Secrets in the Mist

by Morgan L. Busse

“Neither do I,” Cass agreed. “But the amount he is giving us will go a long way to paying off the Daedalus. That’s why I accepted his offer.”

  “Well, you were right to do so,” Bert told her. “Opportunities like this don’t come by very often. We need to make the most of it.”

  “So, when do I teach him to glide?”

  “Not today,” Bert answered. “And not tomorrow. It looks like a storm is coming in. Use this time to make sure he understands the ins and outs of both the glider and how to dive. Everything I taught you. When the storm blows over, we’ll check the wind. If it looks good, you’ll start then.”

  The storm came in with a squall and pounding rain. Cass sat inside the galley and watched the whiplash of wind and water pound across the nearest portholes while Patterson put on a soup for dinner. Two other sailors sat inside the small room, taking a break before heading back out. Her turn would be soon, but for now she would enjoy the storm from inside the ship.

  Bert was doing a good job steering the Daedalus through it all. She could feel the engine cut and the ship drift with the wind, then start up again to steer it gently in the right direction. Airships like the Daedalus could handle storms well under the right captain, their buoyancy and slow motion allowing the ship to move with—not against—the wind. Like a drifting leaf.

  The side door opened, and as Theo spotted Cass, he made his way between the benches and tables to where she was sitting. When he drew near, she could again smell the scent that clung to him, that combination of wood with a hint of sweetness. The smell conjured up images of vast forests within the Mist, with gnarled trees draped in moss and dense fog.

  “Quite the storm outside,” he said as he took a seat opposite her.

  “Yes, but nothing the Daedalus can’t handle.”

  He glanced at the porthole. “I’m not an expert on flying—my only experience is flying a zipper—but even I can tell that your captain is doing an excellent job.”

  Cass leaned in. “What’s flying a zipper like?” Images of the dragonfly-like flying machines filled her mind, zipping across the city skyscape like their name, transporting the rich and affluent to their destinations.

  “I learned to fly a zipper when I was eighteen. Arthur, my . . . um . . . chauffer taught me.”

  “Chauffer?”

  “A personal driver. Like a captain of a zipper.”

  “You have your own captain?”

  “In a way.”

  Cass pursed her lips. Zippers were only owned by echelons, but to have his own captain meant Theo was even richer than she thought.

  “So what’s it like to dive?” Theo turned the questions to her. “What should I expect?”

  “Well, it’s different than flying a zipper, I imagine,” she began, eyeing his face. He was certainly a handsome man, with a set jaw, dark luminous eyes, and raven hair that reached the collar of his coat.

  “I’m sure it is,” Theo said and smiled. “From what I can tell, it’s more like a controlled fall.”

  “Perhaps.” His smile unnerved her a little. “I don’t know much about zippers, but imagine there was no fluttering wings and instead the extensions are perfectly still, and you have to maneuver the zipper through the currents of the air using your knowledge and instinct for the wind. That’s what gliding is like.”

  “I see.” His eyes lit up. “I look forward to the challenge. When do we start?”

  “After the storm. And it won’t be our usual way of teaching. We will fly tandem.” Suddenly feeling she was too close to Theo, Cass leaned back. The thought of their harnesses hooked together to the same glider, his hands across her shoulders as they jumped the ship together, made her squirm inside.

  “Tandem? You mean together? Is that safe?”

  “Yes. Perfectly. Absolutely,” she stuttered. Gales, she didn’t know. She’d never done it before!

  He also sat back. “So what else do I need to do to prepare?”

  “You already know how to put on and use the glider. We will need to provide you with a gas mask and goggles—”

  “I already have both.”

  “You do?”

  “Uh, yes.” He cleared his throat. “My work requires the use of a mask, and I have my goggles from my zipper.”

  “Work?” Was he a bluecoat? But bluecoats didn’t have the type of money Theo was offering for this mission. And he wasn’t a diver. Why did he have a mask?

  “What else?” he inquired.

  She narrowed her eyes, debating whether to push for more information. He stared back at her, and her resolve slipped down a notch. Later. “I’ll be carrying a revolver with incendiary bullets, just in case we run into any Turned. As far as how to take off and land, I’ll explain that during our exercise.”

  “Do you run into the Turned often?”

  Every muscle in Cass’s body tightened. “Each mission is different.” Her chest felt as if a boulder had been placed on it. This dive would be her first one since Magmire. The very thought of returning to that place, or anywhere near it, made her feel sick.

  Remember the money. Remember the freedom they would have.

  “I have a high respect for divers.”

  Cass looked at him.

  “There are very few people who would willingly go into the Mist. It takes a lot of courage and nerve to dive into the heart of danger.”

  “Or recklessness.” The word escaped her lips, but it was true, and it reminded her of her comrades. They were reckless, and she loved them for that. “Controlled falling is still falling,” she added.

  Theo laughed. It was clear and light, and his eyes sparkled with humor. Hearing that sound and seeing his face relax lightened her heart. Tomorrow would come, with her first dive since the accident, and a tandem one, no less. But right now, she enjoyed the moment. If there was one thing she learned from the Purges and life on the streets, it was that one never knew what the next day held.

  She joined him with a laugh of her own.

  The sky was clear with a light, cool wind the next day, as if the air had been washed by the storm and hung out to dry beneath the bright sun. Cass stood on the deck with her diving equipment and took a moment to fill her lungs with the fresh air. Down below, the Mist seemed quiet and peaceful. It was a perfect day for a dive. Hopefully the land would prove to be just as calm. Bert said there was nothing but old vineyards and rolling hills.

  As a diver, she was able to observe how much land there was beneath the Mist, places filled with villages, forests, and hills. But it was hard to imagine a world so open when everything above was crowded with buildings, factories, and hydroponic farming.

  “I heard you’re taking our guest for a dive today,” Jeremiah said from behind her. “Great day for it, too.” His tone sobered. “Are you okay with doing this?”

  Cass looked again at the misty expanse. “As much as I’ll ever be.”

  “I’m not really religious, not like the captain was, but I’ll say a prayer for you.”

  She would take anything that made this dive successful. A breeze pulled on the curls around her face as she adjusted the goggles above her head.

  A minute later, Theo stepped out onto the deck. Instead of his usual shirt and coat, he wore a thick wool sweater with a pair of goggles on his forehead with gas mask in hand.

  “I’m ready.”

  “All right.” She picked up his pack and held it out to him. “First, put your pack on.” He took it without comment and put his legs through the lower straps, then pulled on the shoulder straps. Cass grabbed her own pack and did the same.

  After making sure everything was secure, she faced Theo. “Now I’ll secure you and your pack to my glider once I’ve deployed it.”

  She checked behind her to make sure there was room, then pulled the cord on her pack. Her glider slipped out like a pair of wings, the wooden rods and canvas snapping into position. The wind brushed along its edges, but they remained firm.

  Bert had arrived and now walked around Cass. “Good, it loo
ks like everything is in place.” He motioned to Theo. “Mr. Byron, come step behind Cass. Cass, I’ll help you secure Mr. Byron to you and the glider.”

  Theo moved in behind her.

  “Place your hands on her shoulders,” Bert instructed.

  While explaining the process, Bert lifted Theo’s strap, then clasped it next to Cass’s beneath the frame of the glider.

  He checked the rest of Theo’s gear one more time, then stepped back.

  “All right,” Cass said, glancing over her shoulder at Theo. “Once I put my mask on, you won’t be able to hear me, and I won’t be able to hear you. The biggest thing is don’t panic. Stay calm. You’ve flown in a zipper before, so you understand a bit of how flight and gliding works.”

  The familiarity calmed her own anxiety.

  “You’ll feel the straps pull up as the glider catches the air. Let the wind lift you. Keep your hands on my shoulders. I will use my guiding poles to steer the glider. Use this dive to watch what I do and to get a feel for gliding. Do you have any questions?”

  He shook his head.

  She turned forward. “Masks on.” She lifted the mask off her chest where it had been resting and pulled it up over her mouth and nose. The air was stale and cool inside.

  His hand left her shoulder briefly as he pulled his own mask on, then gently gripped her shoulders again.

  Cass brought the steering poles out. She was confident enough in her gliding ability to take her first step off the Daedalus since Captain Gresley’s death, but could she glide with another person?

  She took in a deep breath, then signaled with her hand that she was ready to start her dive. One of the crewmembers near the railing opened up the gap, allowing access from the deck to the wide-open sky. She signaled again, this time for Theo. He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.

  Cass started her run, hoping Theo could keep up. Their gaits were different, but he seemed to understand and accommodate. One . . . two . . . three . . .

  Cass brought the tip of the glider slightly downward as they stepped off the deck. The straps on her shoulders went taut as the weight of their bodies fought gravity and glider. Then a gust of wind came and picked them up.

  Cass smiled in exhilaration. This is what she loved the most. The beauty and freedom of flight.

  She barely noticed Theo’s presence as she became one with the wind and sky. She moved to the right, and the glider responded. The Mist was a calm sea of grey-green fog, deceptively serene.

  Cass caught an updraft, let the glider drift along the invisible current, then began their descent. A few minutes later, they entered the Mist.

  Below were valleys and hills, dotted with old oak trees, lines of dead vegetation that looked more like narrow rows of spiked fences, and a dirt road that ran alongside a dried-up creek.

  Cass steered toward the hill on the right. There was a long stretch of grass that would work for their takeoff. As she reached the gently sloped top, she brought the tip of the glider up, stalled, then dropped to the ground.

  Theo must have not been ready.

  One leg came flying up beside her as his grip pulled her back. She tried to catch herself, but he held her fast, and she fell against his chest, the glider following a second later, covering them like a canopy.

  Cass lay staring at the canvas and wood beneath. Did they damage the glider? Theo gave a muffled groan.

  Two thoughts battled inside her mind in that one instant: the absolute need to untangle themselves, and the fear if they jostled the glider, it could tear.

  “Wait, wait,” she told Theo, tapping his leg.

  He stilled. She could hear him breathing heavily through the gas mask.

  Cass focused on the glider. She reached for the wooden frame and slowly sat up while lifting the contraption. So far, so good.

  She looked back, thankful for the goggles and mask hiding her face. Theo lay straddled on the ground, his eyes staring up at her from behind his goggles. “I need you to unclasp your pack from my glider.”

  He nodded and carefully sat up. Cass turned back around and held the glider aloft so he could see the connection. Her heart beat like the rapid wings of a sparrow as she waited. There was a grunt, then he leaned across her. “There,” he finally said, followed by a snap.

  Cass extricated herself from him and stood, thankful to be free. She continued to hold the glider above her head until she was a couple feet away, then she pulled on the cord. The glider folded back into her pack easily. She let out a long sigh of relief. No damage. Of course, Theo had his own pack if they needed to use it, but she’d rather not add another expense to the Daedalus by damaging a whole glider.

  She glanced back. Theo had already pushed his goggles up and was looking around. She could almost read the wonder on his face. She understood the feeling. It was one thing to know that there existed land inside the Mist, and then actually to see how much surface there was, as far as the eye could see. If only there was a way to clear the Mist. So much land for people to live on, to grow crops, to explore, without the fear of Turning.

  His eyes came to rest on her face, and she could see the wonder in them. “This is amazing,” he said.

  Cass smiled. “It is.”

  He moved toward the edge of the hill and pointed. “Those must be old vineyards. And that”—he motioned toward a low-lying house—“the manor, maybe.”

  “Maybe. But this isn’t all. I’ve seen vast forests, cities that spread across hills, villages where the table is still set for dinner.”

  “I’ve known about this, but to see it firsthand . . .”

  Down by the dirt road, a small figure appeared. By the awkward shuffle, Cass knew what it was.

  “Time’s up,” she said, and turned around. They would use the clear side of the hill to take off.

  “Is that a Turned?” Theo’s gaze set on the figure.

  “Yes, and I don’t really feel like running into one today.” Just that one glimpse brought back an icy wave, washing away the warmth from seconds ago. Theo stared for a moment longer before following her. With each step, her stomach tightened, and she felt queasy. Memories rushed across her mind, one chasing after another, the horde of Turned inside Magmire, Oliver’s screams from the second-story window, Captain Gresley convulsing on the leaf-scattered ground—

  “Are you all right?” Theo’s muffled voice asked as he touched her arm.

  Cass blinked. She hadn’t realized she had stopped moving. “Yes,” she said, her voice shaking. She glanced at him. He appeared to be studying her again, a little like their first encounter.

  “Do you think you can secure your pack to my glider, or do you need me to do it?”

  “I’m confident I can attach it.”

  “Good. I’ll deploy the glider and let you do that. Squeeze my shoulders when you’re ready. We will start down the hill. Like it was from the ship, let the air pick you up, don’t fight it. We will use the air current and any updrafts we can find to help us ascend back toward the Daedalus.”

  “Understood.”

  Cass turned around and took a few steps forward to make space between her and Theo, then pulled the cord on her pack. Her glider stretched out, and she motioned to Theo with her hand. “All right, go ahead.”

  As Theo moved behind her, she took the time to double-check her mask, then pulled her goggles down. Next, she secured her guiding poles. When that was done, she took in a deep filtered breath and waited. After a moment, his hands came to rest on her shoulders, and he gave them a quick squeeze.

  Then she spotted it. Near the bottom of the hill, beside one of the old oak trees, standing there like silent, badly dressed statue. From this distance, she couldn’t make out the face or any other feature, and might have even missed it in the shadows and gloom, except for that one moment when it lifted its head as if sniffing the air.

  Time to go.

  Cass started down the hill, making sure to keep to the left of where the Turned stood, and where there was still enough clearing t
o make their run easy.

  Theo ran in time with her, their legs moving as one. The air began to pull at her straps. They were halfway down the hill when the Turned gave a hard twitch, and the face turned directly toward them.

  Cold adrenaline washed over her, leaving her skin chilled and her head slightly dizzy. It started rushing toward them. It was faster than she thought it would be.

  She sucked in a breath and held onto the guiding poles. Their feet began to lift off the ground. The Turned drew closer.

  Everything inside her wanted to scream, but she clamped her mouth shut, clenching her teeth together. If she didn’t focus, they would lose air.

  Cass stared ahead, no longer seeing. Instead, she used every nerve to feel: the air, the currents, each and every subtle movement of wind. Seconds later, she found a thermal updraft. Using the poles, she turned the glider, letting the air lift them higher and higher. She wanted to look down, to see how far they were and where the Turned was, but she doused that desire.

  The updraft ended, and they glided for a moment before she found another one. A small black bird joined them, flying over dead vineyards and faded fields. Theo readjusted his hold on her shoulders, and she wondered if he had been as nervous about the Turned as she had been.

  Not nervous. Petrified.

  Her hands began to shake around the guiding poles, and her mind blanked for an instant as a sheer wave of terror passed over her. Bile rose in her throat and threatened to give over to retching.

  Cass gritted her teeth until the wave passed. The edge of the Mist drew closer until finally they passed through it into the bright blue sky.

  Relief flooded her, and tears prickled her eyes. Part of her never wanted to go down there again, but that wasn’t an option. She was a diver, with a very lucrative job ahead. A job that everyone on the Daedalus was counting on her to perform. Fear had no place.

  But as she steered the glider toward the ship waiting ahead, she couldn’t deny there was now a seed planted deep inside her. How many dives would it take before that tiny fear paralyzed her and she found herself trapped in the world of the Mist?