Early Morning – The Old Man's Training
Daniel stands in the abandoned house's backyard, arms crossed, staring at the old man—who still looks like a teenager.
"This is a waste of time," Daniel mutters.
The old man ignores him. "You want to stop freezing things by accident? Then listen." He steps forward, eyes sharp. "Your problem is control. You keep resisting your power instead of embracing it."
Daniel clenches his jaw. "Because it's dangerous."
"Only if you keep fighting it," the old man snaps. "Now, try again."
Daniel exhales sharply. He holds out his hand, focusing. He can feel the icy energy swirling inside him. He tries to shape it, to control it like the old man said.
A faint shimmer of frost appears at his fingertips—
Then—BOOM.
A surge of ice explodes outward, coating the ground in thick frost. The temperature plummets. The wooden fence behind them creaks as ice spreads across it, splintering the wood.
Daniel stumbles back, heart pounding. "I—I didn't mean to—"
The old man rubs his temples. "You're a disaster."
Daniel glares at him. "Wow. Thanks."
The old man sighs. "You're trying to control it with fear. That won't work."
Daniel's hands shake. "Then what am I supposed to do?"
The old man studies him for a long moment. Then he says, "You don't trust yourself, do you?"
Daniel stiffens.
"That's the real problem." The old man crosses his arms. "Your fear isn't about the power. It's about you. You're scared of what'll happen if you lose control, so you're holding back."
Daniel swallows hard.
The old man shakes his head. "Until you fix that, no amount of training will help."
Daniel feels something tighten in his chest. Because deep down, he knows the old man is right.
***** ******** ******** ********* **********
The bus rumbles down the old road, surrounded by dense trees. The deeper they go, the darker the forest becomes—even though it's still morning.
Daniel stares out the window, uneasy. Why does it feel like we're driving into a trap?
Dina, sitting beside him, hasn't spoken much. She keeps glancing at the trees, as if something is calling her.
Maya leans forward from the seat behind them. "You two look like you're going to war."
Liam smirks. "To be fair, this place does look haunted."
Just then, the bus engine sputters. The vehicle jerks, and the lights flicker. The driver curses, gripping the wheel.
Daniel feels a cold shiver crawl up his spine. Something isn't right.
The bus slows to a stop. The principal stands up. "Everyone stay calm—we're just experiencing some engine trouble. We'll continue on foot while the driver fixes it."
Murmurs spread through the students, but the teachers wave them off, leading them outside.
Daniel steps out and immediately feels it.
The air is wrong. Too still. Too heavy. Like the forest is watching them.
Dina exhales. "Do you feel that?"
Daniel nods slowly. "Yeah. And I don't like it."
Maya and Liam exchange a glance. Even they can tell something is off.
Ahead, the principal claps his hands. "Alright, class! We'll hike to the campsite. Stay close, no wandering off."
As they start walking, Dina keeps glancing toward the deeper part of the woods. She can't shake the feeling that someone—or something—is waiting for them.
The bus rumbles down the old road, surrounded by dense trees. The deeper they go, the darker the forest becomes—even though it's still morning.
Daniel stares out the window, uneasy. Why does it feel like we're driving into a trap?
Dina, sitting beside him, hasn't spoken much. She keeps glancing at the trees, as if something is calling her.
Maya leans forward from the seat behind them. "You two look like you're going to war."
Liam smirks. "To be fair, this place does look haunted."
Just then, the bus engine sputters. The vehicle jerks, and the lights flicker. The driver curses, gripping the wheel.
Daniel feels a cold shiver crawl up his spine. Something isn't right.
The bus slows to a stop. The principal stands up. "Everyone stay calm—we're just experiencing some engine trouble. We'll continue on foot while the driver fixes it."
Murmurs spread through the students, but the teachers wave them off, leading them outside.
Daniel steps out and immediately feels it.
The air is wrong. Too still. Too heavy. Like the forest is watching them.
Dina exhales. "Do you feel that?"
Daniel nods slowly. "Yeah. And I don't like it."
Maya and Liam exchange a glance. Even they can tell something is off.
Ahead, the principal claps his hands. "Alright, class! We'll hike to the campsite. Stay close, no wandering off."
As they start walking, Dina keeps glancing toward the deeper part of the woods. She can't shake the feeling that someone—or something—is waiting for them.
As they hike toward the campsite, Daniel notices something strange.
Every time his footsteps press into the dirt, there's a faint shimmer—a thin layer of frost forming beneath his shoes.
He stops walking. Blinks. The frost disappears.
Daniel's heart pounds. Am I imagining things?
"Hey, you good?" Liam asks, nudging him.
"Yeah. Fine." Daniel keeps moving, but now he's watching his every step.
The deeper they go into the woods, the worse it gets. The temperature feels colder around him, even though the others don't seem to notice.
Then—it happens.
Dina stops ahead of him, turning back. "Daniel, come on—"
Her foot slips. She gasps, barely catching herself.
Daniel looks down—the ground beneath her is covered in ice.
His breath catches in his throat. I did that.
Dina glances up, eyes wide. "Daniel…"
"I—I didn't mean to," he stammers. His hands are trembling, and when he clenches them, thin wisps of cold air swirl from his fingertips.
Maya and Liam see it too. They don't say anything, but their faces tighten with worry.
Daniel takes a shaky step back. "I can't control it."
Dina places a hand on his arm. "We'll figure it out." But there's hesitation in her voice.
Dina quickly steps in front of Daniel, blocking Maya and Liam's view. "It's fine. He's fine." Her voice is steady, but her fingers tighten around his wrist.
Daniel's breath is shallow. His palms are ice-cold, and no matter how hard he tries, he can't stop the chill crawling up his arms.
"Dina, I—" His voice falters. What if I freeze something worse next time? What if I hurt someone?
Dina leans in, keeping her voice low. "Listen to me." She places both hands on his shoulders, forcing him to look at her.
"You've controlled it before. You can do it again."
Daniel shakes his head. "No. The more I try to stop it, the worse it gets."
Dina hesitates. She wants to believe in him—but even she is scared now. The ice on the ground hasn't fully melted.
Behind them, Maya and Liam whisper.
Daniel notices. "They're afraid of me."
Dina doesn't deny it. Instead, she exhales and says, "Then prove them wrong."
Before Daniel can answer, the trees rustle—but there's no wind.
Everyone freezes.
A low, almost inhuman whisper weaves through the trees. It's not the wind. It's something else.
Dina turns sharply. "Did you hear that?"
Liam swallows. "Yeah."
The group stands dead still.
Then—a loud crack.
Something moves deeper in the woods.
Daniel's fingers twitch—his body instinctively reacting. A pulse of cold spreads through the air around him.
They need to keep moving.
But now, Daniel is no longer just afraid of the forest.
He's afraid of himself.
Snap!
A branch cracks deep in the woods. The whispering stops.
Daniel doesn't move. His breath fogs in the air—even though it's not cold.
Dina grips his arm. "Daniel. Look."
Just beyond the trees, a shadow shifts. Not like an animal. Like a person. Watching. Waiting.
Daniel's chest tightens. It's too far to see clearly, but he swears he sees… eyes.
"Daniel! Dina!"
The twins jump as the principal's voice cuts through the trees.
He stands at the trail, arms crossed. "Why are you lagging behind? Keep up with the group!"
Dina hesitates—one last glance at the trees—but the shadow is gone.
Daniel doesn't move at first. His feet feel frozen in place. Was that just my imagination? Or…
"Now, kids," the principal warns.
Dina grabs his sleeve. "Come on."
Daniel finally forces himself to turn away. But as they walk back, he feels it—the weight of unseen eyes still watching them.
---
By the time they reach the clearing, the sun is already sinking. The teachers organize students into tent groups, setting up camp near a large, open firepit.
Daniel feels tense. The cold inside him hasn't faded.
Liam tosses him a tent bag. "You alright, man?"
"Yeah," Daniel lies, gripping the bag tight—too tight.
His fingers prickle with cold. When he finally releases the bag, a faint frost lingers on the fabric.
Maya sees.
She doesn't say anything. But she sees.
Daniel turns away quickly. He needs to pull himself together.
---
That night, everyone gathers around the firepit.
The principal claps his hands. "Alright, let's make this trip fun! Who wants to tell the first scary story?"
Laughter ripples through the group. Someone starts a tale about a ghost in Silverwood, and the tension lightens—just a little.
Daniel tries to focus.
But his hands won't stop trembling. The more he suppresses the cold, the more his chest tightens—like something inside him is fighting to break free.
Then—someone shoves him.
A student brushes past, laughing as he sits down, but Daniel's control snaps.
The temperature around him plummets.
The campfire flickers—then turns blue.
Gasps spread through the group.
Daniel's heart stops.
The fire snaps back to normal, but it's too late.
Everyone felt the cold. Everyone saw the flame change.
A teacher frowns. "Did you all feel that? It got cold for a second…"
Maya and Liam stare at Daniel.
Dina's face pales.
Daniel shakes inside. They know something's wrong with me.
And worse?
Whoever—or whatever—was watching them earlier?
It knows too.