back, belting out, "Come on, oh come on, wow!"
"Eyes on the road!" the woman cut in, a smile tugging at her lips.
The driver laughed, turning back. "Let's get it on…"
"Aw, baby!" the tall man joined in, voice booming."Let's get it on!" the woman sang, her hesitation melting into the moment.
Laughter and music flooded the SUV, the tension easing.
Outside, another sign flashed by in the headlights: Green Mountain.