Taken by the fog

The ensemble

"Can you not scare me like that?" TJ yelled as he pulled me in for a hug. My mom threw us a look. 
"I jump scared him in school today, it was hilarious." I giggled. I kicked TJ lightly so he would play along. 
"She did, it was not funny." He acted quickly. TJ and I grew up together so we've known each other our whole lives. The first time we met we he insulted my outfit so my fierce little 4-year old slapped him. He was blown away and we instantly became friends. We sometimes act like twins and usually, we know exactly how the other one is feeling. During the last fog Sam, TJ's older brother, was taken. TJ is still devastated and I know it is killing him to see Sam like that. 

"Can Jen stay at our place tonight?" He asked both our parents. My parents nodded and he dragged me to his house. He only let go of my hand to open the front door. As soon as the door was open he turned around and grabbed my hand once more. 
"You know I can walk myself, right?" I said.
"I know, but do I look like I care?" He snapped back. His grip tightened and he dragged me with him to his room. "You better tell me why you said you were marked. It's not funny." He yelled angrily as we entered his room. 
"Do you see me laughing?" I snapped back. "I said I was marked because I am marked, you genius. Listen, I know you're upset with Sam being one of the people of the fog. Stop taking it out on me. I can't help it." His mouth opened and closed again as he muttered some profanities under his breath.
"I'm sorry. I know I can't take it out on you, but you are the only one who can handle my rage." He put his hands in his hair and slumped on the floor. 

I walked over and sat down beside him.
"When is the next fog?" He sighed in defeat. 
"It's fine, I know you don't mean it like that." I placed my head on his shoulder. "I don't know when the next fog is. They haven't announced it yet." TJ placed his arm over my shoulder and pulled me closer to him.
"I know, but you always seem to know before anyone else." He whispered. 
"You won't like it."
"Just tell me." 
"Next week." His arm stiffened around me as I let out a sigh. This is not good.

An emergency meeting was called the next morning. It usually is in either the gym or the church. Out of respect for our PE teacher, it would be held in the gym. 
"Do you think the mayor will talk about everyone or solely Jess?" TJ asked as we walked to the school.
"I don't know. I'm guessing it will be everyone but mostly Jess." I shrug. We arrived at the school and entered the gym. We sat in the back and next to each other. Let the torment begin.

"Welcome, residents. As you know my precious daughter has been taken last night, together with your PE teacher, Brad, and Rose." TJ and I rolled our eyes at the same time. "I know it is sad to hear, but we have to look forward to the next fog. It will take place in a month from now." TJ looked at me and I shook my head.
"They'll think I'm one of them." I muttered under my breath. He nodded and we both directed our attention back to the mayor. 
"We know Jess was taken from us because she spoke against them. She was taken by Sam, our previous quarterback." TJ stiffened by the name of his brother, I grabbed his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "She wasn't marked and was therefore taken innocently. We know that another person is marked and currently in this gym. We would like this person to step forward so we can propose a trade, the marked for the innocent. This person would do a great honor to the town and ..." The gym stirred before the mayor could finish. 
"She should have known better!"
"Why would we sacrifice ourselves for her?"
"She was a piece of filth!"
"Would we do the town an honor or just you and your wife?"
"What about the others?" 

I slumped back in my seat and started playing with the bracelet I wore to cover the mark. Everyone fell quiet when a silver eagle flew into the gym. I flinched as my mark started to burn. The eagle sat down and the mayor grabbed the envelope from his leg. He opened the seal and a voice boomed through the gym.
"We took an unmarked for her witty mouth. Take this as a lesson and a warning. The marked one will be taken next time. This person is marked for a special reason. He or she can predict the fog. If you take advantage of the messenger than you all will pay the price. Let the messenger walk freely and you may live to tell the story. The unmarked will not be given back, she needs to learn her place. Be aware of our next arrival, it will be one for the books, they'll even read about it in the woods."  The voice stopped and the envelope went up in flames. The eagle screeched and flew off again. The gym stirred once more and the mayor wrapped up quickly, not that anyone noticed. 

"I think they sent someone back." I whispered to TJ as we stood in the corner. Everyone slowly left the gym and we were waiting for our friends. 
"Why? They rarely do that, they've done that twice in the history." 
"I know, but 'they'll even read about it in the woods'. What else could it mean?"
"Is it stupid to think that I was hoping they would go after the squirrels or something?" Angie said as she walked up to us. Behind her were Becca and Pascal.
"Has anyone seen Connor?" Becca asked. We all shook our heads.
"I'm here." Connor popped up beside me. His normal cocky demeanor was vanished, replaced by an empty void.  
"How are you?" Angie asked.
"Not good, we're still missing Brad." He was on the verge of tears but quickly recovered himself.
"He's not gone." I tried to reassure him.
"How do you know?" He asked.
"I have a feeling he's alive." He just shrugged, unconvinced with my words. An awkward silence settled between us.
"Guys, we're going to the woods. Anyone who wants to join?" TJ broke the silence. "We have a feeling we can find something there." 
"Is any of you the so-called 'messenger'?" Becca quoted in the air. 
"Don't be stupid Becca. They're our friends." Pascal said. 

I spun on my heels and to find my parents.
"Let's tell our parents we're leaving and staying together. Join if you want, outside in 5. If you don't want to come then don't but please don't snitch." I told the group before heading to my parents. They told me it was fine and I walked outside. I was the first one on the spot and looked around. My breath hitched in my throat as I noticed the fog collecting on the pitch. A man walked forward and looked at me. I looked straight back at him, although I know better, I have nothing to lose. He was tall with long blond hair, his skin looked pale and he was very muscular. Long story short, he was hot and he knew it. His arrogance could be noticed from where I was standing. 
"We're with two already." I got snapped out of my trance by TJ. I looked back at the pitch and noticed that the fog and the boy were gone. Weird, the fog never appears sooner. Maybe I'm not the messenger. I internally rolled my eyes, I am the messenger, time to accept my doomed fate. 
"Are we seriously doing this?" Angie walked up to us with Pascal. 
"I am, I need an adrenaline rush." Connor high fived TJ and stood beside me. I rolled my eyes at his enthusiasm, why would you be excited about this?
"We are in so much trouble if someone finds out." Tess fiddled with her hands nervously.
"Tess, how did you know?" I asked.
"I invited her." Becca joined as last.
"Let's get this show on the road." TJ gestured me to walk in front.

After ten minutes of walking, we reached the woods. 
"Stay together guys." Tess said nervously. The woods are huge and you need to stay on the path if you don't want to get lost. Unless you've faced this woods for your entire life.
"We have to go off-trail." I stated after an hour of hiking.
"Are you crazy?" Tess and Angie asked in fear. I rolled my eyes, twins and their nature of saying things simultaneously. Now it seems like I'm twice as dumb.
"I'll go with you." Connor always was the adrenaline junkie. 
"I'll come too." TJ joined.
"How about we go off-trail, and you guys stay here?" I proposed to the group. The rest nodded unconvinced and still looking at me as if I was suicidal before the three of us made our way off the trail.
"Do you think it was smart to split up?" TJ asked as we were out of ear reach.
"Honestly, I think it was the most stupid thing we could have possibly done." I answered truthfully.
"Well, that gives me hope." TJ sighed.
"Do you guys smell what I smell?" Connor said as he stopped. We all halted and smelled. 
"This way!" I ran towards the clearing with both Connor and TJ in my tracks. We reached the clearing within minutes and we scanned our surroundings. 
"Oh my god, is that Rose?" Connor asked. 

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