The Winter People

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  I stalked back into the house, where I slipped on my boots then trudged out the door. As I got closer, I realized Cleo wasn’t moving.

  “Hey girl, are you okay?” I softened my voice. Normally, this would be the moment she’d dash away and I’d have to chase her. But today, she didn’t budge. I had a sudden urge to turn around as the shadows splayed before me.

  My footsteps crunched across the frozen ground.

  Oh God. I stopped walking, and fell to my knees. The cold seeped through the fabric of my clothes.

  “Cleo.” My mouth went dry. Vines were wrapped around her neck and legs—they’d come from the other side of the fence. From the woods. Like an infestation of snakes, they coiled around her lifeless body.

  Dead.

  She was dead.

  The darkness was coming. The harsh iciness I’d dreaded. I screamed, my voice echoing around me.

  Gusts of wind ripped over me as if trying to tear me limb from limb—and then I heard the tinkling voices.

  “We’ve got to do something. She’s too close to the gate.”

  “Why won’t she get up?”

  “Nevin, we’ve got to find Nevin.”

  “Salome, you have to move.”

  Covering my ears with my hands, I continued to scream. I needed to drown out the noise.

  “Salome.” Mom’s frantic voice broke down my terror.

  “Make them stop. I can’t take it. Why won’t they leave me alone?” I twisted to look at her. She stumbled in an effort to get across the yard on her crutches. At last, she sank to her knees next to me, gripping my shoulders.

  “Shh…it’s okay. Just tell me what hap—” Her face crumpled when she spotted Cleo. “Salome, get up to the house now.”

  “Mom?”

  Her cheeks paled. Heavy dark circles practically made her eyes pop off her face. “Go. Now. I’ll ask Mr. Graham across the street to bury her. You need to get ready for school.”

  Mom somehow dragged me to my feet and pushed me toward the house, while balancing on her crutches.

  Sobs shook my entire body. Someone or something had killed Cleo. I wondered if I might be next. I never wanted to go outside again. But I couldn’t hide forever.

  Once inside, Mom wiped my face with a warm washcloth, brushing away the tears. She knew more about what was happening than she let on.

  She watched me for long moments. “Salome, when I first got out there, you said “they” wouldn’t leave you alone? Who’s they?”

  “Y—you didn’t hear the voices?” My gaze met hers.

  “No.” She stroked my hair. “Maybe I should see if Dr. Bosworth can fit you in this week.”

  I gripped the side of the kitchen counter. Not again. I couldn’t meet with that woman. She didn’t understand. She’d put me on meds that’d take the edge off and give me sleeping pills. I didn’t want to fall into a deep slumber. Because you never knew what might happen.

  Mom clearly knew more than she was telling me, so how could she justify this? What was her excuse for sending me away all of these years to be drugged, without even telling me what was wrong? I wanted to bring it up, to scream and rage and fight, but I knew that she would only shut me down. She must have had a reason for making me feel crazy all these years, but as the days went on I was beginning to realize more and more that she might be the misguided one.

  “I—I’ll be fine, Mom. It was probably just the shock.” I gave her a forced smile and brushed past her to wait on the porch for Kadie.

  “I’m sorry about Cleo.” Kadie drove past the post office.

  Tears burned my eyes and I blinked them away. I was sick of being weak, sick of being afraid.

  “Thanks.” I sniffled, wiping my nose with a soggy tissue.

  Kadie chewed her bottom lip, giving me the same look Mom had. “Are you sure about the vines?”

  I leaned my head against the window, tearing my tissues into small pieces. “Yes. The vines strangled her. I mean, it was like a boa constrictor got a hold of her or something.”

  “And the voices?”

  “They were the same ones, I know they were. Man, I sound like a fucking Fruit Loop.”

  “Okay, I know what will make you feel better.” Kadie pulled into an empty spot in front of Perky Joe’s.

  “I can’t believe Simeon asked me out again. He didn’t seem that interested after our last date.” Kadie gushed as we climbed from her car an hour later.

  For some reason, I was disappointed the blond barista…Gareth…was on his way out as we entered. He’d given me a nod and told me to take care of myself, which sent a surprising shiver down my spine, then left. Before I could answer, not that I knew what I’d say anyway when all I could do was think about Cleo, Kadie had hurried over to the counter and hung over it, teasing and chatting with Simeon.

  “How can you be surprised? You were practically humping his leg.”

  She snickered. “I did lay it on thick, huh? But the end result was fabulous, although, I did notice his friend checking you out, too, when he walked past.” She toyed with her purse. “You’re not interested in him, are you?”

  “Do I look like his type?” I replied, not answering her question.

  “Not really. But who knows, you could really fall for this guy. God, I bet he’s a good kisser…” She winked.

  “In case you forgot, I have Colton.” I sipped the last of my cappuccino and dumped it in the trash can near the school entrance. My tummy felt warm, but it didn’t do anything for the rest of my body.

  Kadie leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Incoming.”

  Colton sauntered across the parking lot. He smiled when he saw me.

  “Morning.”

  “Take good care of my girl, she’s had a rough morning,” Kadie said before rushing off.

  He studied my face. “What’s going on?”

  I gave him a rundown of the nightmarish start to my day, leaving out the bit about the vines. Last thing I wanted to do was make him think I was a freak. When I finished talking, I noticed the muscles in Colton’s face clenching.

  He gripped my elbow then wrapped his arms around me. His warmth radiated around me like an electric blanket and I let him comfort me. It felt safe standing here with him. Kids pushed past us, reminding me we were still outside.

  “We should head in.” My gaze flickered to his face as I left the security of his embrace. If I had it my way, I would’ve stayed there. Unfortunately, Colton wasn’t a school subject. And I needed all my credits to graduate.

  “How about this weekend I take you someplace to forget everything?” He guided me into the crowded school. “Nothing fancy or anything, but somewhere out of the way.”

  “I don’t need fancy.” I smiled.

  “We still have to fit in that kiss you’ve been looking forward to.”

  “Now you’re being presumptuous. I never said I wanted to kiss you.” I stopped in the middle of the hall. I didn’t know how I felt about that kiss now. Everything surrounding that lunch had been strange. “All I did was wager one.”

  His fingers traced the back of my neck. He leaned down, until our mouths were only a couple of inches apart. “Does this change your mind?”

  Colton’s ivy-colored eyes gazed into mine. In the distance, I swore I heard the same tinkling music as I had yesterday. My heart sped up. Why couldn’t I get enough of him? It was like he’d cast a spell over me.

  “I might have to reconsider your offer,” I whispered as I pushed even closer to him.

  He chuckled, backing away right as a teacher rounded the corner. “I thought you’d see it my way.”

  “I said, might.” But there was no might about it; both he and I knew it. “I think you’re reading far too much into it.” Dazed, I shook my head and put more space between us.

  “You’re a terrible liar.”

  Mom had been right—I needed to be at school. But I wasn’t sure Colton was the distraction I needed to stay sane.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Are you o
kay?” Nevin asked as soon as I emerged from my grandparents’ house.

  “You heard about Cleo?”

  “Bad news travels fast in the woods.”

  Okay, what’d he mean by that? I waited for him to elaborate further, but he didn’t—just like always. So instead, I hurried to get my job done. He fell into step beside me. He watched as I dumped seed into the feeders then took the bag from me.

  “Thanks. You know you don’t have to help, right?” I shot at him, coldly. Maybe my frigidity was a bit unwarranted, but I had had bad day, and he wasn’t helping anything with his vague answers.

  He shrugged. “Yes, but the quicker you finish, the sooner we can spend time together.”

  “You missed me today.” I smirked, satisfied to think of him waiting around for me. Taking off my glove, I yanked a lacy doily from my pocket, one of Grandma’s trinkets I’d grabbed for today’s offering, then tossed it into the tree.

  Nevin glanced at the pond, a faraway look on his face. “Yes. I don’t have many friends out here.”

  I felt bad, then, for my attitude. I knew how he felt. I found his hand and I gave it a squeeze. “Well you’ve got me around now. Hopefully I’ll be good enough company after the horrible day I’ve had.”

  “Maybe we should do something to take your mind off everything.” Nevin grinned, tugging me toward Grandpa’s hammock.

  He climbed in first. The hammock swung back and forth like a playground ride. Once settled, Nevin pulled me in next to him, so we sat side-by-side. His fingers traced mine, skin as cold as the weather around us.

  “Here, let me warm you up.” I covered his hands with mine.

  “If only you could,” he whispered.

  What in the hell did that mean?

  “You know, your cryptic answers are not endearing.” I glared. “Do you want me to go make us some hot cocoa?” I added, to soften the blow. It was hard to turn and look at him without sending us rocking. However, I managed to shift enough to see his face.

  “I’m fine. I’d much rather sit here and talk about you.”

  “Seriously, do these lines work for you?”

  “I’m being sincere. I want to get to know you. Last time, you told me very little about yourself.”

  I traced the pattern of the hammock strings, looping my fingers through them. Very few people wanted to know me. And to be honest, I didn’t want them to. They’d think I was a freak. Except, Nevin already knew about my phobia and he was still here.

  I sighed. “Okay, what do you want to know?”

  “Everything.”

  “Everything?”

  “Tell me, Salome, what is your favorite color? And your favorite foods and music?”

  Snatches of the tinkling music floated by on a chill breeze, and his gaze sent my heart into overdrive. He was so familiar, so beautiful.

  “Let’s see, my favorite color is blue, favorite food is a toss-up between pizza and lasagna. I love pretty much any kind of music.”

  He went on to ask me about books, clothes, places I’ve been, amongst other things. The surprising part was how interested he acted. Like he absorbed every word I spoke.

  “Humans are competitive by nature,” Nevin said. “Are there any sports you participate in?”

  God, he sounded so old-fashioned and weird. “Yes, we mere mortals like to compete—I’ve done dance.”

  Nevin’s cheeks turned pink. “I didn’t mean anything by that.”

  Sensing his embarrassment, I decided to change the subject. “So, you’ve never told me how old you are.”

  He hesitated, turning to stare at the pond. “Nineteen.”

  “How come I never saw you at school then? I mean you’re only two years older than me.”

  “My mother schooled me before she got sick.”

  “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

  He shifted, swinging his legs further over the edge of the hammock. “She’s the reason I don’t get out much. I take care of her.”

  “Nevin.” I touched his shoulder.

  “I should head home.” He stood so abruptly I came close to falling out of the hammock. But then he caught me, holding me against his chest.

  “You don’t have to go.” I swallowed, losing myself in his gaze. “We could go into my grandma’s and warm up.” Actually, I’d prefer to be inside. Not that I’d admit that to him. The only reason I could be brave right now was because he was there with me.

  “I really can’t.”

  “Why?” I pressured. “Every time I invite you in, you say no. Is there something wrong with me?”

  Nevin smiled, caressing my face. “There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just that Doris trusts me. I don’t want to be in there when she’s not here.”

  “Does this mean you’ll never go anywhere with me outside this property?” I chewed on my lip.

  “How about Friday?”

  “Really?”

  He laughed. “Yes. But you’ll have to dress warm. I plan on breaking you of your fear of winter.”

  If only it was that easy. But this wasn’t something that could be cured overnight. No matter how nice he was.

  “This isn’t a date is it?”

  This time he blushed. “Um, no. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Okay, that’s good. Because I’m kind of seeing someone and—”

  “Salome. It’s all right. I’m fine just being around you.”

  “So, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I leaned toward him, without really thinking about it.

  Nevin bent down, his thumb catching my chin. For a brief moment, I thought he might kiss me, but at the last second he backed away. “I’ll be here waiting.”

  I couldn’t deny the disappointment. Not that I thought kissing him was a good idea, but because I was beginning to believe I wasn’t kissable. First, Colton didn’t kiss me after our first date. Although, he acted like he wanted to. Now Nevin jumped back. Maybe he thought I was a nut case like all the others did.

  Embarrassed, I turned to go, giving Nevin a wave. I glanced back ready to ask what he thought was wrong with me, only to find him gone. He’d disappeared. Again. Somehow, I was going to figure out where he lived.

  “Why haven’t you returned my calls?” Grandma asked as soon as I picked up the phone.

  “I’ve been busy.” I tried to catch my breath.

  Mom poked her head around the corner and gave a wave. “Tell her I need to talk to her when you’re done.”

  I nodded, sat down, and cradled the phone against my ear.

  “Since when are you too busy for your grandparents?”

  “Don’t put it like that. It makes me sound like a jerk.”

  “Your mom told us about Cleo. Are you doing okay?”

  My throat constricted at the mention of my cat’s name. “It wasn’t normal, Gram. The way she died, I mean.”

  “That’s why I’m calling, dear. You need to stay away from those woods. Probably got wild animals running loose.”

  Wild animals? Nice try. I’d never heard of animals that strangled things with vines. This wasn’t a comic book villain.

  “Trust me, I’m not venturing into the woods anytime soon.”

  “Your mom also told me you’ve been spending a lot of time back at our house,” Grandma said. Her intake of breath streamed through the phone as she waited for my answer.

  “I’m only spending like an hour a day back there. It gives me some alone time.”

  Okay, so I lied. Shoot me.

  Grandma remained silent for a moment as if digesting my lie. “Well, you be careful and don’t talk to strangers.”

  Don’t talk to strangers? What was I, nine? Besides, it wasn’t like anyone lived close by. I started to ask about Nevin then changed my mind. I wanted him to be my secret.

  “If you need me, Salome, just call.”

  I did need her. Dad was on the road driving the truck and I didn’t want to burden Mom with everything, especially when she already had enough to deal with on account of her ankle.
Not to mention, I worried she might schedule me a trip to go see Dr. Bosworth. A lump welled up in my throat making it hard to speak. “Miss you.”

  “Miss you, too. Oh and Grandpa says hi.”

  My laugh came out forced. “Tell him hi and that I finished off his chocolate fudge ice cream for him.”

  She chuckled. “I will. I’ll let you go for now.”

  I handed the phone to Mom and headed to my room for my pajamas. All I wanted to do was get warm. I eyed Cleo’s cat bed in the corner. My eyes welled. Visions of her tiny body flipped through my mind. The vines. The snow.

  Not wanting to spend the night remembering the nightmarish scene, I walked back toward the kitchen. I stopped when I heard Mom’s voice.

  “I wish I could take Salome away from here, Mom. Find somewhere safe for her. Yes, I’m well aware that we’re responsible for the gates. It’s something you’ve never let me forget, although I wish you’d tell me why that’s so important. Lord knows if we weren’t responsible, I’d have left Michigan years ago.”

  Somewhere safe? Gates? What the heck were they talking about? I’d thought we couldn’t afford to move south. That’s what Mom and Dad had argued about more than once. I inched toward the second phone and picked up the receiver, covering the mouthpiece with my hand.

  “You know she’s safer there than she is anywhere else,” Grandma said. “As long as the gates remain closed and she stays away from them. If she gets too far away from the safe zones, she could be in real danger.”

  “That’s what I’m worried about. Those vines came across the fence. That could’ve been Salome. And she’s having episodes again, hearing voices. Mom, I was right there with her. I didn’t hear anything.”

  “Don’t send her back to the psychiatrist. I already told you before they can’t do anything to help her.”

  “You say that, but at least with the pills she can sleep at night without nightmares—she can forget some of what’s going on. Of the trauma she went through.”

  “I’ve explained to you that it isn’t the trauma that’s causing this. Just because you can’t hear things doesn’t mean they’re not happening. The last thing she needs to do right now is live in a drug-induced fog. We need her alert—so she can be safe.” Grandma sighed on the other end. “I’d have you send her out to me, but you’re in no condition to keep the gates secured, not with you unable to get around. And I can’t leave your father. Besides, you know she’ll be in more danger the further away from the property she gets.”