Chapter One

A ferocious wind sang destruction upon every house. Tearing trees and structures apart like paper soaked in water.

The hail and snow covered the village with their freezing temperature that could turn hot water into ice in seconds.

The stormy winds sing a lullaby of death as they run amok in the dark forest. Making its destructive way towards the helpless village. The poor people living there have no escape from the tyrannical storm.

The snowy village stands lonesome in the middle of the pitch-black woods. Dead bodies lay deep inside the forest. In there awaits death for anyone who has the courage or ignorance to enter. Agonizing terror fills the Genio village of a snowstorm falling upon them, once again. Along the empty and desolate streets, a girl with hair as white as the snow surrounding her and  skin pale as ice, trekked through, the thick snow brushing against her freezing knees

The winds rushing around her attempt to warn her with bone-chilling winds of the possible danger, Yet she continued walking as if it had never even touched her.

She looked like a ghost blending in with the snowy and white atmosphere, oblivious to the storm brewing as she walked. She had a blindfold on that covered her eyes. As she continued to slog through the heavy snow, a rush of cold wind shoved her forcefully, almost making her faceplant onto the snow. Thankfully, placing her feet deep into the snow she was able to withstand the stormy wind. Carefully and cautiously, the little girl tracked her footsteps counting every turn and step she made.

Suddenly she bumped into an object making her trip onto the chilling snow.

“H-Hey watch w-w-where you’re going-g!” A little boy shouted as he tried to shield himself from the biting wind howling around them. He tried to tighten his jaw in a futile attempt to stop stuttering. “O-ow...You! You again? This is the second time you people hit me! Isn’t it e-enough that you people left me here to d-die?” The frustrated look on his face abruptly changed to fear when he looked up at the pale girl. The boy’s heart seemed to jump out jump out of his chest. He thought he saw a ghost.

The flustered girl apologetically bowed her head, trying to show she was no harm, “I am so sorry I did-”

“O-oh,” The little boy blurted out interrupting her apology. He sighed in relief, contempt that a ghost wasn’t coming out to haunt him. “W-what are you d-doing out here?” The boy asked in curiosity and confusion.

“Nothing, I’m just walking back home,” The girl said, pointing in the direction she was headed. 

The boy was still sitting in the snow with all kinds of questions running through his head. ‘Where did she come from? Who was she? And why was she here when a storm was brewing that could potentially kill them both?’ “The storm is about to start in just a few minutes and y-y-you’re here w-wondering around-d?” The boy asked in disbelief. 

“Then what are you doing here?” She asks tilting her head to the side.

The boy had nothing to say so he remained silent for a while and deflected the question. “I’ll take you h-h-home just tell me t-the w-way. You said it was o-over h-here right-t?” The boy asked before getting off the snow. He was uncontrollably shivering and covered in snow from head to toe. This could be the perfect opportunity to seek shelter since none of the villagers were willing to give him any. The girl seemed to be blind since she had a blindfold covering her eyes. Something about the girl made him curious.

Both of them hurried their steps toward the house making the boy suspicious about the girl. This was the Gasyer family mansion, easily the biggest and most infamous home in the village. The boy’s eyebrows furrowed and wrinkled his nose as if he tasted something horrible in his mouth. The girl's face brightened, and even though her eyes were covered he could see the excitement in her face. 

“A-a-re you s-sure this is it!?” He asked in an annoyed tone. He gritted his teeth tightly, but it began clattering protesting that they were cold as well. This was probably the wrong house and she did not belong to this family. 

“Yes, it’s this one!” The girl exclaimed bouncing up and down with excitement. She was so excited that she began pointing at the mansion. Her excitement diminished as soon as it came feeling immodest over the behavior.

“Let’s just get this over with,” He grumbled deeply, huffing out a mist of air out his mouth. He was looking at her as she pointed in a completely different direction from the house. The boy was tired, hungry, and cold which ate away his patience each minute they spent outside. 

“I’m sure of it. My house is big and made out of brown wood using bark and some white paint on the inside and outside.” She continued so the boy could believe her. She tried to emphasize her point by spreading her arms wide trying to show how big her house is. “Three steps are going up the house. The first one is very stable and sturdy so it won’t make any noise. The second one creaks loudly because it’s broken, so when you step on it, it’ll make a loud creaking noise. The third one creaks only slightly because it’s old. This house is built off of our great-grandpa’s strength and heart. Not only did he help thousands of people, but he also made this house while fighting a monster.” The girl explained in a low tone while fiddling with her fingers. She was one hundred percent sure this was the house she lived in.

The house did have three steps and was made out of brown wood and used bark as well. The paranoid boy had a suspicious look in his eye and looked at the girl up and down before proceeding. “Hm,” He slowly placed his foot on the first step and it creaked slightly. She was lying. “You said the f-first step i- is stable r-r-right?”

“Yeah?” She tilted her head to the side and began fiddling with her hands. 

“Oh okay,” He answered without any more questions. For now, he had to get in the house no matter what or the storm would surely kill him. With that, he wasn’t going to let his guard down; not even for a second. He then placed his foot on the second step, making a loud creak like she said. Even though she was right this didn’t lift his suspicions of her in the slightest. Instead, he became confused and even more wary of his surroundings. “What is that?” The boy asked looking at the door in front of him.

The girl looked up confused and asked, “The door?”

The boy nodded and before he could answer the door flew open. His heart jumped up into his throat as the door unexpectedly opened wide. Two little girls were standing in the doorway with the same white hair and pale skin. Their eyes pierced into his soul making his throat dry suddenly forgetting how cold, hungry, and tired he was. Their icy blue eyes caused the boy to freeze on the spot in fear. He couldn’t believe he was looking at two of the Gasyer family members in the eyes. 

“Who are you?” One of the twins asked without hesitation.

“I-I’m K-Kaleb Quak-er-er,” Kaleb whispered under his breath. He was unable to tell if he was stuttering in fear or because he was cold. 

“And you?” The other twin asked. Crossing her arms as the girl approached the first steps. 

The girl remains quiet as a mouse looking down. Two members of the Gasyer family stepped out and didn’t recognize the girl.

‘Why did she lie?’ Kaleb huffed hoping the anger building up would leave.

The two girls raised their eyebrows and looked at each other, One of the twins spoke up and said, “Get lost, especially you. you’re nothing but trouble.” As that was said the other girl closed the door with a loud bang leaving silence in the air. 

The girl stomped her feet onto the first steps she wanted to knock and beg desperately to let her in. Before she could do anything Kaleb yanked her off the steps and they began walking away. The girl slammed her foot into the top of the steps, but it didn’t creak not even the slightest noise.