The road was completely quiet. Mason stood in the middle, arms folded tightly as he stared down the empty street. His foot tapped nonstop against the ground.
"What's taking them so long?" He said under his breath, moving forward and glancing toward the old chapel in the distance.
Behind him, Nora sat on a rock by the roadside. One leg bounced lazily as she watched him. For someone waiting, she looked far too relaxed.
After a while, she pushed herself upright. Dusting the dirt off her hands, she stretched slightly then walked over to him. "Okay…" she said casually, "Come on."
Mason turned. Immediately, he took a step back, suspicion flashing across his face. "What?" His eyebrows narrowed, "Why are you coming close?"
Nora rolled her eyes, then walked past him. Surprise flickered across his face.
She crouched beside the equipment bag.
And Mason looked at her. Nora pulled the bag open and brought out the industrial headlight, then the walkie-talkies.
"What are you doing?" He asked, she didn't answer immediately. With the head light in her hand, she walked closer to him.
"Relax." She said flatly.
Mason stepped back again, "I don't trust that tone." She stopped directly in front of him, her brows raised, "You are being dramatic." she said.
Without warning, she pulled his head closer,
"Hey." Mason groaned.
"Hold still." She demanded. She pulled open the straps and placed it properly over his head.
The starp clicked into place, as the light settled around his head. Mason stared at her, puzzled. But she didn't care, she simply examined her work and gave herself a nod of approval.
"All done."Then she shoved a walkie-talkie onto his chest.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
She finally met his gaze. "I'm bored…" she breathed, "and tired, and Rain and Dave are taking so long." Her finger gestured toward the fog. "The sooner we get this done, the better for us."
Mason's eyes flicked toward the fog and back to Nora. "No…" he shook his head. "Absolutely not."
His hands moved to remove the headlight and Nora slapped them away.
"Would you calm down.."
"Rain literally said wait." He insisted.
"Well Rain isn't here." She shot back, her voice sharpened. "And I'm tired of standing around doing nothing."
Mason hesitated. Nora looked at him for a second too long. She exhaled through her mouth. "Listen, you don't have to go too far. Just enough to see what it's like."
Mason's face changed into a frown, "You go."
Nora's expression dropped. "No." She answered. "and besides, you are already wearing headlights." Her voice was low this time.
She reached into the supplies then grabbed a bat and shoved it into his hands. "To defend yourself." She paused, "Just in case."
Mason's looked down at it. He released a scoff, then his eyes lifted back to Nora and then darted to the fog.
The grey wall was motionless. He swallowed.
"You know, I don't think waiting is such a bad idea—"
Nora didn't waste time, she grabbed the back of his jacket and nudged him forward. "We don't have all day…"
She lifted the second walkie-talkie. "We'll communicate through this." Mason stared at her, then at the fog again.
The silence around it felt worse, enough to make him glance around a second time. His grip tightened around the bat, as Nora's voice came through to him.
"Any time now.."
"I hate this…" he cursed under his breath. Mason shut his eyes first, taking a long breath. Then he exhaled.
Slowly he stepped forward. One foot disappearing into the grey, then the other.
And eventually, the fog swallowed him whole.
^^^^*^^^^*^^^^*^^^^*^^^^*^^^^*^^^^
The silence in the car felt heavy. Rain tightened her grips around the wheels as the road stretched ahead.
The image of the fog wouldn't leave her mind, like how it wrapped around the town like something alive.
They had gone searching for an opening, but there was nothing.
No end.
Her eyes drifted towards Dave again.
He hadn't said a word since they left the chapel. He sat stiffly in the passenger seat, shoulders slightly hunched and his gaze fixed ahead.
"Say something…" Rain broke the quiet first.
But he didn't respond, his brows were furrowed deep like he was still processing.
"...Dave." She called again. Finally, he reacted.
"That shouldn't be possible." His voice was quiet.
"What?" Rain frowned.
Dave's jaw clenched, "The density.." he muttered, "The structure…. it doesn't behave like fog."
"So what is it then?" She glanced at him before looking at the road.
Dave hesitated.
"I don't know."
The answer came like a wave, troubling her even more. Dave was smart. From the way he spoke, Rain was sure he had figured something out.
But now, he looked confused. So confused that he had stopped his rambling and started talking to her clearly.
"Fog moves" he said suddenly. "It breaks apart. Wind changes it. Pressure changes it."
He shook his head, "But this thing doesn't…"
Rain's stomach twisted.
"it just…" she struggled for the words.
"Holds shape," Dave finished.
The truck fell silent again.
"So.." her voice was low, "We can't get out?"
Dave did not respond, he simply stared ahead. She looked at him, his silence felt worse than hearing yes.
"Dave…" she said more carefully now, "is there a way out?"
There was a beat, then, "I don't know." the words came out strained. Rain looked back at the road, her eyes narrowed as a figure moved ahead.
The truck slowed down, and the closer they got the clearer it became. They had finally arrived at the exit of the town and Nora stood at the center of the road lazily waving a hand.
Rain's breath hitched. Her gaze had shifted from Nora to the fog behind her. She pulled the truck to a stop and carefully jumped down, Dave followed right behind her.
"Well, you both took your time." Nora called out, closing the inches between them. "And what's with that face?"
Rain exchanged a glance with Dave.
"Sorry." She exhaled through her mouth,"It's just—" then her eyes landed on the equipment back, half open and completely empty.
Dave adjusted his glasses then his gaze swept around, "Where did Mason go?" He asked quietly.
Rain turned sharply. "Nora…" she paused.
"Where the hell is Mason?"
Nora tilted her head, like the answer should have been obvious.
A second passed, then. "He went in."
Rain immediately went pale.
"...in where?"
Nora pointed casually at the wall behind her.
"That."
Rain stared at her for a second, "What do you mean he went in?" Her voice came sharper than expected.
Nora's eyes widened. "You guys were taking forever." She shrugged lightly. "We stopped waiting."
Rain stepped forward, "And you let him?"
Nora's brows pulled together. "Relax–"
"Don't tell me to relax…"
The sharpness in her voice made Dave glance at her. "Do you have any idea what the thing is?" She asked, gesturing towards it.
After the chapel. After what Dave had said, something about the wall seemed worse. Nora crossed her arms. "Someone had to test it anyway."
"That doesn't mean Mason."
"You are overreacting."
Rain let out a short disbelieving laugh. "Overreacting?" She dragged her fingers through her hair. "I told you to wait."
"You were gone forever."
"I know Mason." Rain snapped, "he wouldn't have gone unless someone pushed him."
Nora's expression hardened as she swallowed, "Yeah, i encouraged him a little." She paused. "But he went on his own."
Rain shook her head. "That's not true."
"What? Now you are calling me a liar?"
Dave shifted behind them. "Guys." He called quietly, "Stop fighting." But they only ignored him.
"We don't even know what that thing is." Rain said.
"And you do?" Nora shot back.
Rain stared at her. Her mouth slightly open but lost for words.
Unexpectedly, static.
The sound crackled through the air so loudly, all three froze. A voice came through, and their eyes fell on the walkie-talkie in Nora's hand.
"...Nora?"
The walkie-talkie crackled again. "Can you hear me?"
Rain moved instantly, snatching it.
"Mason?" A burst of static filled the air.
"Rain..?" Mason said. Her shoulders loosened, relief hitting her too fast.
"Are you okay?" She exhaled, relief quickly replaced by urgency.
There was silence.
"Yeah." His voice came a little distorted. "but it's cold."
Rain's grip tightened on the walkie as Mason continued.
"Really cold, and dark."
Rain swallowed. "Okay." her voice cracked faintly. "That's enough, you can come out—"
"Wait…" Mason's voice crackled through. "I think—" the static sound grew louder. "I can see something.
Rain's pulse quickened.
"What?"
Dave's ears perked up as he leaned closer. Nora stopped moving.
"I'm gonna get closer." he said, the walkie-talkie cutting off.
No one made a sound, their eyes remained fixed on the talkie as they waited for words.
"Oh my God…." His breathing was heavy and could be heard through the talkie.
Nora's eyes widened, "What is it?"
Silence.
"Mason?" Rain called sharply. For a beat, nothing was heard, then,
"Rain..?" his voice was shaky and like a whisper. "What the hel—"
A sharp scream ripped through the walkie. Mason's.
The sound cut violently and then silence followed. Nobody moved. Rain stood frozen, Nora had gone pale and Dave didn't say a word.
Their gaze slowly shifted, from the talkie and to the fog.