[ chapter five ] Simon Says

( 1995... Ohio )

THE UPBEAT MELODY PERFECTLY COMPLEMENTED RUSTLING LEAVES AND BLARING BIKE BELLS AS THE CHILDREN WERE RIDING AROUND THE STREET. Tracks of the bikes tattooed the ashy neighborhood road and erased the eye-catching chalk drawings.

Sooner or later the drawings would no longer be there since Mr. Lee, one of the sweetest neighbors, took care of the road in front of his house like he took care of his yard. Everything was simple but beamed with greenery, therefore a road must be exemplary as well.

Children's playful shouting was drowned out by the frying meat, and its juiciness attracted not only the taste buds but also eyes since the crust was marvelously done.

The meat hissed as soon as the cooking turner turned it over.

"Plates!" I raised my voice slightly, noticing the meat frizzling up as it was excited to be finally served.

"Here, darling," a soft voice spoke. It was my husband, he handed me the plates, giving me a peck on my cheek that flushed right away as a smile formed on my lips. I shrugged my shoulders, biting my lip, appreciating his attention in silence. I took a tiny glance at his defined cheekbones, slicked hair, and icy blue eyes. However, his gaze burned with affection and fondness.

He put hands on my hips, trying to dance or at least bounce to the rhythm of One Way or Another. I hesitated but later joined him because he was so happy and so was I.

Although he was holding me, I tried to serve the meat on one of the plates. I put the rest of them on the counter because I noticed that one side of the meat started to burn. I took the cooking turner and turned it immediately, laughing it off.

I chuckled even more as he walked around the grill, making crazy dance moves with his hands, showing he was indeed the party animal here. I couldn't tear my eyes from him swaying so gracefully to the song that was playing on the radio that was on the patio.

"Oh come on! No singing?" I questioned him with a beam on my lips, scanning the little party he had going on over there.

"One way or another," He was mocking the lady's voice. I rolled my eyes at how embarrassing it was. Luckily, the neighbors were on vacation and Mr. Lee was probably gardening in his backyard. "I'm gonna find ya!"

"Of course, you're going to sing, you're always singing," I shook my head, suppressing the smile that I had still on. I was wide-eyed, clutching my lips together as I didn't want to be his audience.

"I'm gonna lose ya," He proceeded to sing. My mouth twitched as I realized that he completely messed up the lyrics that were indeed correct but not in that exact order. "I'm gonna trick ya!"

"Honey?" I addressed him with worry, putting away the plate, eventually forgetting about the meat that was pretty much on fire.

I made my way to him, trying to see if everything was alright. Unfortunately, he considered it as an approval of inviting me to dance.

"I'll trick ya! I'll trick ya!" He chanted happily eventually in his voice, holding me tightly as his right hand was holding me around the waist and I put mine automatically on his shoulder as if we were dancing the waltz. Compared to the waltz, it had a brisk, almost energetic tempo.

I got carried away as the sound of searing meat drowned out the chirpy music. The awful smell punched my nose and absorbed the residues of my strawberry perfume.

"Gothane!" I complained, trapped in the swirling nightmare that evoked dizziness. My heart was pounding and thumped loudly as my husband suddenly stopped.

Abruptly, I realized that he was extremely cold and as I reached out to caress his pale cheek, he was frozen in time looking at the driveway, staring at the figure that was slowly approaching them.

"I don't remember it going like that," a man stated as he was near me, sitting at the set table with a wide grin that revealed his teeth. He who remains propped his head with his hand, staring at my bright orange flared pants that complimented my monochromatic look perfectly.

"I'm worried you're becoming a parasite, Eala," He declared, absolutely forgetting the fact He wasn't supposed to call me like that. I was scrunching my nose in embarrassment as I heard one of the nicknames He gave me.

I exhaled loudly as I was adjusting my curled hair that slid under the blinding white headband.

"Those moments are fragments of the past, they can't affect the future," I stated as I came back to the grill. I slightly raised my hands and the burnt meat began to return to its original raw form.

"That's correct, but the thing is that these aren't your moments, Eala" He added, taking one of the glasses that were filled with sparkling lemonade, taking a long sip to simmer down the dryness in his mouth.

"It's Enigma," I frowned my eyebrows, taking a slight look at him enjoying the lemonade I prepared from scratch.

"Maybe for someone but not for me," He declared, scanning my back. I knew that he was staring at me because a bunch of shivers started running down my spine.

"Says the one who calls himself He Who Remains, how adorable," I chuckled as I wanted to sit in front of him, noticing a glass pitcher with iced tea.

"Tea?" I questioned politely but he shook his head. Since I was writing my own story and stories of those I wanted to protect, he couldn't be sure if I didn't pull the poison card once again. I chuckled, knowing that he was scared.

Right after I finished pouring the iced tea into one of the glasses I sat down, taking a long glance.

"I'm not a parasite, I am just daydreaming. There's a huge difference," I stated as I wanted to keep the conversation going since I cut him off before.

"If daydreaming indeed results in stealing others' lives, I have to disappoint you but that's in fact parasitizing," He explained very warily since He didn't want to hurt my feelings.

He looked at Gothane who still stood there in a trance. His chest wasn't even rising as if he was just a casket, a body without a soul. The emptiness in his eyes was horrifying, like a void.

"Why do you want to live so bad in someone else's shadow?" He questioned as sorrow consumed his voice.

My heart pounded, perceiving the wicked reality of being a scaredy-cat.

"Because I want to feel something," I answered without hesitation. If I didn't respond He would interrogate me, doing me a favor of being my therapist all of a sudden.

"I think too much about the lives I could live if I had the chance to do so rather than accept my own fate," I shrugged my shoulders, folding a napkin to keep my hands busy. One of the moments I didn't wear any gloves made me insecure about my image.

"Oh! Now I understand why you recruited me," He breathed out in realization. His eyes slightly widened with a friskiness that sparkled in his irises that could be taken as an irreverence.

"You needed someone who could take over the lore and I took that bait because I was the only one who was willing to help. You can't even accept that I made this who you become. What a pity!" An apple appeared in his hand, as soon as He caught my attention.

"You're proud as a peacock," He tried to articulate as he took a mouthful bite of the viridescent apple that its juiciness dripped on the table. He chuckled as He saw my confused expression.

"Am I that self-centered?" I asked.

"I don't know, you tell me. Are you that self-centered if you choose to relive these bits of falsity rather than do your job or even live the life I gave you?" He turned my own question against me, which left me disarmed with arguments. It took me a moment to find the right words.

"If you didn't notice, I am still working, making sure everything is going according to the plan," I frowned my eyebrows while taking a sip of the tea that I almost completely forgot about.

My lips puckered as I made a hilarious comeback. A loud crunchy bite resounded, suppressing his laughter that evoked the blather I uttered.

"Therefore a little break won't hurt anyone, not even the Scared timeline," I tried to correct myself as I reached for another sip, weirdly smirking.

"Are you sure? Then why did you relocate him?" He queried since he knew that I was behind Nicholas' sudden disappearance.

"What do you mean?" I asked back as if I had never done such a thing, rubbing my hands together thinking that he would end this questionnaire in a second but with the look he gave me, I started to feel shivers that went down my spine. "I don't know what you are talking about," I shook my head, reaching for the glass filled with iced lemon tea.

"Nah! Don't make me the silly one. I know I didn't write those lines!" He hit the table in anger, holding his glass of lemonade to make sure the liquid didn't spill. "And you still have the audacity to pretend that it's my creation!"

I shrugged my shoulders, trying to hide my smile as my face tended to create funny expressions. Seeing him in fury was completely different from the stand-up comedian phase He always had when He had to talk about something serious as He was the judge in the TVA. When He observed my forced poker face he immediately stood up.

It seemed like the heavens clouded over since a huge darkened blanket covered the patio. Birds stopped singing as the music on the radio glitched, transforming it into white noise.

"Answer me! The Sacred Timeline can't transform itself to your likeness when you're not in charge of it!" He raised his voice once again, taking a glimpse at the frozen figure of my husband. Since he took a look at him, Gothane disappeared, crumbled to dust, making sure that I would understand how his decisions can twist reality.

"Why did you change his location? Why do you care about him so much? Why is he so precious to you?" He proceeded in questioning, demanding an answer but my throat was sore. I couldn't even think straight.

"There's something about him that I can't even explain. It seems like he wasn't supposed to exist at all. The reality was completely alternated, like someone was making sure that one day, he would be set free and eventually die," I described as my mind finally went vivid, letting me use the right words.

"You!" He vocalized, unsatisfied with the outcome.

"I wasn't the one who sent the order to delete the timeline," I stated, frowning a little. I didn't like when He was accusing me of something that I didn't do.

"You know how much I dislike it when someone calls me the Headmistress. I literally said that in the first chapter," I shook my head, taking a small sip from the tall glass, gazing at his expression and the slow gulp He managed to make.

"Proud as a peacock," He set forth, holding the last syllable as an echo. His mouth hung up open, as he decided to close it due to a swallow, biting the juicy apple he held proudly, grinning widely.

"Why are you so scared of him that you want him to be stopped?" I asked, not even hesitating because discussing with him was harder than talking to a tree.

"Even if you tried properly, he would remain," I whispered as an answer to my own question. Nevertheless, my face overtook a sudden realization.

I took off the masquerade I transformed my office into. The grasslands were gone, turning back to the shiny wooden flooring and the dining table reshaped into an office desk with the marble bowl of apples, which one of the apples was currently in use.

"He would remain," I repeated plainly, scanning the shocked look he gave me — a bombshell. He instantly acted withdrawn, reforming himself to nothing, dropping the apple on the floor as his grip eased.

( 1959 ... Dead Mountain )

THE SOUND OF HISSING FLAMES FROM THE RAVENOUS FIRE EVOKED THE BOY TO MOVE as he felt the tips of his fingers freezing, transforming themselves into icicles, taking one of the fabrics to snuggle even more. On Nicholas' rosy cheeks was printed a gleam that danced whenever a single flame made a subtle movement, illuminating a tiny acne scar on his forehead.

He was sleeping peacefully due to exhaustion. Luckily a dream that was playing in his head over and over, making sure that he's not going to wake up anytime soon.

In the dream, he was having dinner with his family which was so much fun. His father was bragging about the times he was one of the best surgeons when Peter Parker, Nicholas' brother-in-law, was nodding to every hospital-related term, taking a peek at his wife if he's doing the right thing. River chuckled every time his brown puppy eyes begged her for help whenever Stephen was talking about his achievements. On the other hand, Nicholas' mother was too quiet, sipping wine, scanning everyone's reactions to the new recipe she finally had the opportunity to try.

The evening was going great and the best about it was of course the food.

Knowing that his niece Maya will attend the dinner as well, Nick had already prepared an activity for her. Since they both loved drawing so much, he expected her to join him as he was drawing something to his sketchbook. Analyzing the sparks in her big brown eyes, made him so excited that he let her borrow his art supplies.

Nicholas left her drawing because him being thirsty so he went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Right away he entered the room, a door closed with a loud thump. Lights flickered, eventually turning off completely and then switching back on. He gasped in confusion, realizing he was trapped in an entirely white room without windows. He immediately jumped to the door, trying to open them as he was holding a doorknob. He was pulling in every direction but nothing happened. The door was closed.

Nick from thinking it was a stupid joke from his brother-in-law he became more and more worried. Later he was banging on the door, crying, screaming for help however no one was behind the door. He leaned on the door, sliding to at least sit-down.

"When can I see Nicky?" A soft girl's voice was wondering. When Nicholas heard his name he froze.

Seeing two silhouettes coming through under the door gave him hope but he remained silent.

"I'm worried that I can't really answer that. Nicky is getting very sick lately. We will take him somewhere where they will take good care of him to help him recover faster." A man responded with no emotion in his voice whatsoever. Nicholas didn't understand anything the man said which made him worried even more.

"No! Wait! I'm right here!" He cried out, banging on the door one more time. It seemed like the two figures left since everything became too quiet. He could hear only his heartbeat that keeps rising and the voice in his head that was getting louder and louder.

All of a sudden a paper tickled his palm. Someone slid the folded paper under the door. Nicholas was startled a little bit, not wanting to even take a look at the note of how scared he was but there was no other way. What if this was his way out? Although he was scared to death, he needed to observe the mysterious letter.

He took the paper, shivering in fear. He unfolded it very carefully and slowly. His hand tore one of the edges as if the trembling were taking control over him.

He's watching you, it read. Nicholas gulped as his throat was dry. 

The paper fell out of his grip as soon as a woman's shriek resounded behind the door. Then something loud and heavy banged on the door.

This heavy noise woke Nicholas up as an unexpected shock. His heartbeat went crazy as he wanted to get air back to his lungs as an unexplained pressure was squeezing them tightly. The shock started to consume his body when he realized he couldn't see the stars, remembering that he fell asleep underneath the open sky full of gleaming dots.

Nick was looking around, however, he couldn't see anything, only the radiance of the flames peeking through the fabric that covered his view as a veil. He completely lost his mind since he couldn't explain why he was trapped.

A dagger with skull details on the black metal appeared in his hand, dripping with darkness. The bright knife blade reflected the dancing flames thanks to which he felt the rising temperature in his grip. The shadow dagger was slowly falling apart since the fire was forcing it to fade.

A woman begged loudly for help.

Nick couldn't wait for any more seconds thinking it was another nightmare. The dagger started to rip apart the fabric that was in fact keeping him secure but the resounding noises were telling him otherwise. A loud tear released him free. He inhaled the fresh frozen air that was hiding from him. But this wasn't a dream. Although the fire was spreading around, he felt the cold breeze attacking his face, freezing it in time. Little snowflakes stuck to his raven eyelashes making seeing uneasy for him.

Nick blinked several times, as one of the sticking snowflakes fell into his sclera. It took him a moment to realize that he was in fact in a completely different place. It was a tent that he cut open, thinking it's a prison. He felt dizzy as the cold started to absorb his veins, turning his blood into iced cream.

Even with the heaviness on his legs that were constantly pulling him down, he managed to get back to his feet.

"Loki?" Nicholas tried to utter but his voice was scattered, feeling the cold inside his throat, able to communicate only through vocals. It must be thanks to the shock and the freezing temperature that abused his body.

Of course, no one responded, since he was lost, not knowing how he even got there. Probably by using his powers, relocating through shadows, but he didn't know that he would be able to do that. His thoughts got lost as he perceived a man that was throwing away clothes from one of the rucksacks that were lying on the tent's ground. His hands were trembling as he was trying to find something since he was losing time.

"Fuck... Fuck!" Nick muttered, finally as he cleared his throat by swallowing, managing his voice to start to work properly. Nicholas' legs unfortunately froze. He watched the flying jackets that later descended back to the snowfield right next to the tree that held another pile of snow powder.

The hooded figure proceeded in searching for the peculiar object, an item that was lost under several layers of clothes. Nicholas was walking slowly, trying not to make a single sound but the snow wasn't helping. The creaking of fresh snow kneaded around his legs, wetting up the black pants.

All of a sudden the manly silhouette stopped as he picked something odd in a leather case from a pocket of the snow jacket that was lying down, drowning in the snowfield. He examined the leather case closely, using the subtle light of the fire to illuminate something that was inside.

Three ampules with unknown turquoise almost see-through liquid shined brightly as the fire flames were exposing them. The radiance outlined them, created an illusion of beaming radiant aura.

As soon as Nicholas made another step, feeling the cold wrapping around his leg, he bumped into one of the set tents that made a distinct swishing sound which startled the man who suddenly started to run away. 

He didn't even look behind to see what he was running from. The fear captured them quickly, blocking his thinking, darkening his mind, swallowing it whole, ignoring the woman begging for her life.

Nicholas' mind was scattered into several fragments, wandering, trying to orientate in the snow mounds. He was exhaling loudly as the stress drove his nerves insane. Between the heavy breathing, he could hear snarling, convincing himself that it was him as his vocal cords became rough, nevertheless, it wasn't him who was growling.

Nick observed another figure that was coming, stumbling over its own leg as if it wasn't working. He examined long fair hair. The fire was lightening the ends, revealing that it was a woman.

He headed in her direction as a hint that he's going to help her since he perceived that her arms were bare, covered in snow dust

"I'm here to help," Nick uttered, although his voice was entangled with trembling. He walked towards her slowly, showing her that he truly brought peace. He wasn't sure that she would understand him, however, he could at least try. The corners of his mouth were pointing up, revealing a beam but it faded away as he noticed something horrifying.

An unknown fluid dribbled down her chin as she was trying to articulate but her mouth was completely numb, stuck in one place. The woman collapsed, coughing, letting the blood that was trapped in her mouth sprinkle the snow.

Luckily, Nicholas caught her before she fully dived into the snowfield. He held her under the arms, clutching her icy-cold skin as a reminder that everything is going to be alright.

"You're safe now," He whispered, trying to unzip the jacket Loki gave him, knowing that it will help someone else, forgetting that there was a whole snow jacket pile in the camp.

She couldn't fight the pain so she writhed from his grip, pulling Nicholas as well, falling on their knees. The woman squeezed his cold hand that was trying to unzip the snow jacket with an unrecognizable murmur.

Nicholas gasped, realizing that her tongue was ripped out and her mouth was filled with blood that she was eventually choking on. Nick didn't move aside, although he was scared, not blinking in fear, studying her.

She was thankful for that, reaching up to his forehead with her right hand, touching it slightly like the beginning of the sign of the cross, nevertheless, she stopped. Nicholas' tinted lips shivered as he examined that her finger was moving on his forehead, painting a bullseye with her own blood.

The growling got louder as the blood dripped on his nose. She fell to the ground with last breath as her heart stopped. Nicholas closed her eyes with a swift hand movement since examining the lifeless body made him sick to his stomach.

He jumped back to his feet, stepping aside, realizing that something big was moving through the forest and something killed that woman and eventually was making sure that everything nearby would die as well, therefore he must fight. The hunting season has just begun and he became one of the preys due to a mark that she precisely painted on his forehead.

"You got this," Nicholas whispered, even though he wasn't so sure about it. He had a queasy stomach, dry swallowing everything that came to his mind, constantly reminding himself that he's Nicholas Strange, the son of Sorcerer Supreme. However, father's round-the-clock reminder that his powers were useless, echoed in his head.

He stumbled over the woman's unconscious body. Clutching his hands into fists as he felt the gale getting stronger, releasing a monster.

"No, obviously you don't, Nicholas," he mumbled as a response to his own words, regretting the decision that he would fight the mysterious beast he got the opportunity to perceive.

Its eyes glinted as sparklers, glittering with specks of purple. It wasn't an animal. Its body was shaped from clouds of murk — a dark mist that was slightly iridescent, reflecting the moonlight and the thistle interstellar dust that flushed the heavens.

He blew his cheeks, biting the inside of them as a sign of remorse — a protest against his own choices. Nevertheless, there was no coming back.

Nicholas managed to pull part of the dark mist to himself as a source of his powers since it was pure darkness that propelled him and was the key. The same dagger with skull carving appeared in his right hand and another one generated in the other one. Having two weapons cleared his mind, reminding him that still he had the chance to survive and eventually kill the beast.

The blades emitted darkness that was descending, hiding in the snow. Nicholas stretched out, took a wide stance to find the center. Instantly as he wanted to attack the dark beast since it was right in front of his face, the monster went right through him as he was completely invisible.

This left him breathless.

Nicholas' heart raced, putting his hand down, realizing that he was still alive. One of the daggers disappeared since he put his left hand on the chest, believing it was an illusion. Just as soon he looks behind, he observed that the monster went after someone entirely different — the man, holding on to the leather case filled with blue liquid.

The blood, he thought, putting cold fingertips on his forehead, accidentally smudging the bullseye, revealing its inner thoughts.

The dark red fluid stuck to his fingers, leaving him with the belief that the woman knew how to stop the beast but she died sooner than she could prove his theory right.

THE SNOW COVER WAS RUFFLED DUE TO A SERIES OF TRACKS, TRAILS INTO THE UKNOWN. Tracks were endless and had the same tempo, creating slightly curved lines that were later illuminated with the lights of the snowmobile.

"This must be exactly how driving a jet ski feels like!" Mobius raised his voice. He had a warm snow pecan snow jacket with a big TVA logo on the back and black goggles that reflected the snow hills, covering his eyes from the dust.

"Definitely!" I responded loudly, letting one of my hands adjust my pinkish faux fur hat. When the snowmobile bumped into another snow pile, my hands connected around Mobius' waist. I held him tightly, although his driving skills seemed natural, perfectly splendid.

The freezing breeze was attacking my face. A scarf joined the onslaught as the wind was getting stronger due to a fast ride. "But be careful! If we hit something that we shouldn't, we need to reset the timeline and with that, both of them will be gone," I warned Mobius since he was too excited but the fact that everything she built would be gone in a second frightened.

"Don't worry! I have everything under control," Mobius stated as a grin burnt on his lips. Little snowflakes stroked him on the mustache, like if he forgot to wipe off the bits of sugar from the doughnut he had before this spontaneous ride.

I examined the mountains that mirrored the fluffy clouds on the punch skies since it was almost sunrise. I was kinda skeptical due to the fog that suddenly appeared around them as an unwanted hug from a long-lost relative.

"He really likes special effects, doesn't He?" Mobius chuckled, pointing out the sudden splash of mist that flew across one of the hills to another. Instantly he slowed down because it seemed like it started snowing as the star-shaped speckles plummeted back to the surface, piling up on the path.

Mobius squinted, gazing through the goggles because the fog was atrocious, covering everything into bridal veils.

"It's his specialty — ruining someone's plans," I mumbled in annoyance, knowing that He would simply do anything to stop them, keeping on the strings, being the puppeteer, taking care of his puppets.

"Stop!" I persuaded, squeezing one of his shoulders. He froze in shock but eventually stopped. The lights of the snowmobile flickered in disapproval.

"Why?" Mobius questioned with hesitation, thinking that the fog isn't a problem yet he obeyed her words. He studied my tiny hand pointing out to nowhere the snow blanket.

"Don't move," I muttered, trying to lower my voice. As he blinked once a pair of scared elks ran gracefully across the path. I gasped as one of the elks stumbled, burying the front split hoof in the snow pile. The elk jumped up and then disappeared in the white fog.

"That was close," Mobius mumbled with a wide grin, praising me for stopping him.

"It's all about the instinct," I smirked, adjusting the matching pink fur coat that kept me warm and outlined my body. "Now let's find them before it's too late," I continued.

As soon as I put my hands back to his waist and he stepped on the pedal, something creeped out from the snow loaf, something that snarled loudly.

A large group, a wolf pack.

I didn't see them at first but when one of the wolves jumped down, I noticed it in the corner of my eye. My heart almost stopped but I didn't hesitate any second as I saw the events that could follow on. The image of seeing Mobius ripped apart, made me worried.

A blue wave of energy formed around my hands as I startled, automatically rewinding the time a few moments back. The wolf leaped back and the rest of the pack followed it, vanishing in the snow. The sky blue blaze flashed in front of her eyes, giving me and my partner another chance.

"That was close," Mobius mumbled with a wide grin, praising me for stopping him, repeating his own words in the same tone as before.

"Yeah, tell me about it. But now go!" I shouted, knowing that the wolves would attack them in a minute if they proceeded to stand there. "I said go!" I raised my voice even more as he was still in trance, he needed a moment to focus.

Mobius mumbled something under his nose still in shock, that they didn't hit an innocent animal. He was furiously pressing the engine button, but it seemed as if the engine was broken, frozen.

I exhaled harshly, drumming a tune on his snow jacket. Defining how nervous I was that I am going to be trapped in an endless time loop. Observing the wolf pack that appeared on the horizon of the hill, I reached for the button and pressed it myself, and kicked the vehicle slightly. The snowmobile squeaked and sped shakily forward.

Mobius screeched as he heard the wolf growling and later their fast steps following them. He looked back, perceiving the cruel truth of being hunted. "For god's sake!" Mobius cried out, speeding even more. "We should have sent them to Hawaii!" He complained.

"Yeah... And He would let one of the volcanoes erupt. No thanks!" I rolled my eyes, thinking about another excuse, holding tightly onto his waist.

"So now what?!" He questioned, trying to add speed but it seemed like the snow was slowing them down, although it was a vehicle made especially for the snowy terrain.

"We need to get rid of them, shake them off whatever is needed and I mean that immediately!" I urged, catching breath as I saw the group of glowing pupils in the mirror as I looked over his shoulder.

"I'm trying!" Mobius shouted back, even though I heard him clearly. The snowmobile was protesting

"Can't you just predict his moves?" Mobius queried, knowing that getting rid of the wolf pack would be quite tricky since they needed something that they would crown as prey to do that. "As you did, when you played chess with Miss Minutes?"

"Yes! Yes!" I expressed happiness, nodding since his idea was helpful, giving me hope. I kept reminding myself that this is a stupid board game. He was playing the role of god, but I taught him — meaning that my role was even bigger.

I kept thinking, what grand gesture He would do next yet all the white pictures and noises wiped my mind, turning it into a canvas.

"Go off the trail," I commanded Mobius. He agreed right away since he was the one who gave me the idea of making odd choices. Although the snow tickled them on the heels, the wolves couldn't keep up the snowmobile's speed, eventually slackening — wading through the snow.

The attached skis on the snowmobile flattened the snow, turning it into a delicious yet so stiff flat cake that your grandma usually makes from the leftover flour that she had in the kitchen's cabinet.

"Ka-chow!" Mobius shouted in excitement as he observed the wolves lowering their ears and slowly backing, going back on the track like if they were forbidden someone's territory.

"That's what I call a big entry! We're back in the game!" Mobius did a little wave with his shoulders as a sign of victory dance, but since he was a responsible driver, he decided to calm down. His shoulders hung and eventually simmered down, as a thought reminded him he should've taken it easy rather than overreact. That kind of behavior, being reckless all of a sudden, could take his life and his life was precious to him, or wasn't it?

"I know for sure that he's preparing something bigger than a wolf pack, so I wouldn't celebrate it that early," I explained, having the weird feeling that resonated in the back of my head, reminding me that things are going to be even worse.

I felt how Mobius' muscles hardened under my remark. He was scared.

I gulped, gripping the sleeves of his anorak, looking at the snow traces, noticing an oval shape printed in the snow — a footprint, a notice that they were going the right direction, eventually illuminating a silhouette shrouding near to an extinguished fire.

author's note:

I am back with another chapter! I'm so sorry it took me so long but at least the chapter is quite longer than usual ones ? or am I just making that up? Anyways,  this chapter was had very chaotic energy and some of the ideas were very random but I assure you that everything is going to make sense! 🥺

Also, this chapter's alternative title is; Enigma and Mobius being iconic 😋

a sign-off gif was made by @/silksenses