The Book of The Mist

Autumn mornings

Isabella

Autumn air chilled my cheeks staining my usually tanned skin pink, leaves fell from the trees creating a picturesque landscape of a morning as mist glided over the fields and frost clung to the door handle as I pulled to close the large oak door. The flowers in my mother's garden wilted hanging over and lining the sides of the cobbled path, the tree just outside the garden wall shock and shed leaves with every gust of cold air sending out its spasms of red and orange. A tall shadow from my country house blocks the warmth of the sun making me wrap my woollen scarf into my neck while smelling the smoke from the chimney sending its aroma of burnt wood into the air. I could feel winters fast approach with the oncoming of November. Shrugging my Cannon camera onto my shoulder I start down the path my boots tapping lightly casting echoes down the lane. Inside my jean pockets my phone buzzes indicating a text message.

"meeting in the Café" - Charlie

I texted her a quick thumbs up emoji and continued down the road that was lined with fences holding back the vast wilderness that was the woods, if you wanted to scare your little brother or sister you would tell them about the woods how the trees would move and make you lost but as the amber ball of heat rose in the sky and glared into my round sunglasses illuminating the warm colours of the trees and melting the frost clinging to the branches, how could you find something so enchanting scary. Brushing the dark curl that had fallen for my pony tail behind my ear I picked up the pace and continued into the small village.

The bell to the Café rang as I pushed it's warn and chipped white door open. Smells of crushed coffee beans and hot herbal tea flooded into the outside atmosphere only allowing a small amount of warm air to escape as i closed the door behind me. Digging for my purse I walked over to the counter with the shop owner standing behind it and ordered a latte. Mr Oliver smiled at me his skin creased with smile lines at the sides of his warm hazel eyes, grey hair clung to the tops of his head and his chin has he handed me my drink and pointed to the corner of the room where my friends sat in a small booth surrounded by flaking cream walls all enjoying their own drinks and conversation. I thanked him and went to sit with my friends.

Ester greeted me first her red hair held in place by a grey hat which had a green pom-pom on the end. She held her hot chocolate tightly in her pale freckled hands which were mostly hidden under a green jacket, she wore her Supernatural T-Shirt and grey jeans with boots and a charm filled necklace that came from matching sets, she would appear introverted if you didn't know her but when you did she demanded cute photos for Instagram and Tumblr when she wasn't babbling about books. Seated next to her on her phone was Dany her bright blue hair plaited in a French braid with a few escapees framing her pretty face, her denim Jacket rested nicely on her shoulders paired with a black T with 'don't mess with my girls' written on it. When she noticed I was there she gave me a grin then proceeded to show Ester what she was looking at on her phone. Maisy who doesn't drink coffee had an oversized cream jumper on and her comfortable shorts with tights underneath her ombre hair was up in a messy bun but had come lose due to her pulling on it while arguing over the table with Charlie who was standing in her Hockey kit and sure enough was waving her stick. "Come on Maisy you know we should do a theme for the Halloween party, group costumes are cool" Charlie exclaimed throwing her arms in the air as if she had already downed an expresso "they were cool when we were 12 Char and besides i think we shouldn't go it's not like we are super popular people we will just end up sitting in the corner" Maisy argued back while trying to blow the little bits of hair out the way. "guys back me up" Charlie looked at us with desperation laced through blue eyes "I mean I was just going to go as a fangirl" Ester said over her cup Charlie put her middle finger up at Ester kicked her in return "you already are a fangirl" I chimed in laughing taking a seat.

The clear sky from this morning had turned to a darker grey that cloaked and plunged the old village into shadows light drops of rain tapped the window as if wanting coffee themselves "how about we stay at mine tonight and talk about it later then we can get my dad to take us into the town and have a look at costumes" I suggested and got a series of okays in reply. We soon finished our drinks and pulled coats back on to brave the now raining outside.

Silence through the village High Street. We passed the greengrocer with his window full of apples and oranges, and the butcher with his bloody lumps of meat on display and naked chickens hanging up, and the small bank, and the grocery store and the electrical shop, and then we came out at the other side of the village on to the narrow country road where there were no people anymore and very few cars. The rain was like ice a few more degrees and it would have been snowing, the wind howled as if it were a pack of wolves readying to chase us back to my home

the rain is nothing like the ambient temperature of early fall, freezing and paling my skin on contact. The path through the park is muddy water in motion filling deep puddles that hide the ruts of dryer weather. The droplets fell with purpose as if meaning to wash us away, like it means to keep hammering us until with smudge like a Monet masterpiece. As if the heavens are trying to assault the earth below making today and inescapable day of wetness. The road melted and ran like wet tar and thought the mist of this morning had lifted the fog of rain meant it was near impossible to see what was past the edge of the woods and the fences I had walk past hours earlier.

We had piled into my room to watch movies choosing My Bloody Valentine first. My Quilt was rucked around Maisy and I as the movie cast shadows on my cream walls Dani sat on the window seat watching with a firm look on her face she was clearly getting frustrated with Ester and Charlie who were sitting on the floor yelling at the screen, while Charlie seemed in support for the victims yelling advice Ester was cheering the killer because it was her favourite actor Jensen Ackles. We were having a great night until the power outed leaving us in darkness.