Red Glass

15.

Rushing to reach the voice that calls, Faris runs into the thick fog of the forest, Ahra close behind. Each stride into the clouded sea submerges the pair deeper, drowning them in biting blindness.

"Stay close." Faris gently says as he looks back.

Ahra struggles to keep up, almost stumbling in the black coat she barely fills.

"Shhh, I can still hear him."
Faris whispers with his hand pointing upwards, slowing into a cautious walk.

Kneeling to a stop, Ahra does the same. Holding breath and concentrating, the harder he listens, the more vague the direction of origin.
~Am I hearing things?~

"Can you hear him?"
Faris whispers, reluctant to pull even further into fates clutches.

Ahra kneeling with her limbs tight together points her gloved hand in the direction they have been moving in. Faris looks into her golden eyes with his eyebrows slightly curved upwards, unable to say the words. Ahra assuringly nods. Moving forward into the nothingness, the voice fades ethereal amidst the blindness.

"Axil!"
Faris calls, a bold move when so far from any path.

Trees thicken by each stride of desperation. Through the black pillars of the night sky, sounds of questioning the fog begin to haunt the white. Outlines of a wall begin to shade shadows into the veil.

"I'll check the place, just wait here, okay?"

With her shoulders clenched up, she nods. Faris looks back with distress and despair. He nods with a heavy fake smile and looks at the ground.

"Please God, let him be okay. Please."

Scurrying to the arch, barely able to make the outline of a building, the voices begin to sound more clearly like they do not belong. Unsheathing his knife, he checks behind one more time before entering the misty grounds crouched. Forcing his sight to pierce through, it's unclear where the occupants lurk. The harsh smell of manian tobacco can be traced to the sound of coughing, with each light step a silhouette begins to paint itself. Faris replaces his knife back in the sheath.

*cough cough* " I hate this place, so damn cold! Why should we be on look out, it's not like I can see anything through this....

Strong arms wrap around the head and throat.
"Shhhh..... Keep calm, understand?

*Nodding*

"With your fingers, how many of you are there?"

Opening both hands, closing them and showing seven fingers the man complies.

"Where are your holding cells? Point!"

The head tries to turn, halted by a sudden tightened grip.

"Where?"

Pointing, the voice from behind says.

"Take me. Play nice and we can all go home."

Hurrying through the haze towards the structure, an entrance is unlocked. They quickly and quietly enter.

"Well ain't this a surprise!"
A voice says as a blade presses against the back of Faris's neck and his knife is taken.

-

Holding on as tight as she can, Daniella fights against the swinging tree trunk. The forest dyed black while screams rang across the treetops and barking unanswered. Exhausted, she watches the monster laying against the tree. Coughing hard she keeps the tired beast awake. Crickets chirp, owls hooting and other nocturnal creatures keep the swaying forest alive, even in the deadness of night.