Frostbitten

by Heather Beck

  “Mom?” Anastasia called, her voice echoing throughout the house. “Mom, are you here?”

  There was a long, tense moment of silence which was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps. Seconds later, Anastasia’s mother appeared in the foyer, an expression of disbelief upon her face as she stared at her daughter. Anastasia wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not since she’d never seen her mother speechless before.

  “Anastasia,” Kendall said breathlessly as she ran toward her and wrapped her in a tight hug. “I thought I’d lost you for good.”

  “Oh, of course not,” Anastasia replied, feeling awkward in her mother’s arms. Try as she might, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d held her with so much affection.

  Kendall pulled away to gaze at Anastasia with tear-brimmed eyes. “No one knew where you were, only that you’d run away with a boy. Goodness knows what could’ve happened.” Suddenly, a look of realization washed over her. “You...you’re pregnant – that’s why you left.” In a shaky tone she added quickly, “It’s going to be okay, Anastasia. I’ll be there to help you.”

  “Mom, I’m not pregnant,” Anastasia remarked, a little offended that she’d jumped to such a conclusion. Nonetheless, she couldn’t deny that she was touched by her offer of support.

  “What was it then?” Kendall inquired, after discreetly letting out a sigh of relief.

  “It was my last mistake, I promise.”

  Kendall opened her mouth to respond, possibly to press for more information, but then she hesitated, as if afraid of pushing Anastasia away. Instead, she said calmly, “I doubt it’ll be your last mistake. I know because we all make them – especially me.” She paused, appearing as uncomfortable as Anastasia. “In hindsight, I could’ve handled things a little better at home. Our fighting has to stop, and we need to communicate like adults.”

  “Kind of like what we’re doing now?” Anastasia asked with a half-smile.

  “It’s a start,” she said, taking her daughter’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m going to call your grandparents to tell them that you’re safe. In the meantime, you should take a shower and then pack. I’m sure we can get a train for tomorrow morning.”

  “No,” Anastasia blurted out, quickly turning angry as she realized that her mother was still attempting to control her decisions. “I’m not leaving Cedar Falls.”

  “Anastasia, you knew that coming here wasn’t a permanent solution. Your home is in Toronto.”

  “What about school?” Anastasia hurried to point out, willing to use any excuse to stay in Cedar Falls. “The teachers are pretty great here, and my grades are actually improving. At least let me stay until the summer break.”

  Kendall was slow to respond, causing Anastasia to be filled with dread. The mere thought of being without Frost almost made her cry, and after everything they’d been through together, she knew that she couldn’t lose him now.

  “I suppose that would be okay,” she said, somewhat reluctantly. “I can stay for a few more days while you settle back in.”

  “I’d really like that,” Anastasia replied, secretly elated that she’d convinced her mother to change her mind, “and I know Grandma and Grandpa would, too.”

  As her mother gave her another hug, Anastasia sensed that their relationship would continue to mend and, perhaps, one day be stronger than ever before. Yet, as was usually the case with Anastasia, she couldn’t be completely happy because she suspected that something wasn’t quite right; not with her mother, but rather, her grandfather. He obviously hadn’t told anyone that he’d seen Anastasia and Frost, and although she understood why the whole truth couldn’t be revealed, he’d deliberately allowed his wife and daughter to worry. It was so out-of-character for her grandfather that she wondered if he was hiding something else – something worse than the secret they already shared.

  * * *

  There was no way that Anastasia could truly return to a normal life, but she knew that she must try. When that failed, she decided to fake it. Attending all her classes, catching up on missed assignments and coming home right after school was Anastasia’s new routine, and she played the part perfectly. Not everything could be hidden behind a smile, though, and the aftermath of her experiences in the woods manifested themselves in strange, chilling dreams every single night. Nevertheless, Anastasia understood that under the circumstances, she was coping very well.

  Now that she was grounded indefinitely, Anastasia spent a lot more time with her mother and grandmother. At this moment, they were in the living room, chatting quietly while she worked on an essay for English class. Although this would’ve looked like a typical evening to most people, for the Lockharts it was a rarity. As ironic as it seemed, Anastasia’s disappearance had actually brought them closer together.

  Anastasia’s attention was diverted from the familial scene as her cell phone vibrated, alerting her of an incoming call. Hoping that it was Chloe, who’d been avoiding her since that awful morning almost a week ago, she anxiously grabbed her phone, only to discover that it was a telemarketer. Even though Anastasia felt foolish for believing that Chloe would ever speak to her again, she knew it was odd that she hadn’t heard from Frost. They always talked daily and he usually sent her several text messages. Concerned, she started to text him when her grandfather walked into the room.

  “Anastasia, you’re needed at the library,” Mr. Lockhart said abruptly, forgoing any social pleasantries.

  “I don’t have a shift until tomorrow,” Anastasia pointed out, confused by her grandfather’s statement, especially since he had no affiliation with the library.

  “You have to learn how to be more flexible,” he scolded. “Now hurry up. I can drive you there.”

  Casting a sideways glance at her grandmother, who looked equally bewildered, Anastasia realized that her grandfather was still keeping secrets. Just as peculiar was the fact that he’d been away all day, without even a mention of where he’d gone. Regardless, his serious disposition prompted Anastasia to obediently stand up and get ready to leave. Within minutes, she was in her grandfather’s car, driving speedily down the road.

  “This isn’t the way to the library,” Anastasia objected as her grandfather took a left turn onto a darkening road that lacked signs far less any streetlamps.

  “I’m so sorry, Anastasia,” Mr. Lockhart said in a heavy tone, while looking distraught.

  “For...for what?” Anastasia stuttered, greatly unsettled by her grandfather’s words and also his unpredictable behavior as of late. A sudden fear struck her – he wasn’t capable of putting her in any sort of danger, was he?

  “Our relationship should’ve never come to this,” Mr. Lockhart continued ambiguously, causing Anastasia’s anxiety to increase. “I will always cherish the memories of those summers we spent together when you were a child, but as difficult as this is, I have to accept that you’ve grown-up. I refuse to let that come in between us, though. Whether you like it or not, I’m your grandfather and that will never change.”

  Feeling like a complete idiot for thinking that her grandfather could ever hurt her, Anastasia smiled meekly at him. “That’s what I’ve always wanted,” she confessed.

  “Good,” he replied, obviously trying hard to keep his emotions under control, “because I’m very proud of the young woman you’ve become.”

  Before Anastasia could tell her grandfather how much his approval meant to her, he brought the car to a stop alongside an isolated part of Cedar Falls Woods. It was the last place she wanted to be, and she couldn’t fathom why he’d taken her there.

  “Get out of the car,” Mr. Lockhart ordered in a serious tone, despite the smile which played at the corners of his mouth.

  “You want me to get out here?” Anastasia asked skeptically.

  “Yes, and have a good time,” he added, no longer able to hide his signature toothy grin.

  Trusting that there was a reason behind her grandfather’s ludicrous instructions, Anastasia exited from the
car. As she stood seemingly on the edge of nowhere, illuminated by the car’s headlights, she listened, only to hear the gentle pitter-patter of the slowly melting snow. The last couple days of mild temperatures had brought the first thaw, but Anastasia still shivered in response to her surroundings.

  Suddenly, someone emerged from the outskirts of the light, approaching her at a steady pace. Frightened, Anastasia began stepping backwards until she realized who the tall, muscular silhouette belonged to – it was Frost, and as he drew closer, she saw that he was holding a bunch of roses.

  Frost greeted Anastasia with a soft kiss and then handed her the black roses which were dusted with tiny silver sparkles. “You’re just in time,” he said with a mischievous grin.

  “They’re gorgeous – thank you,” Anastasia said, admiring the unique and unexpected gift, “but do you mind telling me what’s going on?”

  “Trust me,” Frost whispered, while leading her into the woods.

  Anastasia had been doing a lot of trusting lately, and she didn’t feel the need to stop now, especially as her grandfather drove away, leaving Frost and the pale moonlight as her only guides. They were walking in a straight, slightly upward direction, and since the trek was fairly easy, Anastasia guessed that they were on some sort of path. Soon, she spotted a tower of small golden lights twinkling through the trees, accompanied by the sound of a humming generator.

  “What is this place?” Anastasia asked breathlessly, arriving at the base of the beautifully decorated tower.

  “Welcome to the lookout,” Frost responded, taking her hand as they ascended the stairs which were also lined by lights. “It’s one of my favorite places in Cedar Falls.”

  When Anastasia and Frost reached the top, she let out a gasp. The platform, which featured a pointed roof and an open, unparalleled view of Cedar Falls, had been transformed into a romantic picnic area for two. A wicker basket, filled with sparkling cider and delectable treats, sat in the middle of a white Sherpa blanket that was spread over the floor. It was clear that Frost had planned this thoroughly because in the corner, Anastasia saw a portable heater that provided just the right temperature.

  “I thought we should finally have our first date,” Frost said, looking intently upon Anastasia with those swoon-worthy eyes. “I can’t take all the credit, though. Your grandfather helped to bring everything together – including us.”

  “It’s perfect,” Anastasia replied, deeply touched by the extravagant gesture, even if she did find her grandfather’s involvement a tad unusual.

  “Shall we?” Frost asked, while motioning toward the picnic.

  After sitting down on the warm blanket and placing the roses beside her, Anastasia watched as Frost retrieved the bottle of cider. He poured her a glass, before getting one for himself and then settling next to her. She’d almost taken a sip of her drink when he gently stopped her.

  “There’s something I want to say first,” Frost spoke softly, appearing almost shy. “You’ve always stood by me no matter how difficult the situation – or I – became, and I could never thank you enough for that. For all the unconditional love and support you’ve given me, I promise to return it to you a million times over. I love you, Anastasia, more than I ever thought possible.”

  Blinking back tears, Anastasia raised her glass to meet his. “I can definitely drink to that,” she said bashfully, before tasting the sweet cider.

  As Anastasia and Frost cuddled together, enjoying the drink and treats, she thought about how lucky she was to have found someone like him. He truly was everything that she’d ever wanted – and more. If she had one wish, Anastasia would ask that this moment last forever.

  “Why so quiet?” Frost asked, his hot breath tickling her ear. “Have I done something wrong?”

  “Never,” Anastasia reassured him. “It’s just...” She paused, not wanting to ruin the mood.

  “You can tell me anything. Surely you know that.”

  “I can’t stop thinking about what Julia said,” Anastasia admitted hastily. “I know what you both are – what could that mean? She doesn’t think I’m a werewolf, too, does she?”

  “Shhh...” Frost whispered, while stroking her hair. “I’m sure it’s nothing, and to stop you from worrying needlessly, maybe I can take your mind somewhere else.” Appearing nervous, Frost leaned forward and kissed Anastasia.

  This wasn’t the kind of kiss that she’d come to expect from Frost. With increasing passion, his lips pressed hard against hers, gliding effortlessly over her cherry flavored lip gloss. At first, Anastasia thought he was crazy, fearing that he’d turn into a werewolf at any second. Then, as he strengthened his grasp on her body, she slowly gave in to her desires, stopping only when she felt the need to catch her breath.

  “You didn’t shape-shift,” Anastasia murmured, overcome with happiness as she placed her head against Frost’s chest and listened to his rapid heartbeat. She’d never felt as close to him as she did right now, and that made her smile uncontrollably.

  “I guess I needed an incentive to try harder,” Frost murmured back, “and I found that in you.”

  Moved by his words, Anastasia was about to tell Frost how much she loved him when suddenly, the sky brightened with a greenish glow, startling her in the process. “What the...” she began to mutter.

  “It’s starting,” Frost interrupted, urging the somewhat reluctant Anastasia to stand up and look out into the northern night sky. “We’ll have the best view in all of Cedar Falls.”

  Silently, Anastasia and Frost watched as a display of green rays grew large and vibrant, seemingly coming from the Heavens themselves. They appeared like curtains of light swirling in the wind, one second strong and radiant, the next, retreating and reappearing in another part of the sky. The hues pulsated with life as they curved and rippled, casting their glow upon the woods. Utterly mesmerized, Anastasia realized that this was the aurora borealis – a natural wonder she’d often heard about but had never seen, and it was far more beautiful than anyone could have ever described.

  We made it, Anastasia thought, her chest swelling with pride as she looked at Frost. No matter how impossible the odds, how tough the hardships, or how painful the tragedy, we weren’t broken or torn apart, and in the end, I finally found my happiness.

  Returning Anastasia’s gaze, Frost smiled and pulled her closer. He then carefully lifted her chin upward, their lips about to meet when her cell phone began to ring. Grudgingly, Anastasia answered it, cursing the timing of whoever was on the line.

  “I...I need your help,” someone said frantically, not giving Anastasia a chance to say hello first. “I thought you were lying – crazy even – then I saw it with my own eyes. My...my dad turned into a monster right in front of me. He fled from our home and straight into the woods. Please, Anastasia, I know he’s out there somewhere, and we need to find him before anyone else does.”

  Anastasia’s blood ran cold as she processed what she’d just been told. “Chloe, you need to stay in your house. We’ll be there as fast as we can, but in the meantime, don’t do anything or tell anyone.”

  Quickly ending the call, Anastasia dialed her grandfather’s number and waited anxiously as it rang. When he eventually answered, she spoke shakily, “Find Mike, Leo and Pete, and see if they’re okay.”

  “What are you talking about, Anastasia?” Mr. Lockhart asked in a confused tone. “We’re all at Pete’s house watching the hockey game. Everyone’s fine, but you don’t sound too good. Do you want me to come and get you?”

  “No, I have to go,” Anastasia replied, hanging up before her grandfather could say anything else.

  Slowly, Anastasia turned to Frost, and one look at his shocked expression made it clear that he’d heard everything. “How...how could this have happened?” she stammered. “Why would Mr. Fairbanks transform into a werewolf, while the others remain human?”

  “There’s one difference between Mr. Fairbanks and the other men,” Frost said gravely, his eyes narrowed as if he was exper
iencing a frightening revelation. “I bit him, and because I’m a younger werewolf than my father, my venom must have been too strong and powerful – even for wolfsbane. I don’t think Mr. Fairbanks had a chance regardless of what we did.”

  A loud wolf howl suddenly ripped through the night, causing ravens to caw wildly as they flew away in fear. There was nothing ordinary about that howl, and it could’ve only belonged to a certain new werewolf. Reaching for Frost’s hand and holding on tightly, Anastasia stood tall and ready to fight. However, she couldn’t stop herself from gulping nervously as she realized that while all nightmares come to an end, sometimes that end is merely the beginning.

  * * *

  About the Author

  Heather Beck is a Canadian Author and Screenwriter who began writing professionally at the age of sixteen. Since then she has written eleven well-reviewed books, including the best-selling series, The Horror Diaries, which has sold in six continents.

  Heather received an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree from university where she specialized in English and studied an array of disciplines. Currently, she is working on the Frostbitten series and has two anthologies slated for publication. As a screenwriter, Heather has multiple television shows and movies in development. Her short films include: Young Eyes, The Rarity, Too Sensible For Love, Circular, and the forthcoming Witch’s Brew.

  Besides writing, Heather’s greatest passion is the outdoors. She is an award-winning fisherwoman and a regular hiker. Her hobbies include swimming, playing badminton and volunteering with non-profit organizations.

  http://heatherashbeck.wix.com/writer