Trigger warnings for this chapter: Angst, crying, chasing, disappearance, fog monster.
Chapter 3. The Whispering Fog
"Ok I'm ready!" Eli announces as he enters the room.
Steve jumps from the bed, getting startled as he was drowning on the memories of that fateful day. It has been so long and Eli still didn't see the red thread of fate. Or maybe he did see but didn't say anything because he's not ready. Or maybe he doesn't want to be with him. Or maybe it's a platonic thread but honestly that's fine. Between not having Eli at all and having him just as a friend, he would rather the latter.
"Looking good! Is that a new shirt?" Buuuut he can't help flirting with Eli. Always complimenting him, winking, memorizing every single detail. Eli doesn't seem to notice.
"Thanks! Yeah, my grandma bought if for me because the last one got slime from that creeper and we had to throw it out and then..."
He knows Eli rambles everytime he's embarrassed or nervous. It's cute and luckily Steve likes to listen.
They get out of the house and head downtown. There was some complains of things missing and they're supposed to stay on night patrol. Just in case.
"Do you really think it's a creeper?" Steve asked calmly as they turn the corner of the street.
"Rumors is that it's a ghost but I didn't catch any paranormal activities on my spirit box. So yeah, might be a creeper."
"But we've been doing this for some time now and nothing happens! Where is this thing, I wanna fight it!"
Eli shakes his head and smiles. Steve is always intense like this. He doesn't really think before acting which is a problem, yes, but Eli finds it endearing as well.
He catches himself making an "i'm in love with you" face so he decides to walk faster focusing on getting to the marked spot already. They are supposed to be patrolling after all.
That's when Eli notices a weird fog forming.
"Hey, does this fog look weird to you?" He looks back only to find MORE fog. He runs to the sidewalk where he was with Steve just a second ago.
"STEVE? I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING, ARE YOU THERE?" No answer. He squints and looks around frantically. Okay. So he's alone and there's fog everywhere and something happened to Steve.
"Steve if you're there trying to scare me, please stop, I'm not joking" The fog touches Eli's foot and it feels... like a hand. Like it wants to get him. Maybe this thing got Steve already.
Eli screams at the thought and runs. The fog follows, slowly but surely. He enters a little alley and finds himself on a dead end. When did they build this wall? It used to be just cardboards!
He looks around panting. There's nowhere to go. The air gets cold. It found him and it's getting closer.
On a desperate move he opens his backpack and tries to find something useful quickly. Water? No, fog is made of water it would probably get worse. Flour? Well it worked on that slime creeper, would it work now?
He founds a flashlight and flashes it in the fog's direction. It seems to work, kinda. It disappears only where the light shines. He has to be careful not to touch it since he doesn't know who or what is causing it.
As he walks on the lighten up path he hears something that sounds like a million little voices coming from inside the fog. He stops walking and tries to focus on what they're saying. Very far away he hears a fainted cry, a desperate call for help.
"Pepperjack... are you there...?"
"STEVE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Eli screams to the fog.
"I'm so sorry Eli. I probably angered this stupid creeper and now I'm stuck here forever."
"IM GONNA GET YOU OUT BUDDY ITS GOING TO BE OKAY" Eli tries to get Steve's attention and fails. He keeps screaming, calling, expecting an answer.
"I can't believe I didn't have the courage to tell him before and now I've lost my chance" Steve sobs.
"He can't hear me! Wait... Tell me what?" Eli stops shouting. There's a thousand other whispers. He steps closer, almost touching the fog only so that he can listen closely for Steve's voice.
"I-I have to do something, I can't lose the person I love the most."
Steve sounds like he's crying and punching something.
It hurts to listen. But what's gonna hurt most is the name he says next. Eli holds his breath and closes his eyes.
"I have to find my Peppers." It hits Eli like a brick. Did he hear that right? Is this why Steve is always complimenting him and going to his house early and tickling him and avoiding eye contact? Oh my god. Does Steve... Like him?? How has he been so blind and dumb??
He puts his hands on his face incredulously only to notice something red glowing.
He opens his eyes and looks at his hands.
Eli saw his red thread of fate. It would've been fine if his soulmate wasn't lost in a foggy nightmare.
