CHAPTER ONE: ON A SNOWY NIGHT
βLola! Come quick!β Marshel yells from afar.
Lola leaves her hiding place to run toward her brotherβs voice. Lola arrives at the scene and finds her brother standing over a body covered in a layer of soft, powdery snow.
βJesus!β Lola covers her mouth and takes tiny steps toward the still body.
Marshel quickly grabs her hand, jerking her body backward, βNo, donβt touch it! What if theyβre dead? Then what?β
βBut what if theyβre not dead and we can save them?β She questions as she looks into her brotherβs brown eyes. As he curses under his breath, he releases his sister to allow her to go investigate.
Lola creeps closer to the body and starts to brush the talc-like snow off.
A female face finally comes into view. Lola hastily pulls her brown glove off to place her hand on their pale neck to see if she is able to catch a pulse.
She gasps at the faint beating and pulls her hand away. βMarshel, the girl is alive! Come on and help me carry her back to the house.β
Marshel throws a glance at his sister and then back at the girl covered in snow. He doesnβt know her, and he doesnβt owe her anything. So, why should he help her out?
βCβmon, what if this was me and someone left me out here to freeze to death? Please help me help her,β Lola pleads with her brother.
Noting in his mind that she did have a point, he would kill the person who left his sister to die.
She is his family after all.
He walks toward his sister and looks at her with a small smile, βWell, arenβt you going to help me?β She gives him a big smile and puts her right glove back on.
Taking hold of one end, they both begin to hoist the girl up with all their might. Then they steady her before placing her on Marshelβs back. Alas, they start to make their way back home.
