Page 16 of Frosted Torment

But as he pulled me across the field, I yanked my hand away and then found myself upright on my sofa. Remnants of my elusive traveling melted into the cushions. I patted myself down, confirming I was whole, though my feet remained icy and numb.

Uncertain of my reality, I rubbed my arms and waited for someone to barge through the door. No one came. I pushed my hair back and cradled my knees to my chest, wanting to run but paralyzed with terror. Nothing made sense as I rocked back and forth.

Unsure of what was real, I wrapped my arms around my knees, rocking as I awaited some sign I wasn’t losing my mind. Only silence greeted me. I leapt up and scurried to the door, peeking out.

The hallway stood empty and quiet. I shut the door and turned the lock, relief washing over me as I steadied my breathing. My mind swirled with questions as I paced my apartment. Then it hit me. Could this man be one of the Baneful?

Anger simmered beneath my skin. I had to leave for Texas—it was my only chance to protect my friends. I rubbed my hands down my face and grabbed my vape, taking a deep breath before releasing a long exhale.

I knew it wouldn’t be long before my friends returned. That’s if they went to the closest Mexican restaurant and picked up an order to bring to my place. I rushed to shove toiletries and a change of clothes into my backpack.

This was my life on the line. Besides, I couldn’t risk theirs for whatever this was, especially if this man was after me. I needed to know for sure before telling them anything. Home was the only place I could think of that held any answers about me or my mom, so that’s where I’d go.

“How ya doing, doll?” Uno’s voice was a welcome sound.

I choked back tears. “What’s going on, Uno?”

Dos cleared his throat. “We aren’t sure yet. The Veil is getting blurry, but we’ll keep trying for answers.”

I rolled my eyes as I searched my apartment for a clean pair of socks, then found a pair hiding in the back of my dryer.

Uno added, “Something is coming.”

My lip began to sear in pain like someone held a match to my skin. Whispers filled the air around me with gentle echoes bouncing from one side to the other in my mind. Spirits. I didn’t have time for any of them. My stomach dropped as flashes of my mother in my vision warned me.

“That’s our sign to leave,” Uno said as her voice faded into the distance. “Be careful, doll.”

“Wait!” I spun around in my apartment, hoping they would stay.

Dos sniffed, and his voice turned sad. “Take care of yourself, and we’ll be in touch soon.”

“Fuck,” I groaned and threw my head back.

Once I pulled on my socks, I slid on a pair of jeans, a hoodie, and boots. Then, I pocketed my vape and locked my apartment. Dodging patches of ice across the parking lot, I ran as fast as I could to my truck. A stillness hung in the air, broken only by the distant hoot of an owl.

My keys jangled as I unlocked the rust-flecked door of my weathered truck. It screeched open, and I winced at the sound. My heart ached to leave my friends, but I had to do this alone. I punched the directions into my phone and sped off into the frigid darkness.

Fat snowflakes began to pelt the windshield. I flicked on the wipers, and a wave of nausea crashed through me. Rubbing my temples, I blinked hard against the pain throbbing behind my eyes. As I opened them, I thought one of the lights had turned green for me to go. Except when I looked again,Jossy, Ivy, and Lex were standing in the middle of the intersection.

I rolled down the window and stuck out my head. “Where the hell did you come from?”

“We followed you!” Jossy yelled.

I shook my head in disbelief. “Of course you did.”

Why I thought I could do anything by myself was a joke to the three of them, and I was becoming annoyed.

“Get back in the truck, Noa, and go home,” Ivy ordered.

I leaned out even further when I heard them chanting in unison. No way my friends were doing some kind of magic. After putting the truck in park, I joined them in the abandoned street.

Surrounded by a glowing ring of green light, Jossy stared at me in a trance. His lips twitched. He drew circles in the air with each pointer finger, counterclockwise. Ivy stood to his left. Both hands were out, lunging forward as she strained against some invisible force. Lex stood on Jossy’s right side, holding his hands in prayer with his head bowed.

Then, Ivy’s breath grew ragged. “Do you see it, Jossy?” she gasped. “We have to stop it!”

“What are y’all doing? There’s nothing out here!” I shouted through chattering teeth.

Ivy’s eyes turned completely gold and beamed like oncoming headlights. I shielded my eyes with my arms, and as I turned to run back to my truck, something tugged at my hair. My blood ran cold, and spiders ran down my back. I spun around to see a monstrous creature.

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