The Visitor - Chapter 5

The beginning of the long three-month winter meant light became a much more scarce resource. Wood that could be burned in particular was an anomaly in recent years.

At some point in time, the trees became sprouting spores. Gray bulbs like acne sprouted from the open wounds of old trees and would spread like a plague, creating an entirely different life. Forests that were once filled with a multitude of trees were now one harmonized gray. An impervious, unburnable item that only permitted damage to those who wish to create things from its flesh.

It came with a price.

Royal stood at the forest entrance, leaning on a wooden sign with the words, "ROAD TO ICHEMOUND," carved into it. One of the few things in town that hadn't been affected by what Shane called the gray plague contrary to its other more common name, "The Gray Embrace."

He'd never been interested in whatever lay within it. Not like how it was for the younger generation to find any excuse to risk their lives out there. Royal was older and knew his body couldn't handle it. He knew his limits and even now he felt as if he was pushing it. Even with all the hair on his face and head, the climate was still able to pierce his bare skin, like needles against his flesh.

A month before the beginning of the three-month winter, Shane had sent a group to search for resources. They were supposed to come back two weeks ago.

Royal thought the group was dead. Dead on the first day of their trip. Experience means nothing when it comes to venturing into the forest. He knew all too well of the consequences.

Then, just as he was about to sound the alarm a light appeared just above the horizon line.

He was taken aback. Squinting his eyes, rubbing them violently, each time, the light appeared. It even began moving closer.

Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed a small piece of soft white wood. Rubbing it in between his hands, he shaped the malleable piece of wood into a ball until all the heat had gathered, making the ball a bright red. He rolled it along the snow-paved road, the ball melting any white ash that came in contact with it until finally as the heat reached its pinnacle a flash of red cleared an empty path for the company. The light halted.

As they grew closer, the light he had seen before had stayed in place. A faint light that danced around, coming in and out of sight.

Something was wrong. Everything going on was against normal protocol. A blue light was supposed to follow, but all he received in return was a still light and the silence of the woods. Not a breeze in sight.

He turned around. Close by were a group of people waiting for the resources to arrive. A pile of crates was expected to arrive today. It was presumed enough for three months or at least rationed out to be. If the cargo were a bust, a disaster would befall the town.

They used half of their supply on the festival.

A silent alarm was initiated.

The first to hear was Shane. Immediately he took Initative. Making sure only a select few knew about it. There were four of them Shane, Royal, Louis, and Henry.

Louis and Henry were the result of a phenomenon called Schnee twins, two children both birthed from different mothers but somehow sharing the same appearance. A particularly rare occurrence but either way whenever it did happen both families typically accepted each other. It was more of an unwritten rule than anything. Although the name itself was derogatory depending on who it was said to. To some, just the utterance of their pale counterparts was offense taken to heart even if they weren't personally connected to either family. The Schnee, in particular, didn't like the name, preferring to just use twins when referring to them. Saying something along the lines of, "There is no Schnee, we are just like you."

The name came from the common stereotype of all the Schnee people looking the same. A reasonable dislike but not everyone can be so understanding.

Louis and Henry were bald from the day they were born. Not a hair follicle had popped out of their head all seeming to gather on their eyebrows, and facial hair. White as the snow. But that didn't matter, being as they were both technically of Schnee kind they were immune to the cold the perfect duo to send out into the wild.

As far as Shane knew, no eyes were drawn toward them but there was an inevitability to it all that he had to come to terms with. If he had a choice he would rather this be drawn out as long as possible. With the arrival of Gryce, Jim's warning, and the preparations for the festival, he felt a few hours of silence had been long overdue.

As soon as he arrived the lights were already gone. Royal explained the situation to him: the light suddenly appearing, moving forward, and stopping. Neither of them had any understanding of what was going on but either way, the group of four set out towards where Royal first saw the light.

To a surprise to everyone but Shane there was no one In sight.

"The wheels are clean." Louis said, "So are the seats." Henry, full of tension followed.

Everything was spotless. Not a blemish or scratch covered any area of the carriage. Just the ash of the burned torch remained, the only sign of life it carried. It was truly as if this was as far as the group had gone. An impossibility but still there is no other explanation anyone could come up with.

"Wood's still good to burn," Royal said, running his hand across the side of the carriage. "I'd say if we rationed this right we could get a couple of days worth of it."

"And what will we tell the others? What about their families." Louis said, Henry and Royal nodded in agreement. Shane on the hand didn't give it much thought. They were gone, as good as any reason they'll get for the time being. Take it up with the forest, not him he thought, they knew the risks of going out there, it was just unfortunate it had to be their most valuable scouts.

"Yes of course the families." Shane rolled his eyes. "Leave the carriage here for the night, in the morning send some a group to get it. Make sure they understand this on the low for no-

He looked ahead and froze.

There was something in front of them.

A harsh shadow of a large being, towering over the four of them.

It blocked the moon's light its head reaching even the highest tree.

The undeniable urge to kneel almost consumed him. It was the same feeling, the same presence as the eye.

"We should head back."

Royal was already walking away as he said it.

"huh."

They all stopped.

"You told us to wait until the morning right?"

He had no recollection of it.

---Underground Infirmary---

Gryce opens his eyes