The Fog (HIATUS)

Chapter 22

I have a headache.
Last night I was running till I literary collapsed and slept until it was almost midday. I'm lucky that nothing found me when I passed out. At the same time, I should start moving again, just maybe the pain will disappear with walking.

Pushing myself up, I feel my whole back crack. I look around, trying to figure out where I am and slowly stand up, stretching my arms. Having no idea where I ended up, I take the compass and head east as always.

As my legs carry me forward, I enjoy breakfast or rather lunch with dried meat I had in the bag and some water.
The weather is nice at least.

I stop and stay as quiet as possible, listening in on the forest sounds. I'm certain that I heard someone talking just now. Slowing my breathing to hear better I slowly look around for the source of the voice.

Laughter reaches my ears and I scramble towards the closest tree and climb up. With better view now, I search for movement and try to remain hidden.
The voices grow louder by the second until I see a light blue behind some trees.

,,I want to go back." A very quiet child voice reaches me as I see the kid on someone's shoulders. The kid is wearing the light blue as he hugs the face of the older person.

,,It'll be fine. Remember what I said earlier?" The familiar voice shocks me.
What is he doing here? Did he follow me?

I slowly get down on the ground and walk behind the two as they are too occupied in their conversation to notice me.
That isn't good. Out here it's better to always be on guard.

,,John?"

The older boy screams as he whips around, towards me. His eyes wide as his hands grab the large firearm strapped on his side.
I step back slightly surprised by his action.

His face lit up as he relaxes and comes closer. ,,You have no idea how glad I am that I found you." He laughs. ,,Oh, meet my little brother, Cody."

He looks up at the boy sitting on his shoulders. Cody has deep brown eyes and almost black hair. He is avoiding my gaze sheepishly and just barely whispers hello. I smile and wave at him but then focus on John.

,,How did you find me?" I ask and eye the firearm he carries.

,,Wasn't that hard to find you." He shrugs. ,,Jason told me in which direction you went, and we departed as soon as that... mist? Disappeared? Must say that it looks way more interesting than that 'fake' one." He laughs and sets Cody on the ground.

I nod and look around before motioning to them to start walking.
,,It's not the best idea to chat in one place when we are so close to a fort. Animals like to gather around them."

John nods and grabs Cody's hand.
The younger boy looks at the ground the entire time. Maybe he is timid or nervous after leaving the safety of the wall.

,,Why did you follow me?" I ask John.
He bites his cheek and looks down at Cody, before looking at me.

,,When you told the people not to touch the teal fog. What happens when they do touch it?" He looks ahead with worry filling his eyes. ,,I saw so many people running through it. Some were so caught up in their fighting that they just didn't hear others warning them."

,,I'm not really sure." I admit. ,,I know that they will look somewhat like me. The clouded eyes and white hair, but what else it does? I don't know. I ran into several 'infected' people and most of them were, well normal. There was this one woman though. Sh- She tried to-"

I shake my head.
Whats wrong with me? Why can't I just say it?

John looks intensely at me, and I just shook my head.
,,The radio broadcast at the beginning of all of this said that it is harmful or deadly. I don't really remember anymore, but they didn't say a word about people going insane."

He nods and I catch a glimpse of Cody. He is peaking at me from time-to-time while holding his brother's hand tightly.
When he sees me watching me, he looks away and pulls on his brother's hand. John bends down and Cody whispers into his ear, until he starts snickering and shaking his head. He whispers something back to his brother and both of them look at me.

,,What?" I ask as John gets up and picks up his brother for another shoulder ride.

,,Nothing." He replies and then chuckles a little. ,,You know, when we separated in the fog, I thought you will stay till morning. But when I met up with Jason, he said that you bolted right away."

I shrug and scratch my neck.
,,Well, I was in shock and just wanted to get away from all the guns and chaos."

He nods and looks up at Cody.
,,Want something to drink?"

Cody nods with a quiet yes and John takes a bottle, handing it to his brother. Cody sips a little and gives the bottle back. John takes a sip himself before extending the bottle to me. I declined since I have my own.

Now that I travel with them, it will be smarter to set up camp sooner and hunting before that would be ideal.
,,John? How good are you with that... gun?"

He blinks and looks down on the firearm.
,,This rifle? Haven't used it yet but I should be able to shoot."

I nod and look around, usually animals run towards people first, but I guess having a bird for dinner is fine too.
,,If you see any small animal use a knife, but if something bigger attacks us it might be easier to use the gun."
Glancing at him I notice how his brows rise in confusion.
,, Why would anything attack us?"

I mentally facepalm. Right, he was behind a wall from the beginning. Of course, they don't understand.

As we continue walking, I try to explain the situation as well as asking Cody a few questions or asking if he wanted to know something, but the younger boy just shook his head every time.
The feeling that he didn't like me grew with every failed attempt.

As the sun slowly descended, I started looking for a good campsite. It will be theirs first time sleeping outside, and I have only one hammock.
,,Do you think you will be able to sleep on a tree? Without falling down?"

John looks at the trees and shrugs with a smile. ,,One way to find out, but do you have rope or something for Cody?"

,,I have for you. Cody can use my hammock."

Codys face lit up as he looks at the tall trees and back at me.
,,Can I?"

I nod with a smile and point at a random group of trees.
,,Let's make camp and something to eat before night comes."

I climb up and tie the hammock for Cody as he and John gather sticks for fire. BY the time I get back down they managed to start the fire, surprising me. They worked fast.
Since we didn't find anything to hunt, I give them my smoked meat.

Cody isn't a big fan. No surprise there, I never was good at cooking. John eats without a complaint, and I also enjoy a few pieces.
Later John helps Cody climb the tree and I climb after them.

,,John." I get his attention and hand him the rope.
He takes it with a smile and ties himself to the branch, and since we are so high up the branches bend slightly under our weight. Falling from this height wouldn't kill us but will be rather painful.

I watch as the sky gets darker and stars start appearing, the wind swaying the trees slightly as the teal fog shimmers below us.
,,Are you asleep?" John asks as he turns on his branch.

,,Not yet."

He takes a deep breath. ,,Cody touched the fog."

I sit up almost losing my balance. ,,What? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He sighs.
,,When I went to check up on him, I found him in the daycare. So, I took him and went on the roof and once all the fighting has stopped and people started to calm down, I fell asleep. I woke up in the morning and Cody was nowhere in sight. I found him later playing with the fog in a corner."

I look down. It had to be a scary experience for John, not knowing what would happen to his younger brother.

He continues.
,,I was looking for you because I thought you know more about this stuff."

,,I don't know much. As I said before I just met a couple of other infected people. Since he got infected only a few hours ago he won't experience any symptoms for maybe another three days?"

,,There are symptoms?" He groans and rubs his face.

I nod even though he doesn't see the action. ,,Headaches, problems with eyes and the worst of them all is the chemical aftertaste."

He groans again and I shake my head.
Theres no need to stress him.

,,Its okay. We can find someone who understands this better and even if we don't find anyone, he still has you and me to help him get through it. Unless you want to get back to your fort?"

,,Thanks, and no, I don't think I want to go back. Things will change now but, the memories wont."

I nod in understanding and relax on the branch, but something keeps bugging me.
,,Your brother doesn't like me, does he?"

John snickers.
,,He's just a little nervous with new people. Also, he might be a little scared of your eyes. He is just 9 to start with. He said that you look like a ghoul."

,,Seriously?" I deadpan. ,,A ghoul? Don't they look like demons or something?"

John laughs quietly.