The hairs on her arms stood up by the impact of each gale, and they pushed the fragile carcass deeper into a snowy embrace. Powerless, and almost paralyzed to the ground, the body seemed dead. It had the possibility of proclaimed death when found the next morning, if not for the fateful zephyr which gently gave the lucky soul just the right amount of air, albeit frosty. Her lungs expelled the water trapped inside with a quick rough cough, followed by a raspy inhale which allowed even more fits of coughing to come over the poor girl's hour of wake.
Her eyes opened wide to take in the white hell of earth. For the past minutes, she had been laying down who knows where, with a blanket of snow over her. Her feeble arms held her up, although shakes and shivers almost forced her eyes to produce tears, she took another breath and stood up.
Where was she? Nothing seemed familiar to her and the white veil of the storm did nothing to help. Recently wet clothes clung to her, she had played with death today and it was miracle that she woke up before the body of water behind her could frost and freeze her. Numbness from her feet rose up to her torso and even worse to her arms as she used her hands to shield her face from the cold currents of winter, and yet she entered the white abyss of it all.
Beyond the grounded clouds, she noticed buildings and decided to enter one that emitted light. Her small digits had become purple and she wrapped herself with skinny arms. Exposed legs were urged to move forward. The sound of stepped snow promised that whatever lied ahead would be warmer than what was laid to rest behind her. Nothing could be colder than what she had felt when she woke up. She approached the door, shaking so tremendously and wanting to barge in. It would be beyond silly to knock and wait for a response. There was rowdy noise and chatter inside, but she didn't care if she was intruding.
~
He went past tables, acknowledged by those who were already seated and eating their meals of the evening. He adjusted the stool below him, already worn by the frequent visits of his weight, "Thought about skipping town but that storm aint letting me," he huffed, "this seemed a better place to be."
The hot bartender didn't turn to face the cold customer on the other side of the bar, and if he so much as moved his face it would have been unnoticed either way. The orange flames around his suit danced in the silence of his mute response. He communicated successfully as the hungry male ordered his meal, "the burger and fries," and the flaming fire in uniform took his leave.
Even though the bar was the warmest part of the restaurant, it always took a hearty meal or a heavy drink to warm up a customer.
~
The door's movement elicited a faint creek, but a warm and pleasant air welcomed her with the smell of beer, meat and its livelihood, it seeped through the opening and pulled her inside. However, the entrance not only let her inside, it also brought in a cold breeze, for she noticed part of the commotion that previously contributed to the noise moments ago had faltered. She closed the door as quickly as she had opened it.
Nobody talked to her as she passed through the room, nor welcomed her. She resorted to squint at the onlookers, but some hadn't glanced her way. If she was recognizable, nobody showed it, and she herself didn't feel like she belonged here. Her exposed skin and flimsy clothes were contrasted by the dark leather, thick fur of the figures around her. Even her height marked her as an outlier; she felt like the smallest in the room by far.
The barstool looked too tall, reaching up to her abdomen. She raised her leg and went on tip-toe with the other to mount it. The man a chair next to her looked like he could tower over her, but he offered no assistance, only a quick glance. Finally settling in the chair, the girl waited for someone to acknowledge her.
When the door behind her opened, she was relieved and was about to smile but quickly became startled; The man was on FIRE!
She was on the edge of her chair with a hand over her gaping mouth, but she couldn't do anything to help distinguish the orange flames. However, she noticed nobody saying anything, and she wasn't ready to croak just yet, so composed herself. She looked again.
