Disha Walia

Drama Fantasy

4.8  

Disha Walia

Drama Fantasy

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11 mins
46.3K


June already knew the two gravest mistakes of her life. First, talking to Evin Cleave. And second, taking that photograph. Now, one mistake was staring her in the face. While the other had vanished into, what seemed, like thin air. But given the things that were happening lately, the latter wasn't far-fetched.

It started on a day before what was supposed to be a total Solar eclipse. The ancient-looking camera that was now sitting on the wooden desk of June's room, was given to her by Evin – her best friend.

June had gleamed, as she tried to capture the total Solar eclipse on her best friend's demand. With the sound of a 'Click!' all hell broke loose.


The day had turned into the night. But it was supposed to be temporary. Wasn't that the beauty of a Solar eclipse? The darkness that was supposed to last for 2 minutes had now lasted for almost a month!

June padded across the room to the window. The darkness that once looked like a masterpiece, now bought about paralysing fear. The world etched in charcoal hid something beyond anyone's wildest imagination.

The news reports started with "Missing people". Which later turned out to be "Dead bodies". It shouldn't have been that big of a worry, had they not looked like they had died ages ago when their skeletons were found!


The source? First, people spotted fog. It looked like the clouds had descended upon the earth. It crept upon its prey from behind, engulfing them without a sound. A few people who had managed to outrun the fog described a bitter cold before its appearance. 

Everything would've been fine, if not for Evin leaving her the ominous message a week ago. What did he even mean by "Please"? If he dared to leave her a message after ghosting her for days as she began losing her mind, he should've been clearer with his message. Please save me? Please help me? Please I need food? What did he mean by "please"? To top it all off, he turned off his phone.

As his best friend, June considered it her responsibility to find out what had happened to Evin. It was the least she could do. Especially after his brothers had gone missing too with their search party for him. She couldn't stay holed up in her house forever.


Rocking back and forth and glancing at the ticking time bomb A.K.A. the clock hanging in front of her bed, everything came to her in flashes. She remembered the panic that had set in when the darkness hadn't lifted after two minutes. It wasn't just her, but the whole world. Eventually, the military forces were called in – that included her dad.

At least she saw him at the end of every week. The military trucks did regular rounds on the streets. After every week, they'd drop off food supplies. Pick up the skeletons from the middle of the roads. And report the death count for that week.

Of course, as any sane person would do, June did her research. Technology was their saving grace. She figured out that the longest the darkness should've lasted was seven and a half minutes. This was more than seven and a half minutes!


"This is it!" June mumbled as she sprung from her bed. If she found Evin alive – she'd throw him in the fog herself. If she died before that, she'd haunt him forever. 

There was an emotional volcano inside her as she put on her best running shoes and picked up her phone. Throwing a glance at her room, which might as well be the last time, she dashed out of there.

Dread crept over her like cold as she stared at her front door. Her mind was stuck like a tape recorder. 'It's going to be today.' Apart from that, her mind was worrying empty. So, she yanked the door open.

As she huddled inside her car, she realised what she had done. She didn't have any plan or backup. But what was the point of turning back now? The answer to the question that kept her up for these past few days was a kilometre away.


The car engine revved to life, and June hit the accelerator. She sped down the deserted road, hoping her car was faster than the fog.

June had walked the streets since forever. Never had they looked this deserted. She was the only one disturbing the serenity of what seemed like a quiet neighbourhood. 

"Huh?" June scrutinized the ajar front door of a two-story house. It was close to Evin's place. All its windows were sealed. But the door open. Breaking into a cold sweat as the images of skeletons inside the house crept into her mind.

The last time the streets were echoed with laughter was probably the day before the Solar eclipse. Though the street lamps were still on, June felt dread crawling its way under her skin.


Against the dark sky stood the white, box-shaped house, familiar to June. Its thick, brown wooden door standing in dead centre, invited her. The windows looked more like mirrors than windows. At least they served their purpose. To keep the fog out. Nothing about the place seemed out of ordinary. Maybe for someone who had never visited the place. To June, the silence was the most peculiar thing about the house. 'What happened here?' June thought as she parked her car outside of Evin's house.

Looking in the rear-view mirror for the signs of the fog, her fingers latched onto the keys, turning off the engine. Once she was certain the coast was clear, June reached for the door handle and cleared her throat.


She sprinted up Evin's stone porch steps. Fist banging against the door thrice. "Evin!" Standing out in the open, she felt vulnerable. "Are you home?"

She pressed her ear against the door, to listen for any sign of movement. The door was cold – unnaturally cold. She jumped back, hand reaching for her cheek. Dusting the dirt off her cold skin. It couldn't be… Yet she allowed herself to peek inside the window on her right.

A shiver ran down her spine in the growing cold. The hung open-jaw let out the last wisps of air in her lungs. In the back of her mind, she dreaded this the most. To be too late. Now in her eyes, she could see the reflection of the fog struggling to find cracks in the doors and windows. Ironically the way it trapped the whole world, now it was trapped in the small space of Evin's home.


Tumbling back, she almost missed the steps right behind her. It couldn't be… but how was she to ignore what was right in front of her? Evin… gone? It couldn't be…

A soft whimper cracked through her daze. Before she knew it, her feet carried her towards the whimper. The voice she knew too well. When her eyes landed on the being, she felt tears gather in the corner of her eyes. With his head between his paws, he had made himself comfortable on the ground. The big blue eyes, which were wider than a baby's, were closed all the way. His thick, beautiful grey fur ruffling with the wind. And of course, the ridiculous paw-shaped collar tag was there too.

"Charlie." June dropped to her knees. Fingers running through his fur, made him open his eyes. "How did you escape?" At once, he lifted his head, tail wagging from side to side. Whatever the case, at least this was a happy miracle.


She felt another cold shiver down her spine. It crept under her skin forcing her to wrap her arms around her torso. June's eye widened, her heart felt like it was ready to explode. She whipped her head around, rising to her feet, and tried to scan her surroundings as fast as she could. The howling of the wind couldn't be a good omen.

Her eyes landed on the source of the chill. A vast blanket of white swirled about, making its way towards June. The houses, street lamps, cars in the distance became obscured.

"Charlie, come on!" she cried, whipping her head towards the lethargic pup. "Up!"


Her brain was in a frenzy, yet her body somehow remembered to run. She could feel the saliva thickening in her throat. Dashing back to her car, her thumping heart tried to roll out of her chest. Charlie was faster than her. Reaching her car, only to come to an abrupt halt. She kept her eyes fixed on the fog that inched closer. The bitter cold had sent her hands into a clumsy numbness.

The car keys slipped from between her fingertips. Before she could catch them, they made their way to the drainage underneath her feet.

June remained glued to the ground, as her mouth went dry. The fog was less than seven meters away. Her mind buzzed with all thoughts, except one she needed right now – a solution.

June stood still like the world had come to a halt and then her body did the work on its own. As adrenalin rushed through her body, her only option was flight. So, she did. Right that moment, she wished she had Charlie's speed. His majestic coat was almost the same colour as the fog. Pushing his paws off the ground, he went off in a dash.


She tried to keep up, bolting down the deserted street in an attempt to outrun the white blanket. She looked over her shoulder and watched Evin's house disappear too. As did her car. Her feet pounded against the asphalt road.

'Focus!' June reminded herself, as she clutched her sweaty palms. Tears blinded June, as her burning lungs gasped for air. "Charlie!" she cried, turning around the corner of the street. It was narrower. Filled with houses closer together. Her only hope was to find help.

Military trucks! They had to be somewhere around. That was the whole point of their new duty. But before that, she had to ditch the fog. No one was going to stop and help her with death a few feet away. That would be idiocy, like putting your head under Grim Reapers scythe yourself. 

What caught her foot, June wasn't sure. But she felt the road under her feet disappear. As an instinct, her hands flailed in front of her. Turning at the last second, she let the back of her head collide with the road. All her bones rattled inside of her at the impact. The air leaving her lungs when a ringing sound clouded her hearing.


The cold… grey sky… it was close. Scrambling to her feet, she shook her head. Her uneven steps on the road were as unrhythmical as they could be. Her eyes remained on Charlie.

From the corner of her eyes, she noticed the ajar door she had passed earlier. Taking a leap of faith, her feet covered the uneven pavement with long strides.

With the last bit of her energy left, she pushed her feet off the ground and towards the white door open, dashing inside. Charlie crashed into the corner of the doorway, rattling the door before skidding inside. As she closed it behind them, the fog disappeared from her vision.

Placing her hand against her pounding heart. Her knees buckled, and she slumped against the door. June was gasping for air, her throat ached like she had roamed a desert on the hottest day. Eyes screwed shut as she tried to ignore the ringing in her ears.


She looked around. The house was pitch black. There was a sweet scent filling the air. Keeping her hand firmly on the doorknob, June pulled out her phone. She wondered if it was better to be murdered by a killer human or killer fog. She reckoned the latter would be faster.

A loud knock against the door made her jump. Charlie was on his feet at once, barking at the door. June's heart was already in her mouth, and more tears cascaded down her cheeks.

"Who is it?" June demanded, clasping her shivering hands in front of her chest. Surely, the fog wouldn't have the courtesy to knock before killing them.

"June –" a familiar voice startled her. She remained frozen like a deer caught in the headlight. "It's me, Evin."


June's brain spun along in stunned shock. And then at once, she yanked the door open. Her body instantly surged with a sense of relief. She never knew how comforting a familiar face could be until now. He wasn't dead.

June stepped back when Evin made his way inside, sealing the door shut once again. His shoulders rose and fell rapidly. He remained glued to the door, drawing in deep audible breaths.

Charlie was the first one in the room to react. His loud bark filled the room before he sprinted at Evin. His front paws on Evin's waist, waggling his tail. Big blue eyes only looking at his best friend.

"Where in the world were you?" June bellowed, punching Evin's arm with all the strength she could gather in her shaking hands. "Do you know how many messages I left you?" There was a buzzing headache behind her temples. Not to forget the ringing in her ears. It was dying down, but not completely.

Evin turned around with a tight-lipped smile. He let his fingers rest in Charlie's fur. Though that did nothing to calm down the big brute that circled him with a wagging tail. There was an unsettling stillness about Evin. June's hands fumbled to turn on the torch on her phone, to get a better look at his face.

The raw flesh on Evin's forehead tainted with blood was covered with mud and dirt. His disheveled hair was sticking up in every direction. June noticed his brown eyes pooled with fear.

"What happened to you?" June sniffed, wiping the tears with the back of her hands.

Evin hovered over her. His voice came out in a hoarse whisper, "That's a long story."


June shifted from one foot to the other, as she faltered, "Wren and Axel were worried sick about you."

"Did you click the photo of the solar eclipse?" Evin implored, clasping her shoulders. His dark-rimmed eyes narrowed and remained fixed on June.

The muscles in her jaw bunched. "That's what you're worried about?" June asked, lowering her brows, she pressed her lips together. The tears returned and she swatted Evin's hands away.

Forget a hug. He didn't even bother asking her how she was? It would be a lie if she said that didn't hurt. To be perfectly honest, her heart was in shards. She risked her life for him. And all he cared about was the godforsaken photograph?

"We need to look at the photograph –" Evin exclaimed, his tired eyes boring into June's. "–NOW!"


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