Dawn of Fog and Glass

Chapter Twenty-Two (Part One)

~(Quick) Author's Note~

Hey! Before you get to this chapter, I thought I'd do a little bit of catching up on the storyline since I've been on hiatus for a while. For those of you who remember recent events in DoFG really well, you're welcome to move onto this chapter. Otherwise, let me be cheesy and say previously on "Dawn of Fog and Glass"...

Draco has a new crush on Ozul. Draco and Arden enlisted Dominic to help them get access to the gymnasium for private training lessons from Headmaster Crawley. When they heard Barrett had gone missing, they escaped the guards and split up to look for him. Arden found him first, and in a state of confusion and mania. Barrett started to choke Arden just as Draco arrives, who Barrett slammed against a wall. Dom arrived and convinced Barrett to release Arden, but not before Barrett temporarily damaged her larynx and left her mostly unconscious.

Arden understood Barrett's motives stemmed from his state of unnatural mania caused by whatever weird experiment the institute did on him, but she was angry at Dom for two things: one, refusing to tell her what was going on with Barrett, and still holding back from telling her; and two, not being there to support her fast enough.

I believe that's mostly all you need to know in order to be caught up for this chapter? If there's something important I missed, will someone drop a comment here letting me know, and I'll update the "previously" for the next readers? Thanks, y'all.

Without further ado, here's the first half of chapter twenty-two! :)

**

Chapter Twenty-Two (Part One):

Holding myself back from speaking is unquestionably difficult, especially because I can't stop talking. Draco has taken to speaking for me before I have the chance. Needless to say, it's infuriating. I mostly communicate through eye-rolling and the constant use of my middle finger, which aren't the most productive methods.

At the end of the week, my sore throat dulls enough for me to talk in short sentences. Still, Adams keeps me quiet.

Saturday arrives softly, as most December mornings do in Southern Canada. A dull sunrise ignites the snow-tickled treetops with an iridescent glow. Even through the Fog, which weakens during the winter, distant mountains protect the horizon, reduced to a blue curve cutting low across the sky. It's one of those mornings that bleeds a wild, curious, all-knowing energy from low under the earth.

That omniscient energy lodges itself inside me as I continue through the day. Whether it's fueled by Christmas spirit or excitement for Draco's upcoming birthday, I don't know. It's a morning so inspiring that I don't care when I wake early. I don't care because I can feel the world stir. I can pad over to my window and press my hands to the glass and breathe as deeply as I want. I can watch dawn shiver over the sky like I'm the only person in the world. And the tangible, naive beauty of the morning makes me wish it could last forever.

**

"So, this afternoon? You're sure we've got it booked?" A strand of cherry hair flops in Draco's eyes despite the number of times he's pushed it away. Chantelle clears her throat, pushing her sleeves up. Her snake tattoo convulses as her arm turns.

I nod, passing Draco the schedule Adams printed out. The seniors Morph ADE class (which they pretend stands for "actual death exercise") ends at one o'clock. Tyrone closes the gym at seven. Which means we can fit our training session anytime we want in that six-hour period.