The Edge of Frozen Memories

Chapter 3

“What’s so funny?”

Another snigger of his filled the air louder as soon as his head whipped around. “You haven’t stopped licking the window.”

“I didn’t lick.” The words sprang through my clenched teeth. I looked away, unwilling to see his mocking face. In fact, my eyes couldn’t help but steal a quick glance at him.

Glittering green crystal pupils of his skewered me like summer sun piercing the skin. That was five seconds for him to make my pulse skittering at the speed of light. With an unsteady breathing, my lungs halted for a second before drawing a deep air and exhaling in a harsh.

A moment later, his car turned left into the main gate of modern residential of Pittsburgh. The tree-lined street followed us until we stopped at the driveway of a big, white-coloured house with a large front yard. Dark green garlands with colourful lights and pine wreaths punctuated with red velvet bows draped along the fence and the door.

The whirring sound of snow and a wind-tossed branches swaying under the starry sky preceded us while we crunched along the unshoved pavement to the door. Keith, after reaching the treshold, pressed the bell; however, no sign of any move inside. My skin prickled as icy chrystals scoured me. After more than twenty years of Sydney living, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the winter was a shock to my system. Blasts of bitterly cold air roared around when I pulled my wool coat tight around the shoulders and folded my arms.

As a couple of minutes had passed, he pressed the bell again. My ears pricked up at the sound of sudden footsteps coming closer. A wave of relief passed over me when someone unlocked and swung the door open.

“Claire!”

Oh, nightmare.

“Hi, good morning.” I spoke in a stilted manner.

The illuminating glow of the porch light showed faint wrinkles on the pale skin of a woman standing by the door—in a white gown, a brunette-haired, grey almost. She hastily pulled me into a hug. The airflow, circulating throughout the lungs, was stuck in my throat as well as my skin registered a sharp pain when her squeeze grew tight. A grimace framed my face while I held back to recede the tender.

“How come you're so late? Didn't you know I was worried? It's a bustling city!” She shrieked, her hold tightening on my left arm. “What if you got lost? Hurt? kidnapped? or someone kill—”

Keith motioned his hand towards her. “Enough, enough. She’s exhausted already. Let her rest.”

Silent, she swifted her attention to him and glared in disbelief. “Where were you? I told you to get there soon.”

“I had to—”

“Excuse me?” I shot a stare in the direction of both of them, with a shaking body unable to wait a minute longer. The frostbite would probably take action in killing me slowly any second now if I didn’t get inside. “Can we talk about this later?”

“I’m sorry sweetheart. Come on, it’s freezing cold here.” Her arm wrapped around my thin shoulder and led me in.

The interior design of the house was modern and elegant. White colour dominated the walls along with the furniture. In the dim light, even all looked captivating. The photograph of the family welcomed us as we passed the living room. Near the fireplace, some landscape potraits hung on the wall.

She took me by the hand while we kept walking along the hall and ascended the stairs.

In the second floor, luxury modern decoration decked the living room. No family photographs however, only one landscape potrait of Manathan bridge hanging behind a big cream-coloured couch. At the corner, a white piano, which was placed near the window, caught my attention. I floundered. No one of them was able to play it. At least, since the last time I met them as a kid.