The Fog Part 4

this is a work in progress, any comments or suggestions would be more than appreciated

Part 1 "The Fog Part 1"  [18+]
Part 2 "The Fog Part 2"  [18+]
Part 3 "The Fog Part 3"  [18+]


Chapter 14


With the sound of footsteps echoing down the path Jo and Cass stepped out from behind the table and waited.

“Jo…Did Mark come out here?” Adam’s breathless voice preceded his entrance from behind the partition.

“No. We haven’t seen him. What was with the slamming doors and running?”

“Oh…I’m not sure what’s going on, I’ll tell you when we get inside, I’d rather tell everyone at once.”

Hearing the slight tremble in his voice as he was speaking, Cass studied Adam. The paleness of his skin and the light sheen of sweat that coated his face gave rise to more fear of her own as she realised that whatever he had seen or wanted to tell the group wasn’t going to be pleasant. She crossed her arms in front of her, though this time it was more to ward off the feeling of dread, rather than trying to keep the chill at bay.

“Okay Adam, you look like you need a drink anyway.” Jo turned to Cass, seeing the smaller woman standing there hugging herself she offered a tentative grin. “At least it will be warmer inside.”

“Yeah. And I imagine Dave’s probably starting to pace about now, he sometimes forgets that I am old enough to look after myself.” Cass led the other two inside. She knew it was pointless to try and delay the inevitable and decided that the sooner they got inside the sooner the conversation would be over with.

Adam slowly followed the women through the door, so intent on calming his shaking body he failed to notice that the sound of the door closing should have broken the otherwise silent late night stillness.

~~~~~~~~~


David turned at the sound of shuffling footsteps coming up behind him. As soon as he saw the look on his sister’s face he knew that something was wrong. Hastily dropping the sheet of paper that had the missing people’s names on it, he raced over to Cass and enveloped her in a hug.

“What’s wrong?”

Cass shrugged her shoulders before burying her head under David’s chin. As soon as she had seen David moving in her direction she had given herself permission to briefly release the feeling of panic that was slowly rising.

“We’re not sure. When Adam came back he looked like he’d seen a ghost and just said he would tell us all when we were inside.” Jo stepped up behind Cass and rubbed her hand up and down her back. She was hoping that by offering some form of comfort to Cass it would also help ease her own feeling of apprehension about whatever it was that Adam needed to tell them.

Giving David once last squeeze, Cass moved out of her brother’s embrace. Standing between her brother and Jo calmed her rattled nerves; taking a deep breath she slowly released it before reining in her fear and turning to face the others in the room.

“Okay, I guess we better get this over with. Adam?”

~~~~~~~~~


Adam placed his empty shot glass on the mantle above the fire; seeing the tremor in his hand he lightly clenched and released his fingers before turning to face the waiting group.


“I just…when we…I’m sure Mark…” Adam shook his head, as if trying to will the sentence out and the conversation over.

“It’s okay Adam, just take your time,” Cass suggested from her spot on the floor between Jo and David.
She noticed that Harriett and Rebecca were also sitting huddled together, she wondered if it was because they too had realised that something was drastically wrong. Even Red seemed to be taking a keen interest in what Adam was trying to say, his brown eyes riveted to Adam as he started to pace in front of the fire.

“Okay…when I went to look for Mark in the toilets, I was pretty sure that he had been there; it sounded like the toilet was still filling with water and one of the taps was still dripping. Anyway, I called out to him, just in case he was still in there. I thought I heard a faint yell coming from outside so I ran out the door and down the path behind the partition…”

“Wait. What partition?” David asked.

“Oh right you haven’t been out there. Well running down side of the hotel is a pathway that leads right out to the back car park. Where the garden area is it’s divided by a partition, I suppose so people who might be enjoying a quiet beer out the back aren’t interrupted by any drunks who may be leaving the front bar.”

“That’s right Adam. They only recently put the partition in, it had something to do with being able to block the hotel off so when the shopping centre finally gets built, they can share the car park and maybe the garden facilities, I’m not sure exactly what the plans were,” Rebecca said

“Well it doesn’t really matter,” Adam continued.

As he was trying to explain to the others what had happened when he ventured out to the back of the hotel, the scene replayed vividly in his mind.

“Mark, is that you?” He called again. Shutting the door behind him he walked down the path, the fog growing thicker and colder as he got closer to the back corner of the hotel.

Hearing what he thought sounded like a cry of pain he hastened his steps. He stopped as he reached the open space of the empty car park. Turning slowly in circles he peered through the fog, hoping to hear the sound again to give him some sense of which direction it may have come from.

At the piercing scream that broke the silence he started running in the direction of the gut-wrenching sound. Seeing a figure materialise as if out of no-where, his steps faltered; the pause enough for him to vaguely recognise Mark.

“Mark…What are you doing out here?” He yelled.

“Run Adam,” Mark screamed as he came closer.

Seeing the look of absolute terror on Mark’s face he quickly turned and ran back in the direction of the hotel.

“Arrhh, it bur…” Mark cried from somewhere behind him.

Looking over his shoulder to see what had happened, he could only watch in stunned silence as Mark was engulfed in a swirl of grey.

“Mark?”

“Mark?” Staring intently at the spot he had last seen him, he could see a slight movement of dark grey amid the otherwise white thickness of fog.

Watching the fog slowly inch away, he noted that it soon joined with a larger clump, just on the edge of his range of sight.

Cautiously moving towards the spot Mark had been standing, he again looked around, even as the realisation that Mark had gone hit him.

He gave up trying to rationalise the disappearance, knowing that even if the others didn’t believe him he still had to tell them what he had seen, he turned and raced back to the path to the hotel, his feet kicking up dust as he started running. Slamming into the door, he stumbled before crashing against the partition, regaining his balance he sped down the alley way hoping the girls were still waiting for him.


“I know it’s kinda hard to believe, but he really just vanished. I have no idea what happened, one second we were both running back here, the next he was gone.”

“I believe you he has gone Adam. Disappearing into thin air is a bit of a stretch…though it might explain the other people that seemed to have suddenly left,” Rebecca said.

“Either way, there is a lot more involved here than what we first thought. The question is what are we going to do? It’s now early morning, and I don’t think it’s going to be any safer trying to leave now with that fog than what it was last night.” Jo rubbed her hand across her forehead, looking at the others in the room, she could see the fear in their eyes, and knew it wouldn’t be long before someone tried something dangerous in their attempt to leave.


Chapter 15



The particles pushed forward, blanketing the town as they stretched out, trying to remove any warmth in the path of their host body. With each breath of the host they were scattered in every direction, splitting and joining as they circled anything in their path; their ability to change shape by joining with others enabling them to totally surround any object that may alter the climate they were attempting to maintain. Once the threat was either neutralised or proven harmless, they would again break apart and begin drifting; stopping only when finally reaching the outside ring. As each particle joined with the others on the perimeter, the wall around the town became smaller and smaller.

Soon the host body would move, even now, as it continued to release the frigid particles, more and more of its elongated body was making its way to the surface. Once it was totally uncovered, it would then burrow its way through the thick wall of fog; much like it moved through the rich deep soil as it made its way underground from one coast to the next.


~~~~~~~~~~~

Gathered in a semi-circle around the fire, they all looked at Jo, each hoping that she could come up with an answer to her own question.

Feeling her jaw tense as she tried to stop her shivering, though she wasn’t sure if it was from fear or cold, Harriett finally broke the silence.

“Can we put some more wood on the fire, it’s gotten awfully cold in here? And I really don’t want to have to leave this room to go back upstairs just to get blankets to keep warm.”

“Sure Harriett. It’s probably better if we all spend what’s left of the night down here together anyway,” David said as he rose from his position next to Cass to put more wood on the fire.

Making his way behind his sister and closer to the woodpile at the side of the fireplace, he cried out in pain as an intense burning sensation began on his arm. Instinctively he covered his arm with his opposite hand, encountering a lump he automatically clutched at it before flinging it towards the fire.

“Christ, what the fuck was that?”

“Dave…what happened?” At the first sound of pain from her brother, Cass had jumped to her feet and was now reaching for the arm he was again covering with his hand.

Jo had seen Dave’s reaction and was still staring intently into the fire. The initial spark and then hiss as something obviously hit the flames was enough for her to know that whatever it was that had caused Dave pain was now nothing more than a quiet sizzle as it slowly disappeared in the embers.

Pulling Dave closer to the light, Cass studied his arm.

“It looks like a burn,” Harriett noted.

“Actually it sort of looks like the same type of marks that Red had on his leg,” Cass said as she rotated David’s arm slightly from side to side.

“Well I know why Red was limping. It bloody well hurts,” David said as he finally wrenched his arm away from his sister.

“How? What does it feel like?” Jo asked as she too tried to study Dave’s arm.

“Well I can’t really describe it, it burns but not like something hot would. I guess… well, you know how if you touch dry ice, or something really, really cold? How that kinda burns? It’s sorta like that, only worse.” Dave shrugged his shoulders, he really couldn’t explain the feeling, he was just glad that whatever it was that had hurt him had only lasted for a second, much longer and he didn’t think he could handle it.

As Dave was speaking, Cass suddenly remembered Adam’s earlier discussion about Mark, how he too had cried out in pain. Cass’ entire body stiffened as she wondered if it was possible that whatever had got Dave was also responsible for Mark’s disappearance.

Feeling the slight shift in the body next to her, Jo looked down at Cass. Without asking she could see the tension in Cass’ face and knew that the night was about to get worse.


Chapter 16


The creature shuddered, even though the particles weren’t physically linked to its body, it could still feel the searing heat as one of the clumps evaporated. Knowing only that this could mean possible danger it reacted in the only way it knew how; exhaling larger breaths, and sending more particles in search of any enemy. Deciding to scour the area and cleanse it of any threat before continuing to enclose the town in the arctic wall of fog.


~~~~~~~~~~~


“What’s wrong?” Jo pulled Cass slightly away from the others.

Cass allowed herself to be dragged away, her thoughts still with what Adam said earlier.

“Arrhh, it bur…” Mark cried from somewhere behind him.

“Cass?”

“Sorry. I was just trying to remember exactly what it was that Adam said earlier. Do you think Mark may have been trying to say it burns?”

Jo’s mind flashed back, the memories stopping as she too remembered what Mark had apparently cried out.

“Why?…What are you thinking?”

“As much as I don’t like the thought,” Cass stared directly into questioning blue eyes, “what if whatever it was that hurt both Dave and Red is also what got to Mark? Adam didn’t actually see anything, he just said one minute he was there, the next he was gone. Is it possible that there is something out there that is attacking people, and that’s why the whole town seems deserted?”

“Well I guess it’s as good a thought as any. Though whatever it was the got Dave was only tiny, he was able to flick it straight into the fire. I can’t quite see how that could cause people to just disappear without at trace.”

“Yeah,” Cass sighed, “I guess I just let my imagination and the creepy thoughts get the better of me.” She tried to smile even as another overwhelming feeling of doom skittered its way down her spine.

“C’mere.” Jo held her arms open and waited for Cass to step closer before surrounding her in an embrace that she hoped would calm them both.


~~~~~~~~~


David once again looked at his arm, the slight smile that had taken over his face at seeing his sister and Jo comforting each other turning into a grimace as he took note of the burn. He blew on his arm, the gentle puffs of breath slightly easing the burning sensation. Knowing the pain would eventually lessen he raised his head and took another look around the room.

Ducking at the sound of a large pop, he soon realised that the light bulb situated in the centre of the room had shattered, casting the room into a hazy gloom; the flickering of the fire the only source of light.

It was as he again looked over at his sister that he noticed the hazy surrounding wasn’t entirely due to the lack of light.

“Hey Cass, did you guys shut the door properly when you came in before?”

Cass reluctantly loosened her hold on Jo. Their embrace had momentarily tightened when they both heard the bulb pop. Turning towards her brother but not leaving the comfort of Jo’s arms she tried to remember.

“I’m not sure. Why?”

“Take a look around. It looks like the fog from outside is starting come in here.”

Cass studied the room. She was amazed to find that other than a perfectly formed semi-circle around the fire-place the rest of the room was indeed filled with a hazy mist of fog.

“Wow. You’re right.”

“Since Jo and I checked all the windows earlier I can only guess that when you went outside before you didn’t shut the door,” David said.

“We better go and check. It’s cold enough in here now without letting more cold air in,” Jo suggested.
“I’ll go.” Harriett, who had been listening to the conversation offered. “My knees are really starting to hurt just sitting here. Maybe if I get up and move around I will be able to warm them up a little.”

“You sure Harriett? It’s awfully dark over that side of the room,” Adam asked.

“Yes thanks Adam. I’ll be fine, I really need to do something.” Harriett smiled at Adam, since there earlier attempt to leave it seemed that Adam had become slightly protective of the older woman.


~~~~~~~~~


Harriett made her way through the darkened room. The ache in her knees causing her to walk cautiously until she could adjust her steps enough to deal with the pain.

“Should have brought a torch,” she mumbled to herself as the room became even darker the closer she got to the back door. “Looks like this globe has blown as well.”

Stepping closer to the open back door, she trembled as a blast of cold air wafted around her. The ache in her knees forgotten as she watched a large grey chunk of fog make its way through the door.

Before she had the chance to let loose much more than a startled cry she was surrounded by the fog. In the moments before blackness overtook her she tried to decide what was worse; the overwhelming pain or the fact that it felt like the life was being crushed out of her.


~~~~~~~~~~~


Adam moved behind the bar. The faint glow from the fire giving him enough light to search the cupboards.

“Found one.” He held up a torch to show the others. He flicked it on and waved it around the room.

“Good. That may come in handy. Even though it should be getting light soon. Well as light as possible with this rotten fog hanging around, we may need it at some stage,” Jo said.

The rest of the group were sitting around the fire waiting for Harriett to get back before they decided on what they should do.

Rebecca was adamant that they needed to leave. It was only Jo’s suggestion that they stay here, at least until they had a slight chance of being able to see where they were going, that had her remaining where she was.

Cass was sitting on the floor in front of the fire with Red’s head in her lap. Hearing the slight growl coming from him she looked up. Before she had the chance to speak they all heard what sounded like a yell.

“That was Harriett.” Adam raced around the bar and started to run towards the back of the room. His torch making odd shadows as it reflected back off the whiteness of fog that was now getting thicker the closer he got to the back of the room.

With the others only a few steps behind him he stopped and waved the light around.

“Harriett?”

Seeing nothing he stood at the back door.

He tried to look outside, but the beam of light did nothing to penetrate the thick wall of fog that had closed in on the building.

As he turned to face the others the light flashed across a pile of dust. Cass was the first to notice it.

“Umm guys, you might want to come back to the fire.”

“No! We need to find Harriett,” Adam said, the look of pain that crossed his face at the thought of losing another friend, albeit a new one, was almost too much to bear.

“I don’t think we will Adam.” Cass didn’t want to say it but she knew within her heart that Harriett had disappeared like the others. Seeing the pile of dust on the floor had triggered a tiny memory and now it was niggling at her, trying to make its way to the surface of her mind.

“What! You expect us just to walk away and hope she comes back?” Rebecca snapped. “How would you feel if it was you that yelled for help and we just ignored it?”

“As much as I want Harriett to come back, and would normally be the first person to go looking for her, I really don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Cass could feel the waves of anger rolling off Rebecca and didn’t need to look in her direction to know she was being glared at.

“Well you know what? I don’t care what you think Cass. C’mon Adam let’s go see if we can find her.”

“Wait.” Jo stepped up behind Cass, she felt David moving up behind her as if silently giving her support.

“I have to agree with Cass.”

“Phht, well that’s a surprise,” Rebecca mumbled under her breath. She had been watching the interaction between the two and had slowly come to the realisation that there was definitely some sort of bond between them. Whether they knew it or not themselves yet she didn’t know, but even so, she couldn’t help but hope she might still have a chance of attracting the attention of the dark haired beauty.

Cass heard Rebecca’s mumbled statement and while she couldn’t quite understand where the animosity was coming from she knew now was not the time to be getting involved with petty arguments. She unconsciously leant back towards Jo as she waited for her to continue speaking.

“I think,” Jo began, “that it might be best if we stayed together and all went back to the other side of the room, closer to the fire. As much as I too would love for Harriett to turn up, I think that judging by everything else that has happened, and as much as I hate to say it, I think we can now count Harriett among the missing people. Our job now is to work out what’s best for us. Do we stay here and hope someone comes looking for us? Or do we try and get out of the town?”

As much as he hated it, Adam had to agree with Jo. “Okay, let’s get out of here.”

Double checking to make sure the door was now closed, Adam followed the others through the murky depths of the darkened room; the flickering of flames their guiding light as they moved closer to the warmth.


I am still working on this and the other parts but if you're interested "The Fog Part 5"  [18+]