In the Bleak Midwinter

by **Nightshade** May 31st 2011, 12:37 am

In the bleak midwinter, not one person was willingly going to wander outside at night. The freezing cold was only part of the equation though. There were monsters out there… at least that’s what the stories said, tales passed down from generation to generation. They depicted horrific beasts and terrible creatures… and every single one of them only came out at night, when the moonlight shined over the frozen landscape.

Everybody knew the stories, and everybody heeded the warnings … everybody but one girl. Her name was Pip. She was an adventurous and headstrong child… she was also quite the skeptic.

One night, as her mother was telling Pip one of the many stories, a thought wormed its way into Pip’s mind.

“Mama…. why don’t we ever SEE the monsters?”

Her mother frowned slightly.

“It’s because they only come out at night. During the day, they hide where we can’t see them.”

Pip was unsatisfied with that answer, her frown mirroring her mother’s.

“Well then why don’t we ever HEAR the monsters?”

“The moan of the frosty wind covers up whatever noise the sneaky beats may make.”

Pip crossed her arms in defiance, still not satisfied.

“Well then why don’t they leave any footsteps?”

Her mother felt a twinge of worry go through her as she looked at her daughter, but she answered the question nonetheless.

“The earth is hard as iron, even the monsters aren’t strong enough to leave a mark.”

The mother sighed, standing up. Seeing that story time was over, Pip laid down, allowing her mother to tuck her in.

“You have too many questions.” The mother said before kissing her daughter on the forehead. She then blew out the small lantern beside Pip’s bed, leaving the room. As the mother fell into sleep’s embrace, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease.

A few minutes later, Pip’s door creaked open as she slipped through the small gap that was created. She was soon at the front door. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, closing her eyes as she stepped outside.

After she closed the door, she stood still for a few moments, eyes still closed. If a monster was going to eat her… she didn’t want to see it happening… but nothing happened.

Pip frowned slightly, opening her eyes, and what she saw made her freeze in awe… “Magic…” she whispered. The winter snow had just fallen, coating everything in white, but it was also the full moon that night, bathing the world in silver light.

She bent down, scooping up a handful of the delicate crystals. She had seen snow before… but never like this. The pile in her hand soon melted, but Pip was soon distracted by the icicles hanging off the roof of her home. They seemed to glitter with an internal light.

She found herself giggling slightly as she took in the winter wonderland.

Deciding to explore some more, she started to walk down the small street, humming a small tune. Suddenly, a shadow fell upon the child, and as Pip looked u---

“Wait! So she dies!?” Mab looked up at her mother, eyes wide with horror. Her mother smiled soothingly, smoothing her daughter’s hair though she didn’t reply… she didn’t have to.

Mab found herself growing angry at the unfair ending, “That’s a stupid story!” she exclaimed, lying down and pulling the covers until they covered her head.

Her mother sighed, “Language Pip. And the story has a purpose… it warns us about the dangers of going outside.”

With that, she kissed her daughter on the forehead.

“Goodnight Mab.”

The mother sighed when her daughter remained quiet, obviously still upset. Sighing again, she blew out the lantern that sat on the night table before exiting the room, closing the door quietly behind her. But it soon creaked open as Mab headed towards the front door. She was going to prove that there were no monsters once and for all!

She opened the door, stepping outside and…