Frostbitten

by Heather Beck

  “Go to your father,” Anastasia said, fully aware that Frost had chosen to remain with her.

  Appearing reluctant, Anastasia had to nod reassuringly at Frost before he would leave her. When he finally did, she watched with slight disgust as he caringly licked his father’s wound. Symon responded with a pained moan, although Anastasia was certain that Frost’s show of affection meant everything to him.

  Suddenly, Anastasia heard a groan coming from nearby. Lifting herself onto her knees, she turned around to see Mr. Fairbanks, who had also risen. With a rifle in his hands and an expression of fury upon his face, it was clear that he wouldn’t stop until he’d fulfilled his purpose of killing a werewolf – or two.

  Before Anastasia had the chance to scream, Mr. Fairbanks fired directly at Frost, who was too concerned about his father to notice what was happening. Symon had been watching, though, and as he jumped right in front of his son, it was obvious that he knew exactly what he was doing. The bullet hit Symon in what could’ve only been his heart, causing him to immediately fall to the ground and then lie there lifelessly.

  In shock and dismay, Frost stared at his father and whimpered. Then slowly, as he raised his head, the sorrowful moan turned into a growl that seemed to come from the very depths of his soul. With his lips curled back to reveal sharp fangs, Frost glared at Mr. Fairbanks before charging toward him.

  Standing firm, Mr. Fairbanks shot at Frost. When no bullet was released, he fired again only to confirm that the rifle was out of ammunition. Mr. Fairbanks appeared terrified, but he remained stationary since running for his life wasn’t feasible. Vicious and relentless, Frost pounced on him, clawed his coat open and then pierced his fangs into his chest. Never having the chance to fight back, Mr. Fairbanks merely moaned before turning stiff like the other hunters.

  Fumbling backwards, Frost gaped at Mr. Fairbanks, obviously greatly distressed by what he’d done. After a long, tense moment, he cautiously neared him once again. With his nose, Frost gently nudged Mr. Fairbanks, as if he could somehow wish him back to life. Of course, it didn’t work.

  A low whimper, which was hardly audible, caused Anastasia to turn away from the heartbreaking scene, only to be met with another. She was shocked to discover that Symon was still alive and, unfortunately, suffering immensely. Frost heard him, too, and in a flash, he was at his father’s side. Appearing almost angry, he took hold of Symon by the scruff of the neck and attempted to pull him up. Yet, despite Frost’s continual effort, he couldn’t get him to stand up.

  “Frost, stop it,” Anastasia said quietly, while placing her hand upon his back.

  Refusing to give up, Frost released his father and instead snarled, as if commanding him to get up or else. In response, Symon looked at him, his eyes tell-tale signs that he was slipping away. However, he managed to gather enough strength to raise his head slightly and rub his snout lovingly against Frost’s cheek. Then, with a soft sigh, Symon took his last breath.

  As he held his father, who remained in his shape-shifted form even in death, Frost returned to his human self and wept. Desperate to offer any kind of comfort, Anastasia retrieved Frost’s ripped top and jeans and began to dress him. She then hugged him tightly until she felt tears swelling in the corner of her eyes. This was all so unfair, and she had no idea how she’d ever be able to help him through the pain.

  The familiar sound of an approaching snowmobile caused Anastasia and Frost to stand up anxiously, moments before the rider came to a stop in front of them. Dismounting and then removing his helmet, Anastasia’s grandfather scanned the area. From the fallen hunters and werewolf, to the frazzled state of Anastasia and Frost, he was clearly overcome with shock and sadness.

  “There was more than one werewolf,” Mr. Lockhart muttered to himself, as if trying to make sense of the situation.

  “How could you send a team of hunters after us?” Anastasia yelled, shoving her grandfather backwards. “Do you really hate us that much?”

  Grabbing Anastasia by her shoulders, he forced her to look into his wide, tear-brimmed eyes. “When I realized Frost was the werewolf and that you were with him, the hunt was over for me. I knew I’d never be able to convince Leo, Mike, Pete, and Fairbanks to stop, so I did the next best thing – I told them to go on without me while I gathered the closest groups of hunters to aid us in the fight. In actuality, I stopped the hunters by telling them that the werewolf had already been killed. Thankfully, they believed me because if they hadn’t, Frost wouldn’t be alive.”

  Uncertain of what to say, Anastasia remained quiet. Although her grandfather had done the right thing in the end, he’d also caused them a lot of turmoil along the way. Did he really expect her to just forgive and forget? While she knew that she’d eventually forgive him, it most definitely wouldn’t be today.

  “How did you find us?” Frost demanded cynically.

  “The gunshots,” Mr. Lockhart replied, his attention turning to the hunters once again. “Are they dead?”

  “No,” Frost replied, startling Anastasia in the process. “They’re in a state referred to as Incubation. When twenty four hours have passed, they’ll awaken as werewolves. I’m afraid the same can’t be said for my biological father – his wounds were lethal, but you already knew that.”

  “I’m sorry things had to turn out like this,” Mr. Lockhart began to say.

  “None of this had to happen,” Frost interrupted angrily. “You and the other hunters chose to exact revenge because of fear and paranoia. I didn’t deserve this, yet I have to live with the consequences of your hateful actions.”

  “I did it for Anastasia and my wife – to protect them.”

  “You’ve done an outstanding job,” Frost said sarcastically, while wrapping his arms around a cold, shaken-up Anastasia.

  “I can right some of my wrongs by giving you the opportunity to get your life back,” Mr. Lockhart offered. “I’ll take care of these men, and as for everyone else, your father’s body is proof that the wolf has been killed. You can return to Cedar Falls with your secret intact.”

  “You’re sick and deluded,” Frost said, while pointing his finger accusingly at Mr. Lockhart. “I won’t allow my father to become some spectacle, and even if I did, that would only make the hunt worse. People will think there are more werewolves.”

  “History proves otherwise,” Mr. Lockhart interjected. “One normal, albeit large, wolf stalked these woods and now he’s dead. The story isn’t all that interesting. Besides, the town wants to believe that they’re safe, and with this proof, there’s no reason for them to live in fear any longer.”

  Despite the fact that her grandfather’s words had merit, Anastasia cringed at his insensitivity. Feeling defeated, she turned to Frost and said, “I don’t think we have much of a choice. We’re seventeen – how long can we really be on the run?”

  Frost hesitated before looking straight at Mr. Lockhart. “Fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “You can have my father’s body after you’ve given me a chance to save these men.”

  “They need to be killed now,” Mr. Lockhart argued, visibly upset. “There isn’t another option.”

  “Let me worry about that,” Frost said sharply. “In the meantime, no one else dies.”

  There was a long, tense pause which Anastasia’s grandfather broke with a heavy sigh. “You have twenty four hours,” he replied, finally accepting Frost’s proposal. “What can I do to help?”

  “We can’t leave four hunters and a werewolf out here – they’ll have to be taken to my father’s cabin. Once that’s done, Anastasia and I will return to Cedar Falls, so you’ll be standing guard over the cabin while we’re gone. Also, we’ll need a car, and I’m assuming you guys didn’t travel from Cedar Falls on your snowmobiles.”

  “No, we parked at the end of rural road number fifteen in Hartfield, at the edge of the woods.”

  “We’ll find our way,” Frost said with a confident nod, taking a step toward one of the snowmobiles.

  “You bette
r have a damn good plan,” Mr. Lockhart warned, momentarily stopping him, “because I won’t allow Cedar Falls to get any more werewolves.”

  “Neither will I,” Frost promised. He began to rummage through one of the hunter’s camouflaged-patterned packs, finding coils of rope and a change of clothes which were almost his size.

  Working together, Anastasia, Frost and Mr. Lockhart secured each hunter to the snowmobiles, tying them tightly so they wouldn’t fall off while traveling to the cabin. It was a difficult task, especially as night fell upon them, and Anastasia couldn’t stop herself from wondering if their plan would work – although she wasn’t entirely certain what their plan entailed. When they were finally ready to begin their trek, Anastasia’s grandfather abruptly pulled her aside, causing Frost to look on in concern.

  “Your mother’s here,” he said solemnly. “When we called to see if you’d arrived home safely, the truth came out – well, most of it. Kendall’s been worried sick for days, and she still doesn’t know if you’re okay. Please, Anastasia, I can take you home.”

  Processing her grandfather’s words, Anastasia stared at him dumbfounded. She’d always thought that her mother wouldn’t return to Cedar Falls for anything or anyone; now she knew how completely wrong she’d been. “I’ll let Mom know I’m fine as soon as I can,” Anastasia hurried to say. “I’m not going home, though – at least not yet.”

  Her grandfather opened his mouth, likely to protest her decision, but he was interrupted by Frost, who was already seated on a snowmobile and ready to leave.

  “Time’s running out,” Frost called to them in an urgent tone. “Are you with me or not?”

  I’m with you, Frost, Anastasia thought, while taking another look at the soiled land. She found it hard to believe that a fight, which had only lasted mere minutes, could inflict so much damage. In those fleeting moments, everything really had changed, and she knew that none of them would ever be the same again. Yet, for all its tragedy, this battle between man and beast had given Anastasia a new appreciation for her life and the people who were still in it.

  * * *

  Part Ten: Wolfsbane

  The car’s headlights illuminated the deserted, tree-lined road, creating an eerie, foreboding sensation as Anastasia and Frost sped from Hartfield to Cedar Falls. Looking at the neon green digits on the clock revealed that it was almost seven a.m. They’d spent too much time – all night and a few hours of the early morning – transporting Symon and the hunters to the cabin. With no direct access that could accommodate snowmobiles, locating a path to the cabin proved far more challenging than they’d originally predicated. Now, Anastasia and Frost had less than eleven hours before dusk would fall, turning the hunters into werewolves forever.

  As if the task ahead of them wasn’t hard enough, Anastasia and Frost were sleep-deprived and functioning on adrenaline. After securing Symon and the hunters in the cabin, they’d driven a snowmobile through the woods, searching until they found the men’s vehicles and hitched trailers parked at the edge of Hartfield. Taking her grandfather’s car, they’d only made one stop for fast-food before beginning the next part of their journey. This had left Anastasia and Frost with little chance to talk – until now.

  “You seem so certain about what we’re doing,” Anastasia said, referring to the look of concentration which hadn’t faded from Frost’s face since leaving the woods. She, on the other hand, had never felt so confused, anxious and overwhelmed in her entire life.

  “I don’t know what I’m doing,” Frost confessed, not taking his eyes off the road. “I’m just hoping that I do.”

  “Translation, please?”

  “I’d never heard of Incubation before, and any knowledge I have on the subject came from reading my father’s journal. His references were vague, though, and he appeared to be more interested in finding a cure than the process of turning a human into a werewolf. I’m taking guesses here, Anastasia, but I think there’s someone out there who has real answers.”

  “Julia,” Anastasia muttered. “Do you know who she is or, better yet, how we can find her?”

  “Not exactly,” Frost admitted, pausing briefly before continuing in an uncomfortable tone. “Kate’s ancestors founded Cedar Falls. She’s the one we have to ask.”

  Anastasia’s mind instantly returned to the moment when Kate had made the claim that Cedar Falls was her town. Now that she knew the truth, Kate’s haughtiness actually made sense. Nevertheless, Anastasia felt her heart sink because there was little to no chance that she would help them.

  “Are you sure there isn’t another way to find her?” Anastasia practically begged. “We could try the phonebook or something, anything, else.”

  Firmly, Frost shook his head. “You know how small Cedar Falls is, so there has to be a reason why I’ve never met Julia. Finding her is going to be tough, and if she really is Kate’s ancestor, then we have no other choice. I just pray that Julia’s still alive and able to tell us how to stop the transformation.”

  With the snow-covered roads becoming increasingly slippery, Frost returned his full attention to driving. As silence filled the car, Anastasia finally had the chance to rest her head against the cool window. She took a deep breath and then closed her eyes, praying for even a few moments of sleep. Unfortunately, images of the fight and, more prominently, Frost’s dead father kept circulating in her mind. Realizing that a peaceful slumber wouldn’t be an option anytime soon, Anastasia sighed and turned her gaze toward the horizon, where the sun was slowly starting to rise.

  Shortly before nine a.m., Anastasia and Frost arrived in Cedar Falls. It felt strange being back in what appeared to be a normal town, especially after experiencing such surreal events in the woods. Adding to her unease was the possibility of seeing her mother. If they ran into each other, Anastasia had no idea what she could say to make up for all the stress and worry her disappearance had caused. This latest incident might even be worse than her arrest – at least then her mother had known her whereabouts.

  Anastasia’s obsessive thoughts were interrupted as Kate’s ever pristine house came into view. With the curtains drawn and no cars visible, it appeared as if the McKinleys weren’t home. However, that didn’t hinder Frost from pulling into her driveway and coming to a stop. Although Anastasia had several reservations about being there, Frost was clearly unwilling to let anything stop him.

  “I think it’d be best if you waited in the car,” Frost suggested tactfully. “Kate might be more willing to talk if I’m the one asking the questions.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Anastasia said, before he gave her a quick kiss and then exited the car.

  As Frost approached the large, wreath-bearing door, Anastasia rolled down the passenger side window slightly and then crouched at the bottom of her seat. If Kate was home, she wanted to hear their conversation without being seen. Anastasia tried to convince herself that it was necessary to take these measures, but in reality, she didn’t trust Kate to be alone with Frost.

  The whimsical chime of Kate’s doorbell was soon heard, followed by a silence that lasted for several moments. Finally peering over the dashboard, Anastasia found Frost still waiting for someone to answer. He was about to try again when the door suddenly opened to reveal Kate, who was wearing a short red robe and looking beautiful without any make-up on. Kate smiled widely upon seeing Frost, causing Anastasia’s disdain for her to increase significantly.

  “Hi, Frost,” Kate said in a playful tone, before he could speak. “Should I have been expecting you?”

  “No, and I’m sorry to come over unannounced,” Frost started to say.

  “Don’t be silly,” Kate interrupted, while leaning against the doorway in a somewhat seductive manner. “You’re always welcome here, day or night.”

  Feeling her blood boil, Anastasia had to literally grab onto the edge of her seat to stop herself from running out of the car and slapping Kate. Although Kate must have known that Frost was no longer single, she still obviously wanted to hook
up with him – it was so beyond pathetic. Trying hard to calm down, Anastasia remembered why they were there in the first place.

  “Um, thanks,” Frost replied awkwardly. “Actually, I could really use your help with something.”

  “Anything,” Kate offered quickly. “You don’t have to be shy around me.”

  “It’s about a woman named Julia. I believe you two are related, and since I need to talk to her, I was hoping you’d tell me where she...”

  “Why would you want to speak with her?” Kate interrupted for the second time, appearing disappointed by Frost’s request.

  “It’s kind of personal,” he admitted slowly, “but it’s very important that I find her.”

  “I can’t help you,” Kate snapped, her whole disposition changing as she realized that he wasn’t interested in her.

  “You can’t or won’t?” Frost asked, preventing her from closing the door.

  “I know when I’m being used,” Kate said, her tone harsh even though she was visibly upset. “Go back to your freak of a girlfriend and leave me alone. We’re done here.”

  Frost stepped back, allowing Kate to slam the door in his face. He likely knew he deserved such a response, but that didn’t change the fact that the information they desperately needed was now completely out of their reach. No longer having a reason to hide, Anastasia returned to her seat, while Frost entered the car.

  “I overheard,” Anastasia confessed. “Don’t worry – we’re not out of options. We can ask around town. Surely someone knows Julia.”

  “I’m not so sure about that. There’s something really strange going on with that woman. Kate was totally caught off-guard at the mere mention of her name.”