Chereads / Whispers in the Fog / Chapter 3 - Shadows in the Mist

Chapter 3 - Shadows in the Mist

Arata woke to the light patter of rain against the glass. The fog was not gone; its pale fingers curled around the edges of the windowpane as though seeking a glimpse inside. The town, out there, remained a muffled shape, hidden under the swill of a deep, whirling haze. A shroud of anxiety settled over him, like the fog had reached in and wrapped itself tight around the town and everyone within it.

There had been days since he last saw Mei and it still echoed in his mind, the brief conversation. So much more there was to her than what she allowed the world to see. Every time he thought about that weird beach encounter, his curiosity only grew. He wanted to know what was going on at Umigawa even if it meant probing deeper into the misty mysteries.

He went to the kitchen to find Hana making breakfast. She looked up at him, a warm smile on her face, but a flicker of concern in her eyes briefly flashed forth. "Good morning, Arata, did you sleep well?" she asked carelessly.

"Yeah, I guess," he lied, not wanting to trouble her. "Need any help today?

Hana shook her head. "I'll be out for a bit, but I ought to be back before lunch. Feel free to explore, but." She stopped, her expression serious. "Just be careful. There are places in this town you don't want to wander into, especially when the fog is this thick.".

Arata nodded, but his head was not here. His decision had been made: he would go out, and then find out if he could see Mei again. Maybe she would say something about the strange visions he'd had, or the whispers that called his name when the fog had grown thicker.

---

But the chill of it caught at his cheeks as he stepped outside, and the fog rolled apart to let him just see the road ahead. He decided to walk toward the old town, where he had seen Mei disappear the last time. The streets lay eerily silent, the mere sound being drenched by the fog as if all the town breathed in its silence, awaiting something to happen.

Arata wandered around a bit, passing by crumbling old buildings and vacant storefronts. The sun was getting low; he was nearly ready to give up hope of ever seeing her again when there was a very faint rustling sound coming from an alley just a little to his side. He turned, squinting through the mist, and saw a dark figure moving at the end of the narrow passageway.

It was Mei.

---

She stood there, partially obscured by the mist, staring intently at something Arata could not see. She stood stiffly, hands curled at her sides, her attention focused on whatever it was she was looking at. She didn't even seem to be aware of him standing there, lost in her own world.

"Mei," he called out, his voice little louder than a breath. She flinched, as if roused from some sort of trance, then turned to face him. Her expression relaxed a little at sight of him, but there was still that guarded look in her eyes.

"You again," she said, almost as if she was being amused by it. "You shouldn't be here, you know."

He took another step forward, his curiosity managing to overcome his caution. "I must know what's going on, Mei. You said the mist shows people things, but why? What does it want?

Mei looked at him for a moment, her dark eyes empty. "The fog doesn't want anything. It just. .. is. But it's drawn to people like you-people searching for something they can't find. It shows them what they want to see, but it's never the truth.".

What does that mean? Arata asked, his impatience gathering momentum in his gut. I heard whispers, he went on. And I saw. .. someone. A woman. Real?

Mei's face darkened. "The fog invites your worst impulses, your desires. It gives them a life, makes them tangible in ways that feel all too real, but it isn't. They're nothing but shadows, ghosts of the emotions swirling inside you." She paused, as if she had decided to say more. "But sometimes those shadows lead you down paths you should never tread.".

She sighed, struggling to look inward for meaning in her words. "And what about you?" he asked. "Why do you always end up around the fog? What are you looking for?"

For a moment, he thought she'd just shrug off his question. But then she let out a big sigh, her shoulders falling as if weighted by some invisible burden. "I'm looking for someone," she said softly. "Someone I lost a long time ago."

---

Arata was speechless. He wanted to ask her whom she was looking for, but he could get a sense that it hurt her because of the look on her face. He, therefore, changed the subject. "Sora said people vanish in this place because of the fog. Is that really so?"

Mei's lips curled up into a bitter smile. "Sora likes to think she knows everything, but she doesn't understand. People don't disappear because of the fog. They disappear because they let it in. They follow it, believe what it shows them, and then… they're gone."

Arata felt a chill run down his spine. "But why? What happens to them?"

No one knows, Mei said in a voice barely audible, maybe they found what they were searching for, maybe-they just lost themselves.

Not a word was spoken by either for a moment. The fog swirled about them, thick and impenetrable as ever, and a strange feeling of portent crept over Arata; something terrible was coming to pass. Turning to Mei, he sought reassurance in her eyes, but she stared at the fog, her face tilted back, her lips open and a look of far-off trouble on her face.

Listen, Arata, she said without warning, turning to face him. There are things in this town that you will not understand. Things you don't have to try to understand. To be safe, you must keep away from the fog. Don't let it get inside your head.

---

But Arata wasn't willing to give in. "I don't think I can just ignore it, Mei. It's already inside my head. I need to know why.".

Mei opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything, a loud crash echoed through the alley. They both turned in shock and saw that a shadow darted across the fog-shrouded street. It moved too quickly for Arata to see anything, but he was given a glimpse of something—pale skin, dark eyes, a flash of white fabric.

Do you see that? he whispered, his heart thundering. What was that?

Mei's eyes opened wide, and for the first time, Arata saw fear in her eyes. We have to go. Now.

She yanked him out of the alley, her grip stronger than he expected. Arata stumbled behind her, his mind reeling with questions. Mei, wait! What's happening? Who was that?

She didn't say anything. Just kept going, pulling him along the streets covered in fog. She didn't slow down even when they finally arrived at this small hidden park on the outskirts of town. She would only pause there, take some ragged breaths, and her eyes darted around like searching for something.

---

Arata could barely catch his breath. "Mei, what was back there? Why do we have to run?

That was a shadow," she said, her voice shaking. "A real one. They are different from the illusions the fog shows you. They are. dangerous."

"A shadow?" Arata repeated, baffled. "You mean like a ghost?

Not exactly," she said, shaking her head. "They're not spirits, but they're not human either. They're. echoes. Leftovers from the people who disappeared. They're stuck, and they're angry. If they find you. they'll make sure you never leave."

Arata's blood ran cold. He'd thought the fog was creepy, unnerving, but this was something else. "Why are they here? What do they want?

Mei hesitated before locking eyes with him. "They want what they've always wanted. To escape. To be free. And if you're not careful, they'll use you to get what they want.

The fear in her voice was chilling, and for the first time since he had arrived in Umigawa, Arata felt truly afraid. Not just that weird town with weird legends but something here, something dark and hungry, lurking deep in the fog, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Why haven't you gone then?" he whispered, his voice little more than a breath. "Why do you stay here if it is so dangerous?"

Mei's face softened and she gave him a pathetic smile. "I am searching for someone," she said for the third time. "And I can't leave until I find them. No matter how dangerous it is.".

Arata had wanted to ask more, but he saw the dialogue was over. Mei said all she wanted to tell him, and he knew she couldn't be pushed any further. Yet he couldn't release the feeling that there was more still-the story behind the town, or the mist, or Mei herself.

The fog is far thicker now than ever. It curls round him like a chill, damp blanket. And within it, far off in the mist, he thinks he hears the faintest whisper of a name. his own name, calling him, beckoning him to come closer.

But he doesn't go this time.