I stumbled exhausted through the growing inches of snow. Man! I was grateful I’d brought proper gear, because instead of just cold to the bone, lost in the woods with no food, I’d have been dead in the woods instead. Hm. Actually, I’d rather be dead than where I am right now. My breath, mist in the freezing air, accompanies several crystals of ice on their drifting journey down from the gloomy white cotton candy clouds in the sky to the thick white blanket of their peers already on the ground. I watch them in envy for a minute— at least they are with other of their kind, unlike me, too stubborn to remember the number one rule of hiking, that being to always bring a friend. Then I stumble on, anything to keep me off the subject of my own stupidity. My hands, face and toes are cold and the rest of me hot as I stumble on once more, up a hill. Why did I get lost? Why did I even do this anyway? Why didn’t I charge my phone?? As I push up the hill, I become faintly aware of a glowing yellow light. I ignore it at first, thinking it’s probably just the sunset. I push that thought away, because I do not want to be lost with the wolves in the freezing cold forest. Luckily, as I reach the top of the hill I realize I have been spared after all. A cosy little cottage is in front of me, covered in snow. Windows invite me to catch a glimpse of a modern living room, modern yet rustic with a nice warm roaring fireplace. Books line the walls and above the fireplace is a tv connected to an Xbox. The thing that really catches me is the fact it’s on. Rushing up to the front door with all my draining energy, I knocked. The sound of someone walking to answer me is music to my ears, the sweetest sound on earth. I collapse on the doorstep, waiting, my cheeks red and freezing. The door opens, and a rush of warm, sweet air brushes my cheeks. I let out a happy sigh as relief sweeps over me. Looking up to see my host, I brace myself to beg my hopefully host for mercy. It’s a girl. Quite short. She rolls her eyes at the sight of me, sighs, and holds out her hand to help me up. As she leads me into a coat hall, I looks around curiously. She shuts the door behind her and points to the coat hanger and boot tray. “Go on, take your stuff off.” Her voice is quiet but holds a lot of assertance. I take my stuff off. Interesting. There is only shoes for one person, but there is enough space for more people. It didn’t look like anyone had left the cabin, though. The girl gestures to the kitchen. She sits me down on a couch in the living room and gives me a warm blanket and tissues for my dripping nose. As I warm up, I hear a whistling sound and a few minutes later she’s back with hot chocolate. Handing it to me, she sits down, and a dog that was lying on the carpet trots up to her. It’s a small but cute one, a cocker spaniel I think. She lifts it up to her lap and sits there for a while absentmindedly watching the fire and stroking her dog. I sip my hot chocolate. It’s warming and sweet with a chocolatey taste. Breathing in the sweet-smelling steam, I ponder about what would a girl this size be doing alone in the woods? She clearly wasn’t a child. “Are you a midget?” I finally blurt out, my big mouth rudely interrupting the silence. It’s the only logical conclusion I can come up with. “No.” She gives me a look. Just like the streak in her blond hair with brown her eyes are blue and framed with rectangular purple glasses. “I’m not a midget.” She has a voice like a child’s. So I guess that answers the question. “Why did you move out here?” “Someone had to, to give those lost to the point of no return hope. You will find me no matter where you live, waiting for someone lost forever to stumble to my door. They always do.” “Lost forever?” I gape. “Not anymore.” The girl stands up, much to the disappointment of her dog, who hops down and walks over to the fire. She goes into the kitchen and comes back with a map. Showing it to me, I see it’s a path that leads you from there to the nearest town. It’s not that far, which explains how she got the hot chocolate. “Oh. Thanks.” I accept it and she has me stand up. All my gear has dried off. I put it on, and looking outside I see it’s dark. “How about you wait till morning,” the girl suggests. I agree and she leads me to a guest bedroom. I settle down for the night. The next morning, I wake up. All is quiet. I creep out of my room and slip into the kitchen. But the girl is already there, sitting on a stool by the island and sipping more hot chocolate. I never changed out of my clothes, so I’m already ready. The girl gesture to a bag sitting on the counter. It’s my bag. “Packed some supplies for you, I think its time you left.” She hands me the bag and I take it without complaint. Putting it on, I walk out the door and wave farewell to her. Turning, I realize something, “Wait! I never got your name!” I turn back to the cottage, but it’s gone. Looking down at the map, I see that in the place of the cabin on the map is instead a mini picture of me. The map…the cabin…it’s too much, especially when I see a bunch of lines appear glowing in front of me to light the way to town. I run and never look back, especially when I reach the end of the forest. But when I reach my house, I can’t help but turn back. It’s crazy. The cabin is far off in the distance. But I keep hoping to see it. Why? I don’t know. But I’ll never forget the girl, cabin and dog who saved my life.

‘Huff, puff, guys can someone carry me?” I said exhastedly trying to breathe from all the climbing “I’m taxed from all that hiking, I need to get some rest”. They stared at each other waiting for someone to volunteer to help. “Uhh, sorry but it seems like no one has the stamina left to carry someone while hiking” one of my friends said as a excuse to not do it himself “I know a hotel nearby, how about you stay there for tonight, we’ll go there too once we reach the peak of this mountain. “Well, it’s not like I have any other choices” I said in an agreement. “See you in the hotel then” another one of my friends announced and waved goodbye.

I checked online for the hotel, it isn’t far from my current location, I slowly walked to the direction of the hotel. Once I make it to the hotel, I examined the external of it. It was covered in snow, light radiate out through the windows. I hurried inside, it was too cold outside I can’t stand it any longer. Cozy heat slammed into my face, it was so pleasant that I felt like I’m in heaven. I reserved a room from the receptionist, and lay down on the bed immediately after I entered it. My eyelid felt heavy I closed it as it desired.

Unknowingly I fell asleep on the bed, it was already morning once I looked outside the window. My friends were still sleeping in their room the receptionist informed me. When they woke up, I apologized for not greeting them when they were back, I explained that I was too tired. My friends didn’t really mind about it because they had fell asleep almost instantly when they lay on the bed too. We went down the mountain and ended the our hiking trail.

Each trail of footprints in the snow marked a similar fate: death.

I’d known it. Of course I did. The shrill screams and piercing pleads throughout the deepening of the and thickening of the trees ahead of me was a reminder that no matter where I turned, death would follow.

“Do you think they’re all gone?” Quinton asked me, the ends of his hiking staffs puncturing the ground below us. The humming bluster of the wind chilled us both to the bone, despite the excessive amount of clothing we wore, and despite the goggles which were glued to my face, my cheeks were still rawed and red from frostbite.

“Yes.” Was all I said; it wasn’t my job to sugarcoat the truth. That was Arden’s, before he, well… before he entered those trees and hadn’t returned.

Quinton raised his chin to the air, the crisp air crackling within our tired lungs. One by one, as the wind picked up with a torturous howl, the footsteps disappeared as they covered themselves with snow, like a secret doing whatever it can to remain a mystery. He sniffed and said, “you’re sure?”

I turned to him, his similar navy goggles staring me in the face. His mouth was exposed; it was nearly frozen over, each iced particle coming to rest on his face as he constantly warmed them with his tongue. “Don’t do that. You’ll make them sore.”

“Either that or they’re frozen off.”

“I would take no feeling at all than pain.”

He scrutinised me. “Is it just natural to you to speak in riddles? I feel I’m talking to some thousand year old god whose suffered more pain than I would know.”

Finally, I bared my teeth at him. “I wasn’t hiding that very well, was I?”

“Oh, very funny,” he mused, though the look on his face— or, well, from what I could discover from the skin exposed— claimed otherwise.

I sobered, and watched the steep inclination of snow ahead of us increase in volume as more snowflakes trickled from above our heads.

“Come on, now,” with a wave of my hand, he followed suit.

We travelled in the opposite direction of the trees for what seemed to be hours. Quinton had claimed that we were in the absolute middle of _nowhere, _and I deemed that phrase fitting. Because no matter where we turned, there was always a mile ahead of more snow, a section ahead with engulfing trees, or a cabin next to— wait, a cabin?

I narrowed my eyes for a moment, and rubbed my face wherever exposed to figure out the answer to if I was dreaming or not. When I realised I was not, in fact, dreaming, I raised my hand to clap Quinton on the shoulder—

But Quinton wasn’t there.

I whipped my head around. “Quinton?”

Pure white for miles. The thickness of the snow beneath us meant our footprints were more carved-out pathways than individual prints.

“Quinton?” I beckoned again, shifting my gaze to the trees to the west of the cabin.

Still nothing.

“Quinton!” I yelled, but the surrounding around echoed my voice back without an answer.

There had been seven of us. One by one we’d been picked off like parts of a whole that couldn’t cope without any right or rhythm. Any sense of togetherness or unity. The forest had picked off the weaker ones first— Dan, Riley, Min— then it came closer and closer. Teresa, Arden.

Quinton.

I stilled in front of the door ahead of me. There was still a lingering trail ahead of it from where it’d been repeatedly opened and closed. The flicker of a light was visible from the window, mostly obscured by the snow.

Someone was home.

I rapped on the door. _One, two. _

No answer.

One, two, three. __ No answer. __ Harder this time, I pounded on the door.

The door creaked forward as I placed my fingertips against it. It was already open. __ The sight ahead froze me.

The six lost crew were tied together in a vicious, rope-burnt circle—

No. Five. __ I stepped into the cabin, footsteps heavy; their eyes widened, their yells muffled.

The door clicked behind me.

“Took you long enough,” the voice behind me uttered, before a crack to the back of my head rendered me speechless. I fell to the ground with only one of my hands responding in time to prevent the harshness of the fall, my cheek pressed against the wooden boards, snow clinging to my face.

My goggles were ripped off from my head, clattering until they came to a still. They too were smashed.

Vision blurry, I looked up to the five. Their screams quietened, but echoed through my head.

A set of footsteps entered my view. Blue hiking boots, lowering down once my eyes grew heavy.

“I never figured you to be naive,” he said.

Quinton.__ __ __ __

I should have known better than to go hiking after a snowstorm, but I really wanted to get out of the house. The whole family was assembled there for Christmas, including a few noisy and fussy toddlers, and I just wanted some peace.

I was a widow, having lost my husband and only child in a car accident last year, and I felt that my very presence just brought everyone down.

The problem with a lot of white snow drifts is, you start having vision problems, and soon enough I was lost. Even my phone GPS and compass app suddenly stopped working. I was truly alone amidst a desert of snow.

I’m not sure how long it was before I saw the house, but suddenly it was there, just as my GPS cut out.

I was cold and starting to lose feeling in my fingers. I decided to head toward the house and see if I could get warmed up and then a signal to call for a ride home.

The last thing I expected was to see my late husband open the door.

Something inside me unlatched. I opened my mouth to scream but I couldnt make a sound. I passed out.

My eyes opened and Ken was sitting next to me on a sofa. He had brought me inside. I was covered in a blanket and a steaming drink was in his hand.

“I’m sorry,” Ken said. “I think you were so exhausted, you passed out. Here’s some cocoa.”

I was so eager for nourishment, I put the drink to my lips and sipped. Then I looked around me. A fire burning cheerfully. A Christmas tree gloriously decorated. The entire living room was adorned with decorations.

And then appeared my Timothy with a plate of cookies warm from the oven. “I made these myself!”

How do I explain the feelings I had — a mix of joy at seeing my husband and child again, but also horror — how could this be real?

“Ken,” I finally said.

He looked at me with surprise. “You know me?”

Timothy grinned. “Do you know my name, too?”

I’ve gone mad, I thought. “You are Timothy.”

“How does she know us, Daddy?”

Ken just smiled. “Enjoy your cookies,” he said.

I could have argued, tried to make them remember. But I was so tired. Maybe it was best if they didn’t know.

We sat together on the couch, watching the fire and Timothy playing with a toy truck.

I stayed for a while, then it was time to go. I was glad they were happy and that they didn’t miss me. I put on my coat and boots and hugged them goodbye, and walked out back into the snow. The GPS was working now.

As I made my way back home, I turned to look back, and the house was gone. I saw my footsteps from earlier, and followed them back from where I had begun.

Life must go on, I thought. It will do so whether or not I wish to partake of it.

Hello, hello, are you home? Please, Sir, I’m all alone Your house looks warm and cozy While outside I’m frozen and lonely

Looking through the open curtains Seeing light, I am so certain I’ll be welcome to come inside To warm my bones by the fireside

No one answers as I keep knocking Instead I turn and a car is honking The driver beckons for me to come In the car it’s warm as the sun

The owner of the house is driving Away from the house he is heading I ask him, why is he leaving He says the house is haunted and heaving

Oh my goodness it looks so inviting Yes he says with weary eyes fighting Now he says he lost the fight Leaving now with all his might

I guess the lesson from this tragedy Even things dressed with majesty Can end up evil and full of danger Best to leave and avoid the anger Tessa🦋

The wind howled above me as dark storm clouds appeared across the sky. I slowly trudged through the quickly darkening woods. The trees once bright, and inviting twisted into a phantasmagoria of harrowing creatures waiting to pounce. Their branches, jagged claws, that desperately scratched at me as I kept along my dread-filled march. As more snow began to fall to the ground my head darted about in search of the long lost ski lodge. My hands shook with not only cold. My breath became jagged as tears welled up in my eyes. I rubbed my hands together. My light coat, and beanie doing nothing to keep away the frigid needles of a winters night’s wind. The snow crunched beneath my boots leaving footprints two feet deep. Finally like the bright of dawn I saw light ahead. I threw myself forward into a run, my heart soaring, my eyes glittering with hope, and joy. As I reached the clearing I saw the monolithic cabin. All of the wall facing me was a window so I saw the wondrous fire roaring, and the family that sat comfortably around it. I ran up to the front door, and pounded on it desperately. “Help!” I begged. From where I stood I saw the family turn to face me. They look me dead in the eye, and smiled. Not a friendly smile in any regard. It was anatomically impossible to smile that wide! Their teeth jagged, and cracked shimmered in the reflection. Their eyes were empty coals, yet a fire seemed to burn somewhere deep inside them. Though as fear seemed to grab at me, I stayed rooted to the porch. My legs were cooked noodles, my hands were blocks of ice, and my feet unmovable boulders. I slowly sank to me knees, then to my side as the cold ate away at me. As the family smiled at me in their warm cabin with that taunting fire the world swirled around me. Colors danced in my vision and the ringing in my ears reached a peak… Then the world went silent. But not before I heard the front door of this treacherous spiders web open, and a calm malicious chuckle rang throughout the cold, cold night.

"Put that phone away! Work will be there when you get back." Keesha grabbed for her phone, but Latrina pulled it back just in time, thumbs flying on the keyboard.

"I'm almost done! One more minute and I will be work free." She leaned away, typing her signature, staying just out of reach.

Keesha narrowed her eyes, probably calculating the distance to snatch for her second attempt.

Ding.

The phone swooshed as she hit send and she held it up. "See! I'm here and available. You can't be mad at me though, we don't all have rich husbands to pay for everything."

"You could if you ever stopped working," Keesha called back, thrusting a large wine glass in her hand. "I've seen some of the lawyers in your firm -- you don't have to look far. In fact, what about that nice chocolate one across the hall?"

"Jemmerson?" Latrina snorted into her wine glass. "I know I'm not his type." She swallowed, the rich red eased down her throat, taking some of the tension away. She bent forward and dropped the phone on the table, face down. Maybe work could wait.

Keesha frowned. "How are you not his type? You're everyone's type. Tall, smart, beautiful -- most women should hate your guts."

Latrina took another sip, covering the flush that ran up her neck. Way to hit a nail on the head. "Well cousin, I know because I caught him with Kevin from IP in the gym two weeks ago. I know enough not to bark up the wrong tree."

Keesha raised her eyebrows, but shrugged. "Well, what trees are you looking for? You're not getting much younger."

"Nobody is!" Latrina drained her glass and held it. "This is vacation, not an interrogation. Fill me up." Keesha tsked and took the glass, padding off to the kitchen.

Latrina exhaled and snuggled back into the rich leather of the couch. It was nice to be away from it all. The whole Warrington clan away together on Atlas Mountain for Christmas. Somehow, someway, everyone had made the trip.

Thwump!

A large snowball smacked the window, collasping in to powdery dust. Shrieks came as the kids fought outside in the backyard. Kylan and Carter threw the balls full force, hiding behind their snow forts. Little Mahalia wasn't doing too bad keeping up either. She cocked her arm back and let one fly right into Jamal's face. Latrina grinned and pulled a thick blanket over her legs and snuggled deeper. At 27 degrees, there was no way she'd be found out in the elements.

"Dinner's ready in 20," Keesha said, plopping down and sloshing the wine. Latrina rescued her glass and settled back. A warm fire, wine, and family was the epitome of a good time. "You know, I thought it was bougie when my Mom mentioned they hired a chef."

Keesha laughed. "Smartest thing ever. I did not come on vacation to work. Plus, you see all those people? I'm not washing any dishes."

"I'm not sure you remember how," Latrina teased.

Keesha smacked at her leg. "Girl! I know, and I definitely remember, which is why I do everything to avoid them now." Latrina took another sip of wine, nearly emptying it. A warm, heavy feeling settled in her stomach. She definitely should eat something, but it was nice being tipsy, somewhere she didn't have to keep her guard up.

A heavy knock cam from the door.

Keesha stood up. "I'll get it. That'll be Leon with the firewood."

Instead of Leon, a White woman stood trembling at the door, her hand still up to knock.

"I'm . . . " she didn't finish, as she collapsed in a heap. She looked almost blue, her skin blanched white. Keesha looked over wildly. "Trina! Help!"

Latrina leapt up, hastily putting her glass on the table and ran over. The woman wasn't wearing any gloves, and her pants and boots were wet. She was not dressed for a jaunt in the woods.

"Help me get her to the couch. Someone else help!" Between the both of them, they carried her over, placing her on the low love seat nearest to the fire.

"What in the world?" Who'd be out hiking dressed like that?" Keesha wondered aloud, grabbing the phone and pressing 911.

Latrina grabbed the blanket that had been warming her, mere seconds ago and tucked it around the girl, and silently agreed. "Who in the world would be out here like this?"

The day of the hike, I was ready and willing and able. Checked the weather, life packs done and ready to go. I was to leave At 6 am and meeting my partner soon. Off I went with adventures and hikes in my mind. It was a beautiful day and the Sun was out as far as the eye could see. Little did I know my planned day was about to change.

My cell rang about the time I was about to pair up, and my hiking partner cancelled our hike last minute. Well it was too Late for me to turn back. I started off with the sun shining off of the trees, Golden brown leaves falling around me, just Beautiful. The birds, robins, blue jays, and cardinals chirping their song to guide me on the trail.

As I started to climb up the switchback, around and up the trail the sun disappeared behind the dark clouds. It suddenly Got windy and blustery, maybe the feathered friends was secretly sending a message. Then the temperature dropped And it began to snow.

I quickly put my snow coat, that I had packed for the ‘just in case’ situations, and started off. I noticed that the trails were Quickly covering up with snow and disappearing. After 30 minutes of hiking I came to the realization that I was lost. Traveling down the mountain or sliding was more like it, I finally got to the bottom and then I saw lights below.

The front of the snow house was brightly lit with yellow and orange different shaped lights hanging from the front Area. It looked like autumn Christmas, or something like that you see on the hallmark channel. I dusted my coat Off and bravely went for the front heavy knocker.

Just as I lifted it the wooden door opened, and I heard a throaty voice announcing my arrival. ‘Come in all is welcome’ Was echoed through the empty hallways. Only a voice was heard but no human or other type was around. I walked Through the door, with my heart thumping excitedly in my chest, as I didn’t know what to expect. As the door shut Behind me, I felt a cool hand on my back asking for my wet snow covered coat.

As I turned around to give it up, I saw my host in their glory. It was a beautiful woman who had long purple like hair And green and blue eyes with a golden yellow tint in them. Cats eyes we called them in my day. She purred and As she walked away with my coat, I noticed her long striped tail. Black and gold rings wrapped itself around her Sexy tail and as she walked her padded paws left prints in the white carpet.

Now I love cats, and since I live alone I was thinking of getting one as a pet. Now this strange visit confirmed my Desire. She meowed me into the other room, as she was curled up by the flaming large stone place of fire. ‘Come talk to me Sir human, since I have not had any visitors in a long time’ she purred to me in her own tongue.

It’s funny how I could understand her, and not be afraid of her shape or difference. I felt very comfortable and At home here as she served my a bowl of hot milk mixed with chunks of chocolate. As I drank and felt the warmth Travel through my chilled insides, I felt relaxed but noticeable changes were about to happen. She kept Looking at me with those cats eyes and I felt suddenly sleepy. As I drifted off to sleep after my milk of chocolate I felt my new tail wrapping around my body as I met my new mate for life.

I knew that I was finally home, safe, warm and not alone anymore. I guess I did get my new pet, and friend here Up on the snowy mountain.

My wandering of the ivory forest had left me hopelessly and maddeningly lost within myself, believing that I would never once feel the warmth of my heartbeat now, It be just a beat of survival. And I tranquilized my foreboded fate with memories of nights when the moon looked through my window seat hither and paid me attention with its midnight omnipotent eye. At the same time, I enwrapped myself amid toasted blankets baked by the warmth of my beating, youthful soul. Then came a yellow tint to the damnable deathly whiteness, and being a difference in the monotonous plain, I stalked through the banks of snow toward it. Then my eyes began to shimmer though I feared the tears might freeze quickly, puncturing my weeping portals. Human life, albeit no identification of a human but the makings of one, sat almost entirely concealed by winter's embrace, and a thought I damned to be forgotten was that if the lights had not been on then, I might have walked towards a frigid death. The home was coated in a layer of hard snow, but the windows held a picturesque scene of an inviting home within, which had me barreling at the door. My chilled digits cracked and snapped into a fist, landing on the wooden door though the sensitivity of my skin had my hand throbbing from the sharp pain which began after my knock. One knock was all I landed though it was successful in churning up life within the cabin, for I heard the sound of floorboards croaking and an audible footstep approaching the door. It shook, and a distinct latch sound was heard before the door opened a sliver, and the light which poured out was quickly halted by a body, and that of which I only saw the glaring bulbous eye investigating my presence. I spoke to the human of my dire need for help to which I was replied to with silence. For a moment, all hope was crippled when the door slammed shut, but a second latching sound was heard, and the door swung farther now to show the gaping opening into the inviting luminous of the inner walls. My voiceless guest had begun already walking back to his seat, which I saw was his from the opened book and glasses that sat on an ancient wood end table. He sat down in his chair, picked up the book, and held it to his face, further mystifying his identity. For some time,, I sat by the door, waiting to be additionally introduced to the home, in silence, except for the crackling and snapping of the fire which danced in its cage and the man's irregular turning of pages. Then I watched the man's left hand release the book, and with his long finger, he pointed to the opposing side of the fireplace where an empty sofa chair sat waiting for me. It was an offputting gesture, but out respect, I obliged my hosts request and walked towards the offered seating. As I walked closer, my host slightly shifted his book as so, I could continuously not see his face and as I sat down on the chair was face to book with my mysterious host. I sat, taking in the warmth from the fire and resting my feeble consciousness, enjoying the serenity of my rescue. The man's house was vast inside with walls hidden by rows of books with unknown titles and of obscure languages and the walls with no books adorned with strange ornaments that had untold mysteries and reasoning to hang such decorations I could not figure out. A clock hung above the mantlepiece, silent in its passing of time. It read five thirty-two p.m. I do not know when I fell to my exhaustion, but when I awoke, the clock had read nine forty-eight p.m. The fire was now but an incandescent mass of coughing coals. It was a suffocating silence in the home, though the whining of the winter's tempest was at the door, shifting the house, causing it to moan from discomfort. I had assumed that my host must have left me to my dreams while he found his own within his bedroom. I got up from my chair and found myself drawn towards a bookshelf behind me. The books were hazed with darkness and a thin layer of dusk, which after careful prodding, I had come to realize that most of the home was unkept and time-lost, seeming to be more used by the insects which commonly lurk in the deterioration of man, than the man who lived here. In the darkness, a quick succession of scratches echoed within the silence, and with instinct and fear driving me, my head snapped to look behind, but nothing but a still scene of absence and nighttime ambiance was shown to me. I continued my scan of the curious books, picking at random one from the shelf, which, when I blew off the collection of forgottenness, read an unrecognizable dialect that I had never seen and though I am not of advanced intelligence to see such symbolistic characters made wonder what they meant and who would read such books; books that too me had weird suggestions of occult like literature and pictures that perturbed me greatly. Then another scurrying in the dark, this time far more aggressive and lasting for a more significant period than before, but as my eyes peered with great worry into the void that encapsulated the interior, I saw nothing but a quiet room. I walked up towards the mantle, which was gloomily illuminated by the smoldering coals beneath yet still smeared the objects’ shadows that lay upon it, up onto the wall like a stain. Objects of odd uses and or meanings which I could not make out by a mere view yet holding the items also left me perplexed, and they held similar qualities of occultism as the books did. And then for a third time did I hear the scurrying scratches of something within the dark and at this I turned completely back around and exclaimed myself aloud with courage yet my world shook slightly as I peered aimlessly into the dark. And although I sense a presence I was not expecting, or maybe wanting, a response yet I did receive one and it spoke with a croaky voice that seemed to hiccup and droop in its words. Though the words it spoke I could not understand for they were syllables of some tongue which did not even sound human. And from the dark I saw movement. The Host fell into the tenuous light from the almost dead coals and in that moment I saw his face. A long vertical mouth slit which ran down all the way from the top of his cranium to the beginning of his chin and jutting out were quivering teeth of cone like proportions. He pressed forward maniacally towards me and though I pleaded, the fear which dripped from my pores only seemed to arrose him more, now a black ichor dripped from the bottom of his mouth. His slanderous tendrils reached out towards me and though I tried to run his arms kept me prisoned within his eye sight, to watch me breakdown and see the light in my eyes fade when he takes his first bite.

“It’s weird, talking about this stuff to a stranger.” Frida fidgeted in the oxblood leather chair. Playing with her necklace, she looked out of the big picture window at the marshmallow world. Her eyes flickered around the warm wood interior and down at her mug of tea. “I guess I’ll start at the beginning. The first sign was my glasses. I kept losing them. I’d thought they were in my purse and they were on my bedside table or in my console. Then it got weird. They were in the fridge or beneath the dining room table, then in the mailbox. Once I found my glasses inside an unopened box of cereal.” Frida shivered at the memory. Ice crystals flashed as the wind outside the window picked up. She focused on her mug. “Next was my car keys, my wallet, my phone, nothing was where it should be. Roge said I just needed more sleep. I got more sleep. Ten hours a day, naps, sleeping pills, it was not enough. Nothing worked. “I was scared of myself. Was I doing this? How was this possible? One morning I had a thing--I’m an event planner or at least I was, my boyfriend Roger helps me out now—anyway I had this thing I could not be late. I locked all my necessaries in a box. It was empty. I lost it. I howled and my keys and wallet and everything flew at my face,” Frida said, absently rubbing the red scar by her hairline. Snow began to fall in powdery clumps as the wind churned. “My furniture, I would wake up to my furniture in different places. Just a little at first so I would stub my my toe or trip over the ottoman. It got worse and worse. I can’t sleep alone. Things move in my office out of the corner of my eye. The kitchen chairs stacked on the table while my back was turned—Am I crazy? Tell me. Margie said you could help. I’ve come all this way to your house in the middle of nowhere. Tell me, Mr. Snickers, am I crazy!” Frida leapt from the chair. The entire house vibrated plummeted by wintry gusts. “Keep your shirt on, sister. No need to tear the house down. It’s a rental. How would I know if you’re crazy? All chicks are kinda nuts,” Paul said. Leaning back in an easy chair, Paul glanced up from his phone. Paullie was in head to toe Addias including his handpainted kicks. Frida thought he looked like a jock who peaked in high school but couldn’t admit. With a smug smile, Paulie gave her a knowing look. She spun away and hugged her sides. Her mug wrenched from her fingers and flew at Paulie’s head. Deftly he caught it and set the mug down on the coffee table. “I’m no touchy feely medium. I’m a freelance witchfinder general. I find things, cursed things. You could be crazy maybe but you’re haunted most def. Some thing, some item, new to you possesses a hungry energy,” Paul said. Clutching at her necklace, Frida paced the study. “This is insane. I haven’t bought any antiques.” Paulie looked at her chest. Her mug shook on the coffee table. Paulie chuckled. “What about the ice, hot stuff?” “This, my necklace is a gift from Roger. It belonged to his grandmother. He gave it to me for my birthday.” Frida clutched at the golden oval locket with droplets of garnets. “Gird your loin, sugar hips, because your boytoy’s nana was Lady Elphaba, a 18th century witch known for bathing in the blood of virgins to regain her youth,” Paulie said holding out his phone with a photo of an old painting. Frida leaned over and saw her necklace on a maleficent beauty. With a pencil, Paulie slipped the chain off Frida’s neck. He dropped it into a bowl of potato chips. The necklace began to writhe and sizzle. When it popped into a blue flame, Paulie doused it with the cold tea. Frida sank back into her chair. Bitter smoke surrounded them. “So that it, Mr. Snickers. It’s over.” Tears threatened at the corners of her eyes. Hail battered the house’s siding. Three heavy knocks thundered at the front door. Paulie hauled her up to her toes. “The wards will hold for a while but we still need to hustle on the cleansing ritual. Something has gone to a lot of trouble to isolate you and make you think you have a poltergeist. I got a hex circle on the kitchen floor, grab the bowl, Frida baby, and call me Candy everybody does.” "