Winterborn - Part 1 [Revised]

The sun towered in an empty and bleak winter sky. However, this was not appreciated in the least, for it emitted little heat. Amara Snow was well-aware of this, and had begun to grow irritated. She always felt uncomfortable in chill weather. Feeling helpless and submissive to something as simple as a change in temperature bothered her.

Snow was walking home from school with her friend Adrian, neither saying much. It had been a long week, and both she and Adrian were tired. She wrapped her scarf around her neck once more, muttering curses aimed at the sun for its lack of warmth. Rubbing her gloved hands together, Snow tried to strike up a conversation.

“That substitute in History was boring as hell.”

Adrian sighed, his breath appearing as a mist. “Amara, don’t curse. It’s not healthy for your brain, you know.”

“Humph. Well then…what do you suggest we talk about? I’m bored.” She shoved her hands into her coat pockets and kept her eyes on the sidewalk in front of her.

He tapped a finger on his chin in mock thought. “We could discuss the meaning of life. You know— why we’re here, what our place is on this earth. Whether or not evolution is true...”

“As interesting as that sounds, I’m going to have to say no.”

He merely nodded.

Snow was used to Adrian’s indifference. His ability to sound like a know-it-all at times was intimidating—and rather unnerving—at first, but Amara Snow soon found that it was oddly reassuring. However, he often said very little. If he did happen to say something, people could rarely understand him.

But Snow liked him anyways.

After a while, they approached the pristine city park. Red and yellow-leaved trees were lined up perfectly, and the grass was as green as it had been in August. The two began down the walkway taking brisk steps in an attempt to stay warm in the chill weather. Adrian stopped abruptly and shrugged off his backpack. As he was shuffling through its contents, Snow stood and waited.

It was Friday, and therefore he would be getting out his infamous book of classic English literature. Normally he would turn towards the back of the book where the Shakespearean works could be found, but today Snow could see him turning to the Edgar Allen Poe section.

The two began walking through the park to their self-appointed spot; an old bench beneath the largest and oldest oak in the park. Adrian flipped through the pages trying to find the desired piece while still keeping pace with Snow.

“And what do I have the pleasure of listening to today?”

The two sat down and placed their backpacks beside the bench. Adrian held up the book. At the top of the page in bold script read, ‘The Cask of Amontillado’. Snow’s favorite.

She grinned. “Alright!”

Adrian returned her enthusiasm with a smile and began to read.

“‘The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could…’”

Snow leaned back against the bench and looked up into the old tree. Through the leaves were patches of clear, open sky. She closed her eyes and listened to Adrian’s dulcet tones.

When he was finished, Snow simply said, “More.”

He obediently continued. The whole time Adrian was reading, Snow continued to relax and let the lovely words engulf her. Her serenity only lasted a few minutes.

“Yo, lovebirds! Move over, will ya?” called an all-too-familiar voice.

Opening her eyes, Snow turned to see Kelsi Cooper leaning against the bench, wearing her usual awkward grin.

Snow shook her head and crossed her legs. “I’m quite comfortable here, actually.”

Adrian had stopped reading and looked up. “Good afternoon, Kelsi.”

Cooper nodded in reply. She reached in her pocket and adjusted the volume on her mp3 player. “I’ve written a new piece,” she practically yelled over the noise leaking from her headphones. “Probably my best yet. Listen.” She closed her eyes and nodded her head in time with the music.

Cooper was a musical prodigy who never removed her headphones for fear that the music would leave her mind. You name it, Cooper had heard it, played it, and played it better than the composer.

Snow smiled. “That’s really pretty. Did you have Falcón play bass for you?”

“Nah, I did that myself. I let him do the opening.”

“The violin?” asked Snow, disbelief in her voice.

Cooper giggled. “Yup!”

Snow lifted her eyebrows. “He’s gotten good. I can’t even tell it’s only been a week! You’re a great teacher, Coop.”

A slight blush crept across Cooper’s cheeks. Pulling on one of her short blond pigtails, she replied, “Well, it’s not really all that hard. Falcón is almost as good as me, ya know.” She winked.

“Jesus has already been studying the violin for one week?” Adrian asked, putting his book down.

Cooper rolled her eyes. “Will you stop doing that, Ziggy? You know we’re only supposed to use our last names.” She folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head. “Really, do you think you’re better than the rest of us? You’re not the only smart one here, ya know.”

Adrian sighed and placed his book back into his backpack. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, Kelsi, but please do not refer to me in such a manner again.”

His tone was civil and Snow knew he would leave. As if on cue, he stood up and slung his backpack over his shoulder. Turning, he gave a small wave good-bye to Snow. He had already begun to walk off when he stopped and shook his head.

Looking over his shoulder, he laughed, “Please, dear Kelsi—just call me Siegfried.”