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CHAPTER ONE

Whiteout

That’s what I sahen I finally pried lue of tiny snowflakes

White White White

Where was I?

I rolled over with a groan and felt an explosion of pain in ht itself, I saw a rock jutting into round like a weapon

I eased onto ers tingled as I ran the or broken

But how did that explain the rich, acidic smell of blood in the air?

I slowly sat up, surveying s

I was sitting on the barren, rocky ground up the side of a mountain Snoirled in the air fro on the icy white patches on the earth, the rest bloay like angel dust

Because of the infinite white, I could barely make out a forested valley below, and across froed peaks

Beneathbetween sudden drop-offs Vertigo swept through round, suddenly afraid I’d roll off the side and fall to my death

A soft ru ca, and saw a slight overhang where snow fell off in gentle lumps My heart sped up a few beats

I let out the breath I was holding, watching it freeze and catch in the air before drifting away, and noticed a trace of red where the snow had just fallen

My bones seized with chill

I peered at the red spot, an to spread and bleed across the snow

Glancing up at the overhang where the snow had co on the red with a poof

It too had a spot of red in it that slowly spread like a stain on a paper towel Curiosity getting the better of ot to my feet and walked over to the patch of silky wetness Hunched over, I tried to figure out why the snoas bleeding I felt a drip on the back of my neck

I reached back with my hand and when I took it away, it was slick with blood

Did I even want to turn around?

I did, anyway

Above ling over the edge of the overhang

Claws Teeth Blood

Tearing Gnawing Eating

The ih my head in a flash of smoky darkness

Dex! I remembered Dex

My chest collapsed in on itself as I tried to recall the last time I’d seen him

Where was he?

What happened to him?

I eyed the arm above my head and felt the world drop away beneath my feet

~~~

A hard nudge into the side of ain

I winced and grabbed it, expecting to find the sharp, snow-dusted rock but instead found a dainty hand and long fingers wrapped around mine

My eyes flew open Beside me, Ada poked my side, a quiet smile on her face

We were in the back of my dad’s car Of course ere

My father, at the wheel, eyed me nervously in the rearview er’s sideAda was next todouchecanoe, Maximus, hunched on her opposite side

“Are you feeling OK?” Ada asked, keeping her voice low, even though everyone in the damn car could hear her “You fell asleep there You were drooling”

I wiped at my mouth and at the puddle on my collar

“Well, I’ve sort of had a long day”

My eyes ain He looked so much older than he did the other day Was it possible to drive sorave?

“We’re almost home, pumpkin,” he said

I nodded and felt eyes boring into the side of my head Reluctantly, I looked past Ada and at Maxi at me intently