Chapter 5: a stranger
He left the chapel behind, he didn't look back.
There was nothing for him there, just the cold, burning reminder that he didn't belong in this world.
The path ahead was narrow, curving and foggy. He didn't have any real direction, just more of that pale gray glow, but it was thicker now. The fog hugged the ground around him like creeping things, rising slowly as he passed by, swallowing his legs as he walked.
Then, without caution, he heard a sound. He slowed his steps. It was a howl, low and sharp.
Not from any real-time animals he knew. It echoed around the forest like it came from one too many mouths at once.
Some were high-pitched, others were low growls. He stopped, cold sweat trickling down his chest. Little rodents and animals scattered away in fear.
He slowly pulled out the dagger in his pouch, but it felt useless compared to whatever was watching him.
Another howl came. It sounded like it was closer this time, and his heartbeat quickened.
The mist around him thickened, curling all around him. He couldn't see more than a few feet ahead, but he noticed shapes moving just outside his field of vision. Shadows flickering in and out like dying candles, always shifting.
Then it suddenly stopped, like everything went still.
Then, without warning, something jumped out of the fog. It hit him hard.