Turned

Chapter One

The snow fell above, heavily from the sky, the trees blowing to shake it off, shivering as their bare branches made contact with each other, empty and alone, no leaves or birds, no usual chirping or rustling, no owls hooting but the echoing warning of naked trees groaning in the wind as it blew wildly, sweeping the dead leaves up into the air, hidden by the deep misty fog, beautiful, almost mystical in its way.

I squinted, trying to see through the fog but I could barely see my own hand, my fingers lost amongst the fog.

'Fool' I thought as I realised how much I regretted that second pint.

I was steady, holding myself well but I was unfit to drive and had idiotically spent any remaining money on a night out.

I should've got a taxi but I couldn't see any cash machines and was convinced they wouldn't take card.

I sighed and checked my phone, using it as a light source but it was useless, the fog was so dense, it was just a blindfold of mist, the cold air touching my exposed arms, every hair on them just shot up from the chill.

I cursed myself for many things, for my thin white t-shirt, simple blue denim jeans a size too big, forced into place with a tight belt.

I couldn't see them, I could just feel the winter's bite on my arms, coatless, uncovered my arms froze and all I could do is shake while trying to wade myself through the fog as one would water.

It was going to be a tale to tell the mates when I got home.

I looked at my phone, sighing at the words '60%', the light was useless and battery draining, just another thing I cursed myself for.

I turned it off but the damage was done, I didn't have a portable charger, I wished I'd brought one but I didn't, I foolishly didn't.

Stepping, I slipped into what I could only hope was mud but the smell gave away what it was, a dog's present that my nose refused to process more than necessary. My once clean denim jeans were not clean anymore.

I clung onto a large tree trunk, forcing myself up as I attempted with all my might to block out the smell.

The rough bark was difficult to grip, it threatened to flake, to peel off and send me back down again as I struggled to my feet, unsure as to why I was so weak.

My legs felt like jelly, they didn't want to move. I could force them to but I felt like a fish that had been hoisted out of water, onto the dry land that was just flopping and flailing about. It couldn't have been the pint, that second pint, it wasn't that strong for sure and I'd never had a problem like that before.

Forcing my legs to move, I could barely feel them as I moved slowly, stomping around, kicking up the leaves I couldn't see, the fog was so cruel, it made it impossible for me to see. I was blinded by it, I had to feel where things were, trees came up so quickly, flash of a second's warning offered before I hit them or walked into them.

There was the darkness and the white misty fog clouding my eyes. If there was any escape, I'd have taken it, done anything to escape it. The cold whipped me as the wind howled like a wailing woman.

The fog robbed me of my vision, the cold stung my eyes as I blinked rapidly like a cartoon character. Struggling I looked for something, anything that would help me see but my phone light was masked by the thickness of the fog.

A branch snapped beneath my feet as I blindly walked, staying as straight as possible, hoping it would lead me out of the park.

All I could think about was my idiocy, why I'd been so stupid, walking home late at night, into the park as if I owned the place but I had no idea about the fog, the mist creeping up on me, engulfing me and blinding me. I was under its spell, there was nothing I could do about it, every step was another struggle, another problem that could've been prevented.

The fog was endless, showed no signs of easing as I took another step, my heart pounding but I didn't dare turn back, if I had, I'd been stuck, even more lost and confused. It was as if the alcohol was working its magic now, an unwanted side effect, it was making me dizzy, so confused I could barely stand. I found myself grabbing onto a tree, grasping at its low hanging branch, holding on as if my life depended on it.

Struggling, I held on. I could feel my hands slipping, the rough bark was nothing to them but my hands were shaking, I couldn't understand why, I just couldn't understand my reaction, it was irrational.

A twenty-three-year-old was stood, shaking like a leaf, frightened like a small child but I was so dizzy, nothing would register, I couldn't pull myself out of my panicked, irrational fear as I tried to climb up but my head was spinning, vision blurry and worsened by the thick, unending fog.

My hands cramped suddenly, a searing pain of frozen muscles, I could feel myself letting go, powerless to stop it. I tried to tighten my grip, to hold on, hoping I could cling on with my feet but I was so weak. I let go, falling back heavily onto the ground, hitting my head on a large log, I gasped, laying there as my vision darkened, focusing on the night as blood escaped my head.

I was gone.

I had to be gone, bleeding horribly, I was sure no one would find me but to my relief, in a state of semi-consciousness, a pair of hideous, muddy trainers caught my eye. So close to my head, I allowed myself to hope.

What a fool I was.

I could hear voices, barely made out what they were saying in my state, blood dripping from my head.

I heard two people, a man and a woman judging by the soft hints of lavender and the smooth, high pitched voice, almost musical to the ears but soothing like a lullaby whereas the man sounded nice enough, warm and gentle perhaps but had a toughness to his voice.

"You are considering him?" the man asked.

"He is as good as any" the woman replied.

"You know nothing about him, you barely even tasted him"

"I know enough".

"What do you mean?" the man asked.

"I know it'll be interesting to watch him more closely"

"But why him?".

"Because I sense something within him" the woman admitted.

I could smell her perfume, lavender and jasmine, no longer hints but the strong smell as she stroked my cheek. A sharp pain threw me, I gritted my teeth but couldn't do anything else, paralysed, powerless.

Warm liquid dribbled down my shoulder, hot and wet, soaking my once white t-shirt. Droplets of liquid fell from her wrist moments later, falling down my mouth as I lay, powerless, paralysed.

I shut my eyes and hoped it would be over but another feeling came over me, nothing I'd felt before, something primal... wrong... a hunger, no... a thirst.