The Mutant

Jer, Derek and I headed into the village while the rest waited at the entrance. I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't this. The glow of our lanterns revealed a picture of disarray. Half the buildings were falling apart, debris every where. Abandoned stalls with rotting produce revealed where the market used to be. It was a ghost town. I knew this mutant was different but this amount of damage? There aren't even any signs of life!

As we reached the center of the village we froze in shock. There in the plaza was the tainted and behind it was a pile of bodies. We found the villagers. The tainted was a handsome young man. If it weren't for his blacked out eyes and the mist seeping out of his hands I would consider him a sight for sore eyes. But not with this scenery. For a moment the four of us stood and stared at each other. That was until it started smiling at us. I felt a chill run up my spine. Never had I seen a tainted express emotion. At most they exhibit slight irritation. And I knew, it was time to run.

I quickly set off a flare and ran like my ass was on fire. I'm not sure what Jer and Derek were doing but I wasn't going to look back and check. They're grown-ass men, better trained than me, they'll figure it out. If that creepy smile was any indication, our job was done! I darted behind a half crumbling house hoping to catch my breath. It was harder than normal since my heart was trying to jump out of my chest. I tried to focus on the sounds around me but all I could hear was my own blood pumping. I looked down at the lantern in my hand. Normally I'm not concerned about giving away my position since the goal was to get attention. But this time it's different. I considered abandoning the lantern but then I run the risk of being overtaken by the mist and becoming tainted myself. No. I'll keep the lantern. No matter what I intend to die fully human, body and soul. Besides I set off a flare so Demi and the others would be here soon. With new determination I peaked my head out from behind the building.

"Ahhhhhhh!" I screamed. Mister handsome devil is right in front of me, smiling ear to ear! From the distance I heard voices calling my name but I couldn't care less. I jumped backwards faster than I've ever moved in my life. It followed me with its eyes but remained still. Or so I thought, until black mist started snaking up my leg. I started swishing the lantern around hoping it would back off but nope. It wasn't regular mist but mist that already occupied a vessel. There was no dissuading it. The mist wrapped around my body, pulling me closer to it. As time seemed to slow down, and I was contemplating all my life choices, a voice broke through.

"Taya!"

Demi jumped in front of me and swung his sword at the tainted. The surprise must have broken its concentration because the mist that had captured me evaporated. An annoyed expression replaced the smile on its face as it dodged the attack.