The Icy Hell

The snow looked like glitter slowly dancing along the sky falling to the ground flake by flake. The whole outside world at peace as the white substance slowly covered every tree and plant. Emerie watched the beauty happen through her window dreaming of what it would be like to feel the breeze against her skin as she stepped into the outside world. Fantasizing of what it would be like just to touch the snow and grip it in her hand. She thought of all the articles and books she had read of people building snow people and going sledding. She wondered what it would be like to feel the exhilaration of a fun winter day. From her window everything looked so far, so distant, even the crystalized snow on the window was out of reach for her. She sat by the window gazing out at mother nature’s iceland. As she was staring out losing track of time her door suddenly slammed, behind her stood a man. She looked back startled to see her father, he wasn’t supposed to be home till dinner time. Emerie stumbled to get to her feet and stand tall and present before him; once she was up she could see the disappointment in his eyes. His cold dark eyes scolded her without him having to move his lips. Moments passed by with not a word said; til finally her father spoke. “When I return into my own grounds I expect to see knowledge being gained or food being prepped, but instead I find you seeking adventure and danger regardless of my rules.”

Emerie made eye contact with the man, but only for a moment before shamefully looking away: lowering her head to the ground she replied, “I do not wish to disappoint you, I read several books today. My eyes caught a glimpse of the first flake and refused to release. Supper is almost ready downstairs, if you care to meet me down there at six.” 

Her father nodded his head and replied, “I will be in the dining room at six no later, I expect you to be present with no talk about the icy hell you saw falling from above.” Her only response was a small nod, then she looked away. Her eyes locked on all of her books about winter and made small tears drop from her eyes down to her cheeks. She wiped them away and got ready for supper, trying to let go of the magical, cold, winter adventures that stay poking her thoughts every second. 

After cleaning herself up, she headed down to the dining room, where her father already was. He looked at her and motioned for her to sit down. She picked the seat next to him and politely took her spot at the table. Emerie passed out the supper and they both began eating. Her fathers lips touched the food and he turned his face to Emerie’s. “Where did you learn to make this?”

She finished swallowing her mouthful and stuttered, “I found the recipe in one of the old cook books in mom’s office. She always made it on a frosty day, I thought it would be a nice surprise.” Her father just sat there in silence. The rest of their meal was eaten quietly. 

Once consuming his last bite her father stood up and thanked Emerie for the meal. “This was a thoughtful dinner. My appreciation is given to you.” Emerie smiled and got up from the table. She hugged her father and left to her sleeping chamber. 

Upon returning to her room she laid down to rest. She tossed and turned in her sheets for hours until finally turning on her light. After doing so she caught a glimpse of the novel she was reading earlier. She grabbed the book and ran her fingers along the old rusted cover. Emerie began reading from where she left off… her imagination started flowing thinking of everything she could do if she touched the snow. She continues reading line after line, till finally her hopes turned into anger. All she wanted to do was go outside, feel the touch of the cold air, breathe in the magical feeling she was hoping to obtain. The anger rushed to her head, taking over her emotions; Emerie threw the book to the floor when she heard the thud her body relaxed. She gained control of her emotions and rose to get the novel. Grasping the book into her hands she picked it off of the floor just to see a page sticking out from another page. She held the book up and the page fell to the floor. Leaning over to pick it up she noticed that it wasn’t a page, but instead a photo. A photo so old, but full of life; she gazed upon the image looking at the people in it. The photo had three people in it a woman, a man, and a little girl; all of them happily playing in the snow. She latched onto the photo, held it to her chest, and laid on her bed. Finally being able to sleep she dreamt all night wishing she could have a family like the one in the photograph…

“Where did you find this!” a deep stern voice yells. Emerie shoots up from her sleep to see her father holding the picture that she had found the night before. She looked up at him slowly rubbing her eyes. “Emerie where did you find this photograph?” He repeats himself again.

Baffled, she replies, “You’ve seen this before?”

Her father replied furious, “Why would you go into the locked office? I have told you a hundred times that your mom’s belongings are in there and there is no right for you to enter and steal from her past.” She had no reply. She knew how her father felt about her sneaking into her moms office and taking items. Still continuing her father said, “We have rules to keep you safe, clinging onto an old family photo is not going to change the rules. Going out in this dangerous weather can kill a person. No more talking about snow or reading about ice…”

Emerie interrupted confused on who the photo consisted of, “That photo is of our family?” She ripped the photo from her dad’s hands and ran to the bathroom. Once having the photo in her hand she focused her eyes onto them and realized that it was her mom and dad and the little girl in the photo was her. Focusing on detail now she realized that it was her family playing in the snow laughing together. Tears poured down her face as confusion filled her head. Angry and frustrated she stormed out to confront her father. 

Once before him, she clinched the picture in her hand and asked, “Why are we all playing in the snow?”

Her father stood unfazed still furious about the photo, “That photo belonged to your mom, you have no right going through her stuff.”

Emerie was becoming livid, “We were all a family, we all were smiling and in the background we were all in the icy snow.” She felt confused, her dad hadn’t brought up her mom in years, all her emotions rushed to her head as she felt lost. 

Her father could see the fear in his daughter's eyes, which made him relax, “ That photo is from a long time ago before the winters became unbearable and treacherous. We all used to play together, but that was before.” The anger in his voice came back. “I demand we stop talking about this. I care about you too much to lose you, like I did your mom. Now sit down and don’t come out of this room!” He left the room slamming the door behind him, shaking the whole house. 

Her father stormed out of the house getting into his vehicle to head to work, Emerie stared at him with hatred filling her eyes with more tears. Wanting to prove her dad wrong she started getting dressed. She opened her closet doors and placed layers on tops of layers onto her skin. Once getting dressed she went into her mom’s office. Walking into the room her mom's memory came to life. She took time and looked at all the memories filling up the room. She looked at her moms old clothes and nic nacs surrounding the room. Dropping to the floor crying, she let herself miss her mom. Gaining herself once again she brought herself to her knees still shaking from the crying and pain she looked at her mom’s clothes all stacked upon the spare dresser. On the side of the dresser was a pair of boots, Emerie walked up to them and grabbed them. She gracefully ran her finger down the side of the boots and along the bottom. Clutching them in between her fingers she took them when leaving the room. Placing them onto her feet she stood up and took a deep breath.

Emerie headed towards the front door, grabbed the knob and whispered to herself “Today is the day that I make my own rules.” She ripped the door open as a huge breeze came trembling in. The cold air grazed upon her cheeks making them red immediately. She walked farther outside knowing there was no going back. The feeling of freedom rushed over her, making Emerie seek more adventure. Walking away from the house she wandered into the trees breathing in all the wonderful sights around her. She took off a glove and let the snow crumble in her hands the feeling sent chills running through her body. Letting herself go she just kept walking farther and farther away from the house. She followed the trees till they all came to an end at a lake. The frozen lake looked stunning the way the sun brightened up the ice as it started going down behind the mountains and made it gleam different colors. She stood before it taking in all of the beauty. 

She watched as the gleam faded across the lake turning all the frozen water dark. She grabbed her flashlight and noticed it was time to go home. It was time to show her dad that she was fine on her own. She gripped the light and started walking. She stepped onto the snow until she stepped onto ice. Emerie hit the ground noticing that she was no longer on the ground, but walking across the water. Fear went through her brain realizing that the snow she had been walking on was just part of the lake being covered by more snow and not the ground. She stood up carefully moving as slow as possible. Her legs began to shake as she felt the ground beneath her break. Emerie screamed for help, but could only hear herself echoing along the trees. She tried moving closer to land, she could see the trees not too far away. Every step she took the lake began cracking, the ice seemed to become weaker and weaker. Breathing heavy she gained her breath and cried out for help again. “Dad….’ She slowly cupped her hands on her face to stay warm. The cold biting at her face stinging her nose and cheeks.

From the distance she heard a voice,”Emerie.” The voice got louder, “Emerie, where are you?” 

She moved her hands off of her face and yelled, “Dad, dad I am over here.”

Without hesitation her dad raced out to try to help her, in the dark of night he did not see the lake she had so helplessly led them onto. Steps away from Emerie he stopped completely still. “Emerie, I am right here, walk towards me slowly.” He reached his hand out for her to grab.

Too scared to move she whispered, “I cannot move, I am scared.” She looked up and could faintly see her dad’s hand.

“I lost your mother because I could not save her, I refuse to do the same for you. I am here, everything is going to be fine, just take my hand and I can push you to the soft snow.” Her father replied in hopes to relax her nerves. 

Emerie hesitated, but grabbed her fathers hand. He grabbed onto her and threw her onto the snow. The movement cracked the ice plummeting her father into the lake. She screamed for him and waited for a moment. Tears once more filled her eyes, for now she had known the reason and truth behind the rules. She stared off into the quiet night staring at the icy hell that had just swallowed her final parent. With all of her strength she got up and stepped onto the frozen lake that had killed both of her parents and walked forward onto the frozen lake.