Into the Mist (Into the Mist 1)

“I refuse to judge her prematurely.” Karen set her chin stubbornly.

“Wake up, Karen. They know the green fog changes blood, and they clearly want to know whose blood has been changed. If it wasn’t for ‘nefarious’”—Stella air-quoted the word—“reasons, Amber would be honest with us, like we were with the doc and the rest of the survivors back at the lodge after we figured it out. Shit, Karen, I don’t even need my ramped-up intuition to understand that— just half a damn brain and a dose of common sense.”

Ford nodded. “I gotta agree with Stella. Amber sounded fishy as hell, especially about that woman down the hall. Also, am I the only one who noticed those two men, Ron and Wes, were concealing handguns under their jackets?”

“Oh shit! I didn’t notice that,” said Mercury.

“Neither did I,” said Stella.

Karen sighed dramatically. “We’re carrying a concealed weapon in our backpack. For protection! Why can’t it be as simple as that with those two men?”

“The short answer is because Stella’s gut says something could be off here,” said Mercury. “The longer answer is we’ve been here less than an hour, and I don’t need Stella’s gut to tell me Amber isn’t being honest with us.”

“Not to mention the chained-up doors and windows, which are not to classrooms, painted black,” Stella said. “You know that’s not normal.”

Ford ran a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t know about school stuff like the three of you, but I do know they won’t be taking my blood.”

“Ditto,” said Mercury.

“Right there with the two of you,” said Stella.

Karen began going through her backpack and pulling out semi-dry clothes. She said nothing.