Chapter 3 - The Night of The Dense Fog
It was a beautiful winter night one of those rare full moon nights when the sky glows softly. The moon shone brightly above, yet its light failed to touch the surface of the earth. A thick layer of fog stood in its way, swallowing the moonlight before it could reach the ground.
A two lane road leading toward the city, a car moved slowly through the fog.
It was already 10:00 p.m.
The road was almost deserted... most likely because of the fog.
Inside the car sat Police Officer Harris (42), his wife Reena, and their two sons, aged around twelve and fourteen.
The boys were seated in the back, completely absorbed in their video game.
The family was returning home after a dinner party at a relative's house.
Harris was driving calmly as the car moved steadily toward the city. Bushes lined the roadside, along with stretches of green fields. Above them, the moon glowed behind drifting clouds, scattered stars faintly visible through the haze.
The view - fog, moonlight, open road was strangely beautiful.
It almost felt like traveling through heaven.
Reena broke the silence, irritation clear in her voice.
"I told you we should've left early. But who listens to me?"
She glanced outside nervously.
"Now look at us, wandering on this deserted road so late at night."
Without taking his eyes off the road, Harris replied casually,
"Relax. We're only nine kilometers away from the city. We'll be home in twenty or twenty five minutes."
Reena frowned.
"It's already very late. Look around... there isn't a single car on the road."
Harris shrugged.
"Of course not. In this fog, who would come out at ten at night?"
Reena's uneasiness grew.
"I don't like passing through this deserted area so late."
Harris chuckled lightly.
"What deserted area? Look properly. These are just bushes. Beyond them are fields, and there must be village houses not far from here. Besides, you know I'm a police officer. Late night patrolling is part of my job."
He added confidently,
"And I've got duty tomorrow morning. You know police officers don't get leave easily."
Reena sighed.
"Fine… just drive faster. I'll only feel at peace once we're home."
Harris smiled faintly.
"Instead of worrying, look outside. The view is beautiful."
Then he called out to the boys,
"Hey, idiots! Put that game down for a moment and look outside. Moonlight, fog what a Beautiful view!"
Reena shot him a look.
"This isn't beautiful. It's terrifying."
Harris turned on the music system, and an old song filled the car.
With one hand on the steering wheel, he reached for a cigarette.
Before he could light it, Reena snatched it away.
"No smoking. And drive properly. Let's get home quickly."
Harris sighed but obeyed.
A few minutes later, Reena noticed something that made her uneasy.
As they moved forward, the fog seemed to grow thicker... denser than before. The surroundings were slowly disappearing into a pale gray wall.
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Harris… are you seeing this? The fog is getting worse."
"Yes, I see it," Harris replied calmly.
"It's normal. We have fog lights. We'll reach home safely."
Reena shook her head.
"Nothing feels right to me tonight."
Harris tried to reassure her.
"You're just nervous because this is your first time traveling on a foggy night like this. Stay positive."
But Reena couldn't relax.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead. All she wanted was to reach home as soon as possible.
A little further ahead, something caught her attention.
Through the fog, she noticed red lights glowing near the roadside.
The fog was too thick to see clearly.
Harris instinctively slowed the car.
Reena asked anxiously,
"What is that?"
"We'll know once we get closer," Harris replied.
As they approached, both Harris and Reena realized what it was.
A car had crashed into a large tree by the side of the road.
Its rear lights were still on. Smoke rose from the bonnet, blending into the fog.
Harris stopped their car immediately.
"Oh no…" he said seriously.
"There's been an accident."
Reena panicked.
"I knew something was wrong. Please, let's go. Let's leave right now."
Harris shook his head.
"I'm a police officer. I have to check if someone is trapped inside."
He took a metal rod from under his seat.
Ignoring Reena's protests, Harris stepped out of the car and cautiously walked toward the crashed vehicle, scanning his surroundings.
Harris peered inside the damaged car.
It was empty.
No driver.
No passengers.
He frowned, confused.
After checking carefully, he returned to his car.
Reena leaned forward anxiously.
"What happened? Is anyone there?"
Harris replied,
"The lights are on, but no one's inside. Maybe someone else helped them out and took them to the hospital… or maybe they walked away to find a safe place."
Reena didn't feel convinced.
"Let's go. Please. The fog is getting thicker. I don't want to stay here."
Harris nodded and pulled out his phone to report the accident to the police station.
No signal.
He tried again.
Nothing.
With a sigh, Harris got back into the car and started driving toward the city again.
He asked Reena to try calling as well.
Her phone showed the same result.
No network.
And as they moved forward, the fog only grew denser... pressing in from all sides.
A short distance later, the car began to jerk.
It slowed… sputtered… then suddenly stopped.
Harris slammed his hand on the steering wheel.
"Oh no! This useless car had to break down now?"
Reena snapped, panic creeping into her voice.
"Now how are we supposed to get home? Do you even realize how late it is?"
Harris took a deep breath.
"Okay. Calm down. I'll fix it. We're close to the city, maybe five kilometers away."
Reena's voice shook.
"I'm scared now. Can't you call for help?"
Harris tried to sound confident.
"Don't worry. I'll manage. There's a resti and a petrol pump nearby. We can get help from there if needed."
Harris stepped out of the car.
He told Reena and the boys to stay inside and lock the doors.
Walking to the front, he opened the bonnet and began inspecting the engine using a torch.
He was completely unaware that this moonlit night was slowly being swallowed by something far darker.
Harris focused on the engine.
Then, suddenly... A thick wave of fog rolled in.
Within seconds, visibility dropped to barely two or three meters.
The fog wrapped itself around Harris… around the car… around everything.
Inside the car, Reena and the children watched in horror.
They couldn't understand what was happening.
The fog didn't feel natural.
It felt alive.
Reena's heart raced.
Worried about Harris, she slightly lowered the car window and called out,
"Harris! Come back inside! Please!"
No response.
She called again, louder.
"Harris!"
Still nothing.
Fear tightened her chest.
The fog pressed closer, swallowing the road, the trees, the night itself. And Harris,
He was nowhere to be seen.
After waiting for some time, Reena's fear grew unbearable.
Harris still hadn't returned.
Her heart pounded violently as panic took over.
Finally, she made a decision.
She turned toward the back seat and spoke firmly to her sons,
"Lock the doors from inside. Don't open them for anyone. Stay here, no matter what happens."
The boys nodded, fear clearly visible on their faces.
Reena switched on her phone's flashlight, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the car.
Calling out Harris's name, she walked toward the front of the car.
The bonnet was still open.
But Harris was nowhere to be seen.
"Harris!" she shouted loudly.
"Harris, where are you?"
There was no reply.
Only strange sounds echoed through the fog, eerie cries of nocturnal birds, unnatural and unsettling.
Her fear intensified.
Reena called out again, her voice trembling, and moved a little further ahead.
Just then... Another dense wave of fog rolled in.
Within seconds, it surrounded her completely.
Inside the car, the two boys sat alone.
They had no idea what was happening outside.
Minutes passed… then more.
Neither their father nor their mother returned.
Their fear slowly turned into silent terror.
Because of the thick fog, they were too scared to step outside.
So they stayed where they were, locked inside the car.
Nearly an hour passed.
The boys remained inside, alone and helpless.
Slowly, the fog began to thin.
The air felt lighter.
Visibility improved.
It was as if everything was returning to normal.
But their parents were still missing.
Now they could see the road clearly again.
The surroundings looked normal.
Next Chapter…