Winter sat in Kit-Cat cafe, holding a chai in her hands and hoping the warmth would heal the anger and fear burning her inside...
But despite the heat, she felt cold... and not because it was freezing outside... but because she was struggling to control her emotions...
She felt like she was losing her mind, and she needed control over herself when she wanted to ball up on the floor and cry until the pain left.
She still felt the dread of her father’s passing... It was a year ago and the police hadn’t ruled the cause of death...
He was shot... but whether it was a murder or a suicide, they hadn’t decided...
There was always evidence that declared both ways...
Winter’s father wasn’t depressed in the slightest... he was a good, loving man who cared about her dearly... and she couldn’t imagine who would want him dead...
A picture of Cameron flashed before her eyes...
She shook her head...
No... he didn’t seem the type to kill... he just was a little creepy... and well... secretive...
She looked out the window, watching small specks of snow drift onto the streets... melting into water on the cement...
The new season was slowly coming in... developing clouds among the blue sky...
Cameron’s words echoed through her thoughts...
I like that name. It’s my favorite season.
Why did he ask her name if he already knew it? If he was going to freak her out anyways?
She didn’t know... nor did she understand him...
There was something off about him... and not in a “he’s crazy” sense, but more of a... “he’s pale, and never eats” way...
He looked almost... dead...
She shoved the thought away, staring back into the streets.
Cameron Arcus... she thought. Who are you and why are you showing now?
She looked back to her tea then, watching the steam drift out from the hole in the lid before something caught her eye.
She looked up, seeing a certain someone watching her from another table.
He looked as if he were watching her thoughtfully before... as if studying her curiously, but when she locked eyes with him, his lips tilted.
She stormed up to him, glaring down at him as he sipped his tea as if not noticing her.
“Can you ever just, not follow me?” she snapped.
“Then what will I do in my spare time?” Cam said innocently, staring up at her.
“Be a normal person, that’s how.”
“I’m not normal, nor am I a normal person.”
She just shook her head. “If you continue stalking me, I’m going to call the police.”
“You sure? ‘Cause I feel like you’re stalking me... Everywhere I am... poof... there you are.”
She glared, opening her mouth to yell at him but her phone came to life in her pocket, making him raise his brows when her fists clenched.
“You gonna answer it?”
She snatched the phone out of her purse, sighing in annoyance as she stared down at the screen. “It’s my mom.”
She probably was wondering where Winter was.
Winter swiped the answer button and pressed the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
Static.
What was going on with all these creepy things today?
“Hello?”
More static.
“Mom, if this is a prank call, I swear to God.”
“Wi—” a voice said, “ter— ba— don— come ho—”
“Mom, you’re breaking up.”
“Winter!” she yelled finally, her voice clearer than day. “Where are you?”
Was it just her... or did she sound terrified...?
“I’m at a cafe, mom,” she responded.
“Are you safe?”
She looked to Cam, who’s brows were raised, then back at the wall. “Yes, I believe so.”
“Oh, thank God!”
“Mom...” Winter said softly, startled by her panicked tone, “I didn’t hear you call... Don’t be scared... Don’t worry, I’ll be home soo—”
“No!” her mother cried. “Don’t come home, Winter! Don’t!”
“What do you mean, don’t come home?” she questioned sternly. “What’s going on?”
“Everything okay?” Cameron said, but Winter’s adrenaline rush immediately blocked his voice.
A loud crash echoed from the other line... like a shattering of a window...
“Mom! What’s going on?”
“He’s coming... I have to go, Honey... I’m sorry... This wasn’t how I wanted you to find out....”
“Find out what?” she yelled into the phone. “Who’s coming? What the HELL is going on?”
“I have to go, Honey...” she whispered. “I’m sorry....”
“Mom!” Winter yelled, panic coursing through her veins. “Answer me!”
Another crash shook the house, and she heard her mother’s scream...
“Mom!” she cried. “MOM!”
Silence...
No one hung up the phone... but she could hear the wind howling through the broken windows...
She pulled the phone from her ear, staring off into space in horror.
“Snowflake...” Cameron whispered, “did something happen?”
She stepped back. “I have to go.”
“Wai—”
But she launched out of the cafe seconds later, ignoring the chills from the snow storm and got in her car, hauling down the road to her house.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
