15: D+1 Grayson's trail.^^^^*^^^^*^^^^*^^^^*^^^^*^^^^*^^^^
Deeper into the woods the search continued. Luke, Conner and the others moved between trees and uneven ground, calling Grayson's name, yet nothing.
The sun was completely out now, but it didn't help much. The forest still felt dim under the thick canopy of the tree branches.
Their clothes were damp with sweat and their steps heavy from lack of sleep. Their bodies carefully moved past branches and wet itchy leaves that clung to their skins and shoes.
Every direction looked the same, as tired sighs escaped their lips, with huffs of doubts.
One of the boys stopped, his posture rigid. He looked behind him, and then stared back at the others.
"Do you really think he came this far?" He spoke hoarsely. Their steps slowed at his words, but Luke still continued.
"I can't even see the school anymore."
The words hit them fully, as another agreed with him. A few of them shifted uneasily, as Luke breathed out through his nose, his fingers dragging down his forehead once.
"You saw the marks right?" His voice came through low. "they led this way—"
"Yeah," Conner cut in, his voice sharp as he stepped closer, his gaze scanning the woods. "But that trail ended way back."
He paused, his eyes fell on Luke.
"You even know where we're going?"
Conner's hand shook at his side. The question lingered longer than it should have, as the group exchanged glances.
Luke's jaw tightened.
"If you want to stop, stop," he said flatly. "No one is forcing you."
"Seriously?" Conner huffed, dragging a hand through his hair. "At this point we are just….walking around hoping to get lucky."
Luke didn't look back. "We keep searching." His tone was firm. No debate followed, but the air tightened anyway. The group continued, less certain now, while a few slowed without realising it, glancing between Luke's back and the darker stretch of the path ahead.
A voice suddenly broke through from behind them."Guys!"
Everyone turned. A boy ran toward them through the trees, breathing hard. He stopped a few steps short from them, his hands on his knees for a second before standing up.
"What's going on?" He asked, staring at their grey expressions.
Luke's gaze sharpened."Did you find something?"
"Yeah." The boy said with a nod. "Come on."
They didn't hesitate, everyone rushed quickly, relief flashing across their faces thinking Grayson had been found.
But instead, the boy stopped as he pointed at the massive wall of thick fog that stretched between the trees.
"What the hell is that?" Conner took careful steps closer as he passed his finger through the wall.
"I think it's fog." The boy who had called for them said, Conner's eyes widened at his words as he remembered the last conversation he had with Grayson.
"But fog doesn't form like this." The young man who had called their attention added, amusement faint in his voice
"I agree," another chimed in. " i've never seen fog this thick."
Murmurs spread through the group.
But Luke wasn't listening, his expression hadn't changed. Unlike the others, he already knew about it.
But he had no idea the fog stretched this far into the woods.
Why was it there too? The thought crossed his mind, he had assumed the fog only surrounded the town's exit.
A faint unease crawled under his skin. Quickly, he shook it off. "We are wasting time," he said. "Let's go back." He turns around, barely taking a few steps before something crunches under his shoe.
Luke stopped, his eyes dropped to the ground. Dark sunglasses bent slightly at the side.
Conner quickly stepped beside him, his eyes darkened. "I know those." He muttered picking it up.
Another student leans closer, curiosity visible in his features. "Aren't those Tommy's?"
"Yeah." Conner replied slowly, "He gave them to Grayson yesterday because his eyes hurt."
The group paused, the silence between them stretched as realization hit. Conner's fingers tightened around the glasses.
Luke's gaze lifted ahead as it swept the place, then fell on a broken branch bent downward.
He moved closer, and the bark was scraped like something had been dragged through.
Their eyes followed the trail, leading straight into the fog. The atmosphere immediately changed.
Conner chest expanded, and lessened as he drew in a breath.
One of the boys stepped back, breathing suddenly uneven.
Luke stared at that trail for a long second, then he spoke.
"Grayson came this way." His head lifted forward toward the others, "We are close."