Dawn of Fog and Glass

Chapter Twenty-Three (Part One): Dawn of Fog and Glass

~Author's Note~

Hey everyone!

I'd like to start by sincerely apologizing for my unannounced, long hiatus. My mental health has been declining again, especially with APs, graduation stress, and finishing my university applications. Thankfully most of those are finished for now (except for graduation), so I'm hoping I can get back to writing more.

Before we get started, it's only right that I inform you that this chapter (separated into two instalments due to its intimidating length of more than 8,000 words, an equivalent to sixteen pages) is the longest chapter I've ever written for DoFG, and it's quite an emotionally intense chapter at parts, and contains a lot of very important information. That being said, please take your time if needed, and don't feel the need to skim it or finish it in one reading if you'd rather digest or process it slowly. One part is heavier than the other, however both parts are important.

I'll give a little review of what happened previously in DoFG in case anyone needs a catch-up. If you don't, please skip to the next asterix break (**), after which it says "I press my thumb...". Thanks!

Previously on "Dawn of Fog and Glass", Barrett, in an unexplained maniacal episode of which he had no control, nearly ch0ked Arden to d3ath. Arden's upset at Dominic for not telling her what's going on with Barrett, because she might have prevented the incident had she known what was up. 

The guards have been hiding information about a secret organization called the Alliance. 

Draco likes Ozul, and it's really freaking cute.

Arden recently learned from Draco about a mysterious girl named Harlow who supposedly d1ed while trying to escape the 503A institute. Nobody is allowed to discuss Harlow.

At the first meeting Arden held to teach Morphs to fight without powers, she and Dom agreed to meet later to talk about the Barrett incident.

That's all that I can think of to review. Happy reading!

**

I press my thumb to the keypad, blissfully cool under my skin. My thumbprint glows green for a moment, before the hidden door announces that Adams has been notified of my movement into Dominic's room. The door pulls away with a noise so quiet, it could've been the rustling of clothing.

I pad into his bathroom, socks whispering across cold tile. The hidden door whistles shut behind me.

Tiptoeing over to the entrance to his bedroom, I lean with one steady arm against the doorframe.

Dominic is sitting at his desk, some worksheet sat in front of him, loose papers strewn haphazardly around his workspace. He twirls a pencil in his hand absentmindedly. Light ignites half his face in a harsh glow. The other hand props his chin up, and he bounces his knee up and down restlessly as he works. Or, rather, pretends to work. Instead, his eyes are unfocused, pointed at the window, through which Fog snaps and twists, malevolent.

I fold my arms over my chest. "Knock, knock."

He startles, bangs his knee against the underside of his desk, and throws his gaze back at me. His tense body slackens upon seeing that it's me, not an intruder out to get him. "Jeez, Arden, don't do that."

"You knew I was coming," I say, scoffing.

"Yeah, but you're..." He looks down at his watch, apparently remembers he doesn't have a watch, digs through the pile of papers, and pulls out his desktop clock. And frowns. "Never mind, you're right on time. Sorry, guess I got lost." He glances down at his desk and only then seems to notice the mess. Hurriedly, he gathers his papers into a messy stack and lines up the edges. "In case you couldn't tell, I've been swimming in a puddle of executive dysfunction, paired with a lack of ability to focus or manage time."