chapter 7:Mist and Mayhem

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the strange house, illuminating the sleeping forms of the teenagers. Haze called out, her voice cheerful, "wake up, sleepy heads."

Orion groggily opened his eyes, rubbing the crusty drool from his face with his forearm. He sat up, looking around in confusion.

"What happened?" he mumbled, his gaze falling upon the unfamiliar surroundings.

His eyes widened in horror as realization dawned. "It was not a dream… fuck me!" he cried out, throwing his hands up in despair.

Haze smiled wistfully, her eyes clouding over with memories of her family. "I know… there's never a day that goes by that I don't hope… maybe all of this could be a dream.

And that one day, I'd wake up from it."

Her voice trailed off, lost in thought. She stepped outside, beckoning the others to follow. "Fix yourselves something to eat and let's get going."

Jaxon yawned, stretching his arms. "Going where? Don't you live here?" he asked, confusion etched on his face.

Haze laughed, a hint of mischief in her voice. "Silly you, of course not. I could never build such a house, especially one that's way up here."

Orion's whole body began to panic, his eyes darting wildly around the room. "So what you're saying is that we are intruding into someone's home? We are good as dead!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with fear.

Orion's voice rose in urgency, "who knows what creature lives in here? Maybe a killer rat or I'll do you one better, birds of prey!Anyways….we are fucked if we don't get out of here now."

Haze raised an eyebrow, amused. "Is he always this dramatic?"

Jaxon shook his head, concerned. "Not really, I think he's really starting to lose it"

Haze placed a calming hand on Orion's shoulder. "Relax mister. Nothing is coming for anybody.These houses are empty."

Orion's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "What could have caused their death?"

Haze's voice deepened, taking on a ominous tone. "More like whom?"

Jaxon's eyes widened. "You think someone or something did this?"

Haze's expression turned serious. "Look around you guys... The forest is basically crying for help."

Jaxon and Orion exchanged a glance, then looked around, really looked, for the first time. They had been blinded by their fear of being killed and their will to return home, turning a blind eye to the forest's suffering.

"It-it's dying," Orion whispered, his voice laced with horror.

Haze's voice was grave. "Something or someone is draining the life out of everything that exists in here."

The three stood in silence, taking in the desolate landscape. Trees stood bare, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching towards the sky. The air was heavy with the scent of decay, and the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the faint whisper of leaves rustling in the wind.

Orion spat out, "Jeez louise."

Haze continued, her voice urgent, "That is why we can't stay here for too long. Whatever came for them will surely come for us."

Jaxon and Orion quickly fixed themselves something to eat, though the food was scarce and unappetizing. They prepared themselves to follow Haze, who led them deeper into the forest.

As they walked, Orion took the lead, his curiosity getting the best of him. He stopped to examine wildflowers, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Beautifully rare, I have never seen such a flower before," he said, thoroughly studying the bloom.

Haze raised an eyebrow, amused. "What's up with him?" she asked Jaxon.

Jaxon chuckled. "He went to flower camp... so it's kinda his thing"

Haze smiled. "Makes sense."

Jaxon hummed, "umm, can I ask you a question?" he asked Haze, his voice hesitant.

Haze nodded, her expression serious. "Go ahead."

Jaxon asked, his curiosity piqued, "how did you get here? How did you come into this weird world?"

Haze smiled, a faraway look in her eyes.

"Well…I was studying for an upcoming test."

The scene shifted into memory as haze recollected what had happened

Haze was studying for an upcoming test, feeling the pressure mount as she moved from her bed to her little study table where her books were neatly packed.

She picked up her notebook to jot down some important notes, but as she touched it, the cover was suddenly enveloped in flames…beautiful silvery flames. These flames were unlike any she had ever seen; they didn't burn but shimmered with a mystical glow.

Startled yet mesmerized, Haze watched as the book flipped open spontaneously. The pages displayed a detailed map of the nine realms, vibrant with life but rapidly succumbing to an encroaching darkness.

She could see forests withering, oceans darkening, and cities falling into ruin, all consumed by a sinister force.

Curiosity overcame her fear, and she reached out, passing her hand over the pages. Suddenly, letters danced in the notebook to from words, "I read them out loud."

In an instant, the silvery flames leaped from the book to her hand, enveloping her completely. She felt herself shrinking, her surroundings spinning out of control. The world around her blurred, and everything went dark.

When Haze opened her eyes, she was no longer in her room. She found herself lying on the forest floor, surrounded by withering trees and a sky tinged with an unnatural purple hue. The air was thick with a negative aura that sent chills down her spine. Dazed and confused, she realized she was no longer in her world.

Jaxon replied, "Whoa. We were sucked in while playing a game. It was petrifying. But knowing you, I'm sure you didn't freak out."

Haze laughed, a hint of mischief in her voice.

"Boy, I lost my cool and almost lost my sanity. I didn't know what to do. What gave me comfort was when I discovered my supernatural abilities. This is a dangerous place…and it filled me with hope and courage that I had something to defend myself.

From then till now, I have one goal….to master my control over the mist."

Jaxon nodded, inspired by haze's words and courage. "And how does your mist whooshing thing work?"

Haze giggled, "funny. Ummm, okay.

Mist is basically cold air… So where there's cold air…there's mist."

But before she could continue, Jaxon suddenly put his finger on her lips, his eyes wide with warning. "Shush," he whispered urgently.

Haze removed his hand, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What is it…do you hear something? She whispered back.

Jaxon nodded, his ears straining to listen into the silence. And then, he heard it. A low menacing growl.

Jaxon's heart skipped a beat as his eyes fell into contact with the creature's eyes. He gulped the lump in his throat, his mind racing with fear.

Haze turned to follow his gaze, and her eyes widened as she saw it too. It stared right into their souls.

Jaxon called out, his voice trembling slightly.

"Orion, I need you to calm down."

Orion, oblivious to the danger, continued to examine the surrounding foliage until he heard the growl right behind him. He spun around, his eyes wide with fear, as he took pin the terrifying sight.

Jaxon replied, his voice low and urgent, "one fidget and you're goner."

Haze asked, her eyes fixed on the creature, "what is that thing?"

Jaxon replied, his voice steady, "some people call it a puma, others a cougar, but I know it as 'Leon de montãna'."

Haze shook her head, her voice laced with fear, "fuck this!"

Jaxon shook his head, his eyes pleading, "Do something, haze!"

Haze tried to control the mist, but she was all out of luck. The mist she summoned was weak….too weak.

Orion cried out, his voice trembling, "help me!"

The puma let out a big growl, its eyes fixed on Orion.

"Haze!!!" Screamed Jaxon.

Haze tried to control the mist again, but nothing happened. "C'mon….not now! Fuck me," she muttered, her hands shaking with fear.

The puma took a step closer, its muscles tensed, ready to pounce. Orion's eyes were wide with terror, his body frozen in fear.

Jaxon's eyes were fixed on haze, pleading with her to do something, anything, to save them. But haze's powers seemed to have deserted her, leaving them all at the mercy of the predator.