Page 40 of The Longshot

It’s 3:15 PM.

He’s early.

He’s never early.

Before I can question it, I’m racing out from the back.

“You’re ahead of schedule,” I announce. “I didn’t expect you for at least another fifteen?—”

I stop dead in my tracks as I reach the front counter.

Remember when I said that you should always expect the unexpected in Crawley?

Well, this is exactly what I was talking about.

“Simon?”

ELEVEN

C H E L S I E

I got frostbite in the middle of winter when I was six years old. I was with Ruby when it happened, who, at the time, was twelve. In the grand scheme of things, her age meant nothing, well, other than the fact that she had recently moved past playing “pretend” with me.

It was on that day that we had one of the largest snowfalls of the year—which, in England, was a big deal. Don’t get me wrong, we get snow, but mounds of it? It hardly ever happens.

The second the snow settled, Ruby and I were quick to rush outside. The ground was crunchy beneath our boots as we trekked along our parents' property on a mission. In other words, we were determined to find the ice palace where the princesses lived.

“Are you sure this is the way to go?” Ruby asked, trailing behind me. “I thought the princesses were the other way last time?”

I quickly turned on my heel. “Ruby, how many times do I have to tell you?” I placed my hands on my hips, tired of repeating myself. “The princesses change the palace location every time we discover it. They have to keep it a secret.”

Ruby playfully rolled her eyes, an action I disregarded as I turned back around, determined to keep going.

“I’m just saying.” Her footsteps trailed behind me. “It’s getting late, Chelsie, and Mum said dinner would be ready soon.”

“We won’t be late.” I tried to reassure her. “Besides, we’re getting close. I can hear it.” I raised a hand out to Ruby, prompting her noisy feet to come to a standstill. “Can you be quiet for a second?”

Ruby tilted her head in confusion. “Why?” she asked. “What is it?”

“Just shh!” I scolded her once more as I listened with intent—the sound was like music to my ears. “Do you hear that?” I looked back over at her.

“Hear what?” She was short with me. “I can’t hear anything, Chelsie, except for this rumbling in my stomach. I’m going back.”

“No!” I pleaded. “Just… follow me!”

I rushed off ahead, racing through the trees and overtop the chunks of snow. Ruby repeatedly called out my name from behind, yet her voice faded into nothing as we grew distant to one another.

“Chelsie, wait up!”

I followed my intuition.

I knew it was just ahead.

I knew it.

“It’s just up here, Ruby.” I followed the sound of the water. “C’mon, I’ll show you?—”

Before I knew it, my racing steps prompted me to step onto thin ice, where not only did my boot go through, but my weight became displaced from under me. I was soaked in a matter of seconds—my body immediately going into shock.

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