Calling from the Mist

Return

“Well this town hasn’t changed at all”

The quaint town of Shieldwood was a sought after destination for it’s beautiful vistas and high-bred clientele. Not your typical family resort town that was for sure. It was also one of the (many) reasons that Misty Alder had left in the first place.

She absolutely loved trekking in the mountains, camping under the stars and breathing in so much nature all around her, but the people were insufferable.

And yet, here she was, back in her hometown, pulling her old blue beetle up to a vintage shop and sighing as if she had never left.

Her parents were hippies through and through, waving her off on her adventures with smiles and a nonchalance Misty had grown used to. She was 18 when she left for college in the big city, but Misty would always remember her mother pulling her aside and speaking in a tone Misty had never heard before.

‘No matter what you have to come back, okay?’

It wasn’t up for debate, and although Misty had agreed she wasn’t planning on moving back. Except, as soon as she graduated with a diploma in animal sciences, the wildlife station back in her hometown had contacted her with a job prospect. It was too good to pass up, and although Misty would never consider herself lazy, it was definitely an easy option. So she packed up her tiny car and headed home.

With another sigh Misty slid out of her blue beetle, thankful for her small statue. She was barely over five feet in height, athletically built from her mountain trekking but lamenting the fact she would never be one of those skinny girls with the coveted ‘thigh gap’. Thankfully, her boobs were a nice size and fit her proportions, although she was always too pale for her own liking. Misty ran her fingers through her long, wavy, raven-black hair in order to tie it back in a loose braid. She had wanted to cut it all off when she left her small town, but somewhere deep down she felt like she would regret it.

No more doddling! Misty strode through the door with purpose, readjusting her ita bag on her shoulder and trying not to fidget. She loved her bag, given to her before her departure by her best friend Micheal. It was shaped like a wolf’s head, with a see-through window where she could stick pins and buttons from her collection.

The shop was exactly as she had remembered, busy with items but not messy, light and bright just like her mother. That same mother that was bursting through the beaded curtain from the back room and making a beeline for Misty.

“Oh my baby!” A tall, willowy woman with long dangly earrings and so many scarves on she could have been a magician took the smaller young woman in her arms tightly. Misty rolled her eyes as she was covered in kisses and pretending to hate every second of it.

“Mom, please! I had a video chat with you last night!” Misty groaned, trying to wiggle away but quickly giving up.

“Nonsense! I haven’t gotten to hold you in three years. I am due for a recharge!”

Misty managed to suffer through, not a stranger to her mother’s affections. In fact, she was the only person that ever touched or held Misty. She was a loner in high school, not bothering to make friends, avoiding people in general and focusing more on animals. She spent most of her time volunteering at the animal shelter or trekking through the mountains. That meant no shopping, no parties, and no dating.

When Misty’s mother finally let her go she felt a small pang of loss, quickly brushing it off and shaking her head clear.

“Is dad at work?” Misty asked, trying not to sigh once again as she already knew the answer.

“O-oh… yes! He’s at the main resort getting ready. It’s so exciting, Misty, the Marabelle Villa is being opened!”

That was odd.

There was the main resort area, an enormous building, full of everything you could ever imagine. But wealthy families also owned separate villas high in the mountains, with the biggest being the Marabelle Villa, with it’s own private lake. Only the family that owned that Villa could stay there, and they hadn't bothered to come around for nearly ten years.

“Hmm, fascinating~” Misty feigned interest, or rather her mother already knew and decided not to add anything further. “Well, I’m going to go check out the wildlife station after I drop off my things if you need me-”

*Oompf*

Misty had walked into something hard as soon as she was out the door, grumbling under her breath and ready to yell at whoever wasn’t paying attention.

“Woah there missy~ Be careful!”

That nickname, there was only one person who was allowed to call Misty by that nickname.

Her eyes slowly trailed upwards, more so than she ever remembered as her hands squeezed on impulse. Squeezed muscular pecs on impulse.

Misty’s mouth was open in shock at just how much her childhood friend had grown up. Gone was the skinny boy with acne and two left feet, and in his place was a charming young man. His sandy blonde hair was still parted down the middle, but he had a buzz cut underneath that absolutely worked. Micheal's features were more defined as well, his soft brown eyes behind round lens glasses actually seemed to fit him super well. And those *muscles* seemed to go on forever, nice arms that wrapped around Misty’s waist-

“Oh! Sorry!” Misty nearly jumped back in surprise, embarrassed by what had just happened. She was actually ogling her childhood friend?! The same boy that pulled on her pigtails as a kid?!

“No worries Missy~ You look… really good!” Micheal’s voice seemed lower too, a light pink blush on his cheeks as he drew a hand through his shiny hair.

“Y-you’re just saying that! It’s been three years afterall…” Misty couldn’t think of anything else to say, embarrassed by her own brain but… Something seemed wrong.

The way Micheal looked at her as if he knew a secret, a darkness fluttering behind his gaze that almost made Misty shivered. But just as quickly as it appeared it had vanished.

“There’s a bonfire tonight down by Lake Sincoe, Maybe I’ll see you there!” Micheal had turned to leave, waving over his shoulder and not really giving Misty a chance to say anything in reply. Had he always been a bonfire kind of person? Misty wasn’t sure, but there was one thing that she did know.

Her hometown was odd to say the very least.

~