Читать книгу Snow Signs - Jennifer Seet - Страница 7

Prologue

A fine feathery mist of snow filtered down through a stand of winter-barren timber. Few drops landed on the outstretched naked branches, but by morning, as intensity increased, a thick coating would illuminate the landscape, much like the full moon now shining in the night sky.

Light from the moon streaked through the austere woods, casting a silvery surreal tinge to everything in its path. Mimicking the brush strokes on an artist’s canvas, it left a lasting impression of visual imagery, both symbolic and real. For a lone figure stood mutely in the shadow of the trees, her whiteness sharply contrasted but strangely absorbed by the surroundings.

She watched a house, hoping to find someone staring back at her, but no one did. The windows were darkened; shades were drawn; only darkness reflected from within.

But, if someone had been inside, gazing out into the stark black and white of the cold night, that person could have been at first curious, and then concerned for this fragile waif, alone, without benefit of coat, gloves, or hat, braving the icy chill, showing no signs of hypothermia, no shivering, not even a hint of discomfort.

Further, leaning forward, and on closer inspection, the observer might have come to understand that there was something different about the solitary being out in the snow. And, a sharp intake of breath would have accompanied a realization that whatever it was standing in the woods, it was too transparent to be real. Perhaps it was only murky obscurity playing tricks on the mind?

Then, a gasp might have formed in the throat, catching in the back, struggling to come out as the watcher could have seen something red materialize and trickle down from bony white fingertips. Slowly, it would have become apparent that it was blood dripping on the ground, not too much, just enough to leave a bright-red stain on the snowy blanket.

And, if that person would have looked up in time, it might have been obvious, but not yet comprehensible, that the figure had already vanished into the night.