Chapter 3

It was beyond freezing.

The glacial winds made the temperature feel sub-zero and even though it was typical conditions, it did not subdue the grumpiness that followed from getting numb feet and blue lips.

To keep her mind off the relentless weather, she chose to admire the scenery. It was oddly enchanting—in a kind of deadly way.

Melody cast her eyes to her right, staring at the Tensers' forest.

The tall pine branches swayed in the wind, the dark leaves and weaving vines entangled the tree trunks. She could see the dense, green undergrowth, the narrow and twisting animal trails and the darkness oozing from the depths of the forest.

She made a promise to herself, right there and then, that she would never enter that forest and its lurking inhabitants.

Melody shivered before glancing to her left.

There were rows of dull, gloomy houses with unopened curtains and lifeless front yards. Not a single noise emitted from the homes and no light illuminated inside or out. Melody vaguely wondered if she would even make friends in the silent town.

She shook her head, that was unlikely due to her reclusive nature.

Walking ten minutes further into town, a small but sturdy grocery store soon came into her line of sight. Melody entered it cautiously and a ring of bell chimed as she did; notifying her entrance. She pulled down her blue hoodie that was under her coat, removed her mittens as her curious eyes observed the store.

She nearly flinched when she realised a man, with a crooked nose and thinning blonde hair, stared blankly at her. Melody turned around awkwardly, pretending she had not seen him.

There was no-one else visible in the store, so Melody picked up some baskets and began collecting products.

Twenty minutes later, Melody was getting the last of her things.

As she reached for a cereal box, she felt an icy glare burning from behind her. Melody angled her head slightly and realised it was still the same man. He hadn't moved from the spot he had been standing in the entire time she's been here.

Feeling unnerved by the stranger, Melody decided to speak up. "Can I help you?"

When the man said nothing, she rolled her eyes and tried to pretend she was totally not getting freaked out by his beady, unwavering eyes.

As Melody gathered everything, she placed the two full metal baskets on the counter and waited for the absent cashier.

Unbeknownst to her, the middle-aged man had silently approached her. The footsteps as quiet as the smallest whisper.

Startled by his sudden appearance, Melody took a step back and gulped audibly.

"Run away!" The man hissed through his gritted yellow stained teeth, his feral expression and wild hair gave him a look of lunacy.

Her eyes widened as she gawked at him, "Excuse me?"

"Run away," He repeated, his widening eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. His foul breath fanned her face when he stepped forward. "Run away before they get you." His chilling voice made her entire body freeze.

Melody's back pressed painfully against the cool, solid bench as her hands gripped the edges tightly. "What? Who gets me?"

Melody was flabbergasted. Flashes of the ominous shadow from the morning suddenly entered her mind.

His eyes widened further as he whispered quietly, looking around as if he was being watched. "The wolves..."

He then began chanting the words over and over; like it triggered something in his unstable mind. His fingers moved to grip what was left of his hair. He paced the checked floor below and let out incomprehensible murmurs.

He had absolutely lost it.

Before she could utter a word, Melody heard a bell ring, someone was entering the store. She turned around quickly to see a tall guy who looked to be in his late twenties.

He had dark brown hair, murky green eyes that moved around the store and his lean body was clothed in black attire. He was carrying a large brown box in his arms and moved in quiet, graceful strides. Melody noticed dark designs in the inner part of his forearm; a tattoo.

His gaze quickly locked onto hers. The green hues morphed into a darker colour as stared her for a few seconds, his mouth slightly agape before his eyes dragged themselves over towards the hysterical man near her.

He sighed loudly as he placed the box down on the counter with a loud thud. "Mr. Windchestly, could you please not bother the girl with your silly stories." He scolded. "Now, go!"

In the corner of her eye, Melody could see the man, Mr. Windchestly nod and start to walk away wordlessly; conceding to the command. Maggie found it odd but was happy the deranged man was now away from her.

Once he left, the green-eyed man looked at Melody who was still a little speechless and chuckled slightly, "Don't mind him. He's a little... you know." He lifted up his hand up to swirl his index finger around near his head to add emphasis.

He walked behind the bench and began to register Melody's line-up of groceries. "You must be new to town then; folks don't come around here much."

Melody nodded shakily; still confused about the ordeal she experienced with Mr. Windchestly.

Dismissing the unsettling words, she cleared her throat and replied. "Yeah, yeah we just arrived yesterday."

His shadowy eyes glanced up to her for a moment, his actions pausing. "We?"

She stared at him with cautiousness, as she reluctantly responded. "My older brother and I..."

Small talk wasn't her thing.

He nodded, resuming. "We haven't had new people come to this town in a long time." A crooked smile makes its way to his lips that made Melody chuckle uneasily.

The strange glimmer in his green eyes had her stomach in harsh churns. There was something about him just doesn't sit well with Melody.

The man's eyes swept over her nervous expression. "It's just surprising, that's all. It's a small town," he added.

"Well, maybe it's the weather scaring everyone away," she attempted to joke but cringed internally at it. She wanted him to hurry up so she could go back to the safety of her house.

He smirked at her sentence, "Maybe." His lips twitched; like there was some inside joke she didn't know about.

He scanned the last items and placed them in the bag, "That's one hundred and seven dollars—cash or credit?"

Melody handed him some crumpled notes and coins. "Keep the change." She hurriedly muttered, wanting to run out of the suffocating store as quickly as she could.

He grinned at her thankfully and placed the long, paper receipt in one of the plastic bags. He glanced at the heavy bags with a raised eyebrow. "Did you bring a car?"

She shook her head as she gripped some of the bags in her hands; struggling to hold them.

"I'll help carry them to your house then."

Melody's brown eyes widened as she vigorously shook her head again. "No it's okay, its—its fine, you have a shop to run anyway." She really didn't want to be around him any longer. Maybe it was her paranoia or something, but she just had a bad feeling about the guy.

He lifted his shoulder in an indifferent shrug, "Not a lot of townspeople come in this early anyway, don't worry about. I'll carry them to your house—" His gaze narrowed the slightest. A predatory look flickered in his dark jade eyes. He loomed over the counter, like he was daring her to defy his adamant offer. "I insist, Melody."

She almost missed it. Almost.

"I never told you my name."

He didn't say anything for a few seconds—just silently stared. He walked out from behind the counter, and brushed off her concern nonchalantly. "Wild guess. You just look like a Maggie," he reasoned as he reached out for the bags of food.

He faced her again and stretched out his free hand. "By the way," he paused as a wicked grin grew on his face, "I'm Mehmet."

Melody wanted to make a run for it. The guy somehow knew her name and was giving her the chills.

Mehmet's gaze darkened considerably at her silence. "It's polite to return the gesture, Melody." He pointed out as she stared at his open hand.

Hesitant, she shook his hand and pulled it back immediately when she felt a strange sensation when their skin made contact.

"Come on then," he said casually as he exited the store.

Melody pulled her eyes away from Mehmet retreating back to stare at her hand—the one he shook. Despite the icy Alaskan air, she realised that Mehmet skin was incredibly warm, especially for someone who came in without gloves.

Swallowing down the familiar dry lump that crawled its way up her throat, Melody placed her hands back into her mittens and pondered over the strange townspeople.