A Cold Breath

Henry shook himself awake. Every few minutes his eyes would close and he'd start to drift off. I can't fall asleep. Thought Henry. It's too dangerous. Everyone's counting on me. Slowly Henry's head feel forward as his eyes closed....

Clare moved effortlessly down the staircase. The house was quiet. The others were sleeping in the library, lying close to one another in their sleeping bags. All accept the boy with the red hair. Clare watched him struggle to remain awake, knowing that time would beat him, knowing that time was one her side.

She glided up to him; pausing inches away from him, so close she could breath on him and chill him to the bone. This was the way she liked it, the house quiet and sleeping. If the red haired boy woke now he would pee his pants to see her. She breathed her icy breath on him again. He shivered as he slept.

She moved over to the others, floating above them and spreading her cold over them. One touch of her hand and they would die. But, she could only choose one. Who would it be?

Clare had this opportunity before, years ago, when the first family moved into the house. She almost claimed a small boy then. Clare raised her head suddenly remembering. That time, when the young boy lay in his crib, she reached out to touch him and bring his soul into hers, she had hesitated because the child had red hair. It was a color she was unfamiliar with, and that hesitation was enough for his parents to enter the nursery and save his life.

Clare moved back over to the sleeping red haired boy. The others called him Henry. Could it be the same child?

She blew her death breath on him again. Ice formed on his face, clung to his eyelashes and labored his breathing. She reached out her hand. She would touch this one. She would bring this soul into her world and share it at last, no longer to be alone.

“Henry!”

The boy woke, startled, shivering. The others moved as well. Seeing the ghostly being reach for their friend, they called out to him, breaking the spell. They ran from the house, dragging Henry with them.

Clare could only watch. She would wait. There would be another chance, another time. She would wait.