Best freind lost

It was cold out. The wind was a constant wave of ice, chilling the bones of any living creature outside. Pellets of wet, slushy snow was pouring onto the ground. No light was visible, as it was two in the morning, still a few hours til the sun was to rise. Ida pulled her trenchcoat tight around her. She was walking through a meadow, not gentle and soft like meadows in old tales, but with stinging ice flying everywhere around her. Atleast four feet of snow had fallen in the last two hours. All she wore was a cotton dress and a coat, yet 100 yards she trudged. For a proper young lady, this behavior was unacceptable. The 1850s were no time for women, infact, her boyfriend Edmund Datone had offered to walk with her, as he was staying the night at Ida's home. She had to say no, and go on her own, for she was in a very independent stage.

Ida was walking to her friend Margaret Greene's house, after receiving a message from a very confused doctor who had been there and was heading back to town. You see, Margaret lived in a meadow, about a mile north of town. You would follow the dirt roads untill the trees thinned on the side. There would lay the meadow, now covered in a thick coating of blowing ice and snow.

The doctor had come to tend to Margaret, who had suffered a tragic concussion. She was lucky to lived as you were lucky to get a cup of tea, much less medicine these days. He had come, pounding at Ida's door. She had risen from her sleep and opened the door, ready to talk some scense into the person at her door. She was surprised when she saw Margaret's doctor, Dr. Henry Williams, looking panicked and confused. 

"Doctor Williams?" Ida said, obviously confused and rubbing her eyes.

"Yes-" He spoke, but was cut off by Ida.

"Is Margaret okay?" She spoke, still very tired.

"Well, I'm not quite sure." He said, cocking his head to the side and lookign guilty.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON"T KNOW?" Ida yelled, frustrated and tired.

"Ida..." He spoke, trying to calm her.

"YOU WENT TO COLLEGE DIDN'T YOU?"

"Ida, please. Listen to me.

"IS SHE ALIVE?"

"IDA. I DON'T KNOW. SHE'S MISSING!"

She froze. He directed Ida to go to Margaret's home, as her parents had sent for her. And that is where we left off. 

Ida's entire body was numb. The slushy snow had frozen in her long brown hair. Her purple fingers rapped on the door of the Greene's home.

"Oh Ida. Come in honey, come in."

She could barely move her limbs from the cold. Mr. Greene sparked a flame into the brick fireplace, and Mrs. Green gave her some stew. The Greenes were fairly wealthy, and nice people. Even with their wealth though, they insisted on living in the meadow. They enjoyed working the feilds outside and picking the wildflowers in the spring. Margaret loved the meadow the most. Ida often caught her laying on her back in the middle of the lush grasses in the summer. She was always careful to not let her parents know, for they would punish her.

Ida stared into the lapping flames of the fire. The coals glowed fiery red. The heat worked it's way into Ida, warming her insides. The natural tan color flushed back into her skin. She ate a bite of the stew and enjoyed the savory, salty flavor.

"Thank you." She spoke, turning to look at the worried couple.

"No. Thank you for coming out here. As Dr. Williams told you... well..." Mrs. Greene responded.

"Yeah... I know. She's missing."

"The doctor was monitoring her throughout the night, for the cut had reopened and she was bleeding tremendously. He had drifted off and when he woke up, Margaret was gone." Margaret's mother spoke once more.

Mr. Greene cursed out the doctor for not watching Margaret before speaking, "Margaret was planning on giving you something when you next visited. She wanted us to give it to you if she was asleep at the time. I feel we should give it to you now. We were hoping that maybe you could help us find her."

He walked over to the table and grabbed something. She then handed her a white envelope sealed with a shiny red wax. Ida peeled open the envelope and pulled out a folded sheet of parchment. A dried wildflower fell out of the letter. Ida, who was lucky enough to go to school, read the letter in her head.

Dearest Ida,

I shall be gone by the time you get this letter, I suppose. My wound and concussion was getting worse by the day, so I knew this day was coming. I planned this all out you see, and I thought we should play one last game together. I put one of my sleeping pills into the doctor's tea. I made sure that you would come as soon as I was gone. I timed it right. I'll give you three hints. How about that? My first hint to you is this. I should not be found laying here on a busy day in summer. Any ideas Ida? 

Ida thought. She had to be helping out with the crops in the summer. She wasn't allowed where? Her bedroom? She kept reading

My second hint to you Ida. Fragrant flowers in the spring. Have you got it yet?

Ida thought once again, trying to piece the hints together, but failed. She looked back to the letter.

My final hint to you, my dear friend. Nothing to do here in the winter, just cold, dark death.

Ida froze. She slowly stood up before running to the door.

"IDA! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!" Mrs. Greene yelled at Ida, who was already trudging deep into the center of the meadow.

The cold quickly spread through Ida, but she kept going. Her tears froze on her cheeks as she dug through the snow. Everything was darkness. She finally reached the center of the meadow and started digging rapidly through the freezing snow. Her fingers were blue and numb and frostbite was spreading on her feet. She felt something in the snow. It was solid. It was an arm. Ida let out a piercing scream as she uncovered the blue and black body of Margaret Greene. Her eyes were lifeless, staring into nothing. There she lay in the meadow, for the final time.