The Haze Pt. 1

The horrible screeching of metal-on-metal rang throughout the alleyway like the scream of an angry beast as an old, steel door was pushed open, grinding harshly against a piece of sheet metal beneath it. Nathan slipped out once the gap was wide enough for him to pass through, and he twisted about to shut it back without a second thought. Reaching up, he wiped the condensation away from the lenses of his gas mask as the change in atmosphere set in. Making sure the filter was secure, his head dipped into an affirming nod at himself before pulling his gaze up from the brick wall ahead of him, the six-foot-three figure of Nathan Barnes stalked on, out towards the street.

It had barely been two years since the phenomenon that ravaged much of the world took place. A thick fog-like cloud fell over the Earth like a blanket, all but devastating life on the planet. Environments began to change from their norm, greenery and plantlife taking over where once, none or little existed, growing at an unnatural pace.

Texas was no exception, in a few short months, trees and overgrowth had taken over the majority of the small city of Waco. Nathan and his family were separated in the madness of the first evacuation orders, driven to shelters and forced to live underground.

Slipping a hand into his pocket, the native Texan pulled a heart-shaped locket from the other assortment of junk lining his trousers, clicking it open to view the picture inside. His wife, Maria, and their daughter Hope. Clutching it in his hand and closing it, he set forth, aiming to cross the city to the shelter they had been sent to.

Just a day earlier, word had spread that it was as safe as it was going to get to leave their respective bunkers. Leaving and the risk thereafter was up to the individual, but Barnes was determined to see his beloved again. Pulling the locket up and over his neck, checking to make sure he had all his equipment, he set out.

Gripping the hood of his jacket and pulling it over his head, the man stepped out into the street to survey the area, squinting his eyes under the mask he wore. It was eerily quiet, the cityscape ahead of him was a sprawling mess of vegetation, massive trees ripping through the concrete roads like tissue paper, roots ranging in size from as small as a cinderblock to as large as a mid-sized sedan, creeping forth and reclaiming the land.

Looking upward, both eyes shot wide as the blanket of fog that was the Haze rested overhead, barely visible in the mass of the concrete jungle. Nathan's hands began to tremble, a cold chill running down his spine as the scope of this event finally weighed on him. Shaking the uneasiness from his mind, he gripped the front of his jacket for support and went on his way, crossing through the remains of a department store. The building was dilapidated, one wall having collapsed, vines growing on the walls with a sapling breaking through the once tile floor.

There was practically no noise in the area. No wildlife, no other humans, the only ambience was the rustling of leaves and creaking of trees that looked like they were ancient. Stepping through the ruined wall to the sidewalk on the other side.

Abandoned cars lined the streets like a graveyard, paint peeling off near each and every one, tires long-since flat, rims and wheels rusted to the point of structural failure. Nathan's pace slowed to a crawl, taking in every sight, bewildered at the destruction and regrowth all around him.

Suddenly, a noise broke the silence. It was piercing, prompting Barnes to fall to his knees and clap his hands over the portion of his hood covering his ears. A roar of some kind that seemed to echo for miles, bouncing off building, tree, anything in the vicinity. It lasted for what seemed an eternity, though, in reality was only five seconds long.

Staggering up to his feet, Nathan heaved a difficult sigh and sucked a breath in, only to cough it right back out. He was still getting used to wearing a gas mask, and this one was old. Well-maintained, but technological advancement was here for a reason. Though now, that seemed little more than a memory and wishful thinking.

Stopping in the remains of a convenience store at the end of the street, Barnes pulled a map from his bag. It was crude, hand-drawn and was largely done off memory from himself and the others in his shelter. It was also getting dark.

Ducking behind the counter of the old store, Nathan pulled out a sleeping bag and an electric lantern, clicking it on and hoping the battery would last him until the morning. He covered himself up to his neck in the bag, shutting his eyes and trying to drift off to sleep. Come morning, he would hike for the halfway point in his journey.