The Black Fog

The Bermuda Triangle

Picture is Flick...

I was hauled onto the boat by Will, I became aware that what used to be my right arm was now smothered in crimson blood, and jagged tears ran through it. I started to freak out.

"Wha- what, how, when-I" I began, but Will was tying a bandage above my elbow. I let out a cry of pain. "Don't touch it!" I screamed. Nolan put something in my mouth, and the world became a dull ache, torn between reality and fantasy.
I woke several days later. Apparently I had been awake before then, but with the drugs they had been giving me, (Salvaged from the first aid kit) I hadn't woken properly.
"Hi" I said to Ilsa who was sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Lilith I-" She began.
"Don't. Its not your fault" I explained.
"Lilith." Said Nolan, walking into the cabin.
"Does your genius self know how to fix arms?" I asked.
"If I had my lab equipment I probably could" He explained, I laughed. I tried to move my arm but it seemed to be frozen in place, like some numbing, invisible force was keeping it stationary. I tried to prevent myself from crying out, but a small cry of distress escaped by lips. Nolan muttered something, before carefully inspecting my wounds like Sherlock Holmes. "My genius self has come to the conclusion that your arm is paralysed"

"Yeah, I noticed" I returned wryly. I frowned. "What is the use of an arm that can't do anything? And what does your genius self propose?"

"My genius self proposes that we wait" I frowned again.

"What sort of a proposal is that?" I asked.

"A sensible one. If we are lucky it might regain movement on its own, otherwise.. Well... lets not think about that" I sighed.

"How bad is it?" I asked.

"Pretty bad" At least he was honest.
Let's see, what do I have? I have my arm, surprisingly, I have a few pairs of clothes (one less now) I have friends and... a boat, presumably, in the middle of God knows where. Dear lord. Maybe, like Ilsa had insinuated: dying would be far easier than living. But no. I was going to fight. Nolan and Ilsa slept on the floor, saying that it was better that I have the bed until I my arm is a bit better. I slept badly, and not just because of my arm. The room was pitch black, and ice cold. I wandered around, aimlessly, until a horrible sense of panic, and desperation came upon me. I bashed at the walls; with the sickening realisation that my arm was working, but stung painfully with every blow against the black walls. You know how during nightmares you find that when you try to run, you just move slower? Well that's what happened.
"Lilith" Came a wispy voice, like smoke... Or fog. "Lilith" It came again.
"Yes! What do you want?!" I cried into the darkness.
"Dearest Lilith Shackleton, you cannot escape me. I am the darkness, the blackness and death. I have existed for millennia in different forms: What killed the dinosaurs, the Plauge, the sweat, and Ebola. Everyone Dies, it is natural, my job is to speed things along a little when man upsets Gaia. You may think you are safe; but I am invincible. I will find you, you can run but you can't hide, then again you can't even run, for I will catch you. In fact, I already have-" Suddenly a light cut through.
"Wake up!" Screamed a voice like thousands of tinkling bells. "Wake up Lilith!" My eyes opened in a flash. There was a terrible smell, and once again I was plunged into almost pitch darkness. I reached out for the bar that ran along the walls of every room. I kicked Nolan, technically accidentally, but it woke him up, which I was planning to do more gently.
"Shriveled pigs dancing on rainbows!" He shouted.
"What the hell?!" I said flatly. But when I took in what he said I laughed hysterically.
"What?! There were shriveled pigs dancing on rainbows! It's not my fault that my brain neurons work in bizarre ways after I sleep"
"No shriveled pigs Sherlock" I replied laughing at my own joke.
"Whatever. Anyway, why are you up?" I sniffed the air suspiciously. I had a weird smokey scent. Like when you put plastic in a fire.
"Can you smell that?" I asked.
"Smell what?" Came his curious voice.
"That smell"
"I noticed. You sorta said 'smell' before"
"Shut up. I mean that smell like burning plastic"
"What smell like burning plastic?" I threw myself out of bed, I heard Nolan's feet against the floor as I stumbled up into the light. The waves were heaving the boat up on their large arms, which made it feel like I was on ice. Ha, there you go Disney on ice. I slipped on the wet deck and my hair was instantly soaked and blown into face, Nolan pulled me to my feet and I used his strong arm for support.
"We're in the fog!" I shouted over the whipping, howling wind.
"Well that's just bloody great!" He shouted back.
"We need to get out!"
"No shriveled pig Sherlock!" He returned. We stumbled up to the control deck and he locked the door. I began to feel a bit nauseas and coughed. "Cover your nose and mouth" He ordered. His dark hair had fallen in front of his pale face, but his green eyes were surprisingly soft.
"This wasn't exactly the way I wanted to die" I muttered, obeying.
"Nor mine. But we have to be brave enough to see our fates. And if it brings us to death, who are we to complain?" I smirked, but there was no humor.
"Well your very brave Mr. Holmes"
"Ikr" He replied, which got a genuine, hidden smile from me. I leant against his wet tee shirt. He was trying to steer the boat, but we were go in into the breakers.
"Surely there shouldn't be breakers out this deep?" I inquired.
"No, but this is the Bermuda triangle. Nothing is normal" He said wryly. He cranked up the motor, so we were going faster, but the Smokey smell was still strong. Suddenly I saw the white light again.
"Lilith, you have to get off, into the water. Once you are there, you must find the cave. When you find it, it will answer all your questions, and in doing so solve all your problems" I was suspicious of this order from the white light that seemed to want to protect me. "Hurry! Or you will never get out of this alive!" I pulled Nolan away from the wheel, making the boat jolt as he was forced to pull it violently left.
"We need to get into the water" I told him.
"Are you crazy?!" He retorted.
"No. Yes" I said looking back at him. "For God's sakes! Just listen to me! Get the others. We need to find a sea cave. If we don't we are going to die!" I yelled. He looked taken aback.
"Yes your royal pigness. Remind me not to get on your bad side"
"And don't you forget it"
"Sorry" He said in surrender.
"Good. Go" I ordered. But then grabbed his sleeve and kissed him.
"I never thought it would take this long"
"What? For me to kiss you back? Or for us to die?"
"Both" He said with a smirk, before leaving. I looked out at the blackness. There was a black haze to everything now, and the sickening scent of the fog made me vomit into the black, heaving ocean. We were to close to land anyway, the expanse that once was Florida was spread out before us. This was doomed to failure anyway. I was leaning on the bars that made a snug fence around the deck. It was pretty warm, but the water would be shark ridden, and the salt would sting my arm. Then light came again.
"It's going to be okay Lilith. It is all going to be okay. Have courage and be brave, all will be well with the world" I looked at it.
"Who are you? Friend or enemy? Why did you choose now to reassure and instruct me?" I asked determined for an answer.
"All wil be revealed when you reach the cave"
"If I reach the cave" I muttered wryly under my breath.
"Do not fear Death, he is a little harsh sometimes, very good at scaring people, but he means well"
"How is stealing life from innocent people 'meaning well?!'" I shouted.
"Not all are as innocent as you or the others Lilith"
"Who are you talking to?" Asked Flick.
"I think we are about to find out" I said, before throwing myself into the lukewarm water...