The Fog

Chapter One

She woke up to a start and hurried into the bathroom. She washed her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her black hair was shattered and tangled. She frowned her lips and sighed. Her fair African skin glowed that morning. She ruffled her tangled hair in frustration.

"Again? I thought they left." She sighed. "Crap. Would we still go on that trip?"

After some minutes she got put of the bathroom in a bathrobe, then got into her walk-in closet. She got out later in her school uniform; blue sleeveless jacket, blue flay knee length skirt and cream inner long sleeved shirt. Sh sat in front of her make-up mirror and took care of her face and hair. Once done, she wore her knee length white socks and her flat black shoes. She stood up and picked up her bag from her bag hanger, then headed out. Her hair was permed and jerry coiled, held with some clips.

"Morning, mom." She greeted as she got into the dinning area. She took her seat opposite her mother and opened her plate.

"What did you dream of this time, Chidi." Her mom asked with a calm expression.

Chidi gave a sigh as she ate. "Nothing much to put my mind on."

"Chidi!" Her mother called softly. "You know you can tell me if you have 'the' dream. I would believe you."

Chidi sighed and looked away. "Mom."

"Yes."

"Do you think The Fogs are gone?"

Her mother paused. "The Fogs? I believe they are. Your father died after killing the last Fog."

Chidi shook her head. "Mom, they just killed two people. I saw it. They are back again. Maybe that last Fog had a child or something." She sighed and ate a spoonful. "It's scary to think of."

Her mother sighed. "Even if they are back, you can kill them. Remember? Your dad passed on his powers to you."

Chidi sighed in fear, looking around.

"When you were conceived, God showed your father how powerful you will be. God told your father he can be rest assured 'cause you would do even more than him and save even more people. After God said that, your father kept singing praises DA and night. When you were born I saw the glory of God on you and I was moved." Her mother narrated.

Chidi blinked away tears. "I'm scared."

"You are my daughter. Chidiebere Chukwueze, the only daughter of Simon Chukwueze, the chosen one of God. Who shall you fear?" Her mother asked.

"I know." Chidi said and pouted. She focused on eating her food for few seconds, then sighed and looked up at her mom. "I'd be going on a school trip today."

"I remember."

"It's to the forest. We want to explore the wild life and how some trees nd mountains look like. The trip is till tomorrow, so we'd sleep over there in tents. I'm worried The Fogs would attack out tent."

Her mother nodded. " God will save you and who ever believes in Him. Don't worry, you would be safe and whoever you want you save, shall be saved. Have peace."

Chidi nodded. "Okay. Bye." She got up picked her bag and headed out.

Chidi was dropped off in front of her school. She waved her driver goodbye and walked into the school compound. It was a high rising school with tall vuils all used as classes. A storey building was next to one of the hall buildings which was used as the cafeteria.

Chidi was soon sandwiched by her friends who hugged and greeted her which she reciprocated to. Her friends consisted of two boys and two girls. She had only one fair skinned male friend while the others were chocolate dark and their skin radiated. Her female friends both braided similar styles and packed it the same way.

"So, what's up?" Lily asked as they moved towards their class building which had a board on it. ENGINEERING.

"Nothing much." Chidi shrugged.

"Nothing much? That's what you say when there's a lot on your mind. Spill." David, her fair skinmed friend, urged.

Chidi sighed and shook her head. " Forget it. Let's just focus on our class and the trip ahead."

"Oo oh! That's great! Our trip to the forest!" Nancy exclaimed jumping for joy.

Roland chuckled. "Cute."

"I just hope everything goes positive." Chidi sighed.

"It would!" Lily assured.

David turned to Chidi with a suspicious gaze then sighed. " With God with us, it would go positive."

Chidi sighed. "Amen."

"Anyways, did you see Annabelle? Damn! She looks so takeaway!" Nancy changed the topic.

"Yeah! She even made a new hair and took a lot of perfumes as if she is going on a date!" Lily commented.

David noticed Chidi's sad expression and brushed his hands over hers making her turn to him. "Did you see something? You look off."

Chidi sighed and looked away.

By noon the students flooded out towards the school bus. Chidi strolled slowly with her friends at the back. She help the hand on her bag as it was at her back. She rarely took note of the chaos around her. She got into the bus and took a seat at the window. David sat next to her. Roland and Nancy sat behind, while Lily sat in front with a guy.

"Are you scared of death?" Chidi asked in a small voice which made David turn.

"I'm not scared of death, but I'm scared of dying painfully." David replied. "Why ask?"

"Tonight would be a scary one for sure."

"Don't be negative."

"I'm being honest not negative. Believe me or not. Just pray for the ones you love and for yourself. Some will not survive tonight." Chidi sighed then stared at the road as the car moved.

Once they arrived at their camp spot in the forest, the crew got down and was led by their teachers. Chidi looked around suspiciously as the night was fast approaching. The students quickly got to work and in no time the tents were all set up. Once the tents were set up, the teachers took them for a quick tour. The moved into the forest, through the sparse trees and grassy land. They saw some wierd looking trees and jotted down what they observed. Chidi only stared at every tree the teachers spoke on and didn't write anything. Some students snapped the trees and some videod it to have a soft copy. Chidi didn't even have a calm expression or an impressed expression. She was worried of the incident which was to happen that night. David walked next to her and noticed her worried expression. Her tapped her shoulders which made her turn.

"Did you see The Fogs?" David whispered.

Chidi turned to him in shock. "How..."

"I know about the Fogs." David informed.

"Are...are u related to...it's not...no one..."

David smiled. "I know they are back. I also saw what happened last night."

Chidi gasped.

"Focus! Chidi, why are you being distracted?" A teacher asked

Chidi sighed. "Sorry, Mrs Amanda."

"It's okay." Mrs Amanda said with a smile. "So tomorrow we'd head to the mountains."

Night approached faster than anyone expected. The students all got into their tents but the teachers still sat around the camp fire. Chidi later on the camp mat in between Lily and Nancy. She later face up still feeling troubled. She sighed and closed her eyes for a nice rest but her mind drifted to the time her father passed away.

Chidi rushed down the stairs as she heard the front door open. She had a bright smile on her face as her hair was ruffled, since she was in bed already. She found her father before the door with open arms. She rushed to him and gave him a big hug. Her mother came out of the kitchen with a bowl of water.

"Oh! My baby girl! You have grown a lot! You are now heavy!" Her father chuckled.

Chidi grinned like a child. "I ate a lot since mommy said you will be back soon. I even prepared a gift for you. Should I bring it?"

Her mother laughed and placed the bowl on the glass table in the room. "Chidi! Calm down now! Your dad just came back! Let him eat and rest first. Tomorrow is another day."

Chidi pouted and turned to her dad." Daddy, did you buy me anything?"

"Look at you. A big girl disturbing her dad for junks."

"Leave her!" Her dad said wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "I missed my baby girl."

Chidi grinned. "I missed my daddy too."

"Come and wash your hand, abeg." Her mother urged with a light laugh.

As her father moved towards the table, he suddenly froze. He looked up at his wife with wide eyes. He blinked and coughed out blood. Chidi screamed and moved away. Her mother gasped.

"Daddy!" Chidi screamed.

He looked at them in horror. He blinked and tried touching the table but his hand moved through it. He gasped silently and said something which they couldn't hear. He looked at his daughter as she hagen to cry. He couldn't hear them nor could they hear him. He began to hear the ticking of the scream of a baby then a shout of a child. It stopped abruptly and a fog slowly came into the door. It was visible to everyone in the room. The fog went around her father and chocked him. Her screamed but it wasn't heard. His eyes burnt and blood flowed out from every opening in his head. Chidi and her mother screamed. Chidi rushed to her father and tries to pull him out of the fog, but a force threw her to the wall. She banged her head against the wall and fell unconscious.

Chidi sat up quickly and looked around. Her bedmates were fast asleep already. She got up and went out of the tent. She greeted the teachers who were still outside and looked around.

"You should be sleeping." A voice said. She turned and saw David on log. "Come. Sit."

Chidi gave a small smile and went to sit next him. "You are up."

"Couldn't fall asleep. You know the sounds of the forest puts me off."

"Then why did you pay for the trip?"

He smiled and looked away. "I came for you. U need someone at this time. You know, The Fog thing."

She nodded. "I re-lived my fathers death when I tried to sleep, so there's no point sleeping."

"I heard how he died. They attacked him even after death. You must have been scarred. How did you even sleep?"

She sighed and looked around. "I couldn't. Every time I actually slept was a nightmare. Either I dream of my mom dying or me, just the same way my father died. When I had the dream about The Fogs return I grew scared. I shiver just at the thought of them. I only hope they don't attack us. I don't think I can face such scary beast."

"You should be scared. Just pray and believe. The Fogs can't hurt you if you want to hurt them. They'd get scared and run. So let's have that feisty spirit and scare the scary beasts." David said with a reassuring smile.

Chidi turned to him and blinked. "How come you know all these? Are you also a Vetgan?"

He smiled and nodded. "Somewhat."

"My dad told me he wasn't the only one and he was right. Not only our family has this gift. Is it also in your family?"

He nodded. "My uncle had it and it passed down to me. My dad doesn't believe such things exist and I pity him."

She nodded. "My mom barely believed it until she had a near death experience. It changed her for good."