Chapter Text
I was told to not look at the mountain. My grandmother, in her rocking chair, only hardened her face to tell me so. It was said that a dragon resides there, and that if it were to be bothered, it'd shroud us in an eternal winter.
Its snowy peaks was barely visible within the fog that plagued the village of Linkon, casts a shadow of mystery that looms over me every day. Granny's words weren't for the fainthearted—many who traverse up the mountains never came back, with very few being recovered by the townsfolk. Those who have didn't die just from the cold; bite wounds, stabs, and gashes were uncovered on many of the autopsies. Someone, no, something, dwells atop of uncertainty.
The phone rings, snapping me out of my trance. I roll off the couch, reaching for my device with a tired groan. "Hello?"
"We need you in the office as soon as possible." Jenna's voice was absolute as the phone goes silent. A sense of panic shoots down my spine as I move to grab my coat and keys. No time to respond meant that something was wrong.
Running to headquarters beat any other mode of transportation at that moment. The snow crunches against my boots as I fumble for my keycard, hastily pressing it against the censor. As soon as the doors slide open, I sprint upstairs to see a small team mobilized. I look around. "Where's Xavier?"
"He didn't answer," Jenna replies, her eyes as sharp as her words. "Did you get my brief?"
I fumble with my phone, my heart pounding. "N-No, I'm sorry. I didn't."
She sighs, her eyes closing from slight stress. "I understand. You probably came running right after I called." She waves her hand, and everyone scatters to find snow gear. I take my phone out, my eyes gliding across the words as my body moves robotically to prepare for the expedition.
"A famous merchant got lost in the mountains? Why did she even traverse that way?" I ask.
Tara's ears quickly catch my question, her bright eyes moving in tandem with her legs as she hands me a helmet. "This is the first time we have traded with the West in Linkon. Don't you know that we import everything from the main city?" she asks.
"I didn't, actually," I reply, putting the last strap on. Although Linkon was a fairly big city, its region made it popular for snowing, especially in this weather. "Or, maybe the merchant wanted to hit the slopes."
Tara laughs as I put the rest of my gear on. We get into the back of the military truck, and I adjust my gloves as I sit down. It would be a lie if I didn't say that I was terrified. Surprises were nice in micro doses, but the paralyzing monstrosity that the mountain poses makes my blood run colder than the winter storm outside.
"So… what are you doing for the holidays? Christmas is coming up," Tara says, leaning forwards with a smile and tilt of her head.
"I'm planning on visiting my Grammy, but she said that she doesn't mind if I can't make it. Besides, my brother will be going to see her, and if the weather's too bad… she'll understand." The truck rattles slightly. "What about you?"
"I'm going to spend it with my family!" she replies. "We have a really large family, so it's hard to get us altogether. Christmas is a great excuse to catch up and just have a good time."
I smile as she continues to talk about her family. As she goes through her third cousins, I think about the crisp snow just outside. Pretty, yet deadly. Too much exposure, and I could end up like the other hopeless wanderers outside, or worse.
The car comes to a shuddering stop, and the rattle of the back opening illuminates the tin interior. The small group exits, clutching their weapons as Jenna goes on ahead. Her watch hums as it tries to find the merchant, its interface spinning as rapidly as my heartbeat.
We were too far up. The air felt thin, but breathable as we trek through the quiet trees. The truck disappears into the thick mist of the restless snow. I keep my weapon drawn, the tension between everyone mounting as we continue through the woods. Higher we climb, our boots crunching in the compact snow.
A rustle.
I turn my head upwards, squinting at the trees as a clump of snow fell. We weren't alone.
"We're being followed," I report, my voice echoing through the team's head. Eyes widened then narrowed as they receive the message. I brace myself, looking around, until I lock eyes with something.
Sharp as a crow, calculating like a tiger about to pounce.
I let a bullet fly. It whizzes past the creature, sinking into the tree just behind it. It slinks back, before the tree shakes. The others follow, shaking off its frigid snow until it plumes into a cloud. All I hear are shouts and weapons, but no footsteps of our boots.
A cold, calculated crunch echoes in my ears. A frosty hand grips the back of my neck—not enough to hurt, but enough to warn me. We weren't alone.
"Are you human?" I breathe.
"Just as human as you." A low timbre, mixed with a huskiness I've only heard on television.
I swallow. "Did you do something to the merchant?"
He chuckles, the sound reverberating through my helmet. "Always thinking about your mission. How cute… like a determined kitten."
I ready my gun. "If you move, I'll shoot."
"But don't you want to know more about the merchant, or more about this mountain?"
His words were tempting, his siren song urging me to fulfill my desires to simply understand the mysteries of something so massive compared to what I call home. He notices my gun waver, and it flies out of my hands. "You won't shoot a human, will you?"
"Who's to say you are?"
His eyebrows twitch as the snow clears, but he puts on a smirk. He was tall; not a monstrous, towering tall, just tall. A cocky smirk turns into a grin on his thin lips as his eyes seem to glow a dangerous red. "I assure you, I confirmed it myself."
A bullet whizzes past his ear. I look behind me to see Tara, a determined expression on her face and both fingers steadying her trigger. "Tara, wait!" I exclaim as I turn back around. Just as mysteriously as he appeared, he left.
"What was that?" Tara asks, eyes wide.
"Why did you shoot? What if that was a person?" I walk over to her, picking my weapon up as I approach. My lips were tight, heart pounding.
"It didn't look human."
I open my mouth to speak, but there was nothing more to say. I put my gun back in its holster and we continue up the mountain, the light snowfall filling our boot prints in.
It wasn't too long before we heard the merchant's calls from the snow. We approach the hollering and see her with a leg wrapped up in twine. I walk over and bend down, taking my glove off and feeling the trap as the merchant collapses into Jenna's arms.
Her babblings barely reach my ears as I notice something peculiar: a single, soft crow feather. "Strange," I mutter as I glance around with a narrowed, focused gaze, "crows are only from the top of the mountain."
Conclusions were easy to make, but harder to prove. At this point, the mission was most important. I focus my attention back on the girl, who seem to have calmed down, and approach her. "Are you alright?" I ask.
"Yes, thank you for asking!" she chirped. She seemed a little too jolly to be completely scarred from the experience, which was a good thing. No matter, she would be checked back in town.
I hold up the feather. "Are you selling any feathered goods, by any chance?"
She tilts her head, and gingerly plucks the feather from my hand and examines it. "Hm, can't say I am. Pretty feather, though."
"Thanks." She hands it back and shouts to descend the mountain rings out into the wintry air. I let the feather go, watching it swirl into the wind and out of sight.
I linger back, clutching my gun. Someone is watching, somewhere. "I have to get out of here," I mutter to myself, ignoring the pounding in my chest. I quicken my pace as a flock of crows pass above my head, their caws either a warning or a comfort to my senses.
My foot sinks particularly deep. A snap echoes as a rope entangles my ankle. I yelp, the wind whisking my voice away.
I dangle above the crater of my struggle, heart pounding. No, this can't be happening. How could I be so stupid?! Will they come back? Jenna, Tara…. My eyes tear up as I struggle harder, thrashing about. "PLEASE, SOMEONE!" I scream.
The winds calm down as I dangle there. Was I really going to die in such a pitiful way? I hold back a whimper, blinking away my tears. Great, just perfect.
"Fuck…."
"Such vulgar language to a simple solution."
Ugh, that stupid voice that I hate. My tears recede back into the depths of my eyes as my muscles relax. Just as I do, I fall from the trap. I land in the snow with an "omph", and lay there. A shadow overtakes my limp form.
"You want to go back down the mountain, but I don't want you to." A large hand grabs the back of my jacket, and the creature picks me up with ease. My eyes meet his red ones, a cocky gleam in them. "Because you have something I want."