Winter

Chapter 1: Going Outside

Right so first of all, this story was inherited from @flashgirl25 . I'm continuing it. You should check her, out she's an awesome author. Happy reading!
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Elena walked into CC Jitters, needing a warm latte. The girl behind the counter introduced herself as Iris West. "Can I just get a French Vanilla Latte, please?"

"Sure." Her smile was friendly and bright. "I haven't seen you around here before. Did you just move here?"

Elena became shy instantly. "Um...no. I've lived here all my life. I just...I don't get out much. I prefer to keep to myself."

"The city is nice. You should visit the museum. You can go alone and still see the sights." She smiled.

Elena could only smile in response and handed her latte money to Iris. "Thank you." Elena exited the shop and stood off to the side, away from the door. Snow flurries were dancing in the air and a slight ray of sunshine peeked through the clouds.

She took a deep breath and went to step out onto the sidewalk, only to bump into someone. They caught her shoulders so she wouldn't fall and drop her latte. "I..am..so sorry. I wasn't paying attention." The man said. He had brown hair, green eyes, and he was tall and lean.

"Uh, no. It's fine. Promise." She smiled softly.

He smiled back. "Ok. Well, I, uh, have to get to work. Running late."

"Right. I don't want to keep you."

"Have a nice day." He said brightly.

"Yeah...you too." He went inside and she began walking down the sidewalk. It was her first day of being out in the open in a year. Winter was the only time she felt she could go out. Plus, it was her favorite time of year.

She sipped her latte and felt like someone was following her. She took a chance and glanced back, a tall man wearing all black was following a short distance behind her.

She turned a corner up ahead and when she did, she turned to subtlety look behind her to see if the man was still following her. He was.

When she turned back around, she bumped into another man. 'Good gosh. Today just isn't my day' she thought. She looked up to see a tall man with brown hair a sky blue eyes. "Sorry." She blurted out. "I'm a little clumsy this morning."

"No. It's quite alright. Are you ok? You seem flustered."

She looked behind her; no one was there. 'Whew'. "I'm ok. Thank you." The man couldn't have been more than 35, maybe 40 years old. "I should get going."

She walked away and didn't get but so far when she was yanked by her sweater and into an alley. Beside a butcher shop. She sighed inwardly. "Stay quiet. Give me your money. Now. And I'll let you walk away alive."

He brandished a gun and put it to her temple. She was now afraid. Very afraid. She didn't want to be afraid. If she was, things could get very ugly, very fast. She tried to calm herself down. "Now bitch!"

She fumbled around her coat pockets and the money dropped on the ground. "S-sorry." She managed to choke out.

The air around them swirled, but it went unnoticed by the robber. Snow flurries became heavier and the man stepped away. "Pick up the money and hand it to me. No funny business."

Tears sprang from her eyes as she went to get the money from the ground. The air began swirling faster and she heard the telltale click of the gun being prepared to shoot.

She stood up and held out the money, her hand shaking. He snatched it away and she saw his finger on the trigger, getting ready to pull. She closed her eyes and the gun sounded. But she wasn't hit.

2 things she didn't expect to see: A wall of ice in front of her with a bullet lodged halfway through the ice, and a tall man standing over the robber. It was the brown haired man from earlier.

The robber was on the ground and scrambled to his feet, fleeing from the scene.

The other man came over to her and she shrank away from him. "Please, stay away from me. I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't." He said softly, honestly. He held out his hand and she looked at it for a moment before stepping away from the wall. He stared down at her, concern in his eyes. "Are you ok?"

She nodded. "I think so."

"Are you sure?" He raised his eyebrow at her.

His eyes roamed to the ice wall behind her. "Yeah. I'm ok. I just need to go home."

She turned to walk out of the alley and realized she had a dilemma. How was she going to take down the ice wall? She couldn't just leave it there. "You don't know how to take it down, do you?" There was a slight humor in his voice.

"Is it that obvious?" Her brows furrowed.

"Stand back." She did, and he did something she'd never in her life seen before. His body moved so fast it looked as if it was vibrating, and when he put his arms around the ice wall, it began disintegrating to snow.

When he was done, he turned to her. "Um...thank you."

"No problem." He smiled. "How long have you had your gift?"

"Since I was born." She looked down. "My parents homeschooled me and encouraged me to stay inside until I could control my power. But, the longer I stayed inside, the more afraid I was to go outside and be near people. And...when I do go out, I have to put on gloves. If I touch something, or someone, I risk freezing them."

"When was the last time you went outside?" He asked curiously.

"Last year."

"So...you only go outside when it's snowing?"

"Yes. It makes it easier for me. And no one suspects anything if the snow picks up."

"It seems like you have some control over it. You made that ice wall and it protected you."

"The wall showed up because I was afraid."

"I see." He paused for a moment. "Do you want help controlling it? I could teach you, if your're interested."

"I don't know...I mean, yes, I would. But you don't even know me."

"My apologies. What is your name?" He smiled brightly.

"Elena DeWinter."

"Lovely name. It suits you. Well Elena, my name is Harrison Wells."