Outside of the cabin. Ryker sat on the old wooden porch of the house. His elbows resting on his knees. The wind had quieted down a little. Now that morning light had broken through the storm and snowflakes drifted lazily under the pale blue sky. Snowflakes were landing softly on his shoulders and hair before melting into tiny droplets.

There was a strange kind of calmness to the village at this hour. The early morning light cast long shadows between the houses. Everything was still. The firewood cracked faintly from behind him but out here. The silence felt almost sacred.

He looked up toward the mountain they had climbed the day before. From here, it looked massive, unmoving. It was like a beast that had fallen into a deep slumber under layers of snow and time.

The whole village felt like it was holding its breath.

Ryker pulled his cloak tighter around him and exhaled softly. And a puff of steam come out of his lips. His thoughts naturally drifted back to Eleanor.

That nightmare... those eyes. He had seen fear before. But that? That was something deeper. Like she had been touched by something cruel and ancient. Something that left scars no one could see.

This was the part the novel never showed.

This side of her. The vulnerable one. The girl underneath all the power and mystery. The girl who could still look so fragile in her sleep.

"She is not what the world thinks she is," Ryker murmured under his breath "And maybe...maybe she doesn't even know what she really is anymore"

The old wooden door behind him creaked ever so slightly. He turned his head, half expecting her to walk out.

But it was just the wind.

He smiled to himself, a small, quiet smile.

"She is slowly letting me in," he whispered. "One moment at a time"

And that… that gave him hope.

*****

Inside the cabin. Eleanor sat on her bed with her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. The morning light filtered through the frosted window and it painted soft shapes on the floor. But even the gentle light couldn't quiet her thoughts.

The thoughts in her head won't stop spinning.

'Why hadn't he asked?'

'Why hadn't he looked at her like the others did'

'Why didn't he look at her like she was broken or cursed?'

Everyone always did. Even when they didn't know her truth, the whispers still followed her. Monster. Demon. Dangerous.

But Ryker?

He just smiled. He told her he would wait. He told her she didn't need to explain. He respected her.

Her chest tightened. The warmth of the blanket around her felt foreign and too comforting. She didn't know what to do with comfort.

"Idiot," she muttered to herself,"Why are you like that?"

She looked around the room again. The thin wooden walls, the old lamp flickering gently. Everything felt old and fragile. Kind of like her this morning.

And yet, she didn't feel as cold as before.

She stared down at her pillow. Her fingers resting lightly against it still lost in thought.

"What do you want from me. Ryker Case?"

She wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer.

Because whatever it was… it was already beginning to change her.

*****

The sky outside was beginning to brighten slowly. The soft, cold blue of morning spread across the village like a blanket. The storm had eased though snow still drifted in small waves. The kind of snow that made no sound when it fell.

Ryker stepped back inside the cabin as he brushed the flakes from his cloak. The wooden door cracked shut behind him.

He found Eleanor was already up. Her long white hair tied back, her cloak over her shoulders.

She looked composed. Calm. Cold.

Exactly how she wanted to be seen.

"Morning," Ryker greeted her with a soft voice.

Eleanor didn't even glance at him. "You snore"

He blinked. "Wait….what?"

"Seriously"

"No," she said without missing a beat,"But it would be funny if you did"

Ryker stared at her for a moment then laughed. "You really have a sense of humor. Buried under all that frost"

She shrugged and grabbed her gloves, "Don't get used to it"

They stepped outside together, snow crunching under their boots. The wind had softened but the cold remained sharp. Villagers were slowly starting their day. They were shoveling snow, hauling water but they still kept their distance.

Most didn't meet their eyes.

Thom was waiting for them near the old well, his figure hunched under layers of thick fur. His beard had small frost beads clinging to it, and his breath came out in short puffs.

"You ready?" he asked, his eyes flicking between the two.

Eleanor nodded,"Take us to the boy"

Ryker followed in silence. His hands tucked into his pockets. As they walked, he looked at the quiet houses again.

"Let's hope he can help us find what we are dealing with," he whispered to himself.

They passed the center of the village and made their way toward a smaller house near the outskirts. The snow there looked less disturbed, like even the wind hadn't wanted to linger.

Inside, a young woman greeted them. Her face was pale, worn with sleepless night. She didn't speak much just a nod and a quiet gesture to a room in the back.

The boy was there.

He sat on the floor. He was wrapped in heavy blankets. His knees pulled to his chest, his hands were trembling in fear. His eyes didn't look up.

Ryker's heart sank seeing the scene.

He looked so small. So lost. Like a bird that had forgotten how to fly.

Eleanor knelt beside him, her voice was gentler than Ryker had ever heard it, "What's your name?"

No response.

"We are not here to hurt you. We want to stop the thing that took your family"

The boy still said nothing.

Ryker came over and crouched beside them. He didn't speak right away. Instead, he slowly reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small candy. It was wrapped in shiny golden foil, catching the morning light.

He held it out gently,"Hey… I know you are scared," Ryker said quietly. "I would be too. But we need to find the monster. We don't want anyone else to get hurt"

The boy's eyes flicked toward the candy. His small fingers reached out slowly and hesitantly. He took the candy from Ryker's hand.

He held it like it was something precious.

Ryker smiled softly,"See? We're friends now"

A pause.

And then, the boy whispered.

"It had eyes… too many eyes. And a mouth that didn't close."

Eleanor stiffened, her back straightening.

Ryker's voice dropped. "Did you see where it came from?"

The boy nodded weakly. "It..it came from the forest… near the well. Under the old tree"

Ryker gently placed a hand on his head. "You did good. Thank you"

As they stood to leave, Eleanor's eyes lingered on the boy. She said nothing. But Ryker noticed the way her jaw tensed. The way her fingers curled slightly. She was feeling something.

But she wouldn't say it.

Outside, the world was quiet again. Snow drifted down and the forest stood like a wall of white and shadow ahead.

They walked in silence, side by side.

Until Eleanor spoke. Her voice barely above a whisper, "He is lucky"

Ryker blinked hearing it, "What do you mean?"

"He still believes someone can save him"

He looked at her, unsure how to respond. "And you don't?"

Eleanor didn't answer. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, still unreadable.

Ryker smiled softly. "That's okay. I will believe in for both of us"

Eleanor glanced at him.

For a split second, her expression softened. Just a little.

And then it was gone.

The snow kept falling behind them, covering their tracks, erasing their footprints. But their path was set into the trees, toward the old well beneath the ancient forest.

And maybe, into the truth they were both not ready to face.

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