TODAY, OUR TEAM MEMBER, AUTHOR EVA BIELBY, IS SHARING PART 2 OF HER 'BEYOND THE MIST - IMPERVIOUS' SHORT STORY! ARE YOU READY FOR IT? #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat

BEYOND THE MIST – PART TWO

IMPERVIOUS

Two years on from the Thompson family’s chilling encounter in North Yorkshire, the treacherous mist finally lifted. The spacecraft, veiled by the ghostly fog for many months, had also taken flight.

During those last two years, however, the mysterious weather phenomenon had allegedly claimed a further two victims.

A father of four children, grandfather of ten grandchildren, widower Michael Topham, 73, had been reported missing by his daughter, Jess. Apparently, Mr Topham was en route to stay with Jess and her family in Edinburgh, but had failed to turn up when expected. His golden retriever, Sasha, was found wandering by the roadside, half a mile past the misted area, by a passing motorist. The local police force believes Mr Topham may have taken a brief walk in the area with his dog and allowed her off the leash. The gentleman’s car, a white Vauxhall Astra, was parked in the area where the Thompson family had parked their camper van two years ago.

A teenager, Jed Ainsley, 19, is thought to be the second victim. Nobody knows for certain what happened on that fateful day. Jed left his parents’ home after a row, stating angrily that he would not be returning. His parents reported him as a missing person when they couldn’t contact him on his cell phone. He left home carrying only a backpack. It is thought that the young guy hitchhiked so far and was dropped off in a town ten miles north of where he was found. The local police recognised the lad as being on the ‘missing persons’ list and had subsequently contacted Mr and Mrs Ainsley to collect him. The police officers who were on duty had previously dealt with Mrs Thompson. Jed appeared to be exhibiting the same catatonic state as that of young Sam Thompson. His parents drove south to collect the boy from the North Yorkshire Police. It became blatantly obvious to Mr and Mrs Ainsley that Jed was not himself, and they worried if he would ever be the same again.

The North Yorkshire police had never ventured into the mysterious fog since the disappearance of an officer, who had gone in search of the first person to vanish. Once the fog dispersed, their search of the area resulted in the discovery of Jed’s cell phone amongst the long grass. There was no evidence to suggest the other missing people had ever been in the area. The damage, however, was already done.

*****

‘Sam’ was paid a visit as he left school one day. A boy, ‘Andy’, approached him at the school gate. He was another like ‘Sam’ - living a life with humans in Cornwall. ‘Sam’ could easily recognise one of his kind by now. Just as ‘Sam’ before him, ‘Andy’ was also told that the humans he lived with would need to be dealt with at some point in the future. ‘Andy’ was eleven years old when his life had been altered by the beings; therefore, he was ‘Sam’s senior by two years. In ‘human’ years, ‘Sam’ was now eleven and ‘Andy’ thirteen.

‘Andy’ had advice for ‘Sam’. ”You must communicate better with the humans. We do not want them to become suspicious. Be kind and friendly. You will stay with the humans for several more years and continue with their antiquated education. You have to get them to trust you. All must appear ‘normal’. Make friends amongst other humans. They need to trust you as well. You need what they call ‘a circle of friends’ around you – starting with me. Invite me over to meet your ‘family’. It will be better to ask permission first. We have work to do here, and we will receive our orders only when the time is right. Your body will continue to mature as it would in your human form. Do what you have to do, and do it well.”

“Do you communicate with those ‘humans’ you stay with? Do you make friends amongst those in your school?”

“Yes. It is a necessity while we are here – and you will do the same too.” ‘Andy’ replied.

*****

Rather than become a changed ‘person’ overnight, Sam knew he needed to gradually bring about the change. He suspected that his human ‘sister’, Kacey, thought there was something ‘odd’ about him, and he had to somehow dissuade her of that theory.

The first change he made to his routine was to stop disappearing upstairs to his room every night after school. He would sit at the kitchen table and accept a drink from Julia, his ‘mum’, before starting a conversation with her on how his day at school had been. Julia believed this to be an amazing breakthrough in Sam’s recovery. She asked him, during one of these chats, if he ever thought of taking up football again, and also expressed her sadness that he’d given up on the game.

“You know, your Dad would never have wanted you to give up football? He always was so proud of your skills.”

“Well, you never know. I’ll see if I can get into the school team. I know some of my old football friends are also hoping to get in. Trials take place in two weeks, I think. Things may be a little different now I’m in senior school.” Sam replied.

Sam didn’t get on the school football team. He did his best to ensure that was the case…and he’d succeeded.

*****

Two weeks after he first met ‘Andy’, ‘Sam’ did as he’d been asked to do, and broached the subject with his Mum as to whether it would be okay to bring a friend over at the weekend to meet her.

“Of course it would, Sam. You didn’t need to ask. Is he in your class at school?

“No. He’s two years older than me. He’s called Andy.” Sam volunteered, without actually mentioning the fact that Andy lived in the next town and therefore didn’t attend the same school.

*****

Julia gave Andy a warm welcome. In return, he greeted her with the maturity of someone much older. They sat around the kitchen table and indulged in some polite chit-chat, Andy being cautiously on his guard. He constantly referred to her as ‘Mrs Thompson’ while they talked. Julia couldn’t help but smile. She liked the lad.

The two boys, after ten or fifteen minutes of idle chatter, were just about to head upstairs to Sam’s bedroom when Kacey strode into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes.

“Morning…oh, I didn’t realise we had a visitor. Hello! And who are you?” she asked of Andy, “I’ve not seen you around school. You must be around my age, are you? I’m thirteen.” Kacey queried. She narrowed her eyes, giving Andy a quizzical look.

“Yes. I’m thirteen, also. But I don’t go to your school. I live in the next town, ten miles away.” All eyes turned toward Sam.

“Oh! You never told me that, Sam...I thought you…”

“Well, how did you meet then?” Kacey butted in rather rudely, curious to know more.

Andy stepped in, worried that Sam would slip up.

“It’s simple. I came to meet another friend when school finished, but he wasn’t there that day. I heard the following day he was ill. Sam and I happened to walk down the road together, and we started up a conversation. That’s it, really.”

Julia readily accepted Andy’s explanation. Kacey looked away and shrugged her shoulders. She was not as easily convinced.

Once the boys had been in Sam’s room for half an hour or so, they came downstairs and went out. ‘Sam’ sensed that ‘Andy’ wanted to speak to him in private.

“Your ‘mother’ seems nice enough,” ‘Andy’ told ‘Sam’, “but you need to be careful around your ‘sister’. I know she is sceptical, not just of me, but of both of us. She could be a huge problem in the future…when the time comes.”

“So, what am I to do about it?” asked ‘Sam’.

“You must be nice to her. Tell her she looks lovely. Humans like wonderful things being said to them. You’ll think of something, I’m sure.”

*****

Throughout the next three years, Andy became a regular weekend visitor to the Thompson household. During the school week, Sam would occasionally bring friends home who were in the same class. Kacey always liked Sam’s friends who attended their school. They were fun and excitable as ever, but Sam, despite being around his friends, remained emotionless.

Since that day when Sam emerged from the mist and their father didn’t come back, Kacey has always felt uneasy around Sam. She wasn’t sure why, but since Andy arrived on the scene, her anxiety level tripled. There was something almost ‘mechanical’ about the pair, and she felt a gut instinct that they were dangerous to be around. She would speak to her best friend, Amelia, about it. Amelia’s mother had a cousin who may be able to help.

Kacey knew that she was a little different to her friends. She knew things, and her gut instinct never failed her. Ever hungry for knowledge, she had been soaking up every bit of the information contained within the books she read. Julia was also aware of her daughter’s abilities outside of the school’s academic teachings. Kacey was highly skilled at healing any family ailments, using the lotions and potions she mixed from plants she collected during their woodland walks. Julia also saw the reading material, which Kacey constantly immersed herself in, and was never in doubt.

*****

Kacey took the plunge one lunchtime and dragged Amelia into a quiet corner of the school library whilst it was empty of other students. She disclosed her feelings about her brother and his weekend friend, Andy. Amelia was aware of her friend’s talents, especially the gut instincts that were never wrong.

“Amelia, I want to speak to your Mum’s cousin, Charlotte. I really need to be in touch with the right person - the High Priestess, and Charlotte could arrange that for me. I want to join the Sisterhood. It’s getting urgent. Mum and I need protection…and soon.

“Okay! I’ll ask Mum to have a word with Charlotte. But I must stress, they don’t usually take in young girls until they have reached eighteen. They might, and it is just a might, allow you because of all your knowledge, skill, and intuition. Leave it with me, Kacey.”

Later that week, when Sam was out with Andy, Kacey couldn’t help but reveal to Julia that she was seeking help from Charlotte and wanted to join the coven. Julia tentatively agreed. If that was the route Kacey wanted to take, she couldn’t see any reason to stop her.

“Also, Mum, I want you to take utmost care if you are, at times, alone with Sam and Andy. There is something…freakish, about the pair of them, and I don’t like the way Andy looks at us.”

“Kacey, I don’t understand why you would say that. I admit, they are a bit different to the other boys, but I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. It’s part of growing up to develop our own individual personalities.”

“Mum, please. Just listen to me, you’ve got to. You already know that Sam hasn’t been the same since he came out of the mist, right? Well, Andy is the same. Something has happened to him, too. I know I’m right!”

Finally, Kacey had her Mum’s attention.

*****

Due to her extensive knowledge and the extraordinary skills she demonstrated, Kacey was allowed to join Charlotte and the rest of the Sisterhood at the coven, despite being under the normal age of initiation, eighteen years. They heard and believed her story of Sam and Andy.

*****

‘Andy’ had received his orders from the Master of the Mothership. The humans he lived with had been dealt with. He had led the two older boys, his ‘brothers’, into the mist, and they were now modified. The termination of their parents, ‘Andy’ had carried out alone. Their bodies remained in their bedroom undiscovered. The three ‘boys’ would continue to stay in the home for as long as was necessary.

He related his story to ‘Sam’ when they next met.

“I’ve done it. They’ve been dealt with. Your time is coming soon. You will do the deed. I will supervise and assist you if required. There is no room for error. The Master takes a dim view when his order is not dealt with efficiently.”

“When will I know?” ‘Sam’ asked of ‘Andy’.

“You will receive the order directly from me. Our Master will tell me when.”

*****

Kacey had been receiving her training from the Sisterhood for almost eighteen months. Recently, she sensed that in Sam and Andy’s presence, they were growing stronger. There appeared to be a new confidence, to Andy in particular, and Sam was feeding from him.

Without disclosing her heightened anguish to Julia, she purchased a bolt for the inside of her bedroom door. Not fully understanding the force she was dealing with, she doubted the precaution would serve to help if the need should arise. She was unsettled. Despite her training, she wouldn't be able to manifest strong enough protection skills.

She called Charlotte.

“They get stronger. I don’t think my protection spells are sufficiently powerful. Could I please ask for extra protection for myself and my mother? The matter has become critical.”

“Leave it with me, Sister. I will speak with High Priestess, Madreiana. Wait for my call. If Priestess Madreiana, agrees to act, she will order our Sisters to be present as an emergency. Will your mother come willingly?”

“Yes, she will come. I will stress that she must.”

Kacey went downstairs to the living room to find her mother alone. The boys had gone out somewhere, but Kacey didn’t care that they wouldn’t be able to get back into the house. She quickly explained to her Mum that she was awaiting a call from Charlotte, and once she received a call back, they would likely be leaving the house immediately. She added that the pair of them would be receiving protection from the Sisterhood. Her mother was stunned into silence, but slowly nodded her head in agreement. She understood it was essential that this action be taken without further delay.

Sister Charlotte called Kacey back fifteen minutes later, letting her know they were expected at the coven within thirty minutes. Apparently, Priestess Madreiana had readily agreed to the protection ritual.

Julia’s hands were visibly shaking as she handled the steering wheel. Five minutes down the road, Kacey shouted at her mother to stop the car.

“Mum, we need the fruit and veg shop. We must offer gifts to the High Priestess. I’ll be able to get a gift of fruit and flowers from there. And stop fretting, Mum. We will take part in a ceremony: a ritual. There is nothing to fear. The boys are what you should be afraid of.” Kacey jumped out of the car and hurried along past the first few shops.

In no time at all, they were back on the road and headed in the direction of the abandoned Chapel just past the outskirts of town. Julia parked up, and mother and daughter leapt over the wall and along the overgrown path which led to the rear entrance of the old Chapel.

The Sisterhood was gathered, except Sister Lorraine and Sister Eva, who would be busy in the vestry helping Priestess Madreiana into her gowns. The Sacred Circle and Pentagram of salt were ready in the centre of the room. White candles burned at each point of the Pentagram. The room fell silent as Madreiana entered the room, accompanied by the two Sisters. Sister Lorraine handed the ‘athame’ to the Priestess. Kacey watched in awe.

“Come forth, my child.” The High Priestess addressed Kacey. “Please state what brings you here as a matter of urgency, our young Sister.”

Kacey’s voice wavered. “Priestess Madreiana, we…we bring gifts for you.”

Julia stepped forward and handed the gifts to Sister Eva and Sister Lorraine, and stood back a little.

“I am invoking the Goddess to ask for your assistance. We require your treasured gifts and will use them wisely. I am requesting protection for myself and my mother. Whatever comes to us, make it return to its source, from whence it came.”

The sisters chanted together. “We call upon you, The High Priestess, to please help us protect our student Sister and her mother.”

Silence prevailed once more as Priestess Madreiana stepped forward and placed her hands on both mother’s and daughter’s heads.

“Now, please step forward into the Sacred Circle. Once there, sit cross-legged, cross your arms, and close your bodies off. Close your eyes, please.” Kacey and Julia complied.

“We shall begin.”

The sisters chanted “Proteggerli!”  (Protect them!)

Madreiana chanted. “Dagli protezione! (Give them protection!) The Sisters were to repeat each chant after their High Priestess.

“Proteggerli dal male!” (Protect them from evil!)

“Proteggerli da attre forze!” (Protect them from other forces!)

“Tenere lontano il male!” (Keep evil away!)

“Impermeabile!” (Impervious!)

“I request of you now, members of our Sisterhood, to ask for our student, Sister Kacey, and her mother, to be infused with the powers to reject the evil forces that come their way.”

All the Sisters chanted together. “Our High Priestess, Madreiana, we ask you to assist us in infusing our student, Sister Kacey and her mother, with the powers to reject the evil forces that come their way.”

Madreiana closed her eyes, her palms together. “La nosta congrega è inespugnabile!” (Our coven is impregnable!)

Kacey and Julia were unable to understand the next half an hour of chanting as it was in ancient Latin rather than Italian. However, they had put all their trust in the Sisterhood.

The High Priestess spoke again. “Lo sono il potere!” (I am the power!)

The Sisters responded. “Tu sei il potere!” (You are the power!)

Madreiana approached the circle. “Our protection is yours!”

Kacey spoke. “I thank you, Priestess Madreiana, for answering my call. Only my good intentions shall come from this. So mote it be.”

“So mote it be!” Chanted the Sisters. “This circle is now free and clear.”

Kacey and Julia stepped out of the circle at last. It had been a long ritual, and they were exhausted. Madreiana came forward to stand with the Thompson ladies, Sisters Lorraine and Eva at her side.

“You must remain alert, my apprentice Sister. I sense the time approaches rapidly. Fifteen days, perhaps! Our Sisterhood will be equipped. We offer further assistance. Contact Sister Charlotte when the time comes. She can reach everybody as a matter of emergency.”

*****

Thirteen Days Later

“Could we go out into the countryside for a drive this afternoon, please?” Sam asked his mother over breakfast. “We never seem to go out for a drive anywhere these days.”

“It’s a nice day, so why not. That’ll be lovely, Sam.”

“Great. I’ll ask Andy to come along.”

Julia could feel Kacey’s eyes burning into her. She turned to face her daughter.

“Are you coming, darling?”

“Ermm…yes, I suppose so.”

Kacey hated the idea of Andy accompanying them. Sam had eagerly awaited her response.

Why is he so keen to have me come along? This is it, I know it!

Julia, however, was getting into the spirit of things and seemed happy to do something different with her son, and with the fact that he’d suggested it...

“Should we take a picnic? I could…”

“No. Don’t bother. We can eat out if we get hungry.” Sam offered. He placed his cereal bowl near the sink and set off to tell Andy of their outing.

“This is it, Mum. You do realise that, don’t you? There’ll likely be mist somewhere along the way. I’ll call Charlotte now, before he gets back here with the precious Andy.”

Julia shuddered. Kacey went upstairs to place the call. Within ten minutes, she had the answer she’d hoped for. The Sisterhood would assemble around the back of the chapel at 1 pm.

“This is what we’ll do, Mum. We head out on the road that runs past the Chapel. When we get there, just park up at the roadside and say you have always wanted a quick look inside the Chapel and never had the chance. I will follow you over the wall. I doubt they will even get out of the car. When we reach the sisters, our power is much greater. We will be protected. Act natural and don’t freak out on me, please!”

“Oh, Kacey…I…”

Kacey walked away. Her Mum’s anxiety would not deter her from what she had to do.

*****

Sam and Andy arrived around 12.30 pm. Andy told him on their way to Julia’s house that the job must be done today without fail. Kacey and Julia were making a great fuss over getting themselves ready. They were trying to delay leaving until after 1 pm, so that the Sisters would be prepared for their arrival.

At 1.06 pm, they piled into the car, Kacey up front with her mother, the boys in the back. The boys hadn’t commented about the road they had taken, so they were evidently happy it was the right direction. Within no time, the disused Chapel was in sight.

“I’m going to pull up here for five minutes, boys. I’ve never had the opportunity to look in the old Chapel before. I might as well take a quick look while we are out this way, okay?”

“I’ll come with you, Mum!” Kacey offered. The boys didn’t respond.

Mother and daughter clambered over the wall and onto the overgrown path once again. As they neared the rear of the building, Julia, in somewhat of a panic, started to run.

“Hey, Mum! Wait…don’t…” Kacey shouted as she took off after her.

Back in the car, Andy had noticed the mother take off in a rush. He turned to Sam as he opened the car door. “Come on. We can do it here. This is a great chance. Hurry.”

When Julia and Kacey rounded the corner of the Chapel, the Sisterhood was waiting. There was a gap in the Circle, and they beckoned the pair into the centre. The Circle was closed around them.

“Evil approaches. We begin.” Madreiana started the ceremony.

The chanting commenced. Their words repeated time and again.

“Noi siamo la luce.” (We are the light!)

“Noi siamo il potere.” (We are the power!)

“Siamo inespugnabili.” (We are impregnable!)

“Non puoi penetrare.” (You cannot penetrate!)

“Torna alla tua fonte.” (Return to your source!)

Madreiana pointed her dagger towards the interlopers and shouted. “Non puoi vincere.” (You cannot win!)

From the centre of the circle, Kacey faced the path they had taken. The boys walked slowly towards them.

“The woman in the white robes is their leader. We must destroy her first, and then the others that protect them. Come forth.” Andy instructed.

“Okay!”

They approached the edge of the Circle nearest to them.

“Hand over the female humans in your midst. Hand them over now.” Shouted Andy, pointing his finger at Madreiana in a threatening manner.

“Siamo intoccabili!” (We are untouchable!) Chanted Madreiana and the Sisterhood.

Andy barged his way between two of the Sisters.

“You will obey me!” Andy warned. “Hand them over!”

Julia fell to her knees and started to sob.

“Have faith, Mamma!” Kacey grabbed Julia’s arm to pull her to her feet. “Just watch!”

“Tu sei il nemico!” Came the chant. (You are the enemy!)

Andy and Sam pushed at the nearest Sisters, and they fell to the ground. “Out of our way! You will all be hurt if you don’t comply.”

“Non puoi toccarli!” (You cannot touch them!)

The two Sisters who had fallen to the ground got back onto their feet. Sam began to wonder if they could pull this off.

“Give, NOW!” Andy was getting angry.

“Non penso! Absolutamente no! Mai!” Madreiana screamed. (“I don’t think so! Absolutely not! Never!)

Andy made straight for Madreiana and grabbed her arm.

“Fulmine!”  The Sisters chanted together. (Lightning!)

A bolt of lightning came from nowhere and hit the two boys. Their bodies arced and sparked, but they didn’t seem to suffer any harm. The sparks died out.

“Fuoco!” The cry came from Madreiana as she was wrestled to the floor. Andy bent over and struck the Priestess hard across the face. In their positions by her side, Sister Lorraine and Sister Eva were both pushed to the ground by Sam. Eva was soon up and chanting along with the Priestess. Sister Lorraine, however, was unharmed yet visibly shaken, her gowns dirty and ripped in several places. Not to be deterred, she smiled at Julia and Kacey as she got to her feet, without any loss of dignity. As she joined in with the chanting once more, her voice could be heard over that of Madreiana.

“Fuoco!” Yelled the Sisters. (Fire!)

Flames engulfed Sam and Andy for a few seconds. Small flames lapped at their bodies and faces but soon died out. They felt the power of the force that pushed back at them. It seemed that the boys didn’t possess the strength to fight it and didn’t understand this strange new power which held them back from doing any real harm. They were merely ‘modified humans’, not genuine aliens.

“Essere andato!” The High Priestess commanded. (Be gone!)

The boys backed away, defeated.

“That…that was my Son!” Julia still wept, tears streaking her face. She joined Kacey to help Sister Eva and Sister Lorraine comfort Madreiana.

The High Priestess came up close to Kacey and Julia. First of all, she held Kacey’s face in her hands for a few seconds and then did the same to Julia. “I am okay, thank you, ladies. Our collective power was the key to their defeat. The danger is over. Kacey, you still have an effective, solid protection around you. Your mother’s protection will also last a while longer. You are safe and can return home.”

Kacey and Julia thanked the Priestess and the Sisterhood and bade them all goodbye. When they returned to the car, there was no sign of the boys.

*****

‘Andy’, his ‘brothers’ and ‘Sam’ were called back to the spacecraft by their Master. The four of them ventured into the mist and boarded the mothership. Four of the beings escorted them to the Master in the upper dome.

“You two have failed in your mission.” He pointed to ‘Sam’. “I do not hold you fully responsible. You are still young and don’t have the necessary maturity for the task bestowed on you. We should not have taken you.”

He beckoned two of the guards to come forward.

“Take him to the induction area and reverse our modifications. When that is completed, you will take him to the edge of the mist. He is to be released as he once was.”

The two guards led ‘Sam’ away.

The Master finally turned to ‘Andy’. “Although you successfully completed your mission with your former ‘parents’ – the humans, you have failed our race. You were sent to the young one to assist and demonstrate to him what was to be done, which would have led to his full maturity as one of us. That is unforgivable. Your two human ‘brothers’ shall stay with us to carry on our work – the work in which you are not sufficiently competent.”

He summoned the remaining two guards. “Take him away.”

‘Andy’ was led away from the Master to the ‘decertification room’ where he was instantly terminated. His ‘brothers’ showed no emotion.

*****

When Sam reached the edge of the mist, the two beings turned away after their last words to him. “Go, human!”

Sam recognised the area where he emerged from the mist. He was not too far from home and could walk there in half an hour or so. He turned to look back. The mist and the spacecraft were gone. Has it all been a dream? Sam set off on his journey. Once he climbed up the incline, he was back on the road that would lead him home.

His mother and sister had arrived back home from wherever they had vanished to. He walked into the house to find his Mum and sister sitting eating at the kitchen table. He couldn’t hold back his feelings any longer. Throwing his arms around them both, he calmly announced, “I love you, Mum! I love you too, Sis! It’s me, Sam. I’m back.”

Leaving them stunned into silence, Sam went upstairs and returned five minutes later, his football under his arm. He wished his Dad were still here to see him play footie. He wanted to make him proud at last.

**********

Eva Bielby © January 2026

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COMING SOON: On Wednesday, 14th March, we are delighted to welcome our guest author, Alianne Donnelly, who is sharing an excerpt from her novel, 'Wolfen'.