Making my way around the back trying to isolate myself from the constant company of others, just needing a moment to myself.

Flicking frantically through the frayed pages of my journal hoping to find anything I might have discovered in my travels previously that could help me gain some more insight… anything; myths, lore, creatures, lost texts, anything.

My only clue remains to be an old nursery rhyme told to children growing up in the winter meant to scare them all into behaving.

What if the nursery rhyme was the only clue I needed? I thought to myself reaching in my pocket for my stick of graphite turning to a clear page in my journal as I started to scribble the rhyme out in its entirety making sure not to skip any of the words.

Mumbling the rhyme aloud making sure I get it right as my eyes continuously scan each line individually breaking it up analysing it section by section, repeatedly back and forth. The fear of missing even a fraction of the meaning, consuming me. Knowing how much could potentially be at stake.

“When coal lies beneath and embers burn bright” I repeat it aloud, Knowing that it’s exactly as it reads, referring to the lumps of coal children have been finding under their beds and burning them thinking nothing of them.

“It shall enter for its devouring that night.” A slight unease in my stomach as each time I repeat those words, What is It exactly? Is it the children being devoured? How does it enter? Multiple questions are racing through my mind, though some of the answers seem obvious, my denial taking over, refusing to accept those answers, not believing them to be true.

“To be consumed at last winter's light” A time frame perhaps? Caressing my beard in my frustration at not being able to determine how many nights of winter remain, unable to gain an accurate picture of how long I have left in order find them

“To be masked from sight until next winters night”

Hibernation cycle perhaps?

My heart is pounding faster and faster with each passing moment as I clench onto my chest trying to regain my composure. My breath quickening, releasing little clouds with each exhale as my actions become more frantic by the second.

Frozen in place, unable to move when the realisation hit me… that lump of rock Sasha was holding when I woke up this morning, was a lump of coal if I'm not mistaken, my eyes widening in fear.

Slamming my journal to the side in amongst the snow my feet sliding as I desperately push to lift myself up of the ground, slamming through their back door with my shoulder with almost enough force to remove rip out the hinges, bursting through the door as if the house were ablaze desperate to rush.

My eyes darted around the room looking for Sasha, scanning every corner, every piece of furniture forcing my way through the house frantically searching every room, eventually coming to hers.

Without hesitation slamming the door to the side in my panic, a large thudding heard all throughout the house as it slammed against the wall.

Fixating on the centre releasing a sigh in my moment of relief as my lock onto Sasha laid across the floor, face buried in her book waving her feet in the air without a care in the world. She screamed as her eyes widened as a moment of panic swept her face, realising it was me bursting and not some random stranger.

Quickly followed by Damian and Sapphire rushing past me, making their way to their daughter holding her in their arms with a firm grip, squeezing her tight, refusing to let her go “what’s going on?” Sapphire asked, clearly displaying the concern in her voice unsure as to what was going on… what to make of the situation.

Making my way into the room scanning every inch within sight; the floor, on top of and under the dresser.

Dismissing the family as they sit comforting a shocked Sasha, as her eyes begin to water unsure of what she should be feeling “ssh, it’s only Rudsek” she says doing her best to calm her down, offering reassurance that everything will be ok.

Laying on the floor beside them looking under the furniture in their room brushing the books and toys scattered all over to the side, my actions becoming more and more frantic as the panic sets in. “Where’s the coal?” I ask the room hoping that someone would be able to provide an answer although they all look blankly in return offering no words. “The coal!” I bark, my voice starting to show a mixture of panic and frustration at the lack of communication. “Where is it?!”

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Grabbing Sasha’s shoulders with a firm grip preventing her from running away no matter how much she struggled, “where’s the rock you had this morning!” I repeat demanding she tells what she did with it, my grip tightening unconsciously as my panic continues to rise refusing to subside, my fingers continuously pressing against her skin.

“You’re hurting me” she cries as she winces at the pain in her shoulder and tears resume to form in her eyes, overflowing streams running down her face. “Please stop” Unable to wipe away the tears focusing on her constant squirming to free herself from my grasp.

“Please, let her go” sapphire pleading in the corner of my eyes, but my gaze is so fixated on Sasha pleading for answers that it goes unnoticed. Trying her best to remove my hands from around her daughters shoulders, whacking my arms with her own, trying to force me to loosen my grip even for a moment to allow Sasha a moment to escape.

I can feel the pounding on my elbow coming from Sapphire, but my panic is far stronger. consuming me, causing me to fixate on getting the answer I need to hear.

The pleading of a desperate mother and the wailing of a frightened child become nothing more than a muffled ringing in my ears, my heart pounding faster the longer this continues, this single moment dragging on for what feels like an eternity.

In my moment of frustration I shake Sapphire off of my arm shoving her to the ground in her resistance a small thud echoed throughout the room as he body crashed. “Rudsek!” A muffled shouting overpowering the pleas and screams, his face a glowing red in a righteous fury at my behaviour.

It must have been Damian grabbing my wrist doing his best to force me to release my grip, a constant pressure slowly increasing over time squeezing tighter the longer it continues. “What have you done with the rock?” I continue to demand growing impatient in her non compliance of such a simple request.

“She’s terrified, let her go now.” Damian and Sapphire pleading on their daughters behalf as she’s unable to get any words out, in between breaths and the whimpers.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” He begs further trying to resolve everything as peacefully as he can, without the need of violence, but his words feel empty to me, nothing more than an empty threat, from a panicked father. Disregarding his words as only that… just words.

As he quickly realised his words meant nothing to me, intending to call his bluff at the expense of getting the answers I demand.

All of a sudden, a strike against my face was overturned by a distinct cracking overpowering all noise, silencing everybody in the room in an instant. As all eyes stare at my face. My nose sat crooked bearing a distinct redness to it, a constant sharp pain emanating from it, with no sign of dulling.

Releasing my grip from Sasha's shoulders struggling to breathe for a short while, reaching for my nose to access the damage, there weren't any signs of bleeding, just a sharp sting whenever I applied pressure to it. Damian had dislocated my nose in his anger.

Brought back to reality looking down at my hands, taking long hard breathes through my mouth, as my nose felt completely blocked.

At the realisation of my actions and the pain that I had caused slowly lifting my head to see Sasha wrapped in Sapphire’s arms whilst Damian stood towering over me, nursing his fist close to his chest, his face still a searing red with the veins on his neck about to burst if left any longer. “I Want you out of my house, and this town” Damian demands, his voice furious, staring me down, never blinking, never wavering in his words.

I could tell by the look in his eyes he meant every word he said, it was more than empty threats. A hatred in his eyes glaring straight at me plain as day.

“Just tell me what did you do with the coal?” I plead one lost time setting aside the panic and frustration in my voice, losing all emotions relying on only my judgement.

“We used it in the fireplace, when we ran out of firewood.” My eyes widened staring at the floor at the vast realisation of what this meant… Sasha would be next.

“You’ve got to listen to me. Sasha’s going to be taken next!You need to get out of here.” I begged them trying to make them understand what I know.

“No, you need to leave. Now!” Damian demanded pushing me out of Sasha’s room, having to barge me with all of his weight doing his best to get me out of his house.

With each step backwards I'm forced to take driving me closer to their front door. My time is shortening to make them believe that Sasha is in danger and I'm her best bet for her safety.

“Listen, something is coming for her today… I don’t know when, you have to let me help.”

“You’ve helped enough” He snaps looking back at his daughter's room clearly concerned for her wellbeing.

“I’ll leave” I say, raising my hand in the air showing my surrender and I'll do as he asks “but I won’t leave town until I know she’s safe”.

Taking my leave as I'm escorted out of his lovely home ensures I have all of my belongings with me, granting me no reason to return, as he’s about to shut the door in my face, catching a glimpse of Sasha standing in Sapphire’s arms at the top of the stairs looking down on me.

“I’m sorry…” Cutting me off. The door slammed in my face abruptly. The pain overflowing at the thought of not seeing them again, and the trouble that I've brought upon this town since my entering. I wish I never came to this town. I find myself thinking as I rest my head on their door. Knowing the untimely fate that awaits them.