Just A Start

Astrid's heart was pounding at an extreme speed. They needed to find Darkhollow soon. They needed to get there before those criminals, those treasure hunters.

Hayden, however, didn't seem as worried as Astrid could picture him as. Or rather, his images of criminals were hidden from view.

In fact, he patted her shoulder and tried a few words of comfort (Astrid had her mouth-opened). "Astrid, it's okay! It might not even be Darkhollow? You worry-" He began, but Astrid looked down before he could finish his sentence.

She had almost been sure what they were talking about. It must of been. But either way, they needed to get to Darkhollow as soon as possible.

"Come on, we're going to miss the exhibit, Hay," Astrid nodded, placing her hands on his hands.

Hayden clearly wasn't convinced, but he nodded, grabbed her hand, and they slowly set off. It was quite windy, that day, because the snowflakes wouldn't stop. ("It never stops snowing!" cried a cross Hayden as Astrid let out a moan of coldness).

They must be close, were they? How large can the village be? We've been walking for half an hour! Astrid thought. But they hadn't been. Perhaps Astrid's stomach growled, because at that moment, she felt very hungry. She nudged Hayden, and he looked over at her.

"Yeah, A?" He smiled, looking over at her.

"I-I'm hungry..." Astrid mumbled, tonelessly.

Hayden gave her a weak smile and nodded. He dug into Astrid's bag and pulled out a handful of crystal balls. He had pulled out a bowl, and Astrid was ready to sit down when-

"Don't!" He cried as Astrid went to sitting down on a bench nearby.

"What?" Astrid asked.

"Don't sit there!" Hayden repeated, his eyes widening faster than Astrid ever saw. Astrid goggled him as he edged away from the chair.

"What's wrong?"

"I read that if you sit down on a Lighthollow bench like that, you can get-"

Hayden suddenly stopped talking, and grabbed Astrid by her jacket, pulling her away from the chair. But a thought occurred to Astrid.

What if the people she overheard sat on the chair? Were they cursed? That was definitely what Hayden was going to say...was it? She had the thought in her mind, but she looked up and nodded. "Right, let's sit on the brick stones then," She nodded, her stomach growling once more.

"NO!"

"What again?"

"Let's just...stand," Hayden muttered, his voice pierced with fright. Astrid, who's whole body was frozen and tired, nodded, mumbling a mixer of swear words at the bricks.

"Yeah, right..." Astrid remained on the spot, as Hayden pulled a knife and a bowl out of his bag. He pulled the crystal balls from Astrid and sliced a piece with the knife. Immediately, it dropped in the bowl and bursted into water droplets. But how? It's freezing! Thought Astrid as Hayden continued to cut small pieces of crystal balls.

After an eternity, Hayden finished cutting the small pieces. Drinking it was the best feeling Astrid had ever thought. It was warm, unlike her thoughts, her body and her hands. In a second, she had the energy she had never imagined. Her eyes widening, she finished the soup and gasped, her gasp strangely high-pitched.

"Yeah?" Hayden laughed, waving his hand in a complicated way to let a bubble of warm water wash the bowl.

"It tastes great!"

Hayden gave her a small smile, and after cleaning the bowl with the bubbles, they held hands and walked further into the village.

The further they went, the more worried they got. The snowflakes continued to drop onto the floor, and Astrid's head was full of thoughts.

When at last they arrived at the museum, there was a haunting surprise waiting for them. "CLOSED. DO NOT COME IN." was the sign Astrid saw. Astrid blinked, as she stared at the sign, her body freezing, but not because of the cold. Her eyes traveled onto a sign next to it, and her whole body froze completely, her lips pressed tightly together.