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...
My head whipped up to a woman who came at me, her eyes burning with anger.
She balled my sweater in the a fist. "You better stop this at once!"
"I- I- It wasn't me!" My heart pounded in my chest.
"Don't lie to me girl!" She spat.
I knew their eyes held hate for me, but never had I seen it so closely.
It burned like a forest fire, threatening to take my life if I wasn't wise enough to flee.
Soon enough, there was a small crowed that gathered around me. The same fear and hate reflected in their eyes.
"Snow!" I could hear Dixie's small voice from afar as the crowd began to surround me.
"I didn't do it!" I croaked.
"I told you not to lie to me, didn't I?" The woman raised her hand and came down on my face without warning.
I blinked in shock as my cheek stung.
"Grace!" A voice growled in the distance.
The woman was pulled away from me, and someone embraced me fiercely.
My body flinched as Addie touched my cheek tenderly.
"I understand you're afraid- but to hit a kid! That's beneath you!" Addie snapped and the woman cowered.
I was too afraid to look past Addie's shoulder and only squeezed my eyes shut, allowing her to protect me.
The snow began to fall harder.
"Sweetie, could you stop the snow?" I could barely hear Addie past the wild thumping of my heart.
"It- It wasn't me." I stuttered quietly.
A few moments passed as Addie assessed the situation. "I'm sorry, you're right. A snow storm this size is impossible for you." She caressed my head gently and wrapped me in her arms again. "Everyone listen well. It seems that this is an actual snowstorm, I ask that everyone go to their respective tents and stay well put. Inform each leader to reinforce the tents. Go, now!"
On command everyone began to rush, but Addie stopped the woman who had grabbed me.
"Grace, I'll be expecting you to apologize after this is over."
I was still too afraid to look at that woman's expression so I didn't budge until she was gone.
"Snow!" Dixie hugged my legs with tears in her eyes. "I'm- I'm sorry I couldn't help!" She sobbed.
"I'm okay. I'm okay Dixie. Thanks." My voice however, contradicted my words as it shook and trembled without stopping.
She sniffled on my sleeve.
"Let's go. Before the snow gets worse." Addie led us back to the camp, struggling to cross the growing mounds of snow.
Together, we scuffled closer and closer to Addie's tent, where a strong gush of air nearly toppled Dixie over.
"I need the both of you to stay here, I'll be right back." Addie left us inside the tent after lighting a small lantern. "I'm going to see what Gus is up to."
Minutes passed as the strong wind caused the tent to bend and flap uncontrollably, I could tell Dixie was starting to get anxious.
"Don't worry Dixie, everything is going to be fine." I muttered while patting her back.
"Can- Can you hold me?" She shivered.
I hesitated. "But I'm-"
She shook her head and whimpered, her arms extended towards me.
"Okay, let me just get some blankets."
I turned around, gathering all the sheets that laid on top of a mound of hay. But when I turned around, Dixie was gone.
"Dixie!" My voice shook. "Dixie!"
Running outside, I was met with a gush of strong wind.
Outside the tent was near pitch-black darkness that pierced my heart with fear. The snow had already grown to be up to my mid-calf.
"Dixie!" I shouted desperately. "Dixie, where are you!"
My hands shook as I attempted to take a step forward but stumbled forward. Wiping the snow off my face, I did my best to control the panic that rapidly took over me.
Okay, think. I can melt the ice around me. It'd make it easier to walk right?
Do it Snow.
Placing my hands on the snow, I did my best to remember the way the snow evaporated under Addie's fire. The way it became droplets, then nothing.
Please! Please work!
Miraculously, the snow around me melted, and my knees met with the muddy and soaked ground.
Slipping slightly, I jumped to my feet and began to venture outwards into the dark.
"Dixie!" My voice was nearly lost to the howling winds and yet I cried nonstop. "Dixie! If you can hear me please, say something!"
It didn't take me long to hear a slight whimpering in the distance.
"Good job Dixie!" I scrambled towards the noise. "Keep going! I need to hear you!"
The whimpering soon turned into small words.
"Snow."
I ran towards her voice, only to find her fallen on the snow, half buried.
"Oh Dixie." I cried, gently pulling her out of the snow. "You scared me to death. Why did you go outside!"
"I t- thought I s-saw A-Addie." Her teeth chattered slightly as I pulled her into a tight hug.
At that moment, the ground shook.
My eyes widened in familiarity.
Those- those were bombs...
"I'm- I'm cold." Dixie whimpered.
Without a doubt, my touch only made it colder for her.
"Oh god." I quickly stood on my feet, carrying her in my arms. "We're going back to the tent, just hold on."
My eyes full of hope looked for the tent and nearly cried out of joy when I saw the dim light in the distance.
Once inside, I stripped the freezing clothes off her and wrapped the sheets and blankets around her.
She continued to tremble as the ground shook once more. Only this time, painful cries and screams followed right after.
"What's happening?" I whined with tears in my eyes. "Why- Why are there bombs?"
A part of me wanted to reach out and hug Dixie for reassurance, but I was afraid I'd make her colder.
I'm scared.
The thought ran though my mind. Over and over.
I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared!
I squealed when the tent door suddenly flew open.
"Snow you have to run away!" Addie huffed heavily.
"What?"
"They're here for you. You have to leave now!"
"I- I don't understand- What's happening?" I cried.
"There's no time to explain, come here!" She beckoned me with her finger as she rushed to put items inside a backpack.
"Addie-"
Addie placed the backpack so that it hung on my stomach and grabbed Dixie. I watched as she unwrapped a thin sheet.
"Come here."
I stepped carefully towards her.
"Come here!" She snapped, forcefully grabbing my arm to pull me closer.
Turning me around, she placed Dixie on my back, who only responded with whimpers and groans. I stood still as she wrapped the sheet in a way the Dixie would be able to stay on my back.
Addie pulled me to the exit. "Go!"
My body froze in fear.
"Go!"
"I can't!" I sobbed. "Addie- I can't."
Her eyes made contact with mine for the first time since she arrived. "Snow."
They were full of emotions. Fear was the biggest, but I could tell she was trying her best to be brave. She brushed the hair out of my face and gave me a gentle yet sad smile.
"Snow, you can do this. You have to do this. Someone has to keep Dixie safe and help find her parents, right?" There were tears in her eyes now.
"Why can't- Why can't you come with us?" I choked.
Addie's hands were on my shoulders. "I have to make sure they don't follow you and I have to protect the others too."
Tears flowed down my cheeks heavily and my throat was a knotted mess.
"You are such a brave girl, I know you'll grow up to be a wonderful woman." Her voice was breaking. "Now, go to a town called Grandel. There you'll meet my brother-in-law."
I nodded slowly, unsure whether the information was being kept in my head.
She reached over and kissed my forehead. The warmth spread out, tingling my skin.
Gunshots rang out again only not far from us this time.
"You have to go now, the storm is fabricated so you'll be able to escape once you're out of it's range." Addie smiled sadly again. "Please tell my baby that I love him."
She pushed me out onto the storm, and after giving me a small wave of goodbye, ran in the direction of the gunshots.
I watched her figure slowly disappear into the storm. It seemed almost like she had been engulfed by a monster, never to be seen again. The last thing that was distinguishable was her blazing red hair.
"Addie..." Dixie muttered behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I have to get out of this storm.
Using the same method as before, I melted the storm around me and began to walk in the opposite direction of the gunshots.
"Addie..." Dixie kept mumbling.
"Addie-" I gasped, "Addie's going to be okay. She's going to be fine."
I wasn't sure if I was encouraging Dixie or myself. Either way, it kept me going.
It seemed like we were walking for miles. On and On. But the snow kept raging, as though preventing me to escape.
Keep going Snow! Keep going!
Gunshots and screaming continued in the distance, growing more and more harder to differentiate.
How much farther?
What if they catch me?
Would that mean Addie and the others are- are-
Would they kill me and Dixie too?
I don't wanna die.
I don't wanna-
Keep going!
Just as my legs were beginning to give in, my eyes caught onto something in the distance.
Not far from us, the trees stood calmly and the soft cloudy grey sky could be seen.
My heart soared with relief as I continued to trudge forward.
"Dixie!" I exclaimed tiredly. "Dixie, we're almost out!"
Closer and closer, I dragged my feet until the clear line was easy to distinguish. The line of freedom.
Then, my foot passed the line. The harsh cold windy snow no longer whipped my face, and I was able to clearly see where I was going. My feet was able to walk without stumbling.
My legs collapsed to the ground as I began to wail from the joy my heart felt.
"Dixie-" I cried, "Dixie!"
Snow, you can't stay here. You have to keep going.
Listening to the voice, I used all my strength to pull myself up again.
I glanced behind me at the storm once more.
Please. Please come out alive.
Pushing myself forward, I walked into the forest. Dixie grew heavier and heavier as time passed. My eyes would go fuzzy, but I quickly snapped out of it when I thought of what waited behind us.
Nighttime had arrived, and it was nearly impossible to see where I was going. My feet would constantly stumble and trip on various things in my way.
"Dixie," I spoke to keep myself awake, "Dixie can you hear me?"
There was no response, yet I continued to speak.
"I'm sure we'll be okay. We're gonna find your parents and my mom. And everything is going to be okay."
The heavy feeling that grew inside finally got the best of me.
"I- I had a little sister like you. She's- She's someplace better. But- please, Dixie, you can't leave me too." My eyes were fluttering.
My feet couldn't move forward anymore and once slipping on a stick, my body came crashing down.
Dixie groaned slightly.
"I can't- I cant... lose..."
I slowly slipped unconscious.