Russia — Cold Winter.

“Долой старое, да здравствует новое.” (Out With the Old, In With the New.)

Taiga wood trees stood tall in the forest as the green leaves were weighted down by the heavy snow from the snow storm that hit the small—now forgotten village the night before. Cold and brisk air breezed by so hard that small piles of snow from the trees joined the inches of snow on the ground. From outside the windows, the ground was so white you couldn’t see the green grass anymore. Winters were usually heavy in Russia so this wasn’t very uncommon for the country and the people within it. They knew how to bundle up just right so they weren’t cold. Some even grew somewhat immune to the cold. Maybe not for you so much.

Moving in was rough. The cold air almost made you clutch your neck to hide it from being exposed to the cold winds of the harsh Russian winter—possibly exposing you to potential sickness the morning after. Now, there was an unusual red dusted over the tip of your nose and your sniffles are heard occasionally. Somehow, you got used to the cold weather in the town even if settling in was difficult. Some people made it a little hard to adjust like Katya for one. Being new catches attention and you find out the hard way. The stares. Like you’re an alien.

Snow crunched under your shoes—leaving your footprints right under and a trail tracking your movement. A slow breath pushes past your lips that outcomes with a breeze of visible smoke which then vaporizes in thin air as if it never happened. The cold almost made your legs tremble but you pushed for more movement towards the black garage. Yes. The one where many rumored it to be cursed with black magic. A folktale they called it. He’s been there before. His body strides behind yours and from the dim light outside of the entrance door, his cheeks were flushed in a rosy color from the biting cold. Honestly, your cheeks were cold too.

Maybe this was stalking. Or maybe he was just trying to make sure you would get home safe. Totally not creepy. After all, there you were—stupidly pushing open the metal gates to the black garage and stepping inside. For a moment, his pupils dilated at the sight of you going in even despite the warnings of others. His hand instinctively stretched out as his lips parted to yell out “Нет!” (No) but, the word got caught in his throat like he choked on his own voice. Then suddenly, his body sprang up quickly from his spot hiding behind the taiga tree and into the now open folktale.

Quickly as the adrenaline ran, it flushed in horror of the sight before the boy’s eyes like his worst nightmare because it was. There you were. Light now on in the darkened space—but the loud engine of the meat grinder hummed to disrupt any peace (as if there was any in the spiritually uncomfortable cold room). It wasn’t that he found Katya, or Semyon, or Vova, or any other missing kid whom have been unfounded for a couple of days, but it was rather you who was struggling to get your stuck boot out from the teeth of the now churning gears of the machine before you lost your leg. Roma has never moved faster in his entire life as his newly profound obsession was about to be devoured by the bone crushing beast. He won’t lose you like he lost Polina to Anton.