Chapter 1

❄ Frozen In Fear ❄

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After the incident, Rime was able to reconnect with his sister, who became his only source of support. Despite his gratitude for her support, Rime couldn't help but feel remorseful for involving Mia in his troubles. She had always been the protector in their relationship, and as the older sibling, he felt uneasy relying on her. He believed it was unfair to burden her with his problems, but she remained determined to stand by his side. For better or worse, they were in this together.

The sound of footsteps outside jolted Rime out of his thoughts. He quickly moved away from the window and pressed himself against the wall, listening intently. It was probably just a passerby, but he couldn't take any chances. Mia was still sleeping, and he didn't want to wake her unless it was absolutely necessary.

After a few moments of silence, Rime breathed a sigh of relief and returned to his spot by the window. Rime stared out the window of the abandoned house, his breath visible in the frigid air. The snow was coming down heavily, blanketing everything in a thick layer of white. The house was old and run-down, with peeling paint and broken windows that allowed the cold air to seep inside. The only thing that kept Rime from freezing was the fact that he was immune to the cold due to his ice gift. He knew they couldn't stay in the house forever, but for now, it was the safest place for them to be. The authorities regarded individuals with extraordinary abilities, commonly known as "gifters," as inhuman monsters.

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"Rime, are you okay?" his sister, asked as she woke up from her sleep.

Rime turned to face her, forcing a smile. "I'm fine, just a lot on my mind."

Mia frowned, sensing that he wasn't being truthful. "Is it about your powers? I know it's a lot to deal with, but you can't let it consume you."

Rime sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, but it's hard. Every time I use them, I feel like I'm becoming someone else. Someone I don't recognize."

Mia wrapped her arms around him in a comforting hug. "You're still you, brother. It's important to remember that your gift does not define you. You should be the one in control of it, not the other way around."

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Rime knew he needed to work on mastering his power. But it was difficult when he constantly compared himself to his sister. At the tender age of 9, Mia had already manifested her gift and exhibited an extraordinary level of control over her fire power after only a few practice sessions

Rime had always envied his sister's innate skills and achievements. But now that he had a gift of his own. He feels the need to prove to himself that he can rise above this challenge and outdo his sister.

Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the house, causing Rime and Mia to jump.

"What the hell was that?" Rime yelled, rushing towards the door.

Mia followed close behind as they made their way down the stairs.

As they approached the living room they saw something.

They saw the shattered windows and a group of armed men standing in the living room.

One of them, a tall, bald man with a scar running down his face, stepped forward. "Where is he? We are aware that he is here. The young man with the ability to manipulate ice."

Rime's heart raced as he realized that they were talking about him. He knew that the authorities were still looking for him.

Mia stepped in front of Rime, her hands glowing with flames. "Leave us alone! We have nothing to do with whatever it is you want."

The bald man began to chuckle. "Hey, folks, she's a gifter. Shouldn't we bring her in too? What do you say?"

Rime knew that he couldn't allow them to capture him or his sister.

He raised his hand and sent a burst of ice towards them, catching them off guard. They fell to the ground, screaming in pain as the icy shards pierced their skin.

Rime turned to Mia, his eyes filled with horror. "We have to get out of here. NOW!!"

Mia responded by creating a fireball and aiming it at the soldiers, before running away with Rime. They rushed through the blizzard, eventually finding safety in an abandoned warehouse nearby.

Rime collapsed to the ground, panting as he tried to catch his breath. Mia sat beside him, her arm around his shoulders.

"It's okay," she said soothingly. "We're safe now. But we can't stay here for long. They'll be looking for us."

Rime nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over him.

Rime's eyes darted around the dimly lit warehouse as he wracked his brain for a plan. He tried to focus, but his racing thoughts made it difficult to think straight. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and buried his face in his hands. He felt a sense of hopelessness wash over him, knowing that he and Mia had been on the run for hours with no clear direction.