When the days are cold

Chapter 1

Dawn was just settling her loving eyes down upon the village when a loud, high-pitched buzz echoed through the first house on the right as you trek down the small, cobble path leading down to the sea; Will's house. It can't be considered a home seeing as he has always wanted a medium sized house on a large plot of land and lots of animals but all he has now is a small flat with no garden, and the rules for the flat was specific: no animals, no matter the form (ants, mice, dogs, even spiders are to be killed when seen). Will, however, has never payed attention to this rule and has seen many, many different creatures set up residence in his home. 

Today is the seconds of March, the first day of the three week long spring festival. The one where people from all across the neighbouring villages come to celebrate the new lives being born into the world, along with celebrating the lives of those who have sadly passed over the year. The first week always consists of small groupings going out and celebrating the lives who have died, the second for people to get introduced to new people, and exploring the new lives blossoming into existence, and the final week is a full week of celebrations, mainly though the nights, where everyone gets together as a whole to eat, drink, party and do shows to show off their newest talents, along with those who want to sell their livestock. The celebration has always been a part of Will's life, having been introduced to it at the young age of 6. 

When this popped into Will's mind, he sprung to life, slamming his alarm off and racing to get ready. He might just find his match over the next few weeks, the festival being the perfect, and often the only, time to find a partner. He's been going to the festivals religiously once he found out that was where his parents met. Unfortunately, his parents died when he was only 14,  him being 20 now. He was shaken out of his thoughts when his little toes collided with the corner of his doorframe, his relationship fantasies now being the least of his worries. His teeth grit together, his hands clenching as he didn't want to disturb his downstairs neighbours. The pain almost proves to be too much when his alarm goes off again; the festival was starting. He has to meet up with his best friend of 12 years, Lexy, before they both, and Lexy's family, go off to the local cemetery to pay their respects to their passed family members. 

Just seven months ago, Lexy's husband disappeared. No one knew where he went, but he left a note saying how he left because he wanted to protect Lexy, and he wishes she will never hold a grudge on him. After 4 months of asking around and searching for him, Lexy, and her family, decided it was best to treat him as if he was dead as he didn't seem to want to ever come back. Lexy took it particularly hard, her husband being one of the only people she could ever talk to about her troubles, and Will took it hard, too, but because he was the only person who shared Will's superstitions on the universe-