Dawn of Fog and Glass

Chapter Twenty-Six: Dawn of Fog and Glass

Hera's black hair, swirling out in front of me, is all I can focus on as we sweep down the once-familiar halls. I plant a hand on the wall to my right, letting my fingertips scrape gently across the paint. We pass a horde of doors, all of them locked with the blinds drawn.

Draco walks beside me, his face drawn into a knot, arms folded nervously over his chest, fingers twitching. He gives me a tight-lipped smile, but I know the look. Both our nerves are stretched too tight to do anything but offer each other weak smiles. All I can think of is green hair, oversized hoodies, acrylic paint and peppermint soap, slouched shoulders, and constellation tattoos, all behind any of these doors. My mind is absolutely buzzing.

Behind us, Dom and Barrett whisper to each other in quick, flitting remarks, eager to stay close to the group. They're likely more confused than even we are. Dom's fidgeting with his knuckles, pale underneath his taut skin.

Hera stops in front of us, pulling up to the old classroom. I nearly collide into her back, and stop myself before doing so.

Draco's face goes white, and he swallows a lump in his throat.

"This is it," she announces, flicking a curl behind her shoulder. "I don't have a key, but we made a special knock before leaving." She turns to Draco, offering him one of her radiant smiles.

He leans down and mutters in my ear, "I don't think I can do this."

I turn to him, eyes wide. "You...what? You've been waiting more than half of your life for this moment!"

"Exactly." He scrubs his face with one hand, sharp cheekbones making his face appear skeletal under the scarlet alarm lights.

I hold out my hand somewhat impatiently, and beckon for him to hold it. With a nod, he puts his hand in mine, and I squeeze his fingers as comfortingly as possible. "He's going to love you."

His mouth is drawn into a small, worried pout. "Can you go first?"

"No, you deserve to."

He looks down at the floor. "I just want to see him first. Then I'll go in. I need a moment to see for myself that he's actually there."

I run my eyes over his face for a moment. I wish he could let out everything else he wants to say. He seems scared.

Hera nudges my shoulder. "Ready, babes?"

I nod again, and hover behind her shoulder impatiently. Nidea stands behind her, casting a glare at Barrett. Hera sighs and motions for Nidea to move, then raises her closed fist to the door.

Three knocks. A pause. One more, then she turns her fist to the side and knocks a dull thump against the doorframe.

Silence.

A rustling from inside, a swathe of footsteps, and the door swings open.

Jamal is at the door, a grim look on his face. "Where were you? We thought they..."

He trails off upon seeing us, a group of teenagers in identical uniforms and a shower of scars and old injuries, standing with Nidea and Hera. His eyes flash with recognition when he sees me, and he blinks in a moment of confusion.

I can't wait for him to work it through.

I shove him aside and step through the door. Beyond, a small group of students hides in various places around the room, some more obvious than others. Backpacks and jackets are bundled up in desks and chairs, or hiding people. Feet stick out from underneath the teacher's desk. The long window curtains rustle. Snatches of conversation bounce around the room. The blinds are drawn on the windows, and only emit thin streams of morning light from between the slats, leaving white stripes to illuminate the opposite wall.