The Fog

Chapter 2: The Parallel

Whenever the fog was light, I could see another person walking parallel. I think they have been there since the beginning.

They must've been a fragment of my past.

Sometimes they'd walk closer to me and other times far away. They never got too close to where I could make out their face, but they had a similar stature as me. I never spoke to them and I don't know why. They were always so angry with me, their screams came off as muffled blurbs and I paid no mind to them. I think they were just as lost as I was.

The Parallel caught up to me one time. I remember  I was walking aimlessly when  I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I paused and looked to my left. Before I could look to the right, I felt a warm breath tickle my ear. I stood still, gathering my thoughts then calmly turned my head and there they were, inches from my face. We stared at each other for a moment, their eyes had a deep yet hollow expression as if they were looking through me. Unable to bear it any longer, I took a step back and as soon as I did they broke out into a huge smile. For the first time they weren't angry with me.

"Finally, I'm with you! I've always seen you and called out for you, but you never answered." They pouted.

     Although they had a normal voice, it cut through the silence of the Calm. It was jarring to hear them speak.

"Not much of a talker, huh?" They asked.

I simply shook my head.

"Do you want to know how I found you?"

I nodded and they rolled up their sleeves, revealing multiple fresh welted cuts and discolored scars. Unfazed, I softly smiled at them. I could see the relief in their eyes when I did. They at least understood how wrong it was to do this.

"A drop of blood clears the fog for a moment. I was able to spill enough blood to get to you."

I noticed the trail of blood appear behind them, the trail seemed to go on forever.

"Would you like to try it?" They asked and pulled out a blade.

Were they being serious? Does the fog finally lift? I wanted to say yes.

The way they talked was sporadic as if they were talking to themselves. "I think that since you're here, there must be others in the fog as well." They said, " Although, you're the only person I've ever seen." They mumbled, picking at their fingers.  

Don't they know about the Guides?

I put my hand out for the blade, they gladly handed it to me and watched. I slowly brought my other arm up and pressed the blade against my skin. I winced when I pressed the blade harder, stopping at the first sight of blood. I turned my arm over so that the blood would spill on the floor. As soon as the first drop hit the ground, the fog dispersed like a ripple in a pond. I was standing alone and I could clearly see someone in the distance. However, it's like the blacken figure couldn't maintain its shape, it was fighting its very own presence. When the figure noticed me, I was like a deer caught in headlights. I blinked and the fog returned with the Parallel causing me to take a step back and lose my balance.

They looked at me clueless as if they've never seen the figure before. No way could you forget an image like that.

Without a second thought, I quickly stood up and pushed them into the fog.

"No! Wait-" Their voice returned to be a muffled blurb and I walked away.

They too got lost to the fog. Everything became lost once the fog got too heavy.

I should've spoken to them. It's the least I could do since I can't remember their face anymore. Even if it was only for their name.

The only comfort the Parallel brought me was that I knew who was lurking in the heavy fog. Now my mind is left to wonder what remains.