Chapter 1

Walking past the full length mirror, I stopped and checked my appearance, making sure my hair was pulled up neatly and that the thick veil of blonde locks covered my left eye as usual. After a satisfactory inspection, I pulled on my thick winter coat while making the mistake of glancing out the frosted window just right of the mirror. The ground below looked cold and barren. I grimaced, taking note of the ominous grey clouds that hung so lowly in the sky. I could just feel the freezing chill of winter bite into my skin already. I managed to tear myself away from the view long enough to grab my side-bag and haul it over my shoulder, the heavy weight remaining a minor factor in the back of my mind.

I glanced at the digital clock resting on the end table beside my bed and gasped. I had lost track of time yet again. This must have been the second occurrence this week and the punishment of being late to school was far too harsh on my part once my parents found out. I practically ran down the stairs, missing a few steps along the way. I just narrowly avoided tumbling down them which would have resulted in even more bruises and a broken vase knocked off an elegant, dainty looking table. I sighed, counting my blessings as I rushed out the front door. Mother would not have been pleased at all.

I managed to make it to school in 5 minutes, running of course, with a few seconds to spare. Out of breath, I collapsed on my desk, taking a moment to rest. "Hey Marilyn! I thought you wouldn't show today!" Not likely. Groggily, I sat up straight in my seat, turning to face someone I knew all too well. "Hey Helix. I just lost track of time is all." was my simple. Helix blinked her grey eyes, noting how short of breath I was. "Again?" she inquired, leaning a pale, slender hand on the surface of my smooth, polished desk. I rubbed my eyes and faked a yawn, fitting a stretch of limbs in there as well. "Yeah, I just over slept." I lied, a feigned smile crossing my face. At one glance I could tell she didn't buy it and I knew it was too obvious.

My friend was a very intelligent person. Most lies were usually proven wrong by her. That is, when she felt like putting up with the hassle. Most of the time now she would get tired more easily and usually kept a slow pace through out the day. Today must be a good day for her. Before class she would usually be found with her head against her desk as she stared blankly out the window but today she was up and about.

Helix's lips curved into a smirk and she casually placed a hand on her hip. "You need to stop staying up so late then." She chuckled, making sure her short raven hair was still held back, bound tightly with a hair-tie.

"Hey guys! Guess what?!" Everyone in the room turned their heads toward the door just in time to see two boys barrel into the classroom, the one in front grasping the others tightly to pull him along. A handful of students ignored the pair altogether, involving themselves in their own conversations once again.

"What's the rush?" I heard Helix laugh, extending her hand to help up the shorter boy who definitely looked more shaken up than the other did. "Logan and I came as soon as we saw what happened on the Film Production's television!" a guy with dark, sleek hair exclaimed, motioning toward a male of lesser height with chestnut colored locks. "So...aren't you going to tell us what happened, Abel?" Helix questioned. The same thought was running through my mind as well although she had more backbone to phrase it so bluntly.

He swung his dark hair out of his line of sight and started explaining at a rapid pace. "Someone from Maple City died from 'Winter Death' last night! There's even talk of them sealing off the entrances and exit routes if the death toll from the disease increases!" Abel couldn't stop shaking from excitement.

Logan's cheeks tinted a light shade of pink after realizing Abel still held his hand in a vice-like grip.

What I have learned though as I observe these two day in and day day out is that if I didn't know any better, I'd say they were lovers. The two were practically inseparable most of the time. Hell, they even had matching necklaces with heart charms! As far as their relationship goes though, they're strictly best friends but certainly aren't limited to that.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Helix began speaking to me. "You think they'll do that with Hawthorne?" I blinked, unable to recall what they had been talking about. I vaguely remember the discussion of the topic 'Winter Death'.

If there was any disease out there you wouldn't want to catch, specifically avoiding this kind of virus would be the far better choice. 'Winter Death' was a vicious disease that literally froze its victims to death despite how much heat they might have surrounding them at the time. It makes the body reject all warmth as its temperature gradually drops, hence the origin of it's name. Death was a sure thing after you contracted it and it was highly contagious. I've even heard myths of some victims morphing into horribly disfigured monsters. Of course, I knew better than to believe in such tales, or so I thought.

"That's a horrible and inhumane thing to do." I finally spoke, voicing my carefully practiced opinion. Helix scoffed and folded her arms. "But it'll help contain the outbreak the outbreak so it doesn't spread." She exclaimed, hesitating a bit with her answer. She gave Abel a simple nod and the boy smirked, letting his hand slip off Logan's. "You better hope you don't talk to anyone in Maple City." He sneered, placing a steady hand on Helix's shoulder for support. This was normal behavior of course so I chose to go back to my own thoughts, trying to immerse myself into my own fantasy land.

"Abel, please take your seat. Helix, sit properly in your chair. Your bottom does not belong on the table." Everyone adverted their attention to the tall, middle-aged man standing in the front of the classroom, waiting patiently. The two obeyed quickly and quietly as the man shuffled through a stack of papers while adjusting his glasses. "As much as the topic of 'Winter Death' seems to be much appealing than mathematical equations, we have to begin our lesson for the day." Logan grumbled, sinking low in his chair. I could sympathize with him. Algebra 2 just didn't quite spark anyone's interest as it should.

The time seemed to drag by, making the period seem longer than it actually was. "Mr. Cobalt? Can I leave early? I sprained my ankle yesterday." A random student had raised his hand for attention, gaining it in a respectful way. The man gave him wary look before sighing. "Go ahead." he replied, allowing the injured boy to limp past him. "And that concludes today's lesson." Mr. Cobalt sighed again as he removed his glasses and proceeded to squeeze the bridge of his nose. "Thank god..." I heard Helix breath sigh of relief and from the corner of my eye I was able to see her stand up and walk over to Logan, striking up a conversation.

It was like this everyday. The four of us would associate through out the day and meet up after school hours to converse. Out of my friends, Logan personality matched mine most. His shy and bashful nature could mirror kindness and compassion at times. With Helix, it was the 'opposites attract' deal. Our style and logic couldn't be further apart yet we couldn't get any closer without crossing the boundaries of friendship. Then again, Abel and Logan had a far more better chance at starting that kind of relationship.

In a sense, Helix and Abel were closer as best friends than they could ever be with Logan or I. At first glance, others would mistake them for a couple and it was quite obvious why. They were frequently together and they both shared the same dark, punkish style. Logan had a hint of it but I just dressed practical. Nothing flashy or bright. Nothing too dark. Neutral. Helix borrowed belts and hoodies while Abel took full advantage of her eyeliner and hair-care products. A win-win situation.

Again, my thoughts were interrupted. This time by the chiming of the school bell. It hurt my ears just thinking of the shrill, harsh noise. Most students shuffled out of the room right away, not wanting to linger any longer than necessary. My group fell back, making sure we were all assembled and accounted for before trekking out into the hallway flooded with crowded groups of students, chatting with friends or gender opposites.

"We'll see you two at lunch!" Abel waved off Helix and I as Logan trailed him, his head turned down slightly with cherry pink cheeks. Within seconds, the two filtered into the crowd and disappeared from sight.

After a long awaited silence, Helix turned to me with a serious facade, making sure not to make eye contact with me. "Do you think he knows?" she questioned, finally looking back at me. I shrugged half-heartedly, knowing full well what she was talking about. I didn't really have an opinion on the subject anyway. "Even though Logan does blush a lot, I think it'd still be kind of obvious not to notice." That answered seemed to suffice and I thought the conversation was over. "Even so, Abel isn't the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to that kind of stuff if you know what I mean." Or maybe not. Either way, the instructor for this class was going to be late if she didn't pick up the pace a bit.

A handful of students were still straggling behind, trying to savor the last few seconds of their freedom. Not like it's matter anyway. Such moments were trivial and didn't matter all that much.

Finally, after minutes of waiting and insults of outrage spoken aloud by my very boisterous friend, a short, stocky woman with fiery red hair pinned up came hobbling down the nearly empty hall, a set of loud, jingling keys in her hand. "Sorry for the hold up kids. I had a minor family emergency." she confessed, fumbling with the keys and fitting one into the lock. 'It's alright Mrs. Stone. Some people were just getting a bit testy." Helix took it upon herself to explain the situation. Of course she left out the part about her being one of the 'people that were getting testy'.

Everyone swarming into the room as if trying to get to their seat first. As I sat down, I noticed that Mrs. Stone's face was a bit more red than usual. I could tell Helix picked up on it as well. She seemed more alert and her grey eyes were steadily focused on the front of the room. Helix was never wrong when she had a hunch. Something was definitely up.