... Jess jolted awake. The faint glow of the nightlight. A rumpled bed. All in all, everything was as usual—nighttime outside, and yet another nightmare had haunted her sleep. As far back as she could remember, she’d always slept with a light on. Her mother, just like Jess, had grown accustomed to it. The truth was, she was terrified of the dark. In the darkness, her nightmares took on a tangible form, coming to life. In the dark, she’d wake up gasping for air...
Tonight, it was the same old dream—night, a forest, a predatory growl, a chase, someone incredibly strong and dangerous, someone who was just about to grab her…
***
“Jess, just trust me on this. It’s for the best—for both of us. He’s an old friend of your father’s. Long ago, he promised to look out for us and help whenever we needed it.”
“No, I’m at a loss for words! Canada? I don’t get it, Mom! What friend? Why have I never heard of him before, and where was this so-called help all this time? Why the heck do I have to go?!” The girl was practically shrieking with indignation, while her mother, oddly enough, remained remarkably composed.
“Jessica, my current job involves constant travel, and I can’t keep uprooting you every month, dragging you from city to city. You need stability. You need to build your own life, make friends…”
“I don’t see the logic here!” Jessica cut her mother off sharply. “Stop deciding everything for me! I’m not five, or even fifteen—I’m a full eighteen years old! I have a home, a steady school, and even friends! Why are you doing this to me? Tell me, why do I have to leave everything behind and go to the middle of nowhere, to some place called Fort Gross?”
“Don’t raise your voice at me. How many times do I have to say it? Until you’re twenty-one, I decide where you live, and I know what’s best for you. Here, without me, you’ll have no one to rely on. There, at least, you’ll have people close to you,” the woman replied, her tone slightly sharper but still impassive as she looked at her daughter.
“I’m starting to think this whole thing is some kind of crazy delusion, but you’re not exactly at that age yet, Mom!” Jessica couldn’t express her desperate confusion through words, facial expressions, or gestures alone. “You’re talking about ‘close people’? My neighbors are closer to me than this so-called friend of Dad’s, who I’ve never even laid eyes on! What kind of ridiculous whim is this to kick me out of my own home?”
“Enough with the hysterics, Jess! I would never part with you if it weren’t absolutely necessary. The Donavans are wonderful people, and even though your father has been gone for years, Michael often calls to check in and offer his help. Help that I’ve finally decided to accept. That’s it. This isn’t up for discussion. You’re going!”
“Oh, really? And how long, may I ask, will this exile of mine last?” Jessica forced out the words, her voice weak with hurt, her entire demeanor radiating disagreement and anger toward her mother.
“Maybe a year… but I’ll call you.”
“Yeah, sure. I’m just in shock! It feels like this isn’t even happening to me. Just like that, out of nowhere, you’ve turned my world upside down,” the girl whispered, stunned, as she hastily stuffed her things into a bag. Resentment swelled inside her, filling her with bitterness, making it impossible to look into the eyes of the closest, dearest person in her life. Her mother seemed deliberately distant today, as if she couldn’t wait for the door to close behind her only daughter. And Jess took it exactly as expected. In that moment, she felt like she was being discarded, like unwanted baggage. She was furious with her mother—so furious that, without even saying goodbye, she grabbed her small bag and headed straight for the airport.
“Goodbye, my girl… and forgive me,” her mother whispered, burying her face in her hands.
But during the flight, as her raging emotions began to settle, Jess reconsidered her stance and softened a bit. She saw the situation from a slightly different perspective. Stepping onto foreign soil, she realized she already missed home. She missed the sunshine, and even her exasperating mother, whom she loved despite everything. At the same time, Jessica understood that both of them had gone too far with this decision, and it was unlikely anything could be changed anytime soon. So, with a heavy sigh, she pulled herself together, straightened her back, and walked lightly toward the arrivals area, scanning for a sign with her name. She spotted it in the hands of a focused, friendly-looking guy in a sports jacket.
“By the power vested in me by my name, I release you from this dreary duty,” Jess said with a warm smile, extending her hand. “Jessica Thiam, but just call me Jess.”
“Steve Donovan,” the guy replied with a shy smile, lowering the sign and returning a firm handshake. He looked at the girl with obvious curiosity, which made him even more flustered. “Where’s your luggage? It’s a three-hour drive to the house, so let’s hurry. Better to get there before dark.”
“Everything’s with me,” Jess said, patting the small bag on her shoulder. “The rest will be shipped later. I was in a rush to meet the Donovan clan!” she added with a smirk, heading toward the exit first.
“Alright, Steve, you’ve got three hours to tell me about yourself,” Jess declared casually as she settled into the car.
“Then I’m afraid I’ll be silent for two and a half of them,” Steve replied, more reserved now, without a smile. “I’m just a regular guy, nothing special about me. Even the car belongs to my parents. Let’s start with you. I can see you’ve got a sense of humor and you’re easy to talk to. So, I’m guessing you’ve got plenty to share.”
“Oh, and I’m incredibly brave, considering how much I hate planes, the cold, and the unknown,” Jess quipped with a touch of irony. “So, what should I tell you? I was born a healthy, sturdy kid, and until I was five, I was the picture of charm. From five onward, either my mom raised me, or I raised her, and after that, we just tried to coexist. But seriously, just a few days ago, I was strolling along the beach, never imagining I’d end up in Canada. Boom! And my mom decided to flip both her life and mine upside down, shipping me off to some old acquaintance I’ve never even heard of. Now it feels like I’ve leveled up in some weird online game. Or are you more interested in the personal details of my life?” Jess grinned, amused by his embarrassment. She’d always been confident around guys—back in Miami, she’d had no shortage of admirers. So, she’d learned to brush them off without a second thought, filtering their words and actions through her own unique lens.
Smiling, Steve shook his head, either in disapproval or confusion.
“My old man told me your dad saved his life once during a military op in the Middle East. He often gets lost in memories of those days, comparing today’s struggles to past heroics. And by the way, we were also only recently told about your arrival.”
“We, as in who?”
“Me, my sister Carroll, and my mom. So, what were you saying about personal details?”
“Ah, you’re ready for more!” Jess laughed. “I know, curiosity is a powerful thing. Well, once I got past the acne and adjusting-to-a-bra phase, I started obsessing over boys. But that passed too.”
“I’m almost scared to ask what phase you’re in now,” Steve said with a crooked smile, glancing at the girl who was clearly teasing him. “If the boy phase is behind you, what’s next?”
“Looks like you’ve got quite the imagination,” Jess said, barely holding back a laugh. “I said boys, not guys. Don’t worry, I’m straight. I’ve just gotten smarter and finally shook off that silly infatuation nonsense. Seriously, at eighteen, I’ve only had one real relationship, but we eventually parted ways, staying friends in name only. Truth is, I want to focus on getting a good education first. I’m into biology. And… I dream of living in Spain.”
“Because it’s warmer there, or do you have a thing for Spanish guys?”
The green-eyed girl shot him a slightly reproachful look.
“My dad had Spanish roots, smarty-pants. And yes, it’s warm there! How can anyone get used to this freezing cold? Snow, wind, ugh!”
“Canada isn’t perpetual winter,” Steve countered. “You’ll see how amazing it is here in the summer!”
“Oh, please, don’t try to sell me on Fort Gross being the most beautiful spot in Canada! I lived in Miami, and trust me, I know a thing or two about scenic places,” Jess shot back with a playful shrug. “Your Fort Gross is probably some forgotten outpost, a lonely reminder of humanity in the middle of a dense forest,” she sighed, running her fingers through her raven-black mane of loose hair, brushing it aside.
Steve turned out to be a rather quiet conversationalist, often dodging questions with short, curt replies. He kept trying to get her to talk about herself, which wasn’t hard since Jess enjoyed casual banter. It didn’t bother her at all—she liked meeting new people and soaking in new experiences. Her easygoing nature and openness always drew people in, and Steve was no exception. He listened with genuine interest, chuckling at her jokes and funny stories, of which Jess had plenty. With her personality, she had a knack for landing in hilarious situations, and she could spin a tale for ages, embellishing for extra laughs.
“Good grief, we’ve been driving on this desolate, icy road for forty minutes since we turned off the highway! No oncoming cars, no signs of life—just snow-covered forest and drifts as high as the sky,” she said, stifling a yawn and stretching. “It’s been over two hours, Steve. Does this road ever end? Let me drive!”
“No way. Something tells me—call it a self-preservation instinct—that it wouldn’t end well,” Steve said firmly. “Sorry, but driving in Miami and driving on a snowy forest road are two completely different beasts.”
“Hmph, you’re underestimating me. That’s almost insulting,” she muttered, bored.
But then, from behind the snow-dusted branches of fir trees hanging low over the road, Jess caught sight of a figure that grabbed her attention. It wasn’t just that this person was the first they’d seen on this road. Something else struck her. The guy was walking in nothing but jeans and a T-shirt. He strolled casually, as if it were a hot summer day, as if the fifteen-degree frost was a delight, completely unbothered by the snow falling from the branches or the sound of the approaching car.
“Steve, stop! That guy’s clearly not right in the head or under the influence of something,” Jess said decisively, grabbing Steve’s sleeve. “Come on, we’ve got to pick him up!” She kept trying to get a better look at the stranger’s face.
But Steve surprised her just as much as the crazy guy in the woods. Clenching his jaw, completely ignoring her, he only sped up.
“Steve, what’s wrong with you?! There’s a person out in the cold! Do you hear me? Stop, I said!” Grabbing the steering wheel, Jess yanked it hard. The car veered off the road and crashed into a massive snowbank with a jolt.
“Damn it, Jess!” Steve yelled. “Happy now? You’re insane! You wanted to kill us over that freak? I wasn’t about to pick him up because that’s the last thing I’d do in this life! You say you’re smart? Well, this isn’t smart, Jess! … Damn it!” Steve slammed his hands against the steering wheel in frustration, but Jess was already climbing out of the car, fuming at the fact that he had the nerve to yell at her.
“All we need to do is push! … Hey!” She called out to the strange guy walking by, the very reason for this mess. “Can you help us? Please, I’m begging you! Wait! You can’t just wander around half-dressed in this cold and scare people half to death!”
It seemed her last words made him stop and turn around. Before Steve could react, Jess was already standing next to the tall, sturdy stranger, who looked at her with surprise, casually shoving his hands into his jeans pockets.
“You freaked me out with your half-dressed getup, so I tried to get Steve to stop, and… well, I overdid it a bit. Now you’ve got to get in the car and warm up, or just looking at you makes me shiver from the cold too.”
“Jess, get back here now!” Steve growled from behind with a strange, strained tone.
“Yeah, my name’s Jess,” she said, ignoring Steve and extending her hand to the stranger. The guy, who at first seemed taken aback, now flashed a cocky grin, as if he found this amusing.
“You wanted to give me a ride and save me from certain doom?” he said with a low chuckle, staring straight at the girl who still held out her hand. “Stay where you are, Donovan!” he barked sharply at Steve without even glancing his way. “I’ll help you out, kind lady,” he added, laughing again. “Oh, Jess, if only you knew how absurd this situation really is!” he said, biting his lip. “How long are you in Fort Gross for?” he asked, narrowing his amber eyes as he studied her with a condescending smile.
“I don’t know,” Jess replied, shoving her hands into her pockets too. “But I do know you’ve probably got a fever. Let’s get you home before you start hallucinating on top of the delirium. Though, honestly, I think it’s worse than I imagined,” she said evenly, still intent on helping him despite his arrogant tone.
“You guessed it. I’m Nick,” he said, now extending his hand with a grin. Not wanting to play silly games, Jess shook it firmly, noticing how hot his palm felt.
“My God, you’re burning up,” she whispered with concern. That flicker of worry in her eyes seemed to change his expression.
“Get in the car, Jess. I’ll push you out of the snowbank, but I’m definitely not coming with you!” Nick said firmly, leaning in slightly so she could sense his resolve. Just then, a gust of wind tousled her hair, flinging a strand into his face. About to say something, Nick suddenly froze, now looking utterly bewildered. A click sounded nearby.
“Step away from her, Farms! You know we don’t miss!” Steve called out tersely from behind.
“Are you all out of your minds or just frostbitten?!” Jess exclaimed, losing her patience. “I don’t know what’s between you two, but it’s time to get a grip and use your heads! Steve,” she turned around, “it’s not right to leave a living person out in this cold in the middle of nowhere!”
“A person, sure, but not him,” Steve muttered stubbornly, still aiming at Nick. “Please, Jess, get in the car. You don’t know him at all.”
“But I’ve only known you for a couple of hours too! I just can’t walk past someone who needs help. It’s obvious—something’s wrong with him! Maybe he’s trying to end it all this way! If tomorrow his picture shows up on the news in a tragic story, I’ll never forgive myself for not doing something when I could have stopped it!” Jess turned back to face Nick.