Chapter 11 – Curtis

The fog hung thick around Shepherd's Glen, the silence only broken by the sound of footsteps as Alex and Elle walked side by side. It was late that night, but neither of them could sleep. Too much weighed on their minds. For Alex, he was burdened by the past, by Joshua.

Elle walked slightly ahead of him, her flashlight cutting a thin line through the night's mist. She hadn't said much since they left her house, but her presence was a small comfort for Alex. He kept close, his mind drifting back to when he and Joshua used to walk these same streets. For Elle, her sister Nora was the most important person she needed to find too.

"Joshua."

The name echoed in his head, he was always there. His little brother is gone. Missing. Was it His fault? He hadn't admitted that to anyone, not to Elle, not even to himself fully. But the ache in his chest said otherwise. As the older brother, his job was to protect Joshua, and he had failed. How could he think of protecting anyone now, even Elle?

"You're quiet," Elle's voice. She stopped and turned toward him. "What's on your mind, Alex?"

For a moment, Alex wanted to lie to her. He could say something about the town, Holloway, or the danger around them, but the truth pressed hard, and before he could stop himself, it slipped out.

"Joshua," he said.

Elle's expression softened. She took a step closer, hand hovering near his arm. She was uncertain whether to offer comfort or give him space. "Still nothing?"

Alex shook his head. "No. And I... I keep thinking I could have, should've had more. I was his older brother. I was supposed to look after him you know?"

Elle's hand finally rested on his shoulder. "Alex... You did everything you could. You can't keep blaming yourself."

He wanted to believe her, and he did. But the guilt inside him had been growing for a while now, long before the town started twisting into this nightmare. "I wasn't there for Joshua like I should've been. I wasn't around. I... I don't even know how to protect you now."

"You don't have to protect me." She said, keeping her voice firm but soft. "We're in this together, okay Alex? You don't do this all by yourself."

She was stronger than he gave her credit for. And yet, every time he looked at her, he saw Joshua in the corners of his mind, the brother he couldn't find. He was terrified that would repeat.

"I don't want to lose you too," Alex whispered.

"You won't, Alex." Elle replied "I'm not going anywhere. We'll find Joshua and Nora together, and we'll get through this."

Her confidence stirred something in Alex. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he wasn't alone. Elle wasn't just someone he needed to protect, she was someone who could stand by his side too. He still felt guilty over Joshua, but Elle was here now, offering him a hand.

"Thanks," he said.

Elle smiled. "Come on," she said. "We've got a long road ahead. Let's keep moving."

They continued walking, Alex couldn't shake the thought that Elle was more understanding than he thought. She was a reminder of both failure and hope. So maybe that's why he couldn't let her go. He needed her help on this, even if he didn't realize it fully yet. And he would keep her safe, no matter what.

Even if he couldn't save his brother Joshua, he wouldn't fail her too.

Not again. Never again.

As Alex and Elle walked side by side, there was tension between them. It wasn't born of out danger as they walked through the fog, but from something deeper, something neither had yet put into words. The two of them felt it for a long time for as long as they could remember despite Margaret Holloway's disapproval.

Alex could feel it, beneath their every conversation. Every glance they exchanged, and the ones they gave when they knew the other wasn't looking. It wasn't just the fog that was heavy, it was everything they hadn't said to each other. His guilt, her inner strength, and the connection that had always been there between them. It had only grown stronger since they reunited now that Alex was back from the war. And now, with the town falling apart around them, it was only a matter of time before they were forced to confront it.

They walked in silence for a while. Alex kept catching glimpses of Elle out of the corner of his eye, the way she looked at him to the way she bit her lip as if in thought. She was thinking about something, maybe about him, maybe about something else. Or perhaps she was just as lost in the chaos, trying to make sense of everything as he was.

"Elle," Alex started, but the words found themselves stuck in his throat. What was he even going to say to her? What could he say to her?

Elle glanced back at him, waiting for a response. "Yeah, Alex?"

"I... I've been thinking," he muttered, unsure of where to even begin. The guilt he felt over Joshua was one thing, but there was another thing inside of him, something about Elle herself. She had been more understanding than he'd expected, more forgiving for him leaving without a word as he joined the army. And that scared him, in a way. She deserved better than that. He wasn't sure if he could offer her what she wanted.

Elle stopped and turned to face him. "About what, Alex?"

He hesitated. "About us. About... everything."

That was it, an unspoken bond between them. It had always been there, even when they were kids. But now, this time it was different. It kept growing into something neither of them could ignore. But they hadn't quite figured out how to acknowledge it yet how to even begin talking about it. Maybe it was the chaos taking over the town, or maybe it was the fact that they were both scared, scared of losing each other, scared of the monsters, scared of what would come next for them.

Elle's eyes softened, and for a moment, everything, from the fog and the madness going on in the town began to fade away into the background. It was just the two of them now, standing in the middle of some abandoned street, trying to navigate everything unsaid between them.

"Alex, you don't have to do this alone," she said quietly. "You've been carrying so much. I know you blame yourself for what happened to your brother, Joshua, but... I'm here too for you. I've always been here."

Alex who was unable to meet his friend's gaze, looked down, unsure of what to do or say next. "I don't want to drag you into this, Elle. You've already lost so much. Remember, Nora?"

She stepped closer. "And so have you. But you don't need to push me away. We're in this together, Alex, remember?"

Elle's words hit Alex hard. She wasn't just someone from his past, she was here in the now, standing right beside him, ready to face whatever came next. But still, the fear of him failing again. What if he couldn't protect her? What if, like Joshua, he let her slip away too?

"I'm just... I don't want to let you down, Elle." Alex admitted.

Elle reached for a handout and placed it gently on his arm. "You haven't let me down yet, Alex. You're here, and that's what matters."

There was a silence that followed. It felt heavy with emotion, but it wasn't uncomfortable between the two of them. It was the kind of silence that spoke louder than any words they could even think of saying. It was the kind that said everything for them when they hadn't yet found the courage to say anything. There was an unspoken promise between the two. Something far deeper than just friendship or just a shared history. It was a bond forged by everything they had been through together, and everything they were still going to face.

Alex finally looked up. "Thank you, Elle. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled softly, and Alex felt a flicker of hope. "You don't have to do this alone," she repeated "We'll find Joshua, we'll find Nora. And we'll figure out what's going on in this town, and we'll face it together. The two of us."

Without another word, they continued walking, side by side. But in that moment, there was something between them, something unspoken yet undeniable. They didn't need to say it out loud. Now was not the time. Not yet anyway.

They both knew it was there.

The calm that had settled between them shattered when they heard the first growl in the distance. Both Alex and Elle froze, heads snapping towards the sound, the fog concealing whatever nightmare lurked within.

"Did you hear that?" Elle whispered, gripping Alex's arm instinctively.

Alex's hand went to his combat knife, a habit he couldn't shake even if he wanted to. His instincts from his time in the army kicked in, and his body tensed. He was ready. "Yeah. Stay close."

It was as though the fog itself was playing tricks on them, making it hard to see. Shapes shifted, and shadows loomed over, yet nothing was certain. Another growl rumbled from somewhere ahead. And then, they saw movement, something creeping, crawling in the distance.

"Alex…" Elle's voice was tight with fear as she pointed.

Alex could barely make out the figure. Something was out there, and it certainly wasn't human. The thing moved like a marionette, limbs jerking in unnatural ways. The pale misshapen body slithered and twisted in the fog, dragging itself toward them.

"Run!" Alex ordered, pulling Elle with him.

The two of them bolted. Alex didn't dare look back, he didn't need to. The sound alone was enough to know the creature, or whatever it was, was gaining on them.

Alex scanned the area, looking for an escape, but it was the mist swallowed everything on the streets. His heart pounded in his chest.

"This way!" Elle shouted, pointing toward an alleyway between two buildings.

The two of them quickly darted into the narrow passage, their breaths heavy as they weaved through debris and jumped over trash cans. The growls were still behind them, closer and closer now. Alex could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. Whatever was chasing them wasn't going to stop.

Ahead, a large chain link fence cut off their path.

"No!" Elle gasped, slamming into the fence. "What do we do?"

Alex glanced back, tightening his grip on his knife. The monster was almost right behind them. There wasn't enough time to climb over the fence, not with those things closing in. He couldn't let Elle get caught by them. Not after everything.

"I'll hold them off," Alex said, stepping in front of her, knife raised in the air.

Elle's eyes widened. "No, Alex, we need to stick together-"

"I'll be fine," he interrupted "I won't let anything happen to you."

Before Elle could argue with him, the creatures emerged from the fog. Two of them, limbs unnaturally long, heads cocked at odd angles. They moved in an erratic, jerking fashion, dragging their claws across the concrete.

Alex gritted his teeth and foolhardily charged forward, knife raised. He wasn't about to let these monsters touch Elle.

The first creature lunged at him, its jaw snapping open in a shriek. Alex ducked, slashing his knife across its chest. The thing recoiled, black liquid spilling from the wound. But it didn't stop. The second one was already closing in, its long arms reaching out for him.

"Alex!" Elle shouted her voice filled with fear.

Alex spun around, barely dodging the second creature. The sharp claws scraped across his jacket, just missing his skin. Alex plunged his knife into the thing's arm, but it only slowed it down. They were stronger than he expected, more relentless. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever.

The creatures shrieked again, and one of them leaped toward him.

"Alex, move!" Elle shouted.

At the last second, Alex rolled to the side, and the creature slammed its claws into the concrete where he'd just been standing. He scrambled quickly to his feet. He had to end this and end it fast. He couldn't let them corner him or Elle.

The first creature lunged forward again, and Alex sidestepped, slashing at its legs, bringing it down. But the second one was already behind him, its claws slicing towards him.

A loud clang echoed through the alley. The creature staggered as a metal pipe hit it square in the head, sending it crashing to the ground. Alex turned only to see Elle holding the pipe, her face pale but determined.

"Elle!" Alex shouted in relief.

"Come on!" she yelled, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the fence.

The creatures writhed on the ground behind them, they weren't dead yet. Elle tossed the pipe aside and scrambled up the fence. Alex followed closely behind, his adrenaline pushing him to move faster than he thought possible. His boots hit the ground on the other side just as the creatures started to rise again.

"We've got to go!" Elle urged, grabbing his hand.

They continued running again, leaving the alley and the monsters behind.

The two didn't stop until they were sure they were safe. The both of them leaned against the brick wall of some abandoned building, gasping for breath. The creatures were gone. For now.

Alex looked at Elle, his heart still pounding. "Thank you. You… saved my life."

Elle wiped the sweat from her brow. "I wasn't going to let those things get you."

There was a moment of silence between them. And in that silence, Alex felt the bond between them strengthen, unspoken, and yet it was undeniable.

"We need to figure out what's happening," Elle said softly. "This town… it's falling apart."

Alex nodded. There was something more going on here, something bigger than just the fog and the monsters. And he was starting to believe it had something to do with Holloway and with the Order.

The fog never seemed to give way as Alex and Elle made their way through the dilapidated streets. After what felt like hours of running, they finally reached the rusted gates of Curtis Ackers' junkyard. The metal was old and weathered, just like everything else in Shepherd's Glen. The yard itself was a graveyard of broken machines and abandoned cars. Curtis was a quiet man, a tinkerer. He could fix anything you gave him that was mechanical. He got his start from his own father's scrapyard before joining the Air Force as a mechanic. He took over the scrapyard as soon as he returned home to Shepherd's Glen.

"Curtis always gave me the creeps," Elle muttered under her breath. She glanced at Alex, but his face was set in stone, focused and unreadable. Whatever guilt or fear he was feeling, he was hiding it well.

Alex pushed open the gate and the two of them stepped inside the yard. Their nostrils were immediately hit by the scent of oil and rust. Piles of scrap metal, disassembled cars, and discarded tools were scattered everywhere. It made the place feel like an industrial wasteland. Curtis was easy to find, hunched over a piece of machinery at the back of the yard, his eyes hidden behind thick and grimy goggles.

"Curtis," Elle called out.

Curtis turned slowly and wiped his hands on a grease-stained rag before looking them up and down with an amused grin. "Well, well, well… look who's dropping by. The Shepherd boy and Judge Holloway's daughter."

Alex let out a sigh at the mention of Elle's mother, and he instinctively took a step forward. "We're just passing through, Curtis. We needed a place to catch our breath."

Curtis chuckled, widening his grin as he pulled his goggles off. He revealed sharp, almost predatory eyes. "I'd say you've got bigger problems than catching your breath, Shepherd. Strange things happening in Shepherd's Glen, ain't they?"

"Understatement of the year," Elle muttered. "We don't have time for this, Curtis."

"Relax," Curtis retorted, leaning back against a pile of scrap. "You're safe here… for now. No monsters in my yard. Not yet, anyway."

Alex crossed his arms, his patience wearing thin. "Have you seen anything out of the ordinary, Curtis? Anything that could help us?"

Curtis raised an eyebrow, the grin on his face fading as he looked over Alex and Elle. "Out of the ordinary? Son, this whole town's been out of the ordinary since before you left for that war of yours. But if you're asking if I've seen things worse than usual… well, let's just say I've noticed people disappearing. Families are up and leaving in the middle of the night. Others who, well, let's just say they didn't leave voluntarily."

Elle's expression darkened. "Disappearing? Who?"

Curtis shrugged, then he turned back to the piece of machinery he'd been working on. "Whoever Holloway doesn't trust, I'd reckon. You'd know all about that, wouldn't you, Elle?"

Elle flinched, yet she held her ground. "We don't have time for your games, Curtis. We need to keep moving."

Curtis nodded, then turned his attention back over to Alex. "I'd watch your back, Shepherd. This town's got a way of chewing people up and spitting 'em out, especially when they don't know who their real enemies are."

Alex didn't reply. He turned to leave, but not before shooting Curtis a warning look. "Stay out of our way, Curtis."

The old mechanic only chuckled under his breath. "I'd worry less about me, and more about who's coming after you."

Without another word, Alex and Elle left the yard, pushing through the gate and stepping back into Shepherd's Glen. Curtis watched them go, his smile long gone. As soon as they were out of sight, he pulled a small, walkie-talkie from his pocket.

"Yeah, it's me," he muttered into the receiver. "Alex Shepherd and Elle Holloway just left my yard. They're together."

He paused, listening to the response from the other side.

"No, I didn't say anything or let them in on too much. But you'd better move fast. They're headed toward the west side of town."

Curtis tucked the walkie-talkie back into his jacket, casting one last glance toward the fog before returning to his work.