Midnight Mist

Part 2

One day, around midnight, he was encamping with his pals by the sea side. A few distance away there was a railway tunnel. There was a single dull lamp glowing. After his dinner, Mortimer was wandering around the campside. He liked to stay alone all of the time. He was observing the natural beauty. But soon he realized that he was standing just beside the railway path. Mortimer, in the lamp light, suddenly noticed a dark and solitary figure he knew. It was seen on page twenty one of his book in his childhood. The figure faced the black mouth of a tunnel.

Mortimer's instincts were aroused. He walked quickly towards the figure and looked into its face. Mortimer was shocked. He was staring into his own face.

A wave of panic surged through Mortimer. He turned, gasped and broke into a wild run. He stumbled out of the tunnel and rushed down a moonlit road in the forest. He could hear the echo of his own footsteps behind him. The footsteps were steadily gaining on him. Mortimer paused for a moment. He was completely shaken with fear. He thought if he goes to his friends then they would in a great trouble too. He began to run again. It was a cold and windy midnight. The forest was covered with mist, he couldn't see something very clearly.

Quarter of a mile down, Mortimer saw a small white cottage. Seeking desperate shelter, Mortimer pounded on the wooden door. He heard heavy footsteps coming down creaking stairs. The door opened and a shadowy figure stood with a candle. They exchanged no words. The shadowy figure beckoned him inside. They went up the creaking stairs.