A Snake in Winter

  There was a soft chime of the hanging bells from outside, that echoed with Jet’s footsteps in the snow. He was trying to keep his fraying breath from giving him away. There were no horses outside the old library, but tracks from chariots. Grubby boots and wheels printed around the old mansion. He saw several of them stationed at the side, with shadows lighting up cigarettes to stay warm. 

    Jet bit his chapped lips, as he saw several men through the windows, blue and black uniforms that shifted with lanterns. Jet wasn’t the only onlooker, at the end of the staircase stood a small man with a large hat. His arms folded in an impatient pact, with his foot that thumped faster than a rabbit. Jet recalled the man’s hat, the same man who now owned the wrecked library. His desperate plea in a wanted poster he posted all over town. For anyone who could kill the thing resting on his property he would give a fine price. Jet wasn’t the only one coming for a quick score. Except the best of the best came, for the poster had no wanted picture, and everyone knew it was a monster. Still, like the men, Jet walked up to the front. The man turned to him, frowning. 

   “You ‘ere for the prize too, kid?” He scoffed. Jet nodded. 

   “Yeah.” 

   “I ain’t puttin’ my money on you kid.” His jaw shifted. “I’ve got the best of the best already.” 

   “I figured.” Jet smirked. “You tryin’ to smoke it out?” The man shifted as the men inside barked at each other. The man held the bridge of his nose. 

   “That’s the idea.” 

   “How much are you payin’ these desperados.” 

   “Kid, what are you gettin’ at?” The man turned to him. “You sain’ you could do better than the law.” 

    Jet’s teeth flashed. “I can bring that thing down by sunrise.” He let his coat catch the wind, his two revolvers shimmered in the lamplight. The man blinked, but then opened his mouth. 

      A high pitch scream echoed from the library, and the men all turned to look. There was a flash of light from the attic. The small crowd inside scurried in panic. Fallowed by guns clinking and knifes unsheathed from their holders.

       The man shifted in equal panic. “What the hell?” 

      “In an hour.” Jet turned to him, amidst the panic he remained calm. “I can take that thing down in an hour.” 

      The man turned to the house, then sighed.  “Okay kid.” 

       Satisfied, Jet stepped onto the deck. Around to the back door, he saw the men as they walked up the staircase. Soft footsteps thumped over him. Jet quickly hopped over the staircase, and turned around to see another man go down. Jet cursed the men for being careless, but he was assured. This was going be too easy. 

     “Where this thing?!” The sheriff’s voice echoed as another scream followed. A short sparkle of a mirror reflected on the ceiling, then darted away. Boots scrambled upstairs as dirt and dust spat on Jet. He shakes his hat, and coughs. Two men tumbled down the stars, swearing and moaning in pain. The sheriff with a few other men fallow them. Jet hid behind a toppled onto of the stairs, and then carefully, he peeked out. 

    “This ain’t natural boss!” A man panicked, with a brother slung over his shoulder. “We hav’ta find another way to get the beast!” 

   “That thing ain’t human!” Another howled. 

   “Whatever it is, it’s been terrorizing this town long enough.” A gritty voice echoed. The men turned to the hallway, only be greeted with a sudden bright light. Like a flash of lighting, but twice as deadly. One of the men, stopped in his tracks. He braced himself against the wall, he hand shook like he saw a ghost. He buckled to his knees, then on his back. The last of the warmth of his breath pooled over him as his skin crackled. The men screamed as his skin freezes, then he lay still. 

    The men fell silent. Only a few creeped up to inspect their brother, while most peered into empty dark hallway. Snow flutters under the moonlight, as the hush of the wind. The man squirms in his new skin, like a chick trying to break away from an egg. What a strange curse, Jet thought. 

    “Let’s go.” The gruff man makes his way though his men. Jet could hear the familiar strain in his voice. “We’ve got a job to do.”

    Jet knew that voice. The gruff and rugged sheriff, and Jet kicked himself. He was a problem. He heard the men gulp, and continued down the hall. 

     Suddenly, another crash sent the group of men cowering. Jet inched his way out from behind the bookcase, and felt wind tickle the back of his neck. The hall is large thanks to the old wealth that built the house, and Jet was able to hide behind a dresser. He wondered why something would hide here, everyone in town knew who had their eyes on this old mansion. It wasn’t an eye sore, and folks came from all over the past few decades to size it up. No one did for a long time, because almost no one had that kind of money anymore. 

     Then feet scuffled, that yanked Jet’s thoughts to the moment. He turned to see a shadow shoot past him, and clumsily into the group of men, missing the stairs. Jet watched the panic raise again, but this time his heart sank as the sheriff shoves his fingers into a patch of shadow. 

    “Gotcha!” The sheriff pulled up a tussle of dark hair. Falling down a small body of a girl who struggled in his grasp. He held the girl like a rattlesnake, proud to capture such a venomous creature. The backs of the both of them lit with dry light from a lantern. The men all cackled at her, as rage churned in Jet’s gut. His own scalp prickled. The girls eyes were squinted shut as she struggled. The sheriff lifted her up. 

   “Now this was what the fuss was about? A little brat?” He pinched her chin. But before his thumb could dig into her cheek, she opened her eyes. They electrified the room, and the men buckled back. Some were smart enough and cowered, others froze in awe. The sheriff shielded his own eyes and screamed. The girl stumbled out of his grasp, and landed. Jet watched though his own shielded eyes, when he heard her footsteps echo down the hall. The sheriff fired shots into the air which sends the girl scrambling to a room. Jet looses his revolver and sends a shot just above the sheriff. It clips a chandelier and it knocked him aside.

     The group stoped as they gaze on the men, and Jet flew past them. Apparently the hall wasn’t as long as he was hoping and a gunshot rings next to his ear. He looked back to see a bullet hole in the wall. They toppled to the floor as Jet slams a door behind him. A room with a toppled dresser and a wire bed frame. Jet clicked the lock in place, and pulled his jacket over his chest, as he slowly inched forward. Suddenly, a small shadow knocked a book to the ground.   

    “It’s okay, you can come out now.” Jet tried to keep his voice low.  Another shuffle, but nothing stirred. He stepped closer to the dresser. 

    “Please come out.” He calmly cooed. “I won’t hurt you."

    Another beat of hesitation, then something emerges from its shadow. 

    The girl shivered and clutched her tattered dress. Her golden eyes met Jet’s, but she ducked them behind her arms, that are covered in dirt and bruises. She shivered again, and Jet felt his breath pool out in front of him. The air around them was dry too, and Jet saw the girl’s feet, blue, blistered, and bare. She must have escaped from somewhere to the library.  

    She shivered again, but now tears streaking down her face though her fingers. The men banged on the door, but Jet didn’t hear them.

    “It’s alright.” Jet said. 

     She shook her head, and cowered in her palms. Her small shoulders rose and fell with gasps of breath. She was too young, Jet thought again, too young to be crying like this. 

     “It’s okay…….” Jet smiled, but the girl didn’t move. 

     She was one of them for sure, the cursed children. With a curse that would haunt her for the rest of her life, a cruel joke from ancient gods. His gut churned in guilt as shouting pulled them both to the present. It was strange, because it was disappearing. 

     Jet reached out and gently tapped her hand. She flinched, but didn’t turn away. Her fingers were ice, and she didn’t dare pry them from her eyes. Jet reached around his neck and drew off his coat. He held it out. 

    “It’s alright…” Jet assured her again. “You’re cold right? They won’t hurt you anymore.” 

     He held the coat where she could take it. Her hand slowly reached out and found the thick wool. Her fingers brushed the grain cautiously. Then, slowly, her fingers wrapped around it and she smiled.