It was nearly dark by the time Eryi made it to the park, and the sunset that was usually clear and crisp, was hidden behind thick black clouds. The wind was harsh, and snowflakes pummeled Eryi’s cheeks. Eryi sat down on a swing and felt his butt burn with cold. He swung slowly, not caring to put in any effort. He covered his face more with his scarf and wished he had thicker gloves. The weather continued to get harsher and harsher, until there was nothing to think of besides the cold. Eryi raised his head as he remembered he could hide in the tunnel in the park, but there was another kid in front of him. It was Andri. He was far more well dressed for this weather than the last time Eryi saw him. He wore a concerned look on his face, and his cheeks were rosy.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you know it’s a blizzard?”

Eryi’s black eyes were darker with the hidden moonlight, and he stared at his idol for a long time, not realizing he was being talked to. Eryi snapped out of his daze and said, “My mom kicked me out cause her friend is over.”

The wind filled the silence with a howl, and the streetlight shed light on Andri’s darkened expression.

“For how long?”

Eryi didn’t answer, he only looked down. Andri grabbed Eryi’s hand as swift as wind and pulled him off the swing. Eryi nearly lost his balance, but he gave in to following Andri away. A strange warmth grew through his body and the storm around him didn’t stab as harshly as before.

“We’re gonna go to my house,” Andri said simply.

Eryi couldn’t help but smile.

“Okay.”

Eryi was in awe of the size of Andri’s house. The windows were large, and the warm light from them cast shadows around. They had four garages, a big front door, and two floors. Andri unlocked the door and led Eryi inside. He looked around then said, “Come on, but be quiet. My mom says I’m not allowed friends over.”

Eryi whispered, “Okay.”

Andri led Eryi down the hall after they took their winter gear off. Andri’s room was also impressive, and had more life than Eryi’s did. Eryi looked out Andri’s window and saw the park. The swings were all swaying in the wind.

“Um,” Eryi asked as he turned toward Andri. “Where’s your bathroom?”

Andri said, “Down the hall to the right.”

Eryi nodded and Andri watched as he walked away. Andri flopped on his bed and looked up at his ceiling. He clenched and unclenched his fist as he thought, “I really want to punch his mom.”

When Eryi was washing his hands a strange feeling washed over him, like a coldness erupted from within. His daze was interrupted by a loud blaring alarm sounding from the outside. Eryi jumped in panic, and then banging came from his door.

Andri yelled, “Eryi! It’s a Bug attack, come out!”

Eryi swiftly opened the door and raced behind Andri as they made their way to the basement. There was a bunker room which, no matter how much it blended into the rest of the basement, shed a chilling air of doom. The two entered and they pushed the thick bunker door shut.

“Wait, what about your mom?!” Eryi asked.

“Oh, I forgot,” Andri admitted, with a silly grin.

Eryi was stunned. How could he forget about his own mother? Loud banging sounded on the bunker door and a woman’s voice could be faintly heard.

“Andri! Let me in.”

Andri lifted the metal bar, which was used as a key from the inside, and a woman with light brown hair rushed in, she shut the door, locked it, and turned to yell at her son, “What were you thinking? What if you had left me to die?!”

It took her a second to realize what she was seeing, but after a minute she understood that this creepy boy in a striped sweater with black hair covering his eyes was not a ghost but a real child.

“Who are you?”

Eryi didn’t respond and Andri answered for him, “He’s my friend, Eryi.”

Eryi’s eyes widened and his whole world turned a comforting warmth, though he did not realize how Andri was looking at him. Within Andri’s dark, dull brown eyes, not a hint of kindness lived. His still lips upturned into a smile like he had forgotten to before. The bunker was only lit by a couple red dots on the door, but Andri’s mother could still see her son’s expression. She couldn’t help but get a chill down her spine. Andri’s mother looked both the kids up and down and then asked worriedly, “What were you two doing?”

“Just hanging out,” Andri answered.

“Right… Well, Eryi will have to go home soon. Right after we’re in the clear.”

Andri spoke up, “But, mom! Eryi can’t go home. His mother kicked him out so she could fuck her boyfriend.”

“Andri, language!”

His mother looked at Eryi and stated, “But it’s a blizzard.”

Andri crossed his arms and said, “I know.”

A buzz sounded from Andri’s mother’s phone and she huffed a sigh of relief.

“We’re safe.”

Andri asked, “Where was the Bug?”

His mother hesitantly answered, “At the hospital.”

“How many people did it kill?”

“What?”

Andri’s inky eyes swirled with a certain darkness which froze one’s heart.

“How many people did the Bug kill? You said it was in the hospital, right? That’s an enclosed area with a lot of sick people, so that means a lot of people must have died.”

Andri’s eyes seemed to grow darker and muddier.

“Shouldn’t we be fighting against the Bugs instead of hiding like cowards? What did the Snow Military do this time? Take the Bug to the Care Facility? You do know they aren’t human anymore, right?”

His eyes became so dark they reflected not a hint of his former self.

“Right?”

Andri’s mother laughed forcefully and shoved the kids out the bunker.

“Well, let’s take Eryi home.”

The children answered her with silence and she insisted, “Let’s go!”