Frostbound

Chapter six

The air was crisp, biting against Eve's cheeks as she made her way home that evening, wrapping her coat tighter around her. 

The town of Winter Hollow had always been picturesque during the holidays—cozy cottages dusted with snow, warm lights flickering on every street corner—but tonight, it felt suffocating. 

She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of knowing that somehow, Jack Frost was near, even though she didn't see him.

She had tried to avoid him since their encounter in the town square. 

But no matter how much she resisted, the curiosity about him gnawed at her, pulling her into a vortex she had no control over. Her thoughts drifted back to the way he'd spoken to her that night—the way his words had lingered in her chest, stirring emotions she'd locked away for far too long.

It was late when she reached her cottage, the snow falling softly around her. 

As she unlocked the door and stepped inside, she paused, sensing something out of place. A chill ran down her spine.

Before she could react, the door slammed shut behind her, and the air grew impossibly cold.

"Jack!" Eve hissed, whipping around, her heart racing. "What are you doing here?"

She wasn't sure if she was angry or terrified. He had this way of getting under her skin, of making her feel as if she were standing on the edge of something she wasn't ready for.

But Jack was already there, standing just inside the doorway, his silver-blue eyes gleaming with mischief. He leaned against the frame, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips. "I didn't think you'd mind. It's just me, Eve. You can't hide from winter forever."

Eve's chest tightened. "I'm not hiding," she retorted, though the words didn't sound as convincing as she wanted them to. "And I don't want you in my house."

He shrugged, stepping further inside. "I'm not staying, I promise. I'm here to show you something better than your frozen cottage."

Her brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Without answering, Jack reached out, and with a flick of his fingers, the room around them seemed to shiver. Snow began to swirl, drifting from nowhere, filling the air like an ethereal mist. 

The temperature plummeted, the kind of cold that was familiar to her but also strangely invigorating.

Before she could protest, Jack stepped closer, taking her hand in his. She barely had time to react before he tugged her toward the door. "Come on. I'll show you why you should never say no to a little bit of magic."

The wind howled as they stepped outside, and suddenly, it was like stepping into a different world.

The forest beyond her cottage had been transformed. What had once been a simple, dark thicket was now a breathtaking winter wonderland. 

The trees were covered in sparkling frost, their branches bowing under the weight of fresh snow. Glittering ice sculptures stood tall like guardians in the moonlight—animals, mythical creatures, and abstract shapes, each one gleaming like it had been carved from the purest glass.

Eve stood frozen in awe, her mouth hanging open. "How... how did you do this?"

Jack grinned, his eyes twinkling with pride. "Magic, of course." He gestured with a flourish, and a swirl of snowflakes appeared in the air before them, twisting and spinning like living creatures. They danced in the air, painting patterns in the sky, leaving trails of frost in their wake. "Not just any magic, though. The kind that makes you see the world for what it truly is. Beautiful. Alive."

Eve took a tentative step forward, her breath coming out in a visible puff. She had to admit—she'd never seen anything like this before. The entire forest shimmered, the moonlight reflecting off the ice in a thousand colors.

It was as though time had stopped, leaving only the purity of winter behind.

Jack watched her, noting the awe on her face, but also the hesitation. "It's beautiful, isn't it? And this... this is just the beginning."

Eve slowly turned to look at him, her voice quieter than before. "You're the one who did all this?"

Jack nodded, a gleam of mischief never quite leaving his eyes. "You didn't think I was just about the pranks, did you? The tricks are fun, sure. But the magic... the magic is real."

Eve shook her head, still trying to wrap her mind around the surreal scene before her. "I never thought magic was real. It's just... something people talk about during Christmas. Something silly, something that doesn't matter."

Jack's smile softened, though it was still tinged with playfulness. He stepped closer, his presence pulling her into his orbit. "You're wrong about that. Magic is real. Maybe you've just forgotten how to see it."

As he spoke, the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble. 

The snow around them swirled faster, faster, until it formed a crystalline arch in the air. At the center of the arch, a frozen lake appeared, smooth as glass, shimmering with a faint, ethereal glow. The ice seemed to come alive, as if it were a living thing, breathing and pulsing with energy.

Eve's eyes widened. "How... how is this even possible?"

Jack stood beside her, watching her with a quiet intensity. "You don't have to understand it, Eve. Just... feel it."

She could feel it. The magic, the raw power that hummed in the air, filling her with a strange energy she couldn't explain. It was like the winter itself had come to life, not just as a season, but as a living force.

Without warning, Jack stepped onto the frozen lake, his boots making no sound as they touched the ice. He turned to her, holding out his hand. "Come with me."

Eve hesitated, but the invitation in his eyes was too tempting. Something inside her stirred, an unfamiliar desire to let go, to trust. 

She had always kept her distance, had always been so careful—so guarded—but here, now, in the presence of Jack Frost, she felt the weight of her walls crumbling, little by little.

Reluctantly, she took his hand.

Jack smiled, his eyes lighting up as they stepped onto the ice together. The lake shimmered under their feet, the frozen surface so smooth and clear it looked like a mirror.

For a brief moment, Eve felt like she was floating. The world around her seemed to fade, leaving only the sound of their footsteps and the rhythm of her heartbeat.

She was aware of Jack's presence beside her, his touch warm despite the cold, his energy palpable.

"You feel it, don't you?" Jack murmured, his voice low and intimate. "You feel the magic. You feel how alive it is. This is what Christmas is about, Eve. Not just the holiday. Not just the decorations and the presents. It's about feeling the magic of the world. The way the cold can be beautiful. The way the ice can be soft and inviting. The way the snow can be a part of you."

Eve couldn't speak. She didn't know how to explain it. The magic, the beauty, the warmth she felt from Jack's presence—it was overwhelming, but in the best possible way.

He turned to her then, his eyes soft and searching. "You've been hiding from all of it, haven't you? From the magic, from the warmth. But it's still here, waiting for you to see it. To feel it."

Eve swallowed hard. She had been hiding, that much was true. Hiding from the world. Hiding from Christmas. But standing here, in this wonderland, in the presence of Jack Frost, something inside her was awakening.

She was no longer sure what to think or feel. But she knew one thing for certain—this night, this magic, was something she would never forget.

Jack squeezed her hand gently, his voice softening. "Let go, Eve. You don't have to resist anymore."

And for the first time in a long time, Eve felt the walls around her heart crack, just a little.