Chapter 19: The Frozen Lake

Kena sat in the alley, her back pressed against the cold, rough wall.

The feast's wild mess still buzzed in her head—snakes slithering, bugs crawling, Justice's loud, mean laugh cutting through it all.

Her green cloak was sticky with green goo, and her stomach twisted, feeling sick and empty.

She looked over at Hope, sitting a few steps away. His iron mask was scratched up from the chaos, but it still hid his face, strong and steady as ever.

"He's impossible," she said, her voice low and tired. "I'm running out of time, Hope. I can feel it."

Hope turned his head, his dark eyes catching hers through the mask's slits. He nodded slow, like he was thinking hard.

"We'll try again," he said, his voice calm but sure. "He's not your only chance, Kena."

Kena frowned, her eyebrows pulling together. "What's that mean? The curse said him. It's his kiss I need."

She reached into her pocket and tapped the photo of Justice Veldric, crumpled and worn from all her travels.

She didn't pull it out—she didn't want to see his smug face again.

"Maybe not," Hope said, leaning forward a little. "Curses twist sometimes. They lie or hide things. We'll figure it out."

Kena didn't really understand what he meant. Her head hurt from thinking about it, and her heart felt heavy, like a rock sitting in her chest.

But she trusted him. She didn't want to say it out loud, but Hope had stuck with her through everything—wolves, fire birds, that awful feast.

More than she ever thought he would. "Fine," she said, letting out a big breath. "What do we do now?"

"We leave the city," Hope said, standing up and brushing dirt off his cloak. "We go somewhere quiet. Think outside. Then come back stronger."

Kena looked up at him, her legs feeling wobbly just sitting there. She didn't want to move, but she knew he was right.

Staying here, so close to Justice and his golden palace, made her feel trapped.

"Okay," she said, pushing herself up. Her pants were dusty, and she swatted at them with her hands. "Let's go."

They started walking, slipping through the city's busy streets like shadows.

Kena kept her head down, avoiding the guards who stomped around in their shiny armor.

She could still smell the feast—burnt meat and sour magic—and see the mess left behind: broken tables, spilled food, people cleaning up with tired faces.

Hope stayed close, his sword bumping against his leg with every step. The golden gates of the city came into view, tall and glowing under the purple sky.

They passed through, and just like that, the city's bright lights faded behind them. The air outside hit Kena hard.

It was cold, sharp, and stung her cheeks like tiny needles. She pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, but it didn't help much.

The goo on it was drying now, stiff and gross. She shivered, her teeth clicking together a little.

"It's freezing out here," she mumbled, rubbing her hands together.

Hope didn't say anything at first, just kept walking. Then he glanced at her. "Where we're going, it's colder," he said. "But safe."

Kena groaned inside but nodded. "Fine. Where are we going, anyway?"

"A lake," Hope said, his voice steady like always. "It's quiet there. No one bothers you."

Kena followed him down a rocky path, her boots crunching on the hard ground.

The purple sky was getting darker now, and little stars started to peek out, twinkling like they didn't care about her problems.

She watched her breath puff out in white clouds, and it made her feel small.

The city was gone behind them, just a faint glow on the horizon. Out here, it was all rocks and shadows and cold wind.

They walked for a while, and Kena's legs started to ache. She didn't say it, though—she didn't want Hope to think she was weak.

Then, through the dark, she saw it: a big lake, wide and still, its water black as night.

It stretched out forever, it seemed, and the stars reflected on it like a big, shiny mirror.

She stopped at the edge, her boots sinking a little into the soft dirt.

"Pretty," she said, her voice soft. She hugged herself, the cold biting harder now. "But really cold."

"Yes," Hope said, stopping beside her. He looked out at the lake, his cloak flapping a little in the wind. "We'll cross it. It's a shortcut to come back later."

Kena tilted her head, confused. "Cross how? It's water. We don't have a boat."

"Watch," Hope said. He took a step forward, right onto the lake. The water under his foot turned to ice, crackling as it spread out fast.

He took another step, and more ice formed, making a path. He kept walking, steady and sure, like it was nothing.

Kena's mouth fell open. "How'd you do that?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"Magic here," Hope said, turning to look at her. "It's in the lake. You can do it too. Try it."

Kena stared at the water, her heart beating a little faster. She didn't know if she could, but she didn't want to look scared.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward. The water froze under her boot, cold seeping through the leather.

She laughed, surprised and happy. "This is cool!" she said, taking another step. The ice cracked a little, but it held her up.

"Slow," Hope said, his voice firm. "It's thin in spots."

Kena nodded, her arms sticking out to keep her balance. She followed him, step by step, the ice forming under her feet.

The lake was huge, and the cold started to sink deep into her. Her fingers went numb, and her nose felt like it might fall off.

"Freezing," she said, her teeth chattering loud now. Her breath came out in big white puffs, and she could see them float away.

"Keep moving," Hope said. He walked ahead, his cloak flapping more in the wind that was picking up. He didn't seem cold, or if he was, he didn't show it.

Kena tried to keep up, her legs shaking a little. The ice felt slippery under her boots, and she had to focus hard not to fall.

She looked down at the frozen water, seeing the stars trapped under it. It was pretty, but it made her feel lonely too.

She missed home—her little house, her warm bed, her mom's cooking. She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. No time for that now.

They were halfway across when the ice made a loud groan, deep and scary. Kena froze, her heart jumping.

"What was that?" she asked, her voice shaky.

Hope turned fast. "Too fast," he said. "It's breaking."

Before Kena could move, the ice under her feet cracked loud, like a whip. She screamed as it broke apart, and she fell into the water.

It was so cold it hurt, stealing all her air. She kicked and waved her arms, but the water was heavy, pulling her down. Her hands hit the edge of the ice, slippery and hard.

"Hope!" she yelled, her voice cracking as she gasped. The cold water stung her eyes, and her chest burned. She couldn't breathe right.

He ran back, his boots thudding on the ice. He dropped to his knees, sliding a little. "Grab my hand!" he shouted, reaching down.

His arm stretched out, close but not close enough. Kena kicked harder, her legs feeling like lead.

Her fingers brushed his, but the cold made her slow, clumsy. She pushed one more time and grabbed his hand, her nails digging in.

He pulled hard, grunting loud, and yanked her up. She flopped onto the ice, shaking so bad she couldn't stop.

"C-c-cold," she stammered, curling into a ball. Her teeth clacked together, and her whole body felt like it was made of ice.

Hope pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around her fast. "Stay still," he said, his voice softer now.

He rubbed her arms with his hands, warm even through the mask's mystery. The ice creaked under them, but it didn't break again. He helped her sit up, then stand, holding her tight.

"Th-thanks," Kena said, her voice wobbly.

She leaned on him, her legs too weak to hold her alone. His arm was strong, and she didn't pull away.

"We're close," Hope said.

He half-carried her across the rest of the lake, the ice staying solid now. Kena's boots dragged a little, leaving wet marks.

They finally reached the shore, and she sank down onto the grass, still shaking but alive.

"Stupid lake," she muttered, pulling the wet cloaks—hers and his—tight around her.

The grass was cold too, but better than the ice. Hope sat down next to her, close enough that she could feel him there.

"You're okay," he said, his voice quiet. "Rest now."

Kena nodded, her eyes feeling heavy. The cold was fading slow, like it didn't want to let go.

She leaned a little closer to Hope, her arm brushing his. He didn't move away, and it felt nice—steady, real. She took a shaky breath.

"You saved me again," she said, her voice so soft she wasn't sure he'd hear.

"It's what I do," he said, and she could hear a tiny smile in his words. His eyes crinkled at the edges, even through the mask.

Kena smiled too, small but real. It felt good, even with everything going wrong. She didn't know how to deal with Justice, didn't know if she'd live past her curse's deadline.

But Hope was here, sitting with her on this freezing shore. That was enough for now.

She let her eyes close, the sound of the wind and his breathing mixing together, and rested.