Chapter Text
Snow. That was something that bloomed all over the northern hemisphere. A place where crystalline structures grew, sure to overwhelm any non-natives with its biting frost.
The air was filled with the smell of petrichor. Rain has melted parts of the slushy snow as rain droplets trickled to the ground. Remaining droplets of rain hung from the branches of leafless trees. Some of the drops froze over, creating a thin and delicate sheet of ice on the low-hanging branches. A gloomy, somber atmosphere lingered over the lands.
The tundra, long stripped of its last, miniscule patches of grass. Layers of icy snow laid bare on the tundra, exposed for all to see. It created a pristine and beautiful sight that sparkled in the sun. The sun that couldn’t warm this place, no matter how hard it tried. A gentle breeze settled over the blindingly white plains, casting a sense of peace. A sense of peace others have lost and left in time. The snow remained unmoved, despite how the wind howled.
Footsteps crunched the powder beneath. And there I stood. Wherever I stepped, I left a small army of footprints. My black boots sloshed through the thick snow. I didn’t want to budge, even when the cold seeped into my socks. The frost coursed through my bones. A small whimper of displeasure escaped my lips. Damn it, I thought. Now the woodpeckers were very aware of my weakness.
I took a deep breath and continued his trek. The wind grew fierce. It was desperately trying to deter me from walking any further. And yet, I did. Snow clung to my boots, slowly melting from my warm body’s touch. My soles were wet, my ankles freezing. I shivered. I detested winter more than any killer I’d known.
Gusts of wind blew in my face. I scowled. To my surprise, nature itself uncovered some of the hidden ground below the icy powder. It seemed insignificant enough. At least, that was before one rather soft gust revealed a shimmering trinket. Another breeze covered half of the strange object, its texture akin to flaky crystals. Curious to what it was, I squatted and picked it up. I wiped away the grainy snowflakes that attached themselves to the ornament.
I discovered it was a necklace. A fragile one, at that. The metal the object was made of was pure gold. I could tell from the little dents and its yellowish color. It adorned a golden cross. My expression hardened. I gripped the cross as hard as I could. The soft texture bended to my touch. Often times, I would’ve ignored souvenirs and tossed them aside. Perhaps sell them for a few bucks. But this one.. this one I knew.
My hands shook as I held the delicate ornament in my palm. It gave me a strange sense of déjà vu. The feeling was familiar. Not the feeling of the cross, nor the smooth and rich metal. Instead, it was a feeling of dread. How could I have been so foolish to forget?
I was snapped out of his thoughts by the sudden sound of footsteps behind me.
“Yo, Charlie!” Great, just what I need..
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“I was looking all over for ya.” The figure placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch firm and shaky. Felix’s voice beamed with excitement. “What’cha know about the Fast and the Furious 37? I heard they brought Do..”
“Shh..” I murmured. Despite my quiet protest, the man just went on and on about the importance of family.
Rustling leaves caught my attention. I looked up at the sky, assessing the dark clouds. Fog settled over the snow fields, my anger towards the weather ever-growing. Felix walked next to me, his finger pointing upwards. He gave me a dramatically worried look. I sighed and nodded, my hands still fiddling with my “new”found discovery.
“Charlie..” Felix muttered, his hands shaking with the urge to open mine. I clenched my fists tightly together, leaving a finger shaped dent in the golden cross. He gently nudged my side, his face showing his irritation. “What’re you hiding, bud? Come on. Show me.”
I reluctantly opened my hands, the trembling clear as day. Without any hint of caution, Felix snatched the necklace from my palms. I swallowed.
He carefully inspected the accessory, holding it in between his fingers. He whistled softly, the sound akin to the wind howling around us. His hazel eyes darted over the rosary. One brow furrowed. Just as he lifted the accessory towards the sun, light broke out through the clouds, casting a shimmering glow on the golden object. His eyes widened in astonishment. My friend had to do a double take, his pupils widened at the sight before him. “Charlie,” he whispered. “This rosary is made of gold. Gold!” He stuffed the necklace into his pocket.
I snatched the item from his pocket, determined to keep it for myself. “Aye! What was that for?”
Felix’s eyes remained on the cross. He put his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright. You can keep the stupid thing..” He quietly groaned, shuffling in his place. The crunching of snow filled my ears. I took a step back, not wanting him to snatch it back. I held it close to my chest. Unwillingly, my hands trembled. I absorbed the coldness, shivering at the climate we found ourselves in.
“Why are you so protective of that damn necklace?” Felix asked with confusion. He kept his distance, though I knew he was wondering about something. After he scratched his head, he sighed. “Fine, you can keep it. But Charlie, you have to know how much that gold is worth. I’m sure Mr. Winston is willing to pay a pretty penny for what’cha got there. Just..” he put his hands on my shoulder. “Think about it.” In an instant, the guy I knew as my friend let me go.
I watched his back as he made his way through the thick snow. Many thoughts ran through my head. I gripped the rosary, my fingers aligning with the dents I left in it before. I could still briefly see the silhouette of my friend before it disappeared beyond the horizon. He waved to me, and I waved back. Quivering, I paced after him. I could see my breaths come out in white, puffy clouds. My feet felt like solid blocks of ice as I ran. I’m wasn't going to stay in these awful frosty plains any longer.
~~END CHAPTER~~