A very concerned Lettuce is sitting behind the wheel. Pai would have offered to drive, if he knew how. He was thinking about Lettuce. She had every right to be mad at him. He had never told her during the two years of his relationship with her about his fiance. It was an arranged marriage that he wanted nothing to do with. Lettuce had been horrified and heartbroken when the truth came out. Pai didn't hold her accusing shouts and shrieks against her. But the truth was, he didn't love his fiance, Rehlika. She had been surprisingly calm when Pai told her he was leaving her to return to earth, and they had gotten a separation, much to the dismay of his Parents. Rehlika's were dead, so she remarried shortly after the divorce. since then, Pai lived on earth.
He had become quite attached to Melody, with her smiling nature and furious anger against racism, sexists, and snobs. Pai never asked who's daughter she was. The topic was entirely taboo, which he understood. He didn't want Lettuce to panic, but he was very concerned about Melody's sudden disappearance. It wasn't like her to just run off. and not for what was now 25 hours. At least they had made it to Pennsylvania, where Mist haunt was located. The road they were on wasn't in the best of condition, but it was bearable, even to a car-hater like Pai.
Suddenly, they hit a large bump. the car skidded, and the last thing Pai remembers is grabbing Lettuces hand.
When Lettuces eyes open, they were sitting in the car. They had crashed into the guardrail, which had narrowly kept the car from falling into the ravine in front of them. But the strangest part was, Lettuce had no clue where she was. She had been driving on a scenic mountain road, which was replaced by snow and mist, covering pretty much everything and making it nearly impossible to see three feet in front of you.
Pai is already awake. "Lettuce?" he asks. "Pai," says Lettuce slowly. "where are we?" "I don't know," Pai responds. "The last thing I remember was a beautiful mountain road, and lots of wildflowers. Isn't it odd that its snowing in April?" "Yes," says Lettuce. "Its very odd." She opens her door, and Pai follows suit. they find themselves in the middle of an old damp road. "This isn't on the map," says Lettuce in concern. "In fact, this is the wrong road." She takes a deep breath to keep from panicking. "Okay," she says. "Its okay. Its probably just snowing because of the mountains. And we're in the same place, but the mist is hiding it." Pai nods doubtfully. "maybe we should follow the road," he says. "There has to be a town somewhere near here."
Lettuce nods silently.
They walk down the misty road, not bothering with the car, which has to be dead, judging from the way the front fender is destroyed and the license plate is hanging into the ravine that nearly took their lives, if it weren't for the safety rail. Pai says a silent prayer of thanks to Melody's God for protecting them.
Suddenly Lettuce stops. She quietly points to a small, dented metal sign, covered almost completely in a thin layer of rust. welcome to mist haunt the sign reads. "I thought you said this was a peaceful town," Says Lettuce through gritted teeth. "There were only five sites to confirm that on!" defends Pai. "And why didn't you mention that earlier?" asks Lettuce, who is biting her tongue to keep from adding, "You moron." "That isn't normal?" asks Pai in a small voice. Lettuce is now turning bright red, trying to keep from punching Pai in the stomach. "No, Pai. Its not. No nice, peaceful town has a grand total of five sites talking about it," Lettuce almost adds, "You dummy" but catches herself in time. She is now maroon from effort.
"Oops," whispers Pai. The look of remorse on his face makes Lettuce relax, slightly. "alright," she says. "Okay. So this place isn't the way we imagined it. I say we find Melody and hurry home. We'll hitch a ride, or something." Pai nods, mentally beating himself with a billy club. He should have realized Five results was to little! Something was up, and it wasn't the cloudy skies.
He follows Lettuce, still beating himself.
Suddenly, there it is. the town. it stands tall and foreboding, looming in the distance. Abandoned vehicles litter the street. Pai may not be a licensed vehicle repairs person, but he knows enough to have figured out these cars aren't going anywhere soon. They appear very outdated, lacking modern wheels and fancy hubcaps. They have random doors open, a few contents strewn about, such as an overturned picnic basket, a child's doll, a melted plastic figure. "what happened here?" Lettuce breathes. Which happens to be exactly what Pai was wondering. What made all these people turn and flee? And is it still here?
Suddenly he hears the sound of a yowl. Pai turns and finds something small headed towards him in the mist. Suddenly the mist seems to part, and there is A horrible sight headed towards them.
It looks like it may have been a cat, but now all that itis is burnt flesh pulled taut over the creatures ribcage. Its hair grows randomly, spurting through the soft, weak flesh. The fur is singed, and ash falls as it moves. The creatures head appears permanently fixed towards the sky, its seemingly blind yellow eyes forever watching the clouds. its paws are hurt, and the drag across the ground, leaving small pools of blood. The creature approaches pai, hissing, and looks ready to bite...
when Lettuce throws a rock. the creature falls limply to the ground. "What is going on here?" Lettuce whispers...