Chapter 13: Bite

My steps became clumsier as the numbness crawled up my legs. I finally fell to my knees in the soft snow. A few minutes later, the crunch of snow under boots drew my attention. I rolled to look up at the trees, the falling snow, and the face of the shadow man.

"Let me go," I whispered hoarsely.

The white light off the snow lit his face. The scars crisscrossed his cheek in straight lines like he'd been marked on purpose. When I finally looked at his eyes, they looked back with knowing sadness.

He silently bent down and scooped me up. My numb fingers couldn't even hang on to him. After twenty minutes, he deposited me back in the huge bed next to the fire.

"You're taking away my choice," I whispered.

"I know, but you're making the wrong one." He went to leave.

"How can I make the right one if you won't tell me what's going on?"

He gave me a tight frown as he turned back. "I can't."

"Then I'm going crazy."

He left for a time. My mind kept circling. I didn't know what was going on.