Dangers - The Other Side
This is the last scene from Chapter 6 - Dangers. The ghostly fog takes over, and Lee and Lantashi have to decide what to do!
I'm only planning to post Lantashi-related scenes on here, at least right now. Lee and I are making great progress in the story. We just finished the first draft of chapter 9! And we're now about halfway through the story. Hopefully we can finish the first draft in the few couple of months. That is, of course, assuming we aren't eaten by a ghostly grizzly bear ;-D
The Other Side
Lantashi blinked several times. The mists were not in the house, but it was as though she could feel them surrounding her, enveloping her.
"Lee, why do I feel so odd?" she asked. Her voice sounded all wrong in her ears as she spoke. The house was bathed in shadow, but even the light that was visible had an uncanny strangeness to it. "This is all wrong," she added. "Kish was right about feeling it, feeling the difference, whatever he said. Everything is changing around us."
Lee walked over and took her hand.
"You might be right, Lantashi. But it could just be a weather event too. Something new, new to us anyway. We have to see a little bit of what is going on outside."
"Are you crazy? There are wild animals out there!"
Lee smiled. "Of course there are, Lantashi. We're in the Upper Peninsula. There are always wild animals."
"Not where I spend my time!" the woman's voice showed she was on the edge of panic. "Even your touch, it feels different." Actually, unlike the other senses, the feeling of touch seemed several times enhanced, more sensitive. Her clothes against her skin, Lee's hand, in some ways it felt like she was much more alive, but terrified at the same time.
Lee squeezed her hand gently, then let go. He walked to an entry way that led to the next room, a small kitchen and dining area, that had the glass doors leading to the deck. He walked to the glass doors and peered outside. The mist was thick and rolled past the doors, but right now everything was quiet.
"You can't go out there!" Lantashi declared. "You'll be mauled, killed and eaten by a bear, a wolf, and a coyote!"
"All three?" Lee asked. Part of him wanted to laugh, if the situation wasn't so serious. He knew though that his friend was scared, and he didn't want to belittle her. He also now wished he owned a gun, even though his aim was just a little more than is ability to fly, which was of course nonexistent. Instead he walked over to the kitchen counter, and drew a sharp blade out of a knife-block. He walked back to the glass doors, and peered outside. Lantashi came up beside her, grabbing his arm.
"I wish I was more like Samantha," she admitted. "Sammy is strong, brave, she always has things together."
"She's incredible," Lee said, patting her hand. "She might know more what to do. I'm at a loss."
"Maybe we can drive to the college!" Lantashi suggested. "The school buildings are really big, several floors, and even on the weekend there would be other people there. And a lot of expertise in different fields. We have Forestry teachers there. They probably know what is going on."
Lee considered that. The college was only seven or eight miles from his house in South Range. He could normally drive there in under ten minutes, even with traffic. In this fog, it might take as long as half an hour to be safe.
"That's not a bad idea," Lee said. "Houghton is probably safer anyway. We'll just have to be careful getting there. At any rate, I'm not going out there in my pajamas. Give me just a minute." Lee walked left the living room walking down the hallway to his bedroom. Lantashi, scared, followed after him.
At his doorway, he turned, and gave her a smile. "Everything will be fine. I will be right out."
A minute later Lee emerged, fully clothed in a long-sleeved purple sweatshirt and jeans. He again held the kitchen knife in his hand. Lantashi noted muscular form underneath his shirt. And Lee was huge, well over six feet tall, making her feel tiny. But she also felt that he would try to protect her. She didn't feel safe. But she didn't feel alone either.
"Let's go," Lantashi said. "We can take my Miata. It can get there really fast."
Lee shook his head.
"Not in this fog. We have to go slow anyway. Let's go in my Grand Cherokee. And it is probably safer with the animals about. We'll come back for your car when the weather clears."
"Okay, okay," Lantashi said in a whisper, afraid that by talking she would attract the attention of the animals, even though they were deep into Lee's house.
They left the hallway, and made their way through his house to the front door. Lee and Lantashi took a moment to pull on their boots and took their jackets from the pegs on the wall, sliding them on.
Lee was growing more concerned. The distortion of the senses had happened the last time he entered the fog, with Kish and Samantha. But it had not been this strong. This time, even his balance felt a bit off. Still, the last thing he wanted to do was hole up in his house. It wasn't made to be secure.
At the front door, before opening it, Lee turned to Lantashi.
"It's a ten or twenty second walk to the Cherokee. That fog is horrible. Hold onto me and we'll get there and inside. If it starts, we'll work our way to the college. If not we go back inside."
"Alright," Lantashi whispered, gripping her friend's hand. She looked up at him, placing her trust in his protection.
The knife gripped in his left hand, Lee awkwardly gripped the door handle and turned. He slowly opened the door, listening for movement. The mists were very thick, and he could only see a foot or two ahead.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lee asked.
"No. Yes. No. Just go," said Lantashi.
They both stepped forward, in the fog.
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