⇠ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO
The screaming was loud enough to be heard through the concrete.
No matter how hard I pressed my hands over my ears, I couldn't block the noise out. My tongue tasted blood as I bit my lips in order not to make a sound.
I'm scared. Mom, I'm scared.
I could hear my mother's voice, desperate and begging but I couldn't figure out what she was saying.
More shouting and yelling.
Please! Please stop!
My body shook violently.
Suddenly, gunshots were rang out. The screaming stopped and my hands froze.
"M-" My lips parted to produce the smallest mumble, but couldn't finish the sentence.
My ears could only pick up the sounds of someone mumbling.
I attempted to move and find out what had occurred but stopped.
M-maybe it's best if I stay here...
I'll go out when they call me.
I- I just have to wait a bit. I can do that. I've been doing it for seven years. I- I can wait.
So I waited.
I hugged my knees, squeezed my eyes close and listened for the slightest sounds.
Time passed. I wasn't sure how long though. If it was just minutes, or if was hours, or maybe even days. But, I didn't even move at the sound of my stomach growling.
They're- they're going to get me. They wouldn't forget about me right?
I hugged my knees tighter.
What if they're hurt?
No, mom can handle herself, I refuted myself.
Despite my thoughts, the gnawing feeling of doubt ate at me. Constantly bringing images of blood and my injured mother and sister into my head. The doubt had finally won.
They- they wouldn't leave me alone this long.
I- I- I have to get out of here.
Suddenly, the little space I hid in got smaller and smaller. The concrete walls moved towards me, threatening me. It grew harder to breathe as I gasped for air.
Forcing my body out of the position I was in, I reached over to the tunnel that lead towards the exit. There was a sticky liquid that my palm felt but I ignored it, only feeling the urgency of escaping the walls that threatens to kill me.
I screamed as the walls of the tunnel close around me.
Barely making it to the ladder, I climbed at fast as I could while struggling to breathe.
At the top, with shaky hands I pulled down on the thin rug that covered the entrance but it wouldn't budge.
Let's try our ice. Let's- let's try.
My hand shook as I pointed it towards the rug. Squeezing my eyes shut, I pleaded for a miracle but none came.
Try again. I- I can do this.
I shouted and groaned but nothing happened.
I can't do it! I can't.
I-I don't wanna die here.
"M-mom!" I cried as a last resort, not knowing if she was there. "Mom! Please! Please I'm scared!"
There was no answer.
I hit the rug with my palm desperately, tears ran down my cheeks making it even harder to see.
"Please! I don't wanna to die!" I shouted frantically. "Please! I don't wanna die! Please!"
As if hearing my plea, a miracle occurred.
In a sudden flash of white, I was pushed back by a strong force. My arms waved as I fell down back to the bottom of the ladder, a pierce shattering scream escaped my lips when my back hit the floor.
My world went black as I fell unconscious.
Hours later I woke up groaning in pain. All of my back felt as though it had been broken. However, despite the pain, the desperation came to a cease when I realized that the entrance was open.
Without a moment of waiting, I attempted to scramble up the ladder again.
My eyes blinked furiously at the light that shone through the windows. Dragging myself out of the hole, I cried and pulled myself into a fetal position.
My surroundings were eerily quiet and only the quiet sound of my sobs could be heard.
I cried until I had nothing left to cry, my throat raspy and dry.
"Mom?" My voice croaked. "Ness?"
As I pulled myself up, noticing something sticky all over me and my clothes.
What is-
I froze.
The liquid that soaked into my clothes and stained my hands was blood.
A large gasp escaped my lips as I tried to crawled away from the stream of blood that sat under me.
"Mom! Ness!" I cried but no one answered.
Feeling a sudden surge of courage, I followed the stream.
A cry escaped my lips when I saw the origin of the puddles of blood.
My sister laid on the ground, the pink dress she wore that day had turned red. Her usually neat hair was tousled and strands of it fell onto her frozen face. Staring at me, her eyes were wide with terror.
As quickly as I saw her, vomit crawled up my throat making me stumble to get out. My feet lead me out of the house, where I threw up in my mothers flower bed of gardenias. Even though my stomach was empty, I couldn't help but continue to feel nauseous.
I choked on my sobs as I desperate ripped my clothes off in an attempt to clean myself from the blood.
No, she- that wasn't her. That- That was an illusion. A hallucination.
"Mom!" I choked. "M-Mom!"
I- I need to calm down. Maybe they're upstairs. Maybe they can't hear me.
After calming down I hugged my knees down by the porch stairs, staring into the house emptily.
"It was an illusion." I whispered. "It wasn't Ness. Ness is okay."
My attempted to persuade myself to enter the house was a failure, as I couldn't even get out of the position I was in.
Gritting my teeth, I laid my head on my knees and hugged them tighter.
I need to go. What if they're injured and need my help? I need- I need to go.
I just need to go upstairs. They'll be there.
What- What if I go through the back?
What if it's locked?
No, I have to check. I have to be brave. For Ness and Mom.
Forcing myself up, I made my way to the back of the house while hugging my bare body. With high hopes, my hand grabbed the handle to the back door.
I nearly cried out of joy when the handle turned all the way.
Walking in, I tried my best to ignore the picture of the dead body that attempted to disturb my head.
"Mom! Ness!" I shouted as I went up the stairs. "Mom! Ness!" I shouted as I walked through the halls. First, I quickly went into my room for a warm large black hoodie and a new pair of jeans my mother had just gotten me. Then I decided to check all the other rooms.
Hesitantly, I opened my sister's room but found nothing there. Only several different toys sat scattered on the floor. Her bed was unmade and messy.
She never does her bed.
My heart felt heavy.
She's not d- she's alright.
One by one, I went through all the doors until I made it to the last door.
My hand was handle but wouldn't move.
They're- They're in here.
Forcing my hand to twist the knob, my heart fell when no one was visibly in there.
"Mom?"
The closet was empty.
"Ness?"
There wasn't even a monster under the bed.
The image I tried so hard to push away come rushing back like a raging river. Bile climbed back up my mouth as I stumbled out the back of the house. Returning back to the flowers, the only thing I could do was gag due to my empty stomach.
"No." I gasped for air when another idea came to mind.
The shed. Maybe- Maybe they're in there.
Running towards the back of the house again, I swung open the door, revealing an empty space filled with useless things.
My body fell to it's knees as I was forced to come into terms with reality. My lungs felt as though someone had tied them up.
Ness- she's- she's really-
Heavy sobs escaped my lips.
She's-
She was fine this morning! I heard her and spoke to her this morning! How- how is she-
[Snow.]
My head whipped up.
[Snowflake.]
I ran out the shed, my head spinning left and right.
"Dad!" I cried.
He was no where to be found.
What's happening?
"Dad, I'm scared! Please come out!" My sobs made my words almost impossible to decipher.
[Snow, you can't stay here.]
"Dad where are you?"
[Go into the garage, inside you'll find a backpack. Grab it and fill it with 5 water bottles, a water filter, a map, and cans of food.]
[And grab the gun along with extra bullets.]
[Do not forget. You need that gun.]
Against my own will, my body ran back into the garage and grabbed everything my dad's voice told it to.
What's happening to me? Why can't I control myself?
After placing the gun into the backpack, my body became mine again.
"Dad- What's happening?" I asked into the open.
[Did you find your mom?]
"No but-"
[Then she's most likely alive. You have to go find her.]
"What about-" My voice grew quiet. "What about Ness?"
[Snow.]
[She's gone.]
[You can't help her anymore.]
I felt tears well up in my eyes.
My baby sister- she's-
She's in a better place Snowflake. She's not suffering anymore.
Forcing my eyes to look back at the house, I stumbled backwards when I saw it was shrouded in a thick sheet of ice.
From this far away, somone would probably say the entire house was made out of ice. The house's white glow certainly stood out from the glum and pale surroundings.
I- I must've done that when I ran out.
I looked down at my hands. Since a young age, my father had stated that my connection to the element of ice was stronger than usual. Stronger than even his. However, since he was important to the war, no one was around to teach me how to control it. My hands curled.
Maybe it's better this way. No one will bother her.
[It's a beautiful grave.]
"I'm sorry Ness. I'm so sorry but your older sister has to go now." I bit my lip. "I- I love you lots Nessie."
[We have to go. We have to find your mother.]
"I- I have to go."
The quiet murmur fell to deaf ears as I turned away from my house and walked into the woods, not knowing what would become of me.