Page 15 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty

Sorting out the rest of my problems is going to take a lot more work than a simple hike through the woods, but it’s at least a start. Something to make me feel like I’m doing something other than nothing.

I step into the kitchen and grab a protein shake and something quick to eat before lacing my boots and heading out the door.

The air is crisp and warm, though there’s a chill to the breeze that moves through the trees. I pull my gloves out of my pockets and yank them on before tugging my hat lower over my ears.

I’m sure it’s only going to be a matter of time before the layers start coming off.

I only start to relax after I’ve left the resort grounds. The trees around me are towering, and the sun is shining brightly. Some of the snow is melting, but the thick layer on the ground still crunches beneath my boots.

As I slip out of my coat, some gray clouds drift across the sky. The sun is only shaded out for a moment or two before it’s shining again. I tilt my head back to the sun, pushing up my sunglasses for a moment and closing my eyes.

“Mom, I don’t know what happens to us when we die, but if you’re up there and watching over me, then you should know that I miss you like crazy.”

I sigh and slip my sunglasses back down, swinging my backpack around to the front of my body. As I stuff the coat inside, the birds are singing. I inhale deeply, and the scent of pine lingers, reminding me of all the years I used to spend out here with her.

Tears burn the corners of my eyes. I wish she was here right now. She could spend time with me, walking around the forest and taking in the beautiful scenery. In the off-season she used to paint all the mountains and the rocky outcroppings. She’d paintthe valleys that ran for miles and the slopes that seemed ethereal in the snow.

Everything looks exactly the same as the way she captured it.

I swallow hard, trying to fight the lump in my throat, taking another turn away from the resort, heading for a trail that Mom used to talk about all the time.

“I’m going to do this for you.” I reach for the locket around my neck, holding it tight.

The trail is supposedly one of the hardest, especially in the snow. It isn’t shoveled out, and there are some harsh inclines that are only made worse with ice in the winter. I have some spikes for my boots in my backpack, so that should make it easier.

You shouldn’t go on a new trail alone,Aiden’s voice says in the back of my mind.You should always be prepared for the worst to happen, and someone should have a map of your hike before you set out so the rangers know where to look for you.

I shut out the voice and reach the base of the trail, stopping for long enough to eat a protein bar and drink some water.

If this doesn’t make me feel closer to Mom, I don’t know if there’s anything that will.

Snow falls in fat flakes, and the wind whistles through the trees. I trip over something that catches on my boot, falling to the ground hard, my sunglasses falling off. As I reach for them, more snow sweeps up from the ground with the wind.

I grab the glasses before they can get too far and shove them back on before pushing to my feet.

The bad weather came out of nowhere.

I suck in a sharp breath, trying to ignore the pain in my side. It’s only a little further up the side of the mountain where there should be a cabin I can take refuge in for the rest of the day. At least, I think there is.

If I’m being entirely honest, I’m not quite sure where I am at this point. The map is soaked through, and my phone died a few minutes after I considered turning back to the resort.

Maybe this was all a mistake.

Nope, it wasn’t. I just have to keep telling myself that I have a reason for doing this, even if it seems like a pretty dumb reason right now. I don’t know why I thought I would feel close to Mom here.

I don’t think I’m ever going to feel close to her again.

Slow down,Aiden’s bossy voice says.Think about where you are. Search for any landmarks and leave a sign that you were there.

I’m not lost,I argue with the voice, even though I do think I’m lost.

And it’s getting darker.

I’m going to have to spend the night out here. I only brought a couple thermal blankets and a sleeping bag that zips up over my head. I don’t think I could even get a fire going with the way the snow is falling.

The wind starts howling as the sky turns midnight blue. I think the stars would be starting to show if the clouds weren’t in the sky. I swallow hard, fighting past the sense of terror that traps itself in my throat.

There’s an icy hand squeezing my lungs, making it hard to breathe. My feet keep slipping out from behind me, and as I climb up the slope, there are rocks lining one side of the path. They look jagged and sharp even in the low light.

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