New Dawn

Chapter 16 | What hides in the fog

The weather that had began as a promising light drizzle had quickly escalated from a downpour to a wet and cold sleet. A thick fog loomed over the grainy desert, and made it near impossible to see anything as they drove over the open plains. On any other occasion it might have bothered him, but on this particular morning he took it as a blessing. He had embraced it by turning off the motorcycle's lights, now concealed by the fog and whirling blizzard.

Perhaps they had not counted on being followed, or they simply did not know that anyone had been there to follow, but they were stupid enough to keep driving with their tail lights blazing through the fog. They were seen as a pair of red pearls that vanished beneath the waves of the storm only to be washed back up on shore once again. 

He hoped that they didn't expect to be followed. Perhaps he was the prey and Juniper was the bait. In a way, that comforted him more than the other thoughts that went through his head.

He slammed the brakes as a bright, red light smeared itself onto the flurry of snow. The car had stopped. The sound of the engine blended with the wind, whirling around him as if he was at the centre of a centrifuge. 

He turned off the ignition, and listened. The world had gone quiet except for the howl of the storm and the perpetual tone of the black SUV that persisted in spewing out exhaust into the break of dawn.

"We need to get closer", Bill whispered and pointed at some dry shrubs, now covered in melting white, and added: "Let's hide the bike there and continue by foot."

They left the motorcycle amongst the bushes that barely hid the ground beneath. Shrouded by thick mist and heavy clouds they snuck towards the red light that almost seemed to pulsate with the same rhythm played by the storm. As they approached, they saw a thin stream of light shine down onto the ground, lighting up a white carpet before the SUV's wheels. A tall fence sprouted from the ground and aimed for the skies as an electric gate opened up before tinted windows. The tires fought the grit as the SUV rolled inside. The white headlights revealed the corner of a grey structure before the car disappeared behind it.

"This isn't happening...", Owen mumbled, words that were as meaningless as they were pathetic, and buried his face into his palms. He pulled his skin so that it looked as if his face were melting, his eyes becoming hollow when they nearly left their sockets.

"I never took you for a dog person", Bill humoured as he pressed the worn cap deeper over his eyes in an attempt to shield his face from the biting wind.

He wore a long coat which collar he flipped up so that it covered his ears. A long scarf had been wrapped in multiple laps around his neck. A leather bandolier hung across his chest and a belt with various pockets rested over his hips. It was then that Owen noticed the pair of pistols at either side of his waist, shielded by their leather holster. He raised an eyebrow. 

"And I never took you for a gunslinger, but I guess things can change", Owen said and turned his attention towards the fence.

Wrinkles spread around Bill's eyes as he laughed. "You can never be too prepared", he said.

Owen didn't listen. He was too busy studying the fence. Barbed wire mocked him as it spun in endless circles above. What else did they have? Surveillance cameras, motion sensors? He had no idea. From where he was standing, he was completely blind. Besides, getting through the fence would be the easy part, but he was clueless as to what waited inside. And even if he made it that far it was still like searching for a needle in a haystack.

"Are we doing this, or what?", Bill said, his voice carried away by the wind.

"Doing what?", Owen asked, but got his answer as soon as he turned around. 

In his hands, Bill held a red bolt cutter. With an amused look on his face he raised his arms and snipped its blades right in front of Owen's nose. He barely blinked.

"Should I even ask where you got that from?"

"You know, if you weren't so caught up in your own thoughts and actually payed attention...", Bill said as he headed towards the fence with the bolt cutters at the ready.

"You sound like my high school teacher", Owen muttered and followed.

As Bill began to snip away at the fence, Owen couldn't help but to question the plans of the universe that had brought him here, to this very moment, with this highly strange individual. Not that he was complaining. Bill seemed to have a nick for cutting fences for not even a minute later there was a hole large enough for them to crawl through. All he could hope for now was that they wouldn't set off an alarm.

The sharp metal scraped against his coat as he followed Bill to the other side of the fence. The melting snow whirled before his eyes, forcing him to squint through the dim daylight. They hurried towards the grey structure that hid not far away from the fence. He pressed his back against the cement wall along with Bill. His heart hammered through his chest as he squeezed the silver Beretta in his hand. 

As they moved alongside the wall, shoulders pressed against the cold cement, they were careful to stay away from the light that still cast its unforgiving glow over the gate. It revealed the wheel tracks that led deeper into the enclosed area, the silhouette of another grey structure lurking in their shadow.

A howl, filled with such despair and trepidation that it froze his blood to ice faster than any dropping temperature would, was brought to him by the wind. When they reached the corner of the building he tried to lean forward in order to gain sight, but was held back by Bill when voices echoed around them. The storm humoured them. It took hold of every sound and threw it all around them, making it impossible to determine the direction of the source.

He pushed Bill aside and peeked around the corner. The headlights of the black SUV lit up what resembled a courtyard. A bright light seated atop a large building brought light to the drops of rain and snow that danced in the spotlight. The show was run by a group of men who tried to control a black dog that wanted nothing but escape. Her teeth glared white as she snapped her jaws at whoever was stupid enough to walk too close. They held her trapped with the help of a noose connected to a long stick, keeping her sharp teeth at a distance as they moved her across the courtyard. Away from the car and towards the larger building adorned by the incandescent light.

As she threw herself against one of the men it was as if the storm ceased to rage, and she was the centre of the world. Her black fur shone with the brightness of the light above and her eyes glowed like the embers of the earth. The moment merely lasted for seconds, yet the sight of her glowing eyes found itself printed upon his retina. 

It was the only trace that she left. That, and a rope in a pool of blood. 

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What do you think of the story so far? Is it what you had expected? I would love to hear your thoughts! And don't be afraid to point out any errors that you might find. It always helps with another perspective. Thank you so much for reading! =)