Nate stood frozen, face to face with the icy being. Its lifeless, hollow eyes bore into him, and a deep chill seeped into his bones. He couldn't move, couldn't speak, as fear gripped him like a vice.
Behind him, Madison placed a trembling hand on his shoulder. "Nate, let's go," she whispered, trying to teleport them away. But her powers failed her. No matter how hard she tried to concentrate, they stayed rooted in place.
The being tilted its head slightly, its movements slow and deliberate, as if it was studying him.
Then, in an instant, it grabbed Nate by the neck, lifting him effortlessly into the air.
Nate choked, clawing at its icy grip as he struggled to breathe. He summoned what strength he had, punching and striking its arm, but his fists only bloodied against the creature's frozen body.
"Let… go!" he rasped, his voice barely audible as his vision began to blur.
