Page 3 of Whiteout

I grab my keys and pull on my coat. I freeze in place with one arm inside my coat, when I swear, I see a figure of a man standing on the front porch through the window. Its face, obscured by a hooded mask, but when I look again, it's gone. I shake my head, attributing it to my overactive imagination or just a shadow and trick of the light outside.

Stepping out, I'm met with the cold mountain air. I pause, taking in my surroundings. The cabin is surrounded by tall trees, their branches heavy with snow, and the air is crisp and fresh. I lock the door behind me and make my way to my car, my warm breath forming clouds in the cold air.

I start the engine, letting it run for a moment to warm up, and then slowly back out, careful on the snow-covered driveway. As I pull away, I glance back at the cabin, half-expecting to see the mysterious figure again. But the porch is empty.

"It was just a shadow, Ivy," I tell myself. "Calm down and get a damn grip."

Chapter 4

Ivy

I have the steering wheel in a death grip as the snow flies around my car. The narrow mountain road twists and turns, each bend more treacherous than the last. My podcast research suddenly feels trivial compared to the very real danger I've driven myself into.

The blizzard hit without warning. A total whiteout. One minute I'm squinting at the road ahead, the next I'm engulfed in a world of white. The wind howls, battering my little car. I lean forward, desperately trying to see through the windshield.

"Shit, shit, shit, Ivy. How could you be so stupid?" I mutter, easing my foot off the gas. I'm not prepared for this. What the hell was I thinking, coming up here alone?

I feel the tires lose traction, and then the car starts to veer towards the side of the road. I turn the wheel, overcorrect, and suddenly I'm sliding, careening towardsthe edge of the road and the steep drop-off beside it.

Time slows. The world spins. I scream, squeezing my eyes shut, bracing for impact, waiting for the crunch of metal against a tree.

It doesn't come. Nothing.

The car stops, teetering on the edge of the road. I sit there, frozen, my hands shaking, gripped tightly around the steering wheel. I let out a ragged breath, forcing my eyes open.

My breath catches when I see a shadow looming in the blizzard outside my car window. I squint, wondering if my mind is playing tricks on me. But no, there's definitely someone out there.

A gloved hand raps on my window. I jump, then fumble for the button to roll it down.

"Are you alright?" A deep voice cuts through the howling wind. I can barely make out the man's features, but he's tall, broad-shouldered, a dark silhouette against the swirling white.

I nod, my teeth chattering from the brutal cold whipping through the open window. "I think so. God, I can't believe how fast this storm came in."

"Mountain weather is unpredictable. You're lucky I was out checking the fence line." He leans down so he cansee into my window, assessing me with his gorgeous dark eyes. Damn, he has better lashes than I do.

"I'm Kris, and you must be the podcaster staying down at my rental property."

"Yes, I am. I'm Ivy Anderson."

"Well, Ivy Anderson, it's not safe for you to stay here. Come on, I'll get you somewhere warm before this storm gets worse." Kris opens my door. "My cabin's just up the hill. We can wait it out there."

I hesitate for a split second, weighing my options. Stay in a freezing car teetering on the side of a mountain, or trust this stranger?

"But my car…"

"It will be fine. I'm the only person who drives this road. There will be no one passing by to mess with it. I'll pull your car out tomorrow. The storm should pass by then and I'll have daylight to see."

That sounds reasonable and not stabby. So that's something. Right?

I grab my bag and climb out of my car. Immediately I'm hit by a strong, icy wind gust. Kris reaches out for me with a strong grip on my arms, only releasing me once I'msteady on my feet.

"My cabin isn't far, we're almost there." He guides me through the blizzard, one hand on my elbow. I stumble, the snow blinding me, but Kris keeps me upright. After what feels like hours but is probably only minutes, a dark shape emerges from the white– a cabin.

Kris ushers me inside, slamming the door against the wind. Warmth envelops me as soon as I'm through the door of the cabin, and I sag with relief.

"Welcome, make yourself at home." Kris says, shrugging off his coat and hanging it on one of the hooks by the door. "Looks like you picked one hell of a day for a drive."

I gratefully toe off my boots, feeling the chill in my socks as I step onto the plush rug. Kris takes my coat, his fingers brushing my arm, and I try not to shiver at his touch. He hangs it up neatly beside his, then turns to me with a warm smile.

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