Someone certainly knew how to be dramatic. Claire wasn't sure what to make of the stranger, but after seeing all the odd creatures scatter into the shadows she wasn't sure she wanted to hang around. Following the stranger down the hall, she stopped suddenly.

       The nutcracker, she had to get the nutcracker.

       "Wait," she demanded, wheeling around and darting back towards the bedroom. The young man cursed under his breath and she heard his heavy footsteps as he followed after her. The nutcracker was still lying abandoned in the middle of the room when she entered. Claire couldn't explain it, but a nagging thought in the back of her mind just wouldn't allow her to leave it behind.

       Claire reached the nutcracker about the same time the stranger reached her. He grabbed her by the arm and started pulling her out of the room just as she picked up the wooden toy.

       "I can't believe you are risking your life over that thing," he growled. Claire didn't fight him as he pulled her towards the door of the room.

       "Maybe if you explain what's going on-"

       "No time," he interrupted. They were nearly to the door when he stopped and pushed her behind him. "This is just great. I hope that damn thing is worth dying for."

       "What were those things? Why are they so dangerous? They looked like... weird rats."

       "They're evil, that's what they are," the young man replied distractedly. "Now can you please be quiet." He seemed to be watching for something, waiting maybe, but for what Claire had no idea. She wanted to ask, but she doubted she'd get a straight answer anyway. Instead, Claire hugged the nutcracker tightly against her and waited for something to happen.

       "They're waiting for us, in the hall," he whispered. He held his hand out in front of him and muttered something under his breath. He swiped his hand to the left and downward and Claire felt a ripple of warm air sweep past her.

       Claire looked towards the darkness and imagined those beady black eyes watching her. She suppressed a shudder. "Why? I don't understand."

       "For some reason they want that damn toy," he replied, gritting his teeth in annoyance. "It must be what attracted them in the first place. Where did you get that thing anyway?"

       "M-my godfather gave it to me, as a gift, he told me to take care of it," Claire replied. She looked down at the nutcracker which starred back up at her with its faded eyes.

      "He always was reckless," the young man grumbled.

       "You know my godfather?"

       "That's not important right now," the young man declared. "They're getting impatient and it won't be long before they decide to come in and take what they want. The barrier will only keep them out for so long. My magic here is weak."

       Barrier? Magic?

       What the hell was going on?

       "Wait, what?"

       "We'll never make it to the roof," he continued, ignoring Claire's growing confusion, too distracted, or perhaps unconcerned, to try to explain. "We will have to jump from here." Moving away from Claire, the young man approached the french doors the creatures had been attempting to open earlier.

       "Jump?" Claire asked in disbelief. "Are you crazy?"

       Instead of answering her, the young man lifted the latch and the wind caused the doors to fly open. Behind her Claire could hear the angry hum of the creatures who seemed unable to pass the threshold into the room. It seemed to grow louder with each passing moment. The young man stepped out onto the balcony and leaned over the railing.

       "This will have to do," he said, more to himself than to Claire as he climbed to stand on top of the wide, snow covered railing. After a few more minutes he turned towards her and held out his hand. "Let's go."

       "No," Claire managed at last. "I won't. You're crazy. We'll die."

       "I know how it sounds, but I need you to trust me, Claire."

       "How do you know my name?"

       "I know a lot of things about you," he replied. "I know that you're lonely, that you feel like you're out of place and that you don't belong. I know that if you don't come with me now, you'll never find what you're looking for."

       A loud roaring sound suddenly filled the room and Claire turned to see the darkness from the hallway pushing in through the doorway like a living thing. Dozens of glowing red eyes blinked in unison as whatever it was reached for her.

       "There's no more time, Claire," the young man called out. "The barrier won't hold much longer and if they break through, you will wish you were dead."

       Looking back down at the nutcracker in her arms, Claire recalled the note her uncle had left with the gift. Remember, Claire, when the time comes, don't be afraid to leap.

       Had he known?

       "Claire, please!"

      Pushing aside her fears, Claire rushed towards the balcony just as the barrier shattered and the darkness spilled into the room. She grabbed the stranger's hand and he pulled her onto the wide marble railing beside him.

       "Whatever you do, Claire, don't forget to breathe," he said. "Jump, now!"

       Claire didn't think, she just acted. When she felt him propel himself forward, she followed, squeezing her eyes shut as air rushed past her. Claire felt the biting sting cold against her face as they fell, and despite his warning to breathe, she held her breath, and waited for impact.

       That impact never came. Instead they simply kept falling and after what felt like an eternity, Claire forced her eyes to open. All around her snow was swirling, although the air had grown still, and when she looked down at herself she realized she was encased in a pale blue light suspended in darkness.

       Claire, my child...

       The soft, gentle, female voice filtered through her thoughts, startling her at first.

       Don't be alarmed... I mean you no harm.

       What in the world was going on? Was she dead? Was this Heaven?

       You are very much alive, and I am certain you have many questions. I do not have much time to give you the answers you seek. I must impart on you a warning. You are in danger here, not all is at it seems.

        Here? Where was here exactly? Why did this voice know everything she was thinking? It was then that Claire noticed a small pinprick of light forming in the darkness. It was small at first, but rapidly growing larger with each passing moment.

        Be careful whom you trust...

        "Who are you?" Claire called out, her voice echoing as though she had shouted into a vast chasm. "Why am I in danger?"

         I've stayed too long. I promise, we will speak again.

       "Wait! Don't go!" Claire shouted again, the light engulfing her, and blinding her.

       "Claire! Damn it, I told you to keep breathing!"

       Her eyes fluttered open and air came rushing into her lungs. The young man hovered over her and despite the darkness he was close enough that she could see the very real concern etched across his features. She hadn't noticed it before, but he was quite attractive in a rugged, unkempt sort of way.

       The moment their eyes met, and he realized she was alive, he scowled. "Can't you even follow simple instructions?" Despite his harsh words, there was still evidence of concern in his tone. "Don't get up too fast, you'll regret it."

       Before she could speak, he stood and moved away. Snow fluttered down from the dark sky above, no longer blocked by her companion's crouched frame, and landed gently against her cheeks and eyelashes. Claire continued to lay there for several minutes until she became acutely aware of how cold the ground beneath her was.

       Heeding his warning, Claire slowly pushed herself upwards into a sitting position and looked around. They seemed to be in some sort of clearing surrounded by evergreens whose branches were burdened by snow that glistened silver in the moonlight.

       "Where are we?" she asked.

       "We're in the Great Wood," he offered as he pulled a folded piece of paper from the pocket of his long coat.

        "Ah," Claire declared as non-chalant as if he had just told her they were in Central Park. Deciding she wasn't likely to get a better answer than that any time soon, she switched gears. "I really thought I was jumping to my death."

       "I told you to trust me," he replied distractedly. He had unfolded the paper and was turning it one way and then the next. Rising carefully to her feet, Claire made her way over to where he was standing.

       "Is that a map?" she asked, motioning to the paper in his hands. It looked like a map, but Claire was trying to make conversation.

       "Yes," he grunted, glancing towards her.

       "So you don't really know where we are, do you?" she pressed.

       "Any chance you could sit over there," he motioned to a large tree trunk protruding from the snow a few yards away, "and just be quiet while I figure out our next move?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

       "I mean, I guess," Claire said. She made her way over to the log and tried to ignore the soggy sensation in her shoes. They were slippers really, not meant for traipsing through the snow. In fact, nothing she had on was really fit for this sort of weather. As she sat there waiting for him to say something, she tried to ignore the cold seeping through each layer of clothing. Despite her best efforts, she was shivering within a matter of minutes.

       "There is a town not too far from here, about ten miles or so to the east, do you think you can- Claire? Are you okay?"

       "Huh?" Claire asked, managing to turn her head in his direction. She was starting to feel sleepy and sluggish. "Y-yeah. J-just a l-little c-c-cold."

       "Damn it, why didn't you say something sooner?" he growled angrily as he marched over to where she was sitting. He crouched down beside her and began to rub her arms vigorously with his hands. After a few moments he pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her. "Are you really that stupid?"

       "Y-you were b-busy," Claire stammered, her teeth chattering. "I-I d-din't want to b-b-bother you."

       "Idiot," he grumbled, turning so that his back was towards her. "Get on."

       "W-what?" Claire managed.

       "Climb onto my back, I'm going to carry you," he stated.

       "N-no, you c-can't," Claire protested.

       "We can't stay out here, you'll freeze to death," he shot back, "and do you really think you can walk ten miles in those sad excuses for shoes? I don't. Now stop arguing with me and get on."

       Mustering all the strength she had left, Claire did as he asked and reached out to wrap her arms around his neck. He took hold of her hands and pulled her arms until she was forced to fall into him. Once she was resting against his back, he reached down and grabbed hold of her legs just behind the knees. In one surprisingly swift motion, he lifted her up.

       "Hold on tight, do you think you can manage that?"

       Claire nodded, burrowing into the warmth his body offered. Under any other circumstance she would have felt mortified being that close to a stranger, a man no less, but with the cold swirling around her, Claire was grateful.

      "Good," he replied. "Now just be quiet and try to think warm."

      "Can I ask just one more question" she murmured.

He sighed "What?" he asked as he started towards the treeline.

      "What's your name?"

      "It's Kilian," he said after a moment. "Now be quiet, or else I am going to drop you and let you find your own way to the village."

      "I don't believe you, but I'll be quiet anyway," Claire said softly.

      Kilian snorted, but stayed silent, and though Claire couldn't see it, she swore he was smiling.