Fog

How long had it been now? There was no way to tell anymore. The fog was white and thick, as if this was a giant lit room filled with nitrogen fog from a machine. The lighting never changed, but it didn't matter. Exhaustion never came either. No matter how long, standing never hurt the feet, there was no warmth, there was no noise. There was only words to express what minimal stimuli existed in that place.

There was a girl. She couldn't remember her name. She only remembered one name, and it was the only thing that mattered. Could she tell you why? No. She just knew she had to find him. Mark was far away again.

She wished she could find him and end this, whatever this was. She couldn't tell if the fog was in her eyes or if it was around her, but it covered everyone and everything, except Mark. He glowed. She knew she needed to get close to him, but every time she did and he saw her, and he would run. She had to follow him but he travelled so fast, or was she just slow? When he stayed in one area he glowed brighter and brighter. Lately she was able to see him on the horizon. He was so small. He had been further away before, no bigger than pencil lead. Didn't he know that she needed him?

She started to walk, that's all she could ever do. Every so often she realized as she got close, that Mark was older. He was probably a late teen by now and he had become so handsome, but she could tell he was tired. Maybe if she could get to him, he could rest with her. She really hoped he could. Something inside her twisted when she saw him in this state.

Recently, he had been smiling so much more. There were dim shapes now that he left light on with his touch. She couldn't tell what was causing this, but she assumed it was good, since these shapes made him smile, and when he was with two of them, he slept.

Mark didn't look for her anymore. In this new place, he was focused on something else. Maybe he was ready for her, maybe she could get to him.

Feeling like a body in water, weightless, painless, and cold, she walked once more. She wasn't sure how long she had been just standing still and watching him. When he moved the last time, it hadn't been very far. She had been pushed away, lifted off her feet and slowly, a pressure on her body moved her backwards. Did she always have to start over when he moved? There was something around him that moved her away when he left a location, and what were the parameters of these locations? He could move a few miles, maybe the size of a few city blocks at a time. She could get close.

Her thoughts spun in circles as she watched him. He smiled at the other shapes, leaving more color on them as he touched and held them. She wanted to be held again, but something was wrong. He rubbed his chest absently as he talked, his voice travelling far but so muffled.

He glanced, something spiking harshly through her. It wasn't painful, but it was shocking. The word was probably adrenaline, but she wasn't sure. She took a step to the side, and somehow she was behind him. She was the same distance away, but completely opposite him. There were other noises breaking through now.

"Who is she?" A female asked.

"I don't know who you mean." Mark responded. His smile dropped entirely.

"You know I saw her, you acknowledged I could see her." The girl protested. She was glowing dimly, and only her hands and face.

"I know you aren't stupid, you know I wouldn't keep things from you and Bash unless I had to. Why would you push this?" Mark said, almost in tears. She moved slightly away from him.

"Because she is closer, Mark. Dearest, I'm scared. I know the legends around bl-..."She started but Mark cut her off by holding up his hand.

"You're putting us both in danger. I'll tell you when I can, but for now I can't say anything or some dangerous people may hear. Now stop asking." Mark took the girl's hand.

The other girl reached through the fog for him, and he felt her. A shiver ran down his spine and he tensed. That wasn't the reaction she wanted. She was trying so hard to comfort him. She wanted him to rest. He needed to rest. She started to walk again, making her way to him. He rubbed his chest and wheezed once like the air had been knocked from his chest. Their voices faded as she concentrated on one thing. She needed to get to him, it was urgent. She always forgot the urgency when he moved away, but close to him now, she felt the tug, the yearning, the hunger, and the need that came with proximity. It was life or death; It was the reason she continued through the fog, cold penetrating her to her bones.

"I'm scared too." Mark admitted, looking at her now. She somehow hid, his light obscured by an object she couldn't see. She put her hands on it and peeked around, just barely glimpsing him. He could see her, but he didn't respond, just looked away and looked ill, " She was only this close one other time."

"What happened?" He was asked.

"I had a heart attack." He said, blankly. If it had been anyone else listening in they may have even laughed. It was such a dark subject but he had shrugged with a small smirk, as if nothing was wrong, as if everyone has heart attacks at sixteen.