The Winter People

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  “You’ll regret this.” His eyes took on an eerie glow.

  Shit. What was wrong with him? “Get out, now!”

  Colton cringed and let out a gasp as he held his head. “It doesn’t have to be this way.” He choked.

  “Go,” I yelled at him, refusing to back down this time. He bounded from the house and never looked back. A loud exhale sounded from my lips. I slid to the floor in relief and cradled my head in my good hand. The bracelet on my wrist felt much colder against my skin now, while red marks appeared where the wood had touched my skin. Had it been the rowan wood that’d protected me? If so, what did that mean, and how did Gareth know I’d need it against Colton?

  Everywhere I turned, I ran into more walls. More questions.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  I hadn’t seen Nevin for three days, not since the weather warmed. And it worried me. It was odd for him to be missing for so long. Even Colton was out sick this week and I wondered if it had anything to do with our fight. But on a happier note, it gave me a lot more Kadie time, which was a good thing. She was full of best friend advice, especially on the Colton breakup front. She even suggested I ask Nevin or Gareth to go see a movie with me or something. But I didn’t want to be “that” kind of girl, stringing guys along. Heck, I had a hard enough time trying to figure things out as it was. With a sigh, I glared at the clock in seventh hour.

  At last, the bell rang. Christmas break here I come.

  “I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Gareth said from beside me. “I’ll pull the car up to the sidewalk to get you.”

  “You don’t have to, you know.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

  “It’s no problem.” He smiled and glanced down the hall. “Colton hasn’t bothered you since that day in the library, has he?”

  I shot him a startled look. “No. Why?”

  “Just making sure.”

  From down the hall, Kadie waved. “Hey, wait up. I want to give you a hug before you leave,” she said.

  Gareth slipped away before she reached me, which I assumed he did on purpose to avoid Kadie asking about Simeon. Again.

  “So, want to tell me anything?” She waggled her brows at me. “Like, where the heck is Colton and why are you and Gareth so chummy lately?”

  “I told you, Colton and I are done. He just got too intense for me.”

  “And Gareth?”

  “Is a friend.”

  “A friend-friend, or a friend with benefits kind of friend?” Her cherry-colored lips turned up at the corners.

  “Oh. My. Gosh. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.” My face suddenly felt hot.

  “Admit it, you think he’s hot.”

  “Fine. He’s cute. But that doesn’t mean anything.”

  “But it could.” She laughed then gave me a hug. “We’ll have to get together over break. I don’t think I can go two weeks without seeing you.”

  “I should be home. Just give me a call and maybe we can watch some movies or something.” I squeezed her back, then let her go as she hurried down the hall.

  With bag in hand, I trudged outside to wait for my ride. I stifled a laugh as Gareth parked next to me with the black Hummer. I didn’t think he’d take me literally, when I suggested it. But two days ago he had showed up to give me a ride in it.

  He flipped on the wipers, cleaning the giant flakes from the windshield as I climbed in.

  “Winter’s back.” I shut the door behind me. “Thought maybe I’d have more of a break from it.”

  Gareth turned on the radio. “Not a chance. It’s December you know, Christmas, snowmen, frolicking in a winter wonderland.”

  “Right, don’t remind me.” My fingers traced the fabric of my sling. “So, I was wondering if you might have time to swing by the library on our way home?”

  He glanced at me, his dark brown eyes reminding me of a cup of steaming hot chocolate. “Sure. I don’t have any plans. Are you trying to get a jump start on your homework so you don’t have to do it during vacation?”

  I turned my head and stared out the window. “Not exactly. T—there’s something I need to look into.”

  Something that had to do with the curse. I hadn’t gotten the chance to spend much time back at Grandma’s since the accident. My mom was watching me like a super spy. So I figured I’d start at the local library, see if there was anything there about either the deaths of my family members or about any other strange accidents. Not that I thought I’d find anything, but I had to try.

  “So this is a trip for fun then?”

  “No. Definitely not.”

  This time he grinned. “I get it now, you wanted to spend more time with me since you won’t see me for two weeks.”

  My neck grew hot and I felt the blush creep up my skin until it painted my cheeks. “I—I, no. I’m just researching my family history—”

  He chuckled. “You’re blushing, Salome.”

  Suddenly the window became very interesting. “I always blush. Horrible family trait.”

  It didn’t take us long to get across town. We pulled into the parking lot in front of the old two story, brick library. The sign above the doors indicated it had been established in 1842. As I climbed from the vehicle, I noticed the heavy dark clouds looming overhead. The trees surrounding the library bent beneath the gusts of wind. A chill snaked up my back and I hurried to Gareth’s side.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, sorry, just a little spooked.” I glanced at the trees once more. It’d be so easy for something to hide in them. I had to shut my mind off. I was safe. Just needed to get inside and get this over with.

  Gareth wrapped a protective arm around my shoulders, his eyes scanning the area. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  He was the third guy to tell me that in the last few weeks. Why now? Why had he enrolled at my school? Why had he been at both accident scenes? Not to mention, Colton and he had some kind of past. There was so much more going on here, but I couldn’t wrap my head around it all.

  When we got indoors, I inhaled the familiar scent of books. We headed past the main desk, where the librarian had her head buried in a book, and toward the back of the building. Hard wood floors were well worn from traffic, while various tables sat empty about the room. Aside from a couple studying and the librarian, we appeared to be the only ones here. With a sigh, I led us to the small research room off the non-fiction section. The dim light did little to light the space up, even the floor to ceiling windows let in miniscule amounts of light.

  As I logged on the computer, Gareth sat across from me. His eyes were intent. “So what are you really looking up?”

  “Old newspaper articles.”

  “On what?”

  I swallowed hard, unsure of how much I wanted to tell him. My gaze met his and my legs trembled. “I’m checking into accidents around here. And maybe some disappearances and deaths.”

  “That’s kind of a morbid subject.” He crossed his arms, but didn’t seem quite as surprised as I thought he would.

  “The thing is, I found a cemetery on my grandma’s property. It holds the graves of some of my family members. I know this sounds crazy, but all the headstones belonged to women and they all died the winter they were eighteen.”

  His gaze softened and he reached over the table, catching my good arm. “I get it. What can I do to help?”

  “Could you ask the librarian for books on local history while I scan some of these papers?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be right back.” He stood and I watched his tall figure saunter away.

  The newspaper archives on the computer only went back to the late eighteen hundreds. But I soon found what I was looking for. Missing persons.

  December 28, 1889

  Two young men, Isaac Masterson, age seventeen, and Clyde Donhide, age eighteen, have gone missing after going into the forest to fetch firewood. Searchers found tracks in the woods, but nothing more. They went missing on December 21st and h
ave not been seen since. There will be another search party going out on December 29th for those interested in joining the search.

  December 23, 1893

  The town of Starlynn is grieving this day as a group of young men and women have gone missing. They were last seen at the winter festival on December 21, 1893. Seventeen-year-olds John Bartell, Cornelia Hunter, Maxwell Fisher, and Deborah Clover were said to have been driving to the Bartell’s manor house. The Bartell’s sleigh was found a few miles from town, but the children were not with it. Authorities are asking anyone with any information to please come forward. The Bartell family is offering a reward to anyone with information that will lead to the discovery of their son.

  There were several more articles on missing teens and children. And the one thing that stuck out in each of them was the date they’d gone missing.

  “Holy crap,” I said aloud.

  “What’s wrong?” Gareth asked as he slid into the seat next to me.

  “All these people went missing on the same day. December twenty-first. I mean, they’re in different years, but this seems like too big of a coincidence.”

  Gareth read through the ones I had. His brow furrowed. “The Winter Solstice.”

  “Wait, what does that even mean?”

  “Some people see the solstices as magical times. Some look at it as a way to travel between the worlds, human and otherwise, because that is when the veils are thinnest. Others look at it as a time of sacrifice…”

  “What do you mean, human or otherwise?”

  “People believe that there is a world that exists next to ours. A place called faerie. I’m sure you’ve read enough fairytales to know what I’m talking about.”

  I nodded and he continued.

  “During the solstices, the Fair Folk, as people like to call them, can travel freely between their world and ours.”

  “Do you believe in them?”

  He hesitated a moment, his eyes searching mine. “Yes. Do you?”

  Goose bumps broke out over my skin. “Sounds like a fairytale. People don’t disappear into a fairy tale.”

  “But you’ve seen things, haven’t you?” He touched my cheek, not letting me turn away from him. “Lots of things that don’t seem normal. You know, you’re not the only one to see things. Why do you think there are so many books on faeries? I mean, take this book for instance.” He held up a large, leather-bound book with a fairy on the front of it. “It talks about people leaving gifts in the trunks of trees for faeries. Like a peace offering. A lot of people believe it’ll keep fair folk from getting mad at them. Some people leave items in other places, like in shoes or on porches or in the woods.”

  “Wait, what?” Holy crap was that what my grandma was doing all these years? Leaving gifts to appease the faeries or whatever?

  I opened my mouth to say more when the lights flickered overhead. We both looked up. Everything in the room became quiet and unsettling. Somewhere outside our door I thought I heard the shuffling of footsteps.

  “Gareth, please tell me you’re hearing that, too?”

  He stiffened beside me. “Whatever happens, stay close to me.”

  “What?” Just then the lights went out sending us into complete darkness. No. Not again. Why did stuff keep happening to me? A whimper fell from my lips.

  Gareth grabbed my arm. “Stay calm and do as I say. I want you to get on the floor and crawl under the table.”

  “Please don’t leave me,” I cried.

  “Shh…I won’t. Now come on.” He tugged me gently to the floor and pulled me beneath table.

  I sat cowered against him. Sweat beaded my brow, my body quaked with fear. The shuffling of footsteps seemed to draw closer, sounding like something was being dragged across the wooden floor.

  The stench of rotten fruit almost made me gag. A flash of lightning pierced the darkened sky outside. What the hell? It was snowing. How could lightning just appear like that? Frantic, I backed up farther away from the window. Then I saw the shadows splay across the glass. Tall, bulbous figures, covered in woodland debris.

  A scream bubbled in my throat, but before I could let it out, Gareth covered my mouth, drawing me into his lap. “I’ve got you. Just stay quiet. They won’t find us if we stay still.”

  A light cold wind blew through the library, sending papers to the floor. The air around us chilled and I shivered.

  “Come out, come out wherever you are. I know you’re here, Salome,” she said.

  I squeezed my eyes shut. Please. Make it stop. Make it leave me alone.

  Gareth’s thumb swept across my cheek. “I will not let her harm you. But I need to leave you for just a second.” He uncovered my mouth and eased me to the floor.

  “Please don’t go. I—I can’t face this alone.”

  “Salome, I’ll only be gone for a moment. I have to find us a way out of here.” He climbed to his knees then pulled something out of his pocket. “I will be back.”

  My eyes darted about the darkness, my stomach twisted until I thought I might be sick. What if she came to get me when he was gone? What if he left me here?

  I leaned my back against the wall, heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else. A few seconds later, a high-pitched shriek echoed around me.

  I attempted to cover my ears, but with my arm in a sling I could only manage one. What was going on? Where was Gareth?

  The lights flickered back on and the shrieking stopped. I went still. Waiting. After long minutes, I saw Gareth’s black boots enter the room. He knelt down and offered me his hand.

  “It’s safe now. Come on, let’s get you home.” He pulled me up and I melted against his chest and sobbed. This was safety. This was comfort. Right here in his arms. He let me cry, then brushed away my tears and led me through the maze of tables.

  When we got to the main area of the library, I saw wood shavings on the floor. My gaze flicked to Gareth, who reached for my hand and pulled me around it.

  When we were back in the Hummer, I turned to him. “You heard the creature in the library, too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank God.” I flopped against the seat. “Then maybe I’m not as crazy as I thought.” That was two people who believed me.

  “Why would you think you’re crazy?” he asked.

  “Because no one else ever sees or hears it. It can attack me in broad daylight without anyone knowing. My parents forced me to see a shrink due to my ‘hallucinations,’” I said.

  “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

  “H—how come you can see it too?” So far, he and Nevin were the only other people I knew who could.

  “That’s kind of a long story. One we don’t have time for today.”

  “But—”

  “Salome, please let it go for now.”

  “I—I need your help.” My throat went dry.

  “And you’ll have it. You have my word.”

  We rode in silence for a bit before Gareth shot me a look. “Be careful while you’re on vacation from school.”

  Playing with my scarf, I nodded. “I will. I don’t plan on being out much.”

  “Good. You’re much safer behind your gates.” He put the Hummer in park when we got to my house.

  Whoa. He was echoing exactly what Grandma and Mom had said. How was I the only one not in the know?

  “Thanks for the ride. And looking out for me at the library,” I said, turning to him.

  “You’re welcome. Hey, before I forget, hand me your phone a second.”

  I dug it out of the side of my book bag and gave it to him. “What are you doing?”

  “Programming in my number. In case you need or want to get a hold of me.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  In the distance, I spotted a truck in my drive. Dad was home. My fear subsided and excitement had me scrambling to get my seat belt off. I hadn’t seen him in weeks.

  Gareth seemed on edge, eyes scanning the surroundings. “You still have that rowan bracelet, d
on’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. Keep it on you at all times.”

  I hesitated, on the verge of asking him again what was going on, but he shifted the Hummer in reverse, which was all the indication I needed that he wanted to go. So I threw my door open, clutching my backpack in my arms.

  “See you.” I waved, before making a mad dash toward the house. Blustery winds tore across the yard, while sleet pinged the side of my face until it stung.

  When I reached the porch, I stopped in place. Raised voices echoed from inside. But a glance toward the woods made me jerk the door open. I didn’t want to barge in, but I didn’t want to sit on the porch either. Sure I was behind the gate, but I’d seen what had happened to Cleo.

  As soon as I stepped indoors, my parents stopped arguing. Dad gave me a glassy-eyed glance then came over to hug me. He reeked like beer, his hug more of a pat on the back. Several empty cans sat on the counter.

  Mom looked as if she’d been crying. It took all I had not to rush to her and comfort her. This couldn’t be my family. We didn’t act like this.

  “I’m going to go look for something for dinner.” She headed toward the pantry.

  Dad gave a pissed-off grunt then turned his attention to me. “I missed you on the road.” He glared as Mom dug through cupboards, clanking things together, then headed toward their bedroom. “I’ll visit with you later, I’m going to lie down. It was a long trip home.”

  When he trudged out of earshot, I turned to my mom. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. Everything’s fine. Why don’t you go clean your room?” Her lips pursed into a too tight smile.

  “Mom.”

  “Salome, not tonight.”

  So I sat in my room until dinner, wondering why everything was falling apart. Dad never drank or, at least he never used to. Maybe he was a closet alcoholic and I never knew. And Mom used to get so excited when he came home. They’d practically be jumping each other’s bones in front of me. But not tonight.

  Mom called me to the table a while later, where she had spaghetti and meatballs piled on our plates. Garlic bread steamed from the bowl. I inhaled the scents. Man, I was starving.