Chapter 1 Enshrouded

Bang!

The car door had finally snapped from its hinges causing it to skid across the road. 16 year old Fang Qian proceeded to crawl out of his car that had been flipped upside down by the explosion from an RPG launched from the hills above.

He peeked outside to see the whole road covered in a brownish odourless fog. Life was not going well for him , he had just been expelled from school after accidentally setting a bully on fire trying to stand up to him. He had a history of accidentally setting things on fire usually when he was startled or provoked. However after the unintentional attempt on the bully's life no school , university or job would want to take him.

He laid his left arm that was covered in shard wounds on the car's side and looked at the skid trail that disappeared into the fog. He witnessed two giant lizards in the distance who were lurking around the dismembered door. He didn't know how but he knew these were komodo dragons.

The lizards turned their attention to him and ran towards him with their forked tongues wavering in the air. Fang wanted to run but his leg was too injured. He then stood firm , concentrating energy into the space between his hands forming a small spark that dissipated as soon as it combusted.

The komodos were closing in and Fang noticed a puddle of oil that had leaked from the car , he knelt down feeling his legs' exposed wounds scraping on the ground and plunged his hands into the oil causing it to set on fire. The fire trailed from the oil to the skidded path filled with small flames from where the lizards were running. 

In just a matter of seconds both komodos were on fire and screaming in pain. After they had died Fang Qian continued his journey to the home on foot , limping in the process. Time after time he looked at his palms wondering where he got this ability from , his father , maybe, he died before he was born in fact he never even knew his name. 

***

The full moon was starting to rise as Fang finally reached his home. The wounds on his legs and arms had completely healed. He thought to himself how he would explain to her mother that his recent car had just been destroyed. Once he reached the lounge he saw his mother watching the ABC news with a grim expression on her face. On television a journalist was reporting about the recent fog that had passed through the town.

"Mom, I'm home." said Fang enthusiastically

"What happened to your car?" 

"Got destroyed."

"Were there any lizards chasing you?"

"Did you hear that from the news?"

"Yes, yes I did."

She took the remote and switched the TV off, never taking her eyes off him. 

"There's something your father and I kept a secret from you."

She knelt down to match her son's height and placed her hands on his shoulders.

" You know the dragon people you see in those anime?"

"Yes, what about them?"

"You are one of them Fang , you're a hybrid and they're people hunting you down."

Fang would have bursted in laughter but her mother Yin's expression prevented him.

"Pack your school stuff , or what's remaining of it. Tomorrow morning we're going to the State River."