4


"I've never seen The Mist before tonight. I've only heard about it."


Savine's eyes widened. "The Mist? You mean the ghosts of loved ones?"


The girl nodded, her teeth still chattering. "Yes. The one who talked to us it was my mother. At least I think so. I lost her weeks ago to the machines."


Savine's heart ached for the girl. "I'm sorry, Nickel. I lost my family too. But the Mist, it's not always reliable." She hoped it was true; she didn't want to get Nickel's hopes up about a ghostly rescue. "So what is your real name?"


The girl looked down at her muddy feet. "Liza."


Savine's eyes softened. "Nice to meet you. I'm Savine. Let's get you warm."


They found a dry spot in the corner, away from the dampness that seeped in from the flooded first floor. Savine took off her own wet jacket and draped it over Liza, who gratefully accepted the added layer of warmth. With shaking hands, she helped the girl peel off her sodden clothes and wrapped her in the blankets.


Liza leaned against her, shivering uncontrollably. "Th-thank you." She stuttered.


Savine knew they couldn't stay there forever. "We will sleep here for a while then we need to move again."


"But why can't we stay? It's dry and safe." Liza protested, her voice muffled by the blanket.


Savine sighed heavily. "Because the machines are everywhere, Liza. And when they find out we're here, they'll come for us." She had seen it before, the relentless efficiency with which the machines tracked down any signs of human life. "We'll rest, but only for a bit. Our goal is to get on the other side of the mountain."


5


They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the rain pound against the windows. The library was a temporary sanctuary, but it was not a fortress. Savine knew that all too well. She had been on the run for months, always searching for Melio, always one step ahead of the machines. But she couldn’t ignore the hope that maybe, just maybe, her younger brother was out there looking for her too. 


A sound woke them a few hours later.


Savine's eyes snapped open, her heart racing. The rain had not let up, but the noise was different—more deliberate, less chaotic.


Liza stirred beside her, her eyes wide with terror. "The machines!" She whispered.


Savine nodded, her own fear a cold knot in her stomach.


They had to move and fast. She helped Liza to her feet, the girl's legs wobbly from the cold and exhaustion. They didn’t have time to argue. Savine grabbed her spear and the flare gun, then took Liza's hand, leading her down the hallway. The stairs groaned under their weight, but they managed to make it to the first floor without alerting whatever was outside.


The sound grew louder, closer. It was definitely a machine—probably a scout, judging by the noise. They needed to leave before it found them. Savine peered out of a broken window, her eyes scanning the inky water for any sign of movement. The rain had picked up again, making it hard to see. But she knew the machines didn’t care about the weather. They hunted regardless.


"Stay close. Hold onto my clothing."


Savine whispered as she led Liza through the murky water, her eyes glued to the flickering light of the streetlamps, which had somehow remained lit despite the chaos around them. The rain had turned the city into a treacherous maze, with submerged cars and debris lying in wait to trip them up. They moved quickly but cautiously, their breaths misting in the cold air.


"Keep close to the building." Savine's whisper was a hiss as the sound of the machine grew louder. They hugged the shadows, the rain obscuring their presence, but not muffling the heavy footsteps of the mechanical beast. 

Liza/ Nickel was growing weaker, but she didn't complain. Her small hand gripped Savine's jacket tightly, eyes darting around in fear.


6


They rounded a corner, and the machine's light washed over them. Savine pushed Liza into an alcove, pressing her against the cold brick wall. The light passed, and they held their breaths until the footsteps receded into the distance. Savine's heart was racing, but she knew they couldn't stay put.


They waited until the tall, animal like machine disappeared into the night before continuing their escape. Savine's eyes darted around, searching for a route that would keep them out of the light's reach. The rain had turned the city into a labyrinth of reflections, making it difficult to discern reality from the distorted world around them.


"This way," she murmured, pulling Liza along the waterline. They stumbled upon a half-sunken boat, its wooden frame barely visible under the water. "We can use this to get across the river," she said, her voice a mix of excitement and caution. The river was swollen with the never-ending rain, a dangerous obstacle they had to cross to reach the mountain.


With trembling hands, Savine lit a waterproof match and inspected the boat. It was old, but it looked sturdy enough. They had to move fast before the machine returned. Savine helped Liza in, then pushed the boat into the flow of the river. The current was strong, but they had to risk it.


"Hold on tight!" she shouted as they climbed aboard. The water was icy cold, biting into their skin, but they had no choice. The boat groaned as it took their weight, but it held. They paddled with their arms, their progress slow but steady. The rain stung their eyes, making it hard to see where they were going.


The river was a swirling beast, carrying them along with the debris of a once-thriving civilization. Savine's muscles burned from the effort, but she couldn't stop. Every stroke brought them closer to the mountain, to safety, to a chance at finding Melio. Liza clung to the side of the boat, her eyes closed tight, her knuckles white from the cold.


The water grew choppier as they approached the middle of the river. Savine's arms felt like lead, but she couldn't stop now. The machine's lights grew brighter in the distance, searching for them like the eyes of a predator. The boat lurched and dipped, the swell of the river threatening to swamp them.


"Hold on, Liza!" she yelled over the sound of the water. The current was pulling them towards a cluster of submerged cars and debris. If they hit it, the boat would capsize, and they would be at the mercy of the river's wrath. Savine's eyes searched for an escape, but all she could see was the wall of metal and water.


They were so close to the other side, the mountain a looming shadow in the distance, but it felt as if the river itself was trying to keep them from their destination. The boat smashed into the side of a car, jolting them both. Liza screamed as they rocked precariously.


Savine gritted her teeth and pushed with all her might, steering them away from the obstacle. The water was up to their waists now, the boat barely afloat. But they couldn't stop—not with the machine's lights getting closer. They had to reach the mountain before the storm broke and the machines resumed their relentless patrol.