Raining Chrome

Only a week in and Corey feels the urge to run. He felt anxious, a special kind of dread that only hits when it's time to leave. The only problem was they were already moving.   He strokes his beard, seated on a lawn chair just outside the makeshift shack he calls home. It wasn't much, but this view… this view was to die for.   Post-apocalyptia pass him by with all it's glory and wonder. He sees the ruined cities in the distance, the broken highways that run like veins in every direction. Every now and again, the ground beneath him shakes as this massive walking neighborhood crashes through something or other. Sometimes it's a building, other times its one of those highways.   He leans over the edge and watches the ground pass below. As he scans the area, he sees her, the source of his dread and feigned wanderlust. It looks like the silhouette of a girl, or possibly a young woman. Despite the light, it remains obscured; a three dimensional shadow. It's looking right at him.   He turns away, tries to force the thing out of his mind. It's only then that he notices clouds gathering not far from where they're headed. With the freakish gait of the legs holding their homes up, it won't be long. He can smell petrichor in the wind already. It's going to rain soon.

Humanity wasn't kind to the earth. Climate change did a number on everyone and still does, though it is getting better. Losing the majority of the human population proved most advantageous for this little world. Eventually, it may return to what many would call normal. Then again, the climate was always changing in its own way. It was never in a state of normalcy to begin with, but at least humanity's role in it could be reversed. I'm getting sidetracked, dear reader. My apologies. Let us discuss the phenomena known as "chromatic rain." The anomaly appeared shortly after a bizarre affair with the sky. When the world ended, we suffered a small period of time where the sun seemed to dim in the sky. On some nights, it nearly vanished. This went on for a month. People noticed stars moving in the night sky, either due to impossible speeds or by being significantly closer than they should be. The sky had strange hues when the sun returned, hues of every color.   When the sky changed, so too did the weather. Chromatic rain mimics the sky in that the rain tends to shimmer in various hues as it falls to the ground. The water itself looks similar to mercury, though it's not nearly as dangerous. It's quite the opposite, in fact. It literally looks like raining chrome. Ahem… don't drink it while it's falling…

Corey listens to the sound of soft tapping on the tin roof above him. Slow, steady drops of water fill buckets scattered about the shack.   He lets out a contented sigh, and loses himself in the sound. His eyes close and the call of sleep beckons. That's when he realizes how much time he's wasting.   His eyes snap open and he leaps from the cot. The metal shack shakes as he leans against the side to slip his boots on. He rushes to each corner in a frantic search, digging through his belongings until finally picking up a ziplock bag full of seeds.   He rushes outside and finds himself bathed in multicolored light. The rain shimmers as it falls, catching the light and reflecting not only its metallic sheen but a variety of hues. He takes up the seeds and steps into the rain, dropping them one at a time on the ground.   The rain soaks into his clothes; his skin. He feels surprisingly alert, energized, even calm… frankly he hasn't felt this good in a while. He always loved the rain, even before the fall, but now it's better. When it rains chrome, it rains life itself. You're just better when it rains; stronger, faster, and even healthier.   He looks to the ground. The grass is growing before his very eyes. It inches higher, and just beneath it, Corey spots the first sprout as it rises from the dirt. He scans the area and sees Mavis doing the same thing. He sees Olive from her cottage, stufying the rain as it falls and jotting whatever she learns down in a waterproof notepad.   He looks back at his crop and it's already producing. Okra, potatoes and even an onion which was unexpected. He reaches down and collects the bounty, a smile slowly creeping along his face.  

The beauty isn't skin deep. Chromatic rain has many unique properties. When making contact with organic matter, it repairs molecular bonds, strengthens them, and can even speed up growth. It can heal wounds, restore worn clothing, and radically speed up the rate at which crops can grow.   The effect of the rain is solely dependent on when it is falling. Once it hits the ground, whatever power it has is long gone. Even the water's metallic sheen is gone, reduced to perfectly normal H2O.   Prolonged exposure can have adverse effects. Standing in the rain for over an hour tends to cause aging. You won't die of old age, but you might leave with a few extra wrinkles. Exposure for two and half hours is when things start getting dangerous. It leads to increased development of cancerous cells, and a high probability in developing tumorous growths. Few could survive more than four hours of constant exposure.

Fun fact, if I may. Agriculture remains the focus of impact for this strange phenomena. Crops can be grown and harvested as many times as one can plant the crops. One still has the problems of exposure to contend with, however. Those who handle farming in various communities were forced to adapt in surprising ways.   While obvious, it's important to mention hydrophobic clothing. A hydrophobic jacket with a hood shielding the head and face is a wonderful investment. The same can be said for pants and shoes. Those without usually use what they call "roof chains," overlapping tarps that criss cross fields allowing them to rush out, harvest, and return to safety before exposure sets in.   Of course, you don't have to be a farmer to enjoy the benefits. Having seeds is a must for those who live in the world and luckily, using one leads to gathering more when you harvest. It does pose an obstacle for travelers, though. Particularly large storms can last for days. Luckily, most buildings are still standing. This is likely to change over time. The buildings are altered too, which is why many appear overgrown, yet surprisingly well kept. Some do end up as ruins despite being the world ending only three years ago.

Corey turns at the sound of splashing on his right. A cat inches closer, looking up at him as if asking permission to seek shelter. It meows at him, and he can't help but give in.   "How the hell did you get way up here?" He motions for the cat to come closer. "Come on then."   The cat's sense of caution fades and it cheerfully trots forward. It lounges on the far side of the covered porch, its eyes slowly blinking as it watches the rain.   Corey laughs and shakes his head before heading back inside. He retrieves a small wooden bowl, places leftover dried meat inside, then places the bowl just outside his door.   He instinctively reaches for Faith, and the guitar seems all too ready for him. After fixing it, the instrument almost speaks to him. It begs to be played; each of her twelve strings screaming in anticipation.   The cat accepts the meal as Corey nestles back onto his chair. He strums chords with little thought, humming at first then softly singing the words. The cat watches him, as if entranced. Apparently his gifts work on animals too.