Can’t Win Me Back

Elias frowned deeply; his worry etched onto his face.

"We've been shouting Ms. Alyssa's name the whole way.

With so many of us calling out, she should've heard us by now if she were nearby!" In a deep voice, Jasper said, The wind is too strong, and then there's the heavy snowfall.

Our voices are being drowned out.

Lyse might not hear us at all." Lyse.

Her nickname slipped from his lips before he even realized it.

"I'm just afraid she's injured—or worse, fainted.

If she blacks out in this cold..." Elias trailed off, his voice heavy with dread.

"Ona day like this, she won't survive long.

She'll freeze to death." The group exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of his words tightening their chests.

It wasn't that Elias was being a doomsayer.

Rather, this was the cruel reality that might actually happen.

Crater Mountain claimed lives every year.

Danger lurked unpredictably in the woods on the mountain—anything could unfold.

"Let's split up," Jasper commanded, his eyes fixed on the shadowy forest.

His voice carried an edge of desperation.

“We're not leaving until we find her." Elias hesitated.

"But what if—" "If anything happens to her," Jasper cut him off, his voice trembling with fierce determination, "I'll make this place my grave.

I mean it." Before anyone could respond, Jasper turned and strode into the darkness, his figure quickly swallowed by the night.

disappear, exhaling

right when they say aristocratic families raise people with fiery hearts." Jasper trudged

all she asked was for him to go

mean

to

go? Jasper's heart raced as he strained to

he and Alyssa had

stared into the empty cave, memories of that day surged back —the harrowing brush

protect you, I will." That promise wasn't just words; it was carved into

had not forgotten

He had remembered it.

swirled in dizzying

his strength gave out, sending him

weary, glistened with the weight of

"Alyssa...

his fists, he

protest, but he

"I have to...

In the midst of hopelessness,

was as ruthless and cold

tight ball, pressing

pure white snow blanketed her almost entirely, rendering her nearly

her eyes shut, her lips a chilling shade of purple as

awareness, her

entire body would be frozen stiff, and she

she curled

memories flickered in her mind—a fleeting warmth

from her senses, replaced by an unexpected

mother had appeared, her arms wide open, enveloping Alyssa in a comforting

"Lyse, my sweet girl.

Don't be afraid.

here." The beautiful and gentle woman stroked her

know that you've been