Frostbitten

Chapter 4

Four Days Before Escape

Frostbite hums to herself as she lays on her bed, thinking about her escape. As the days come closer and closer, she's not even sure if she's willing to pull it off. She's so afraid of what might happen if she fails that she might just stay here forever.

Frostbite's so distracted she doesn't want to read, which is a rare thing. Today's another break day, so she has a full day to burn off. She can't bring herself to pack her little belongings yet, because she's not even sure if she can do it. The thought of leaving makes her so happy but terrifies her at the same time.

What even brought up the thought of her escaping? Was it just when Snowfall told her about her father or has it been this entire time? Deep down inside Frostbite's always wanted to leave. But when did she start telling herself she was going to leave?

What if the SeaWings reject her?

What if she's caught?

What if she gets lost on her flight there?

What if she gets injured and can't make it?

So many things could go wrong, the possibilities are endless. Frostbite holds in all of this stress and anger and emotion— and she has been for years— and she can't tell anyone. It's what mother always wanted. To be in control. The use Frostbite as if she's some sort of robot.

Frostbite thinks about how her life has always been under a microscope. Snowfall always knows what's happening and she always knows why. Sometimes she gets to Frostbite's head. Snowfall is very manipulative and controlling and never lets Frostbite actually live.

When Frostbite thinks about those things she remembers why she made this plan. Because she won't stand for this and she won't waste her life working for Snowfall. She has got to get out of this place.

• • •

A few days later, the day before the escape, Frostbite is able to bring herself to pack. She can't bring all those heavy books, sadly, and she doesn't have very many belongings, but something is worth bringing— something to remember this place, something so when she moves on she can remember who she is and how far she's come.

She picks a painting of a narwhal, an animal who signifies who she is: a creature born to swim in the ocean but also has strength in the cold. Next, she chooses a book, but not just a any book. She picks one that got her through tough times and means a lot to her.

As she digs through the chest, she realizes she doesn't actually have anything other than paintings and books. She's about to close the chest and walk away when something shiny catches her eye.

It's the prism necklace.

Frostbite picks up the necklace, tears forming in her eyes. When she was younger, her and Snowfall were like a family. Snowfall gave her the necklace on her first birthday, just a few months before she started training. She used to always wear the prism necklace, but one day she got upset and tossed it into her chest. Then she forgot about it.

And now... now it brings back all of the emotion.

That necklace showed a bond between her and her mother. She feels like she's betrayed Snowfall by planning to leave her, but has she really? She beats her and forces her to train and train and kill and kill so why does she feel like she is meant to stay?

Because she's your mother. And deep down inside you've always wanted a family, and she's your only hope.

Tears fall down Frostbite's face. She's torn into two: she wants to leave and make friends and have an actual life but at the same time she just wants a family and someone who will love her.

Frostbite wipes her tears. This is no time to cry. She needs to stay strong or she'll never get out of here.

She must.

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