Mudskippers

Chapter 2

The wind blew my hair into my face. The cold burned my eyes, nose and cheeks. I pulled my goggles down over my eyes and puled my hood close to my face. The Northers is truly an unforgiving place to live. We are in a frozen wasteland., though Dad loved to call it a winter wonderland. He was always an idealist. But right now, in the dark and cold, the dangers were numberous. Wild animals, vampires, and the environment itself was deadly. And there were miles of it between here and the border to the Wests, the closest non-wintry location to us. Ethan tapped me on the shoulder and pointed out in front of us. It was hard to make out but seemed as though there was a light in the disnance. We didn't think about it, we just started running. Wind blew off my hood but I didn't stop to fix it. I felt snow settle into my hair and melted on my head. Ethan's hood fell as well as we ran. The more we ran, the harder it became. My legs began to ache, my ass hurt from my bad repeatedly hitting it and my lungs burned from the cold air. The light didn't seem any closer than it was when we started runnning. I started to slow down, Ethan sprinted ahead without noticing. I stopped to catch my breath. I sat down, the snow already menlting into my pants. It physically hurt to breath. Ethan finally noticed I wasn't next to him and rushed back to me. 

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah...I'm just tired"

"Is that it?"

I slumped my shoulders and started to cry. The tears froze onto my cheeks.

"I just miss mom and dad. Our house. Our life. They're dead. We're alone!" I cried angrily. He got down on his knees and hugged me while I cried. I don't know how he kept himself so calm, but I was thankful for it. A minute or two passed behlet go and waped the ice off my face.

"Okay, time to stop crying before your eyes freeze over too. I think we're about halfway there. Think you can keep running?"

I rubbed my eyes and nodded. He helped me up and we jogged into the night once again.  As we got closer to the light, we saw it was coming from a small cottage. Shelter. Warmth. FOOD! Thinking about those things pushed me to get closer. Ethan and I collapsed onto the door and began  pounding on it. The door opened and we rushed inside, the warmth enveloped me and instantly overheated me. I threw my goggles, coat and boots off and onto the ground by the door. A tall tan man closed the door and organized our wet clothes by a heater.

"What are you kids doing this far out in the cold?"

"Vampires attacked Onta Rio. We lived on the edge of the village. They killed our parents and we thought it was best not to stick around." Ethan explained to him. We sat down by the fireplace and warmed our hands.

"Vampires in the Northers? Oh dear, it really is spreading, isn't it?"

"Yeah, we're lucky we escaped."

The man brought us bowls of soup and sat down on the couch behind us.

"So, what are your names?"

"I'm Ethan and this is my sister-"

"-Dawn" I interrupted."I'm Dawn. Who are you? You're awfully tan to be living in the Northers."

The man chuckled. "My name is Dason. I'm from the Wests, came up here to get away from the heat for a couple weeks."

"You take vacations to the Northers? Are you crazy?"

He chuckled again at Ethan's remark. 

"No, just wanted to cool off a bit. I wanted to bring my son up here, move here permenantly to study the Lights. I was told the Northers was safe from vampires considering it's arctic climate, but clearly that isn't true anymore."

I shifted on the ground, placed my empty soup bowl down by the fireplace and looked up at Dason.

"Is anywhere safe from vampires?" I asked quietly.

"There were many rumors in the Wests. Everyone told a different story, but I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side. One rumor in particular, has been universal in the Wests. There are rumors that a cure for vampirism is being made in the Easts."

"A cure, is that possible?" Ethan jumped to his feet excitedly.

"It could be. You'd have to go there yourself to find out."

Ethanand I exchanged glances, contemplating if that was really possible. Could we really travel all the way to the Easts? There was thousands of miles between us and the Easts. The only ways there are across the Norther Mountains of Quebec, or down into the Wests and across the Wilds. I wasn't sure which path was more dangerous.

"Tell you kids what, why don't you both get some rest and we can talk about this grand adventure in the morning. You both look like you've had a rough night. You'll be safe here, I promise." He advised as he pulled some blanket and pillows out from a cupboard. We accepted them and manuvered ourselves into a comfortable sleeping position on the floor. Ethan slept by the fireplace while I curled up on the couch. My mind was racing about the past events. Everytime I closed my eyes I saw my parents drenched in blood and those heartless vampires standing over their bodies. They grinned at me like I was dessert. I tossed and turned on the couch, my eyes refusing to stay closed and my brain denying me sleep. 

"Ethan" I whispered. He grumbled a bit and turned to face me.

"What?"

"I can't sleep"

"Me neither."

"Why?"

"Because you won't leave me alone."

"Well sorry I can't move on from our parents being killed in front of us" I whispered angrily as tears started to well in my eyes. He sighed and got up off the ground. He laid down behind me on the couch and wrapped is arms around my waist. He buried his head in my back.

"I miss them too Dawn. A lot. We're gonna get revenge on those guys. I swear it." he whispered to my back "But if you don't sleep, you're letting them win. I'm here, nothing is gonna happen to you. Close your eyes and dream of the good times, okay sis?"

I pulled his arms up to my face and held them close.

"Thanks Ethan. I love you little brother."

"I love you too"

I stared at the dying fire, them embers glowing a soft red as my eyes became heavy and I drifted to sleep.