Where It Really Snows

Magic Means Something

It's so cold, it's so cold. The months just get colder. There is little snow outside, and it's the only snow we'll get until it melts for spring. It gets cold, but not cold enough. I stand outside saying goodbye to my family. "Here's your bag." Mom says. "And your scarf." I know wearing a skirt in the cold isn't the smartest thing, but I'm also wearing tights. I wrap the scarf around my neck. "Come back for the holidays, understood?" Mom asks. "I promise." I reply.

The others behind her started shouting. "Good luck Charlotte! Bye! See you during the holidays!" I wave back to them. "Goodbye!" I hug them all one last time, then started to leave.
My name is Charlotte, and I'm a witch. Although I'm only fourteen, I'm going out on my own for the winter. I walk through the snow, leaving home. I want to study ice and the power of winter. That's why I'm leaving. "Bye Charlotte! Bye!" It's the last I'll hear of my family. Until the holidays, that is.

I started my way to the train station. This town has humans, but we do our best to avoid them. As I made my way through the path, I noticed a small cardboard box left alone on the white sidewalk. But I hear the strangest thing from it. "Mew! Mew!" Small cries came bawling out. So I looked down in it. And a tiny black cat was sitting inside. She had white paws like socks, and she was all alone.

The poor thing was probably freezing. There was no one else around. Just us. I knelt down to her. "Mew!" She cried pathetically. I smiled. "Hi." I said in my kindest voice. She was such a small kitten. I picked her up from the box gently. As she gazed at me, I knew it. She was perfect. I took off my scarf and wrapped her up in it carefully. "There, now you're warm." I told her. "Mew!" She said. I stood up. The train would be here soon. I had to hurry. "Let's go!" I said confidently, even if I wasn't actually that confident.

We walked through the town, heading toward the train station. There were humans everywhere, but not too many, thank goodness. I can't handle crowds. We get to the station and we made it just in time. As soon as I got there, people were gathering up already. I stood among them with my new cat. There was a sign above us that said, "New York City Train."

Its light suddenly started flashing. In seconds, a very large long train comes rushing in and slowing down. It's the biggest car I had ever seen, I stared in awe. People started lining up and I found a spot for myself.

We got on the train, and it was my first time so it was weird. I walked to the back where there weren't so many people. There was an open seat next to the window. It was perfect. I sat down with my black cat, trying not to look awkward.

She crawled out of my scarf burrito and onto my lap. She then started purring. I pet her gently. "Song." I whispered, realizing I had an idea. "I'll call you Song. It used to be my nickname when I was younger." She didn't have much of a reply, she just rolled over. Within minutes, the train started to move. I gasped when it jolted and it even startled Song. I pet her again softly to calm her down. She started purring, and I listened to her as she fell asleep.

I turned to the window and watched the world go by. We were really leaving.
I am a witch, and soon to be the most powerful witch of ice. Up north in a city, there is all ice and snow I need. We don't have enough back at home.

My mom is the type of witch who knows all of the elements. I've seen her use all of them, but out of all of them, ice is my favorite. It's so beautiful, strong, cold, and dangerous.

Ice is the frozen water that gives life, but it also take it away. It's so mysterious and amazing. I saw how my mother used ice, and I want to know how to do those things as well. She said the best way to learn is to experience the the cold yourself. That's how she learned.

If I have to travel far away to learn it, that's what I'll do. Weather and snow is the beautiful magic I want and soon it'll be worth it. A cold witch, a powerful cold witch, doesn't it sound amazing? There are plenty of other witches that know fire, wind, light and shadow. I want ice.

Quite some time passes. When Song starts shivering, I put my scarf over her again. I look back out the window, and I realize we're getting close to the city. I gasp. I'm actually coming to New York City itself. My dreams may really come true. The sign above me then changed its words to "Arriving at New York City." "Mew!" Song squeaks. "Shh." I tell her.

We wait for the train to come to a complete stop then we started getting off. I held Song close to me as we got off the train and I realized how cold it was. Feeling exceedingly excited and terrified, I stepped off the train and walked out of the station. The city was bright and huge.

My mouth hung open as I stepped out of the train and into New York for the first time. It was freezing, just how I wanted it. There were so many tall skyscrapers everywhere. "Look Song! New York!" I said, smiling. I started my way by walking on the streets, but there were so many people everywhere. Such a crowd, so many people walking on the streets. I stayed in my spot and just kept walking. I started to feel uncomfortable. I hate crowds. I'm not sure if I can do this, but I can't give up now. I just got here, no way am I turning around. I told myself to calm down, and breathe. Song stayed quiet.

I focused on walking. I can't believe I'm actually here in New York City. The human city I've dreamed of. But I started to notice that there wasn't much snow here. Or anywhere. I looked around, hoping to find at least a little bit of ice. Nothing. No snow. I sighed.

Maybe it will snow soon. I won't give up. I departed from the crowd, and headed toward a more calm part of the city. It's set off to the side.
"It's fine. Everything is fine. It will snow and I'll get used to this." I told myself and Song. I take a deep breath. I keep walking, but something caught my attention and made me stop. A tall building stands in front of me and it was...spooky. It appears to be abandoned. No lights are on, no sounds are coming from it. "What a weird building." I say, staring at it. Song agrees on its mysteriousness and suddenly leaps out of my arms. "Song!" I gasp. She jumped onto the window of the building and climbed inside. I ran up the steps and opened the door with a gulp. "Song!" I call. There was a sign on the door that said, "BEWARE, STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN HERE." I ignored it and ran inside. "Song! Where are you?!" I cried out.

That's when I realized, this building was an old apartment. The roof above was scarily high. I wondered if this apartment was being torn down, but it was empty and hollow inside. "Mew!" I heard Song.

"Song!" I yelled and headed toward her meows. I found her in an open area, looking at a an old door. The door sat alone in what appeared to be a kitchen. "Song." I said. "You can't run off by yourself." She only meowed again.

I looked at the mysterious door. "What is this doing here?" I asked. I stopped. There was a sudden feeling emerging inside me. This door is no ordinary door. There's something about it that makes me feel strange.

It has magic aura. The atmosphere is different. I reached for the handle, wanting to open it. I turned it, and the door opened. The other side seemed okay, but there was something a little off about it. I give in to my curiosity, and stepped forward. I feel magic force draw me in, and the door shows me it's magic.

I gasped, feeling power zip pass me. Then I made it to the other side. But it was only the same old apartment. Same broken place. Nothing changed. Maybe I was wrong. I turned around. The door is gone. It had disappeared, as soon as I stepped on the other side. Where did it go? Did I imagine it? Song was beside me, meowing. I sighed and walked away. "Let's go, Song." I said as she looked up at me.

I picked her up and headed out. "I have no idea what that door was. But it's gone now." I said. We walked out of the apartment and back onto the sidewalk outside. I'm sure I'll figure out what that was all about.

I started my way back to the main street, but someone on the sidewalk was walking towards me. I step out of his way as I walk. But as we passed each other, he does something unexpected.

"Hey, did you just come out of that apartment?" He asked, looking at me. I look at him in return. "Um, yes?" I reply. "You should be careful." He said. "That apartment was set on fire and burned down down a couple days ago."
"I see." I said. "Well, I'll keep that in mind." I turned around and kept walking. That door has magic I've never seen before. I don't know what magic, but that magic means something. I'll just have figure it out.