Winter Storm Arising

***Winter Storm Arising*** is the tenth episode of *The Adventures of Evie and Mya* in Season 1, the tenth episode overall, and the Season 1 finale.

## Synopsis

Daniela has finally conquered her dark ambitions - destroying Winter, reciting her lies, and leaving her to run away and die a traitor. But Evie and Mya, alongside their friends, are determined to rescue her and stop Daniela - and in the end, it's up to Winter to abandon her waking dreams and confront her true nightmare to save all of those she loves.

## Content Warning

*This episode contains blood and extensive amounts of violence.*

## Transcript

Daniela, laughing maniacally, increased her hard, violent grip on Winter's throat, turning the skin into a dark shade of pink, and like a fish thrown out of a pond, Winter squirmed, her attempts to escape feeble as they came.

*Exactly what I wanted,* Daniela noted, perversely snickering. With one hand, she *raised* her prey into the air for the stunned, horrified crowd to see. Everyone, screaming, shrunk back and ran up the floors of the cafeteria until they huddled with the adults and faculty on the third floor.

*Everything* was falling *apart* in front of Evie, Mya, and their friends.

In Winter's eyes, the panic was a thunderclap that sent her body *wilding*. It was a ruthless wildfire that burned her from the outside. Everyone was staring at her. She was staring into eyes of a *monster*.

*No! This is a dream! This isn't happening! This can't be how... how it ends...*

*This was going to be one of the greatest nights of my life... no...*

"Well, well, well, *Winterlyn*. What a *shame*," Daniela taunted immorally, lips peeled into a smirk. "Against better *judgment*, you let your little fantasy lead you right into a *trap*, perhaps on the *biggest* night of your life. My oh my, so naive I can *read* you from head to *toe*!"

Winter gagged, her throat dry and closing in on her, and she squirmed again, though her crazed ex refused to drop her. Her skin was prickling with *flames*.

"Daniela! *Let go* of me!" she begged, though it came out weaker than she had hoped.

She didn't realize that weakness only made Daniela *hungrier* for *even more suffering*.

The grip on her throat was so tight marks were beginning to form, and her throat was nearly *red*.

*I can't look at this!* Squeamish, Mya ducked her head and buried it into Evie's shoulder. Behind her, Sarah squeezed Evelin's hand and didn't let it go.

Winter, hearing the warning sirens blare in her head, repeated herself. "*Put me down*, Daniela!"

Daniela snorted. "Put you down? Alright... **HAVE IT YOUR WAY**!"

Winter was helpless as she was *violently* thrown into the floor, coming in contact with the tile flooring of the cafeteria, and her head *cracked* with blistering, dizzying pain. She thought she could see a million petals falling from the ceiling, a million colors, and thousands of stars.

Then *reality* fell down on her - *literally*.

Before she could spring back onto her feet, a *deadweight* plummeted onto her body, and then the next thing she saw through blurred eyes was Daniela's hand clamping back down on her throat.

"Must I *remind you* - oh, and *everyone here* too - why you're **here**, McCormick?" Daniela growled, her breath trickling all over Winter's face, causing her to emit a whimper that, to Daniela, was *amusing*.

It made her want *more*, *lust* for more.

The crowd burst out into unsettled murmurs and students and adults turned to face each other, wondering what in the *hell* was going down on the first floor between the school's *dominating*, *crippling* bully and a girl they barely knew, yet something about her rung a bell.

A vague bell, something about her, a name...

"W-What is she planning on doing?" Aiden asked, trembling with insecurity. Neither of his friends could provide an answer, too stunned into silence.

Winter tried to speak, tried in any *way* she thought of to combat Daniela, but the words were dry on her tongue and didn't form. Under Daniela, she was *lifeless*, her soul shallow and hushed. Her hardiness deep in her heart, shielded by her rusted metal armor, was fading like the last scraps of sunset in the sky. The eyes watching the unfolding confrontation only hushed her further.

Seeing the leeway she had, Daniela took advantage of it and struck down hard. Raising her voice, she threw the first dagger into her vermin's heart.

"You see this *drowned*, *puny rat* in my *clutches*? She *constantly* flees me, finds any confrontation *with me* moot. *Depressing*. **She** believes she lives the **perfect life** - but she's *wrong*. I know her like I know *every inch* on my *hand* because **I remember** what she did that ***one November night***!"

Everyone in the crowd exchanged startled gasps; Evie and Mya were unable to move, trepidation pounding them in waves, and their friends were struck with stupor, having no *clue* as to what she was talking about.

Evie and Mya knew, however.

*Daniela is going to tell everyone of the breakup - and she's going to cloud Winter's name with dirt!* Evie thought, and her hand met Mya's. She held it and locked her fingers with hers.

Winter knew what was coming as well. She saw this tape playing. She had *watched* it play numerous times.

Except now, they weren't *alone* and *secluded*. A whole *crowd* of *partygoers* was *watching*.

And what Daniela would say had more than a firm chance of *exposing* her, and all of her secrets that defined her would be set free, a pack of wolves ready to maul and tear and draw *blood*.

"Daniela... *no*! *Stop*! You *can't* tell them about this!" she begged, tears streaming down the sides of her cheeks.

The tears fueled Daniela's sadistic machinations, serving as kindling to the fire in her heart. They were a *savory* green light to what she would do next.

Bring the *dark* into the *light*.

"*Whatever happened* to the young **lovers**, Winterlyn? Snuggled up, *tangled* up, a **love** welded with *fire*? *I* know. That night on *your sofa* was serene. We had the love, the bond, the *highs*, we had **each other**. But then **you chose** to come out to your father so *brazenly* it makes me want to *vomit*. Your cowardly *ass* did *nothing*, not even the *bare miminum*, as you let yourself be mutilated by your father and his knife. Not to mention, he **beat me** and could have **killed me** if I didn't run for my *fricking life*!"

"I-"

"Uh-uh! *Don't* interrupt me, you piece of *slimy pig crap*. What you **caused** that **night** gave me **permament trauma**! I *felt* like a **machine**! I wasn't in control of my **body**! You *haled* me down to **HELL**, sinking in your **arsonist flames**... and you **never** came back for me. You. Never. **CAME**. **BACK**!"

Confused voices rung out in the crowd. What was Daniela *describing*? *Why* was it directed at the girl she had pinned?

What *history* did the two share? They didn't know.

Evie and Mya knew, however.

*Fight back, Winter!* Mya chanted. *You have to fight back!*

The words Daniela had spoken looped in Winter's mind, the tape she had familiarized playing again.

*You never came back for me.*

That was *not* the truth.

*Your truth? You didn't come back for ME!*

"***YOU'RE LYING***!" she yelled, and in a brief show of strength, she kicked Daniela in the stomach. Groaning, she pulled away and released her hold on her throat, stumbling off, which allowed Winter to scramble to her feet.

Her ice-blue eyes narrowed and outraged, she managed to stand upright for the most part.

"*I* was the one **traumatized** and **scarred**. My father **attacked me** because **he didn't accept I loved you**. There, I said it! I *loved you* once, Daniela. My father tore us apart because **he didn't want me to be a lesbian**! And I remember how you **stood there**, **did nothing**, as my wrist got **slit**. You saw the bloody trail I left behind. You're **guilty**, yet you pin the blame on **ME**!"

The crowd gasped for a second time, now knowing that what ran between Winter and the sadistic, predator-like Daniela wasn't just a romance gone off the *rails*.

There had been *betrayal*, *rage*, and *bloodshed*. It split them apart and turned them against each other. They weren't lovers anymore, but *acidic*, heated *enemies*. Sworn foes.

*Lovers to enemies.* A reverse of a trope so beautiful it made some in the cafeteria light-headed.

Evie and Mya were too numb to feel the vertigo coiled around their bodies, but their friends could feel it, and the world spun in an endless carousel, round, and round, and round, and round.

"I *pinned* the *blame* on **you**? Really, Winter? Victim-blaming and *gaslighting* isn't going to win your way out of this one," Daniela growled, flicking the two black strands of her hair back. "You're *drugged* on **forced amnesia** and **denial**! And it ***TAINTS YOUR SOUL***!"

"Quit **lying**! You know as well as *I do* that our **breakup** didn't happen the way you **paint it** to be!"

Daniela snarled. "Because of **your actions** and *decrepid spinelessness*, I fell into the **dark**. Surrounded by **demons**, **ghosts**, an *echo chamber* of **bullies**. I was **shamed**! **Brutalized**! **Deceived**! Left to **DIE** by every single person ***AROUND ME***! And my **own mother** cast me out because of you **cheap** sack of rotting **pus**!"

Evie and Mya gasped, covering their mouths in shock, and Henry, Aiden, and the Rafiq sisters crowded beside each other, shaking, the air suddenly getting chillier with the impact of Daniela's statements.

Daniela *had* the truth at her disposal. A terrifying *weapon*. In one snap of her fingers, one breath, one open and close of her mouth, she could *destroy* the foundation Winter constructed to protect herself.

Every lie would be drained and shown in all their unholy features.

Including one of Winter's *deepest* secrets - her ties to the school's *principal*.

Speaking of the principal, Rex had ran into the cafeteria, skidded up to the wall on the second floor, and scraped her fingernails across the brick. They had expected her to be *stark-raving pissed* and leaping over that wall, obliterating Daniela and *deposing her*, but the T-Rex inside of her lay hauntingly *dormant*.

Instead... she was *scared*.

They smelled the fear.

This was *bad*.

"*Daniela*!" she called out to her. "Stop this at *once*! *Please*! If you reveal **anything**, you will **dismantle** more than just a *few lives*!"

Daniela sneered at her mother, staring at her with heartless eyes full of rejection, further outline when she wagged one certain finger at Rex that *humiliated her*.

Her *middle* finger.

"Secrets, secrets, cover-ups, *blackmail* **my ass**," she retorted angrily, and Rex, shrinking with embarrassment and ignominy, crumpled up. She sat down on a bench and stared at her lap, her face red.

The students and adults of PMS were *petrified*.

Only for the first time were they seeing Daniela's *dangerous* antics for the whole public. She was *limitless* if even the *principal*, furthermore her *mother*, bent to her scuppering will.

Daniela didn't come to the party just to have fun.

*She wasn't playing games*.

*She had scores to settle*.

Daniela was *far* from done - she had only just gotten warmed up.

Her *barbaric* amber eyes raked across the crowd, drawing their juicy attention onto her, and she smiled. *They aren't ready.*

*Far from ready. Time to turn the temperature up.*

"The *girl* in front of me, *pathetic* and *withering* at her seams, is a ***carpetbagger*** and ***fraud***! Drenched in **snake oil**. She **lied** about her whole life to you! ***ALL OF YOU***! Even her personality is a *facade*. She doesn't **have** a **home** - she **ran away** from it! She calls her humble abode a **cabin** in the **Piney Woods**! And the **cherry on top**? The signatures on her report cards are **FORGED**!"

The students and adults in the crowd exchanged *more* gasps, everything too much to remotely process. They didn't know *who* was telling the truth - both had presented convincing arguments.

But so far, all of the evidence was *framing* Winter - and she could feel what felt like *thousands* of eyes prying into her soul, demanding the truth, the reasons, the *answers*.

Answers she couldn't *give*.

And all the meanwhile, she had filled with guilt, and it seeped off of the tears and the sweat soaking the skin of her body.

*Evie and Mya were right! They were ALWAYS right! I... I should have known Daniela would have done this! She goes above and beyond to get what she wants... she blackmailed Rex...*

*Rex... couldn't save me.*

*I played myself like a fool.*

Winter finally stopped denying it and turned an ice-blue eye to the flock of people huddling above the higher ground of the cafeteria, and there, on a table on the second floor, was Rex.

She had peered up for a moment, and her blue eyes burned back at Winter.

It was *regret*, almost as if she had told her she was sorry and that she didn't do enough to save her.

Hands of dread were ahold of Winter - and the truth was about to be ripped out from the treasure chest she buried in the depths of her heart.

The last shreds of her moral autonomy *disappeared*. Daniela *embraced* this with *terrifying* open arms.

"She won't **tell you** because she lives every day in **deceptive wiles**," she told the partygoers, "but the signatures on her report cards are her *father's*. A "**relative**" as of now. I've *seen them*. Problem is, Winter doesn't live with her *daddy*, a *daddy* who called her a *sin* and **marked her** as one! A ghostly relative from season's *past*, a *hallucination*! And you did this for **what**, Winter? I can answer in place of your hot-headed immature *fibs*. You didn't want your *puny bones* deported to ***FOSTER CARE***!"

"Foster care?"

"She lied *this* extensively?"

"What on earth has gone on in this middle school?"

"How much does she *know*?"

Winter gasped hearing the murmurs and shrunk. *Another* truth plucked off of her as if it was the feather of a hummingbird.

And Daniela *still* had more shots to go at her. She couldn't stop time. She couldn't go *back*. She couldn't change the fate she brought *upon* herself.

This was *not a dream* anymore. This was no dream.

*Only in a dream, always in a nightmare.*

*I'm in a living nightmare...*

She had died to live. And now she was going to live to *die*.

Worst of all, she couldn't *see* her friends up on the second floor - and they were *helpless* as Daniela continued her vicious onrush.

Her former flame encroached on her turf, stepping forward twice, and Winter squeaked.

"*Daniela*! You don't have to *end things* like this! You *can't*!" she stated hectically, her bottom lip quivering and body trembling, but Daniela was *no victim* to her childlike games.

"**Won't** you look at **that**, people? **DENIAL**! She **LIES**! A fib for a fib, an eye for an eye, a leg for a leg, **McCormick** hasn't changed. Alice found her "wonderland" and lived happily **ever after**. But *no*! Alice lives in a wonderland full of ***LIES***! All of her *life* is a **LIE**!"

She sauntered up to Winter before whipping to the students and adults defining the crowd on the third floor.

"*Daniela*, plea-"

"Her **mother** is *dead*. Her **father** doesn't love her and **marked** her wrist, describing her as a **WRETCHED SIN**! It seems like she has nowhere to run now that she's lost *her family*, and it makes me wonder, does **she** really know what kind of **fool** she is?"

"**Daniela**! Cease this, **please**!" Rex begged, her voice loud and audible from the second floor.

Daniela wasn't deterred; in fact, she didn't even *acknowledge* her mother. Bigger fish were to be fried.

She wanted those fish fried until they were *black* as her *heart*.

*Winter, come on!* Evie urged.

But Winter didn't do anything. Her feet were glued to the tile of the cafeteria, and her body, whilst standing, was limp, her skin diluting. Her ice-blue eyes had *lost* their defiance, fire, and *sharpness* they always emitted.

Daniela was *breaking* her *ex-girlfriend*, *smashing* into her with fists and words for hammers, and the damage was being dealt.

Winter was *weak* - just what she had suspected from the day they crossed paths long after their breakup.

"You're a **bloody** liar, Winter. Deceptive, *dishonorable*, **disgraceful**, ***SCANDALOUS***! When you lie, **someone** else around you **suffers**. You let it blossom into a tree of *lies* that cast a *dark* shadow over Pineshadow. You **manipulated** innocent passerby, **gaslit** everyone, **ran** from the law, and **sheltered** yourself illegally. Police were **searching** for you, yet you *hid*. The air you breathe is one you ***tainted*** with your *foul* cowardice. You *don't* deserve to breathe. You *don't* deserve this party. ***YOU DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE***!"

Winter shrieked, flinching, and hissing, Daniela took another step forward. The gap was closing.

"Winter isn't doing anything!" Henry observed, voice heightened with fear, and Evie and Mya nodded.

Winter was *losing* a fight she *needed* to win - and with every minute ticking by, the more it was likely Daniela was going to do something she should *never* have been able to *do*.

"Stop acting so **frazzled**, *Winterlyn*," Daniela snarled in a chastise to her prey's lack of movement. "You **deserve** to die and get **banished** to ***HELL*** for what you've **DONE**! You ***DESTROYED ME***! ***DESTROYED MY LIFE***! ***FED EVERYONE LIES***!"

"**DANI**!" Winter wailed, tears pouring from her face, and they *reeked* of isolation and dejection.

One of her most *jaw-dropping* secrets was *free*, free for precious, vital minutes, up in the air and floating, a stray leaf, a stray feather in the wind - a part of her was *destroyed*.

The crowd went eerily silent, and Daniela turned to them, missing their gasps and murmurs and shadowing them in annoyance.

*You brats! This is a big night... pay attention to ME and watch poor little Snowblind CRUMBLE!*

"The **worst** thing about this **entitled scum**, however? If it weren't for her pitiful, mournful cries, oh **woe is me**, I would have had a **mother**. ***SHE STOLE MY MOTHER FROM ME***! Not just **my MOTHER**, but ***YOUR PRINCIPAL***!"

Immediately, a bomb *detonated* in the cafeteria, and the crowd gasped, the loudest gasps heard that night.

To add more salt to the wound, Daniela mockingly gasped, putting a hand over her mouth, then swiftly retracting it. "*Oops*, have I said too much? I think I just let the *cat* out of the *bag*."

"**No**!" Evie and Mya shrieked in unison, turning to their friends, who were *horrified* by the bombshell that had exploded.

"R-Rex is *Daniela's mother*!?" Evelin exclaimed. "Rex has *ties to Winter*!? B-but h-how...?"

"We know how," Evie admitted, her head hung low, her body bunched up, her hand still stuck on Mya's.

"Rex has been *working* with Winter???" Sarah presumed dreadfully, and Mya confirmed her guess with a sigh.

"You're right, Sarah. A thousand percent right..."

"Dani... stop... it's not worth it..." Winter mumbled, just managing to avoid tripping over her words.

The thousands of eyes turned to *Rex*, boring holes into her bones and shredding her piece by piece.

*She* - their *principal* - had been *working* to cover up *Winter's lies* from the whole school. Winter was *not* her daughter, but Daniela was. Her decisions and choices she made had *protected* Winter, but at a grave, severe price.

She had put *severe dissonance* in her relationship with Daniela - her *own daughter*.

She had *chosen* Winter over *her daughter*.

She treated *Winter* like a real daughter, not Daniela.

The principal's *true heart on her sleeve* had been *revealed*.

She got up, backing away on uneven legs, and her blue eyes bounded left and right, the tension in the room *overwhelming*.

"No! N-no-no *no*! It's *not true*! You don't *understand*! She's... she doesn't **mean anything**!"

Yet her words weren't full of *conviction*. The doubtful crowd started talking, and the murmurs were *horrific* as they leveled up in intensity.

"This whole school has been in a scandal!"

"Our principal casted her own daughter aside?"

"Rex *must* be the reason Daniela is who she is!"

"She lied to protect someone she's not even related to!"

"Rex and that girl are harbingers of scandal!"

"I **agree** with whoever says our **principal** and the **cowardly kitten** are **harbingers of scandal**!" Daniela shouted, pacing with jubilee, her eyes focused on the people giving her the *attention*, the *limelight* she had been *seeking*. It was *hers*.

"Rex has been a *great* principal to us, but it's **quite** a shame that she **harbored an orphan child** behind ***OUR BACKS***! She hauled her *ass* around **this building** merely to tend to a **child**, no blood relation in **her veins**, and **take** her to the *crack shack* she kept from her **staff** and **daughter** in her office! Claim what I say is from the **peaks** of uncanny valley, but this river runs **DEEPER** than you ever **thought**..."

Winter stumbled toward her. *I can't... I can't let her say any more than she has! No one can know... what I've gone through...*

"*Dani*!"

Daniela moved out of her way.

"In **addition** to the mass-cover up *Principal Rexalia Granold* **engaged in**, she **also** lied to *authorities* that her psuedo-daughter had been *found*, snug, safe, and *sound*, and was with *distant relatives*! Pah! The **crappiest** excuse in the book. A missing child *everyone* with sugary-sweet hearts searched for, yet never found, *then* found by relatives and taken in! It's *hideous nonsense*! And, if you want **more cringe**... I know this *woman* **enjoyed** treating Winter like ***HER OWN DAUGHTER***!"

*Yet another gut-punch* was given to Winter, Rex, Winter's friends, their friends, and the crowd.

Rex *had* been treating Winter like her own. It wasn't a ruse or a red herring, but something sinister and *real*.

"Daniela, you have *no idea* what you're talking about!" Rex yelled.

"Things weren't *like that*!" Winter pleaded. "P-Please... it's not what you think..."

"Playing **dumb** again, Winterlyn. Classic you. You always downplay your situations because you're so *deranged* and clinging onto your *pretty starry fantasy*. I've heard **you two** speak. *Mother*, I **HEARD YOU** spoiling this **rotten dumpster fire** and giving her ***everything*** I ***WANTED***! ***AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN RELATED TO HER***!"

At her words, Rex fell to the floor like a fallen vase, cracking into fragments, and she sobbed, humiliated, laid bare, in tatters, and her career permamently *blemished* by the one thing she had born and *raised*.

Winter had witnessed her fall.

Her heart had fallen too, broken up into similar fragments.

She was *empty*, a hollowed-out tree trunk with no story to tell.

The story had been told - but it had been *forced* out of her and twisted with poison and cheats in its codes.

She turned to the crowd.

Hundreds of cold eyes rained down on her, heavy as hailstones.

The wind whistled in her ears.

She was *alone*.

Morality was no longer her crutch.

Daniela's aggression centered on Winter again, and approaching her, she grabbed her shirt collar and shook her.

"You know how *vile* you honestly are? You are a **demon** that **pulls** my strings and **manipulates** my life so every day that I **wake up**, I'm reminded of how you **MUTILATED ME**!"

"Daniela, that's-"

"You **CAUSED** my mother to **NEGLECT ME**! ***ABUSE ME***! She **picked you** and left me behind to ***ROT***! Each time you're **alive**, the world **BURNS AROUND ME**. I'm **dying inside**. ***YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE AT FAULT FOR KILLING ME***!"

"Rex *did* care for you!" Winter protested. "She *always has*!"

"Your **patchwork** to your **discord** isn't going to stop me from gaining the **truth** that you ***LIED ABOUT***, Winter!" Daniela spat, revealing her shining white teeth.

"You've already *told everyone* about who I really am! Isn't that *enough* for you?" Winter begged, but unlike before, her voice came out in a *squeak*.

Evie and Mya cringed. Oh, this wasn't just *bad*, this was *nightmare fuel*.

And it was not even close to over.

"We have to do something!" Aiden whispered.

"No... we can't," Evie confessed, startling the boy. "If we get involved now, Daniela is going to expose *us* - and that's the *last* thing we need."

"So what can we do?" Evelin asked, rubbing Sarah's cheek and leaning into her to give her some comfort during the distressing scenes in front of them.

"We can't do anything... but wait."

The friend group went into *deadpan silence*.

"*Daniela*, this has gone on for too long! Let it *go*!" Winter shouted, and instantly, their attention snapped back to her and Daniela.

"Let it go? *Let it go*? **NEVER**! Not until ***EVERY PART OF YOUR LIES*** shine with their **flying colors** and not until I see to it that you ***REPENT*** for what you've ***DONE***!" she roared, clenching her fists, and gasping, Winter hobbled backwards.

She panted, her neck drenched in sweat, and the air crackled with lightning. A storm of *epic proportions* was coming.

It was *not* going to be in Winter's favor.

"You... you... you..."

"Awww, cat got your *tongue*, McCormick? *Delightful*. Alright, I've had enough of *unveiling you*, much as seeing you *regret your existence* is pleasing. It's about **damn time** I **finished this**!"

Squaring her shoulders, she took a step toward Winter. Winter stepped back, mouth trembling.

She had barely any wiggle room. And she knew what Daniela had planned.

*If she takes any steps closer to me, she's going to kill me.*

*The whole crowd can't see me murdered! They know my secrets, my history... they can't see me die! Evie and Mya... they CAN'T see me die. They CAN'T. I CAN'T DIE!*

Fear radiated off her body, and the people could sense it, feel it, drink it in.

It was *repugnant*.

"Winter can't stave Daniela off! She's shaking! I think... I think she's crying too!" Mya noted with a frantic, somber tone. "She isn't going to win this fight!"

She peered over the top of the brick and noticed her appearing to stand strong, but falter and weaken.

*She's trying to be the old her. The her that would make her enemies regret messing with her. The her that would go knife-blazing and make people understand she was a force to be reckoned with. I don't see that girl anymore...*

Evie caught a glimpse as well. Her stomach growling with foreboding feelings, she firmly clasped her hand around Mya's.

"Make it stop! Make it stop!" Sarah cried, her fragile body not equipped to handle a traumatic event like this.

Back on the first floor, Winter inhaled and stopped her legs from wobbling. She saw the crowd glaring at her, expecting her to do *something* to *oppose* Daniela.

They had most of her secrets now. Many still wanted the answers that wouldn't come.

Many questioned her identity.

Many questioned her link to Daniela and their relationship - and how it led to *here*, a school party meant to be a celebration turned into a *death trap*.

*There are people in life you can never trust, especially those that stab you in the back and pretend to have loyalty to you. Turn a blind eye to them, don't look back - they aren't worth your time.*

*But this crowd is taking Daniela seriously. They can use her information against me. And if I die, they'll take the whole school... and the girls... down with them.*

*I can't die! Daniela CAN'T kill me! My... my friends are here... I don't know where you are, Evie and Mya... but I can't be a coward with you watching. I have to be strong for your sakes! I have to push Daniela back even if I've ruined my reputation!*

Despite her determination to set things straight, Winter still shook as she opened her mouth and chucked her counter at Daniela, speaking with as much authority as she could muster in that moment alone.

"I *remember* when your heart was **golden**, Daniela. You'd hide in my bedroom, and under the blankets, we'd **swap stories**. You told me that when we were older, ***our first kiss*** was going to be our **biggest secret**. We told each other our secrets and chased each other through the Piney Woods. We snuggled together! You traced circles in the palm of my hand! You loved to **eskimo kiss** me and show me **another world**! Whatever happened to **that you**? The ***girl*** I ***loved***? *Whoever* you *are*, you're a ***LIAR***! I **never** did *anything wrong* in my life. I'm **innocent**! You're the one who tried to have me and *my friends* **murdered**!" she retaliated, and the crowd gasped, processing this new information, causing her to perk up a little.

Their gazes had lightened. Had she swayed them enough to ease the pressure and put Daniela on unstable ground?

Nobody spoke. Silence.

*Too much* silence.

Silence which was then broken by the witch cackle that plagued her.

A fingernail scraped the bottom of her chin.

The distance had been closed.

Daniela had been buying time, and her grand moment was drawing nearer with each minute of the confrontation passing. Her *pièce de résistance* was ripening.

Glee.

"Enough with the childhood *stories*. Cut straight to the chase. You *destroyed* our love, *burned it* to ashes. You know who burns things and *gets away* with the crime? **Arsonists**. You **ARE** an **ARSONIST**! A *people-pleaser*. You *crave* approval from others based on your *opaque judgment*. I have **records** of the damage you've left in your *wake*. Spoiler alert: the ending **isn't pretty**!" Daniela snapped, her shoulders broadening - an insult was a much-needed boost to her strength.

"Shrimp! Winter's evoking Daniela's power!" Evie yelped.

*The more Daniela is provoked, the more feral she becomes... this is going to be ugly. No, that's an insult to ugly. Barbaric.*

None of her friends - not even Mya, the girl in love with her - responded.

"You **heard me** Winter, but my words aren't slicing *through* your mousy ears. Let me repeat myself. I **have** tabs on the wreckage you **caused** in my life. What wreckage? Stealing *my mother*. *Staining* the school in infamy. Lying. Lying. Lying again. You-"

"I am *not* a liar!"

"You couldn't even prove to *our audience* that you're not guilty. **Audience**! Is this *weasel* guilty of lying and *betraying* you, turning the *constitutes* of this school on its **HEAD**?!"

In response to Daniela, the crowd went abuzz, the room filling with chatter.

Most were confused...

"Who's *really* lying?"

"I don't know who to believe!"

"We still don't know who the short-haired girl is..."

"We're missing answers! Provide us with more!"

...and some had chosen to side with the despicable...

"Maybe Daniela *does* have a point! Liars *don't belong* in PMS!"

"The girl should be expelled if this is true!"

"Someone *must* call authorities and get that *girl* outta here!"

...and some stared at the confrontation, vacant eyes trailing and leaving marks on Winter, yet leaving no marks on the unblemished Daniela.

"This is bullcrap! Winter *hasn't* lied about anything. I've known that from when she first *admitted* her true identity to me..." Aiden murmured.

"A friend of Evie and Mya's is one who tells the truth," Henry concurred uneasily.

"Daniela's tormented *all* of us. She's evil and *evil* to her *core*. We know which one *is* lying. She's destroying an innocent life!" Evelin proclaimed, keeping her sister close to her.

Back on the first floor, a minute of silence hung between Daniela and Winter, but it was broken promptly by Daniela.

She had decided to drop one final pin - and *not any person* was prepared for the *clink* as it dropped.

"The scars you inflicted. The pain you gave. Don't you realize it, *Winter*? **Don't you see**? There is a **REASON** why you're ridiculed. There is a **REASON** why nobody *likes you*. There is a **REASON** why **EVERYBODY** calls you ***SNOWBLIND***!"

Everyone *collectively gasped*. Mya was *frightened to death*.

"*Snowblind*! No! That's..."

She turned to Evie.

"Winter's *most humiliating secret*," she finished.

Winter's last uncovered, *blindsiding* secret was one reared in hate and darkness. An unfortunate accident outside of school had earned her the nickname of Snowblind, given to her by many who found her weak and a detriment. She had been riddled with the name until *most* knew her as a kid called Snowblind, not even bothering to address her by her real name.

It was *sick*. *Disgusting*. *Cruel*. *Shameful*.

Voices shouted and hollered in the crowd now, lovely sounds filtering in Daniela's ears, and she approached Winter again, though she only retreated.

"You can **never** see beyond your own misfortunes, **Snowblind**. You lie to **everyone** you *see*, **Snowblind**. You *kill* ***everything around you***, ***Snowblind***!"

She stomped up to her, and survival instincts kicking in at full force, Winter reached toward her pocket.

"Daniela, **stop**!" she warned, gesturing to her pocket with an outstretched hand. But Daniela skipped the detail, rolling her eyes and growling.

"**Quit cowering around me, Snowblind**!"

"*Daniela*!"

Winter gripped wood in her pocket, the sirens in her ears *wailing*. She gritted her teeth and heard the *screech*.

"Won't even face me. Won't even face the crowd. *Typical*. You *always* want to *retreat* from the fight like the *fraidy girl* you are. Blind to your *misgivings*. Blind to *reality*. You are **SNOWBLIND**-"

Finally, the sirens blocked out all other sound from Winter's ears.

They roared.

Petals fell.

They became hail, the *whistle* of a heavy rainstorm.

Water surging, waves crashing.

The cold rain in Winter's veins turned to *red hot magma*.

Her heart was beating like the bird that once entwined hope in her heart.

*Fury*.

It couldn't be contained, and in that moment, sacrificing what ground she had left, she made her choice.

She pulled out *something* from her pocket and sprung at Daniela, intending to pin her down and show her that she had made a *terrible* mistake.

But what happened next was something *she* - and her *friends* - were not braced for.

Daniela, snarling with resentment, swung her *boot* at Winter's stomach and *kicked her violently*. Pain shot through her entire body, the air knocked out, and the lights blurred.

Toppling, Winter lurched and *slammed* into the back wall of the cafeteria with a *thud*, sinking to the ground, dazed, her blue eyes dull, the ice melted.

An object soared into the air and *thunked* on the tile, skidding right up to Daniela's boot. Winter gasped.

Evie and Mya gasped, feeling faint with new amounts of trepidation, and while they wished their eyes were deceiving them, what they saw was real.

Their friends gasped.

The crowd gasped.

Daniela knelt down, picking up the object and studying it. It had a brown wooden handle, the bottom having the engraved initials of *EM*, the top having a wood button. She clicked it, and out came a *shiny* silver blade tinged with moonlight from the giant windows nearby.

Ooh *damn*. *Hot damn*.

If this wasn't her luckiest, most *spectacular* night ever, it became ten thousand times more *phenomenal*.

The *gods* had graced her with *Winter's pocket knife*.

And with the knife, a *new* realm of *dangerous notions* opened for her.

Winter, mortified beyond her *wits*, shrieked and pinned her back up to the wall, lost without the weapon that was her safety blanket.

"Oh, Winter... oh how *sweet*. *How thoughtful* of you to bring your **precious knife** to a **school party**. As if you weren't **aware** that *bringing weapons* onto a school campus *is* a **gross misdeameanor** in Washington. Hefty fines, a *year* in prison... and yet you're so *careless* to violate *such* an **important rule**..."

Stroking the knife's blade, she stepped up to Winter, her footsteps lending her *chills*, and she recalled the nightmare where Daniela had *used* that knife to *kill* her mother right in front of her.

She wasn't looking to kill her mother.

She was fixing to kill *her*.

Winter gasped, wincing and shutting her eyes, though a snicker from Daniela made her open them again.

"So *pathetic*. So *shrewd*. I didn't want to have to play *sloppy* with you, *Snowblind*. But you make it hard when you run away each and every time..."

"Winter! Come on, you have to get up!" Mya whisper-shouted from her place on the second floor.

Her efforts were in vain.

Winter *didn't* rise up. There was no miraculous, miracle ending.

Daniela had the high ground. She had a *weapon*. *Winter's* weapon. She had brute strength and had the knowledge - a library of it - to use against Winter and weaken her.

Winter was a *shell* of her former self.

The fire, noncompliance, desires to *never* conform, erased.

The tall, bold, confident girl, gone.

The ice in her eyes was dead.

She looked *defeated*.

She looked *petrified*.

Winter was *gutted*.

Daniela had been eager for this moment for nearly a year. She had plotted out her schemes, attacking Winter relentlessly, making her feel miserable, threatening to come back for her, persisting until she had worn down and broke down.

She didn't play the victim. She *wanted* to be a stalker. She had fulfilled that wish and instilled *fear* in Winter. Permament fear.

Everywhere she went, Daniela would follow.

She wasn't safe. She made that clear.

Winter was already stupid enough for believing that Evie and Mya - and the school's *principal* - would protect her.

Words were *meaningless*. Actions spoke louder.

This was her *shot*. She wasn't going to waste it.

"It's a bitter pill, isn't it?" she teased, dropping to her knees, the orange-amber of her eyes slicing through Winter's heart like two mini daggers. "You *hate* seeing me like this since you're *naive* enough to believe there was an old me. That old me is *dead*. You keep obtaining fool's gold, hoping to obtain a spark of something you and I once had. It's **dead** now, Winterlyn. And what else is about to be dead? *You*."

"Daniela... p-please don't d-do this..." Winter stammered, exhausted, sniffing and letting the tears fall, unable to hold them back.

Evie and Mya peeked over the wall, skin paling, and they turned to each other.

Winter was about to be *murdered*.

The entire cafeteria crowd had retreated up to the back end of the third floor now, silent, deathly, and *still*.

No one had opened their mouths to speak or criticize Daniela.

Rex was a statue on the bench and stared open-mouthed at her two daughters - one faux, one real - she had nothing left to say.

There was supposed to be a party.

Instead, there was conspiracy, lies, and a whole *homicide* plot.

Daniela *relished* in the mayhem she had created with a stroke of her fingers. *This* was her night! *This* was what she had *yearned for*! Her glory, her honor, dispelling the *darkness* Winter had poisoned the school with... her body shook with pleasure.

*I've been thrwarted and threatened. But no one sees me for who I truly am. Once she's gone... there will be no more secrets...*

*And then I'll have rid myself of the pain Winter wreaked on MY LIFE!*

Dangling the pocket knife, she pressed her nose to Winter's, her intentions malicious and *fatal*.

"I tried to take you down in the *dead of night*. You escaped to tell the tale, even when I warned you that I'd cut out your *eye*. A kidnapping couldn't *faze you* enough even when *I* nearly killed you and Heartley saved your ass by a whisker. There's no *angels* or *gods* or *anyone* to protect you this time, Winter. Your lies have *come undone*. You've been *deposed* like the **traitor** you are. You **crossed the line** ***every***. ***Single***. ***TIME***!"

She paused, hearing Winter claw for breath. Her stare was *that* paralyzing.

Beautiful.

"Now it's time to *put an end to your legacy* - and ***RID THIS SCHOOL OF A GLORIFIED PSYCHO***!"

Winter shook her head rapidly, blinking away the tears and waving her hands. "*Dani*! You *will not* benefit by killing me! *Please* reconsider! You... you *have* a heart... if you'd just **listen to me**, things **wouldn't** have been this way!"

Daniela giggled, single-handedly *shattering* Winter's last few glass shards of hope.

She was *meaningless*. She was only a *curse*. A *name*. *Blind*.

Her plea fell on deaf ears.

"I guess *that's* how you'll **die**, then. Caught in the past, caught in a lie. You **should've known**, *Winter*! There is **ALWAYS** a ***reason*** why we ***LOSE***!!"

Winter gasped, and suddenly, without another word spoken, Daniela swung the knife *directly* at the flesh of her throat.

She shut her eyes, a tidal wave of blackness submerging her, cold, frost biting at her skin.

She had accepted her death.

*I'm so sorry, Evie and Mya... I failed you...*

Aiden, distraught, buried his face in Henry's shoulder. Evelin and Sarah clung to each other.

Evie and Mya flew to the brick wall and held onto there. Time hung in a dicey balance.

They saw Winter resigned to her fate, huddled in a ball against the wall, and Daniela's *wicked*, wide smile, all while she plunged the knife toward her throat.

Their friend would be *dead* in *five seconds*.

All they had went through *for her* would be for *naught*.

To Mya, she'd lose someone she saw as her own *sister* - someone she *cared about*. Someone she had *almost sacrificed* herself for.

Their best friend, a special, unique person...

In love with wanderlust.

A nomad and proud vagrant.

Someone who laid under the stars, intertwined in the sparkling whites.

Someone who, underneath her rocky outer layer, *cared*.

She had made the girls smile, fascinated them with her story, and always had a new tale to share.

That girl, that somebody, that *unique girl in the woods*...

...*could never die*.

Evie and Mya's hearts *surged* with raw emotion, and in that moment, they acted so fast none of their friends noticed, so fast that for a moment, the pandemonium *halted*.

"***WINTER***!!!"

Winter, jolting, turned her head to her left and put a hand on the ground.

She opened her eyes and gasped, guilt clouding her gaze.

*Evie and Mya...?*

*Thwap*!

Suddenly, Winter's shock caved to *pain*, and she let out a scream that *curdled* the blood of *everyone*, Evie and Mya included, and they jumped into each other.

Pain *tore* through her shoulder, and out came the blade of her *pocket knife*.

Groaning, she fell to the ground, writhing in sheer *agony*.

*Thud*.

Daniela's dirty work had been complete.

Winter struggled to climb to her knees, but the pain in her shoulder *throbbed* and *pulsed*. The blade felt like it had been set *aflame*. Blood leaked out of the wound and dripped onto the tile floor.

Wobbling, she collapsed back onto the tile.

*Thud*.

Daniela's commanding eyes studiously examined her prey, embers of surprise lit in them too.

Winter wasn't *dead*. *Pity*.

That wasn't *exactly* what she wanted... but the blood on the killing floor, her cries of anguish, and whimpers with the continual leakage of the blood were *satisfying*.

"While I would have *preferred* to have slit open your throat... you *bleeding out* from your shoulder will suffice," she stated, flicking the bloodied knife back out - how jolly that was - and pricked her finger with the blade. A droplet of blood welled, and exultant, she licked it clean off.

*Delicious*.

Evie and Mya, disgusted and made green, crouched down and shuddered. Daniela's sadomasochism was enough body horror as it was.

The bully, now near-*murderer*, chuckled. "*This* has been exactly what I've been *yearning for*," she declared winningly, prancing about the cafeteria, pacing in front of the weakened, traumatized, quietly-crying Winter, staring back at her with puppy eyes and a mouth curved in a grimace.

"Ah yes. I can *taste* those feelings on my tongue. *Euphoria*. Overwhelming amounts of it! The sight of my *greatest foe* in pain, the blood leaking out of her shoulder... it tastes like *cherries*... deliciously sweet. It's *over*, Winter. **I've won** - and you've proven to be a *worthless fool*."

"N-No..." she weakly rasped, sinking to the ground, skin pale, eyes lacking color. The blood was now a decent-sized puddle on the ground, and her friends, seeing it, were repulsed and ducked away.

Daniela kept pouring more salt into the wound - extra salt - just the way she liked it.

"You are a **TRAITOR** to this school. A traitor to **PINESHADOW**! *Self-destructive*! *Impulsive*! A *handicap* and *liability* no one **wanted**. You had the roses and a love, but destroyed it when you didn't *stand up* to the one you claimed was your flame. Your *flame* that made you *complete*. *Sinful* and *disgraceful*. I should've known *better* than to fall in love. Luckily, I *knew* better than to live in your ways. I *hung up* on you and didn't *wallow* in my sorrows."

"D-D-Da-ni..."

Daniela tossed the knife up, the crowd watching its rise and fall back into her hand. She puffed her chest out and tilted her head to the side, glaring at Winter.

"**Vengeance** is heaven. Now you've learned what it **feels** like when you fall victim to the *web* you weave... I've **finished** this cat and mouse game and **finished** you... you're *nothing*! I am **everything** you lost. ***EVERYTHING*** you ***NEVER HAD***!!"

Winter, at a loss for words, too weak, strength diminished, and blood trickling from her shoulder, didn't respond, or try to fight, or try to crawl to her feet.

This was her fate.

This was what she chose.

She was good as *dead*.

She was *nobody*.

As the blood kept leaking and leaking, Daniela reinforced her points and stepped close to her face, tapping her boot heel on the ground.

"You're a **poison**. A vile concoction *born* in *hate* and *complacency*. You're *drizzled* in *snake oil* and peddle lies, the *charlatan* you are. Your bones are *driven* with *freakish wanderlust* that went straight to your pea-sized brain - you're already living in a world of one hundred *thousand lies*, and the line between the real world and the fiction world is *so blurred* you can't tell the freaking **difference**. Ugh. **Awful**. For **SHAME**!

"You are ***SNOWBLIND***! A **blind fool** *stolid* to *reality*, *everything* around you, **every motive people have**. Insecure, weightless, meaningless, **selfish**. Only someone **like you** could be so *heartless* and *insensitive* to ***DESERVE*** a fate, not as *ugly* as *death*, but still a fate you're worthy of **having**..."

Evie and Mya stiffened, their friends deaf to the conversation down below, their fear overriding their other senses.

Daniela stomped up to Winter and put her boot by her chin. "**Run away**," she ordered icily. "**Run away** from **this school** and **Pineshadow** altogether. **NEVER** show your face here *again*. You are **NOT welcome here**. Your secrets are **out**. If you stay, you will *disgrace* yourself further. You have been **cemented** as **Snowblind**, will be known as **Snowblind**, and will **die** as *Snowblind*, a *traitor* and *lying viper* who perished a *victim* of her *deception* and *greed*!"

Winter, sobbing, didn't get up and rolled her head onto the floor, smearing her blood across the title.

Unsatisifed, Daniela prodded her on the cheek with her boot. "I said **RUN AWAY**! **RUN** like the **COWARD YOU ARE**, *Snowblind*!" she screeched.

Winter, alarmed by the double-down on the threat, shakily and unsteadily rose until she stood on noodle-thin legs. Her shoulder was wet and sticky with scarlet blood, and the tile where she lay was covered in that sticky blood as well.

This wasn't a party.

This was an ambush, a murder attempt riddled in conspiracy, and the school bully showing everyone that she could *never* be stopped from achieving the gift she claimed god had destined for her.

Vengeance.

Winter stared at her ex, her expression unreadable yet empty. She *wasn't* Winter.

She was *disfigured*. A *ghost* in a broken *shell*.

She didn't even look half alive.

Evie and Mya, slinking up the brick railing as if they were vines, saw her and Daniela standing there idly, no more confrontation between them.

*Don't listen to her, Winter! You are NOT Snowblind!* Mya insisted, shouting quietly.

*You can't run away! You've already been forced to run so much... you shouldn't have to do it again!* Evie insisted in tandem, also shouting quietly.

But their determined pleas didn't reach Winter, who blinked, sniffed, and, much to their *dismay* and *terror*, turned tail and limped-ran to the exit doors near the kitchen, pushing her way out into the night.

The party was *finished*.

Winter believed she was worthless. That she was just a name used to taunt her. A name conceived in disgust and hatred.

Daniela had *won*.

Daniela whirled around to face her fearful audience crowded on the third floor.

"You *see*? *Things* happen when *traitors* are let loose in our midst," she snarled, pacing, but keeping her eyes on the people she had put under torment - among them her mother - watching them, *looking*, *scrutinizing*.

The crowd had thought her business laid with Winter and *just* her, but god, they were *dead wrong*.

"In case you've put some *thought* into it," she cut in to their thoughts, "my *qualms* don't just end with *Snowblind*. There is *corruption* that is *rampant* in this school, and I will **root it out**. I'll **stake** a **knife** in its heart. You were *wrong* about who I *am*! You **underestimated me**... and you will **regret it**!"

She *clawed* the amber of her eyes across the crowd, knowing precisely who she was seeking out.

Evie and Mya.

They were nowhere to be found.

Unbeknownst to the psycho bully, they were behind the brick railing, safe, yet *horrified*.

They motioned at their friends to get under the table, and obliging, they did so, tucking themselves into the cramped space.

"W-What do w-we d-do?" Henry asked, nervously tucking his legs into his chest.

Evie and Mya hesitated for a moment, thinking about their plan. They were still *shaken*, the memory of Winter's stabbing and her once again fleeing everything she had known looping over and over.

The wound. The blood. The heartache. Daniela's smirk and *pleasure* from the pain and destruction she had caused.

It was just supposed to be a *party*.

It was a *bloodbath*.

Winter's very existence had been *ripped* and *stained* and *shattered* and *broken*.

Nonetheless, they sat up, easing the disquiet lining their faces, which retained the grim outlook, but were more resolute.

"You four *must* help get the partygoers and staff out of the cafeteria. We know Daniela is trying to search for us - we're her most prominent targets after Winter - and we can't have everyone flocking us in case *another* bloody fight breaks out," Evie explained. "Henry, Aiden, take the left side of the cafeteria. Make *sure* there's no pushing and shoving - we can't have injuries in a *situation* like this."

"On it!" Henry said.

"For Winter's sake and for everyone's sake, I'm in," Aiden stated a second later.

Mya glanced at the Rafiq sisters. "Evelin, Sarah. Take the right side of the cafeteria and help the boys with the evacuations. No one *must* get hurt! I'm also going to give you an extra task... do you have your phones?"

They nodded.

"Good. I'm sure someone already has, but call the cops. We're gonna need as much reinforcement as we can *get* to stop Daniela."

"We're on it!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Alright. Go. *Now*! Know what's at stake!" Evie instructed, and nodding, their friends ducked out from under the table and ran to the crowds.

Evie and Mya snuck out afterward and crept up to the brick railing, huddled close to each other and nodding.

They had their plan. It was risky, but if it meant stopping Daniela and saving Winter's life, it had to be executed.

Evie held Mya's hand, splaying out her fingers delicately and locking them with hers, tracing the skin delicately. With her other finger, she traced a heart, and then, with the rest of her fingers, held Mya's cheek.

In her eyes were sparks of *love*. *Affection*. *Faith*.

"Mya. You go out and find Winter. You are the only one that *can*! Do *whatever*, run *miles* if you have to. She *must* return and defeat Daniela. I'll stall Daniela in the meantime, but-"

*It won't be enough.*

Evie paused, the words trapped in her throat, and she bit her lip anxiously.

Mya finished for her. "You don't match her in strength," she said gently. "*Fight*, Evie. *Fight* like it's the last night of your *life*. Give it your *all*. I will find Winter and save her, I promise... until my last breath. I'll give my whole body."

For a single, affectionate, somber moment, her eyes met Evie's, and their foreheads touched, their hands held and wound up, their cheeks a tinge of pink.

Then Mya pulled back, rising to her feet. "And Evie..."

Evie faced her, her dark green eyes full of life.

"Fight with *honor*."

"I will," she vowed, hugging Mya in what could be their final hug, holding on to the soft sleeves of her vest, admiring the beautiful bow fastened onto her chest, admiring her love interest, her world, and her *everything*.

She was going to give it her all, which meant that she'd be facing Daniela - her sworn rival and someone *ten times as powerful* as she was.

She was armed with a weapon and blunt force - which could very well spell her demise.

*But sacrifice is needed to restore Winter to who she was - and to ensure Daniela never succeeds again.*

She beamed.

*Yes, Mya. I will fight for you, for my mother, for my father, and for Winter.*

*I promise.*

Breaking away, Mya crept toward the first floor of the cafeteria, and Evie, gathering her marbles, jettisoned them. She leapt *onto* the brick railing of the second floor, landing on both feet neatly, and spotted Daniela.

"**Hey**! *Looking* for me, *Daniela*?" she called out playfully, echoing a challenge, standing tall and full of pride.

Growling, Daniela spun to her left and saw her *rival* perched there, a vulture, the *root* of evil.

*How DARE she look so sassy?*

"**Ly**!" she sneered. "I was *looking* for you *and* your *dumb friend*... but *in case you missed it*, *avenging* your friend has **no value**. *Snowblind's* out in the *wilderness* naked and *afraid*. Hell, she's gonna be *dead* sooner or later. You *lost*. There's no more **meddling** on **your part**!"

Evie's dissonant dark green eyes hardened and narrowed. "**No value**? You hurt **MY FRIEND**! Someone I **give a damn about**! This is *more* than a rivalry, Daniela. You *hurt* my friend, you get a *fight*. You hurt someone I'd *sacrifice myself for*, **you get a fight**. You *piss me off*, then I'm going to spell it plain for you: it's ***game over***!"

"*Cry* about it. You're *useless* anyway! *I* have a knife. *I'm* physically *stronger* than you," Daniela scoffed, pointing Winter's pocket knife at her - it was a warning.

Evie did not even care in the least.

"*Chết tiệt*! We *do* have a *rivalry*, *Dumbquist*. One *you* instigated *with me*. I can tell how much you're **jealous** of me since I'm **smarter** and **size up** to you in strength and stamina. I *ignored you* before, but if you want a **rivalry**, ***take a stab at me***!"

Effortlessly, Evie leapt down onto the table, cracking the muscle in her neck and cracking her knuckles.

Daniela glared at her without a response.

"Not going to *play*, hmm? I know you **hate me**. So stop being a **chicken**... **Dani**!"

Without warning, Daniela hissed and soared *onto* the table, grabbing Evie's throat and yelling, "***I WILL GUT YOU CLEAN FOR THAT, LY***!"

"*Hôn mông tôi*!"

Clearly Daniela was offended by the Vietnamese profanity, as she punched her stomach with an enclosed fist. However, Evie didn't flinch, shocking her.

*WHAT??? She's WEAKER than me!*

The adrenaline wilding in Evie was a perfect block to the pain. She didn't even *feel* what felt like a *rock* slam into one of the most sensitive areas of her body. Rather, she *absorbed* the blow.

Quickly recalling her years of martial arts training, she delivered an overhand punch to the side of Daniela's head, giving her more leverage. The bully stumbled, losing her footing on the table, and her foe finished her off, headbutting her on her chest.

Daniela went *flying* off the table and hit the one adjacent with her head *sharply*.

Yet she sprung back up and shook off the dust as if she hadn't just received a *painful* blow to her backside, cursing under her breath in manic *rage*.

"So what if I go to *hell*? I'll ***TAKE YOU DOWN WITH ME***!" Screaming, she kicked Evie on the side of her leg, but she deflected it with her other leg, spun free, locked her arms around the back of her head, and pulled her in a bear hug.

The two tussled, falling to the floor and breaking up, only to collide with each other, jump up and deliver more blows, kicks and punches and dodges and feints. Mya, seeing her opportunity, ran toward the exit doors, her heart and mind set on Winter, her sister, her friend, a shimmering star in the night sky.

*I will get to you, Winter! I'm not far away!*

Noticing the first aid station, she grabbed a kit, tucked it in her arms, and ran into the night.

Time was slipping away - and if Winter wasn't found soon, they'd *die* - not unless she was brought back into light.

Outside, it was dark, and crickets chirped, hidden within the dark green bushes bordering the outside bistro tables of PMS. Mya had rarely been out here, but had been enough to navigate. The dark was no hindrance to her *quest*.

She had to find Winter and find her *immediately* - her life and Evie's life and *everyone's lives* were depending on it.

*I will NOT let you down, Evie.*

"*Winter*!?" she shouted, cupping her hands to her mouth and repeating herself, but more loudly. "**Winter**!? It's me, Mya! Where *are you*?"

She stopped, hearing her own heart and no voice, no scrabbling, no running. Just her heart and the crickets.

A soft breeze whistled through the trees, and she thought she could hear an owl hoot and fly off.

But no Winter.

"**Winter**! **Winter**!"

Mya's body flared with simmering hot tension; her shouts returned no results to her.

*Winter can't have run away! She can't have run far...*

Her heartbeat galloped like a wild mustang. If Winter had heeded Daniela's snarls and taunts, she would have *limped* all the way to the Piney Woods or even far out by now. When she was *dead set* on something, she did it without *looking back*.

*Winter can't have abandoned us... no, she just can't!*

Frustrated, Mya scraped her black ankle boot on the ground, and startled, she jumped.

On the ground was a thin, small splotch of something dark, illuminated a little by the moon, and Mya made out what it was.

*Blood*.

She saw another droplet not far from it.

Her heart leapt into her throat.

No doubt about it, that *was* Winter's blood, and resolutely standing taller, she ran ahead.

Those traces were fresh - Winter had gone up near the dumpsters.

Mya didn't give a damn about her being in tight ankle boots or if her vest got dirty. Her *best friend* was alive and hadn't run away for good. She *wasn't* dead, the uplifting melody in her heart told her that.

Still, she could have made it into the Piney Woods and disappeared already - it made Mya twinge with worry.

*She surely couldn't have gotten to the woods... her shoulder's cut open and she's in so much physical pain, she'd get exhausted and collapse...*

Mya was snagged in thorns of worry, doubts, and determination to find her friend - her hope was slipping, but she held on to what she could of it.

She rounded a corner and skidded to a stop, panting, and suddenly, her eyes deviated to *something* plastered up against the brick wall.

It was a creature, a brindled jacket shielding them from the elements. Mya almost *screamed* in repose and shock, but kept quiet.

*Winter* was *alive* - she hadn't gone far like she had originally suspected. She was huddled, her face masked by the jacket she had brought to the party, and she was likely cold, her shoulder jutted out *awkwardly*, throbbing with pain.

*Oh, angel...*

Mya dashed up to her, sinking to her knees. Winter didn't react and didn't move - a clue that she was in shock and misaligned with her friend's arrival.

Had she even *heard* her?

"Winter?" Mya gently called her name in a whisper, only to receive no response, a reply, or a whimper.

*She's definitely in shock. I'm not a doctor... but... I have to make do with what the school has.*

She placed the first aid kit on the ground and opened the small container, grabbing the essentials of what she needed: antiseptic, a cloth, and compressive bandages. With those items, she could patch up Winter's shoulder wound and lessen the pain.

"Winter, it's Mya. It's just me. You're alright. You're *alright*," she reassured, yet Winter was dead inside and didn't react. She didn't move her brindled jacket nor crane her head to meet the leaf-green eyes she had always felt *compelled* meeting.

Mya frowned. "Can you hear me, Winter?" Using her right hand, she carefully yanked the brindled jacket off her face, revealing her short, messy hair, her freckles, and her dazed, confused, *lifeless* ice-blue eyes.

Her eyes saw Mya's eyes, and just like a hypnotic snap of two fingers, her shock broke.

"*Mya*???!" she gasped disbelievingly, her voice trembling with shock. "W-W-What a-are y-you d-doing???"

"I'm saving you," Mya retorted, reaching for her shoulder. Winter, unsettled, scrambled, wincing with the added pain to her shoulder.

"But I can't-"

"Sssh," Mya assured, compassionately rubbing her cheek. "Try to avoid moving or creating noise. I have to treat your shoulder wound before it gets infected. Can you show me your shoulder?"

"I'm *not* going to take my s-shirt o-off!"

"No, I'm not *asking you* to take your *shirt* off. Do you know how to pull your shoulder out from your shirt collar?"

Winter shook her head.

"Watch." Quickly, Mya held out her right sleeve and pulled her left arm up through the collar of her vest, wiggling it around, then slunk it back through.

"Do you understand?"

Shivering, Winter nodded and wiggled her shoulder, grunting and fighting the persistant stabs in the area where she got cut, but after a minute, she had pulled her shoulder free.

"Okay, thank you. Don't move it, just let me look for a second." Mya crawled over to her shoulder and examined the wound, *stunned* by the harm Daniela had adminstered. A *long*, nasty red gash tore through the side, jagged and raw and soiled with dried red and scarlet bloodstains. The wound was so fresh not even *scabs* had started forming, the pink flesh sore and inflamed.

While the wound *was* absolutely *horrific*, Mya inhaled, partially soothed by the fact that Daniela hadn't managed to sever an artery - if *that* happened, Winter would have bled out and *died* not even fifteen minutes after leaving the school.

*This is egregious, and horrible, and worth wiping my mind for... but it can be healed.*

"Alright, I'm going to patch you up now, Winter. Though, fair warning... this *is* going to *hurt*."

"*Hurt*? Please don't-"

"Winter," Mya whispered, an edge to her tone, "wounds *will* hurt *before* they get *better*. I have to treat this so it doesn't get *infected*. If you get an infection, you *will* suffer *more* than you have now..."

"I... okay..."

Winter reluctantly surrendered and bit down hard, granting Mya access to her shoulder.

Inahling, Mya poured the antiseptic onto the cloth and blotted the gash on Winter's shoulder. She *howled* through clenched teeth, shutting her eyes, *fighting* the pain that was engaging in a battle with her body.

Two minutes later, her shoulder had been cleaned - there was no more dried blood or blood trailing down the sides, and the risk of her getting an infection had decreased.

Mya gave her a thumbs-up and returned to work, removing the bandages from their coverings, and deftly, she applied them to Winter's shoulder, tightening and sticking them together until her shoulder had been patched up with white, blobby webs of bandage.

"Prognosis is good. You can put your shoulder back in your sleeve now," Mya instructed, and Winter slipped her shoulder back in, the pain reduced to a throbbing, aching sting.

Winter stared ahead into the trees bordering the school building, concentrating on the stars and the night sky. Mya stood by her, putting a hand on her wrist.

"Winter, we have to get back to the school! Time's running out to stop Daniela!"

Winter, startled, glared at her and stepped away, hugging her waist with her hands, hackles bristling.

"Winter, we *need* to-"

"I *can't* go back there!"

"Winter, we need *you*! You *must* stop Daniela!"

"Mya, you *heard* what she told me! I'm *useless*!" Winter uttered suddenly, adding a frantic, "I *don't* have my *weapon*. I *don't* have physical strength. My *shoulder* is *impaired*! I *can't* fight back, I'll just be **killed**! I'm the definition of the **weakling** everyone says I am..."

"No you're *not*! Daniela is wrong-"

"*You're* the one who's wrong! She's right about me, Mya. She always *has been*!"

She walked away, holding her jacket around her, treating it as a blanket - but it didn't make her feel safe, not at all.

Mya ran up to her, snatching her hand desperately. "That's not true! You-"

"**IT IS TRUE**!" Winter spat, aggressively wrenching her hand away from her friend's. "I was **foolish** for believing I *had* any worth! I *cannot* fight *Daniela* with the *midget bones* I have. I *have* no weapon, no form of *defense*... and are you **forgetting** that **my ex** ***EXPOSED ME*** to the whole **school**!? All they see in me is a *fraud*! Everything I hid, my world, my *escape*... it's **dead**! People are going to **hunt me down** because of my past! *My past* is up in the *air*! It's *free*! I'm *never* going to go back... there *is* no going back..."

Mya, stumped, gasped as Winter sat on the concrete, her jacket tucked unevenly around her knees, and she choked out through broken sobs...

"I'm **worthless**. I'm **useless**... Daniela is *right*. I'm *Snowblind*! Just **Snowblind**! A stupid, kid haunted by her past, blind and *stupid*... forget it, Mya. There's nothing left for me in Pineshadow... I'm just *Snowblind*! I'm a *stupid* kid who made her fantasies her home... just a *stupid* kid."

Mya's mouth fell open in horror, and her heart *twisted* with a desolate, strangling emotion she had never felt before.

"I'm just *Snowblind*..."

Winter had *given up*. *Conceded*. *Fallen* down the deepest depths, plunged into her worst, hellish nightmare.

Daniela had *completely* obliterated her *spirit*, *stubbornness*, and *all* of her personality. She was plain, empty, and hollowed out, alone and trapped.

Mya had never seen Winter so *bleak* and *windswept* with negativity. It was opening scars on *her* to see her friend reach rock bottom.

Her friend sobbed, hunched into a ball, her tears falling in two copies of Niagara Falls, rocking back and rocking forth, convinced she was meritless.

Convinced she was a *burden*.

Convinced she was a freak named *Snowblind*.

Mya, however, did *not* see what she saw in herself.

She saw a bright soul, bright as the starlight, born with starlight curled around her fingertips.

She was a universe, a galaxy.

She was lost in the depths of outer space.

But even when lost, she was beautiful, silly, and compassionate beneath her scalding hot anger.

Someone *special*.

Her emotional scars melded into *senses of purpose*.

*You are not Snowblind, Winter. You are not and will never be that cruel, insensitive name...*

When she first met Winter, she had pierced her outer layer and met the person within - a fun-loving, wanderlust-driven, passionate young teenager who lived life to the fullest, even if limited, and she made do with what she had.

That girl wouldn't let *anything* stand in her way. She was short-tempered, her fuse blown soon as it was lit, beautiful, her short, dyed sandy-brown hair distinctive, and had ice-blue eyes that could *puncture* into the life essence of any person they *crossed*.

Mya was spellbound *and* starstruck by Winter.

She was the first to break into her.

She befriended her, and alongside her best friend, showed her *another* world, taught her to open her heart and let her walls fall, and when she confronted her *deepest* secret, they picked her off the ground and helped her *smile*.

Through secrets, a stalker, her ex-girlfriend, a kidnapping, and a party gone wrong, Winter *survived* and *flourished*.

But Daniela had ripped her heart out of her chest and squashed it like a beetle.

Mya was going to *give* her the heart *back* - she didn't care if Winter believed she was nothing, but she was *something*.

*No, Winter. I am not going to give up on you! You are my best friend, MY sister figure, and I'm not going to let Daniela bite into your bones, not any longer!*

Winter's cries of defeat fueled her to *take charge*.

"Winter. *Look me* dead in the *eyes*," she commanded rigidly.

Winter sniffled and stared at the jacket in her lap.

Mya wasn't going to take *no* for an answer. Dropping low, she faced Winter, pulled her face up, then *slapped* her on her cheek.

Winter, flinching, blinked and scrambled, *shocked* out of her depressive state by her friend's surprisingly violent hit.

"*Mya*??? What the hell was that-"

"**GET IT TOGETHER**!" she snapped, seizing hold of her face and *forcing* her eyes to meet hers. Winter was *flooded* with *rebellious fire*.

Mya, her leaf-green eyes pulsing with *desire*, had her friend on board. She proceeded.

"Winter, if you don't *go back* and fight *Daniela*, Evie is going to *die*! She's buying *us time* and *sacrificing* herself for us! And one's she's **finished**, Daniela is going to have **free reign** over the school. She's going to root out **traitors** like you! Traitors like *us*! She won't stop *killing*! She's going to make people *suffer* until *no one* is left! She *will inflict* a legacy of *agony* and *scandal* on the school if *you don't stop her*!"

"I'm too **weak**!" she wailed, her fingernails scraping the concrete beneath her.

"No you *aren't*! I know you've lost the knife, but even without it, you *have* what you *need* to defeat Daniela! You are the ***only one who can***!"

"If I walk back in there, Daniela is going to **overpower me** and **kill me**! She hauled me for **half a mile**, Mya! What makes you think *I* remotely *have* the strength to stop her??? I **DON'T**!" Winter protested, sobbing heavily and clutching her own jacket, nails tracing the top of the sleeves.

"I... I *can't* return... *everyone* knows my past! *Everyone* has probably turned *against me*! They'll just **ridicule me** for being *Snowblind*!"

*Everyone knows my past.*

The skies parted for Mya, who gasped softly, and illuminated by the moon, she at long last realized Winter's *true* conflict.

Winter's *problem* wasn't the fact that she *feared* Daniela.

It wasn't her *fear* her secrets would slip loose and come back to destroy her.

It wasn't the Snowblind bullying.

Winter *feared* facing her own *past*.

*She doesn't want to face her past... she's marred by nightmares of it.*

It was no secret to her, Evie, and now everyone who attended the party that Winter had a traumatic, *tragic* past outlined by blood, betrayal, and lies.

Daniela, then her girlfriend, outed her to her conservative father. Her father, outraged, denounced her as a sin and cut her as a punishment. Daniela did nothing to save her, and running on *fury*, Winter broke up with her and ran away.

She disappeared from the public eye, lied about herself in order to stay alive, found a cabin to call home, and bonded with the school's principal, who lied in turn to save her, turning Daniela against both in the process. Daniela would seek to kill Winter and hunt her down, and to add insult to injury, her bullies began to refer to her as Snowblind after an incident.

All that had built up in the span of a year was something Winter *never* wanted anyone to know about. It was too *dreadful*, too much of a *nightmare* to face.

Winter believed that if she went back, her past would get her *killed* and buried ten feet under the ground.

Mya knew what she had to do.

"Winter... you can't keep *fleeing your past*," she murmured, brushing her right cheek and wiping a stray tear. "I know you're hurting. I know you struggle to bear the weight of your trauma. You've struggled so bad that you *created* a world that *you* could live in, a *waking dream*, to try and escape it. No matter what you did... that trauma *always* bounced back to you..."

Winter squeaked, sniffing.

"You might be confused as to why you couldn't *escape it*... because you *can't*. You *fear* having to confront Daniela. You *fear* people getting onto you and deconstructing you, using your lies and your trauma to bash you and make you feel like a *burden* on someone's back. This went on forever, and forever, and *forever*... until you crumbled underneath the weight of the pressure."

"I..." Winter started, but Mya shushed her, having *more* to say to her battered friend.

"You may think you've lost **everything**... but where there is burned earth, *you* can start anew and blossom *again*. This is your *chance* to *resonate* and *conquer* your past *once and for all*! While you may not entirely see what I do... I present you with two choices. You can *run* from your past, which means Daniela will win... *or* you can *learn* from it, which means you *face your past*, let the colors *shine*, and *prove* to Daniela that you're no *coward*. You're *unbroken*. You're *dynamic*!"

For the first time that night, Winter *appeared* to be listening. She lifted her head up, her ice-blue eyes gaining a glint of color.

*Yes!* Mya cheered.

"Winter, you *have* courage. You have *strength*! You have *desire*! You have *power* in every action you do, emotionally or physically. Remember what you've accomplished *before*? You threatened to kill me and Evie when we met you and didn't back down straight away. You feared confiding to Aiden that you were queer, but stood your ground and made a friend in him. You thought we'd *hate you* if you told us you and Daniela were lovers, but you pulled through and told us *the truth*! You shared your most personal secrets, *survived* a kidnapping attempt, and even when you got stabbed by Daniela tonight... you *lived*. You didn't *die*. You're still *here*! You may not realize it, but you *are* strong. You have the *fire* needed to take on Daniela and *win*!"

The ice in Winter's eyes arrived, settling there, and they had a newer shine in them. Mya, overjoyed, held her cheeks and put her forehead to her own, making sure that with her next words, she *brought* the *dark* to the *light*.

"You are **NOT** Snowblind. You have **never** been Snowblind. That name **does not** define you and was only meant to **humiliate you**... you are not *Snowblind*, but Snow*light*. You're a *warrior*, a *guardian*, a *protector*, a knight in *shining armor*! You are **fearless**. You *are* in control. You **can** stop Daniela and **show** her and the school that they were **WRONG** about you! Be *Snowlight* - not just for you, but for *everyone*."

*Snowlight...?* Winter's head was tinged with frost, and a melodic, chilled trap tune echoed throughout her head.

*Snowlight... Varien...*

She could see glimpses of a clear winter day, snow illuminated by sunlight, tinged with yellows and golds of a sunrise, the peaceful trap tune playing as she opened her eyes for the first time and inhaled the frosted air. Snow flurries tickled her small, pink cheeks, and the sun outlined her hair, then long and untamed, in *light*.

*I was born as Snowlight... born of blood, risen from the light that graces the cold season.*

Then the sensation of another memory, soft like the snowfall and the gentle prickle of the grass, passed across her vision, a comet falling from the starscapes in outer space. She touched her shoulder - the one with the snowflake birthmark.

*When I was born, my parents named me Winter because of the snowfall. The birthmark on my arm, rare, yet... mystifying. The blessing of my birth, how I was completely healthy and didn't inherit my mother's lupus, and how I would grow as every flower does when the winter season ends...*

*I am Snowlight.*

The frost melted, and in came the warmth and colors of spring. Her eyes, losing the clouds and fog that had imprisoned her, saw a sunny, baby-blue sky, dotted with clouds and trees. She was in a meadow, thriving with flowers of every color.

A familiar bird chirped and buzzed right in front of her face, and her heartbeat stampeded, ran free, soared. She could feel that *thump-thump-thump*, that compact rhythm, that *liberty*.

The hummingbird chirped back at her, whizzing around her face, its brown, red, and white feathers *shimmering*. It flew up, making pirouttes in the sky, dancing, twirling, free to do as it wanted, as it *dreamed*.

The average hummingbird heart could beat for up to over a thousand beats per minute.

Winter's heart, however? It beat *more* than a thousand beats per minute.

Seeing her familiar friend, she felt something she thought had died away, become ashen in her hands.

*Hope*.

*If I am still alive, my heart wild, free, and like the hummingbird...*

*Then I can stop Daniela. I can... I can thrive!*

*I am Snowlight... and I can restore hope to everyone around me. I'm not going to be that fraidy little runaway girl I was anymore.*

The darkness was *gone*. Winter didn't feel *frightened*. She didn't feel like anyone's *liability*.

The meadow and sky vanished, instead forming someone else - Mya.

Her *hope*. Her *light*. Her *sister*.

Winter *finally* realized that she was *right*.

*I have to stop running from my past... despite the horrors it's brought on me. Daniela is dangerous. She's toxic. If I stand here now and let her take control of the school... she will kill everyone and everything and take even more victims in Pineshadow.*

*I'm not Snowblind. I'm not weak, or dumb, or blinded by my faults... but rather, I'm Snowlight... and I can defeat the evil that's been stalking me. I WON'T back down.*

The pain in her shoulder vanishing, Winter got up and proudly put on her jacket, her cover, her *shield*, pulling it over herself. Her eyes were *honed*, her veins bubbled with strength, and her heart thumped, around her swirling feathers of the hummingbird.

She had confidence.

She had *hope*.

She had all the power she needed to *resonate*.

"You're right, Mya. Thank you. I cannot and *will not* let that *bastard* get away with her sins *any longer*. Not as long as I stand! C'mon, we *have* to get back to the cafeteria!"

Mya, surging with pride, nodded at her and stared ahead. "Right! Let's go!"

But Winter had one last thing on her mind besides Daniela.

"Wait, Mya."

Mya halted, turning around, and Winter flew into her arms, hugging her strongly and fiddling with the bow on her chest.

"We aren't related by blood... but you will *always* be my sister."

"You will always be my sister too," she responded softly.

Then, the two let go of each other and dashed back inside the school building.

Wrongs were to be set right *tonight* - and Winter was ready to *answer* to her past, the one thing that, for a year, was her *worst enemy*.

In the cafeteria, the fisticuffs and brawn battle between Evie and Daniela had gone on for *minutes*. Both were sweating, circling each other, snarling, and wanting *nothing* but to see each other *lose*.

Evie knew she was fighting a losing battle. Her head, back, arms, and legs *hurt*, escalated by the rampant exhaustion in her body and Daniela delivering violent blows, jabs, and punches, and Mya still hadn't come back with Winter.

*Where... are... they?*

Daniela, perceiving her distracted thoughts, swung a punch at her nose that she only narrowly dodged.

*Come on, Evie, keep this up! Mya needs you!*

A dark green gaze identical to hers bore into her from what felt like a mile away. She paused in a cold *sweat*.

*Mom...?*

Evie's heart stopped *beating*.

*Mom is watching me... oh my god, I can't fail her! She can't see me fail!*

Evie, yowling, ran at Daniela and swung a punch directly at her head.

But her luck had run dry.

Daniela, predicting what she was going to do, blocked the blow, knocked her fist away, and hooked her mid-air, slamming her down into the bars of a table. Evie screeched, pain hitting the back of her head at the speed of a bullet train.

The world twirled around in her vision, the pain profuse and staggering, and she felt like she was falling into a bottomless pit.

When the world came back into focus, Evie found herself staring into *murderous* amber eyes and gasped.

Before she could react, Daniela *then* put the blade of Winter's knife to her *throat*, and she *screamed*. Some of the partygoers ran back into the cafeteria to watch the unfolding scene.

"Seems like the *victor* of this great rivalry is *me*," she declared, laughing. "Your death *won't* compensate as much for *Snowblind's*, but I don't mind getting a *second reward*: my **rival's doom**!"

Evie, gulping, shut her eyes, the dark encasing her in a cacoon.

As she feared... she had entered the final moments of her *life*.

*This is it... Winter is lost, Mya isn't back... this is how it ends...*

*Mya... I'm so sorry I couldn't stall her... she's just too much for me... to handle...*

Dark green eyes kept their lock on her.

Evie let the tears fall, growing numb to the knife's cold edges touching her flesh.

*Mom... I failed you... I tried to be your perfect daughter...*

*I was perfect... wasn't I?*

"Say *sayonara*, Ly!" Daniela quipped, preparing to cut into her rival's throat, another life taken under her wing. The world blissfully tuned out.

"***HANDS OFF MY FRIEND***!"

*WHAT???*

Daniela whipped around, stunned *disbelief* smashing into her bluntly, as she stared at *Winterlyn McCormick* glaring at her, *hostility* in her cold eyes, her body fortified by metal, her jacket, and *grit*. Beside her was Mya.

*HOW IS SHE ALIVE??? No... no, this wasn't part of the plan! Not again! Missteps, mistakes, I can't let them HAPPEN!*

Daniela was so in stupor that she had inadvertently let Evie escape her death, and she leapt to her feet, jumping to the side of her friends.

Shaking her head, the crazed bully rose to her feet, fuming, *stomping* in a furious fit of rage.

"**SNOWBLIND**! You should have **ran away**! Get out of my *sight* and **DIE**!" she growled, loathing the situation she had been just thrust into. How had Winter *cheated death*? *Why* hadn't she fled like she usually did?

"I was a fool, once," she admitted, refusing to acknowledge her sociopathic fury and staring at her boots, tone brisk and straight to the point. "I was a coward. A big one. I *ran* from the truth and buried it beneath me, covering it in a thousand layers and a thousand lies. And every time I did so, my past only came back to *remind me* of my scars. I lived in a world of *fantasy*... but that world is *gone*."

"You **rotten maggot**! ***Run away before I DECAPITATE YOU***!" Daniela spat.

Winter ignored her completely, sending a chill down her spine.

*What...*

"Now I see *why* my past has followed me everywhere I've gone... I've *refused* to *face it*. This time, I'm not *going* to flee with my tail between my legs. Not *anymore*."

Daniela bit on her lip, just a hint of a scowl forming.

"I've got no reasons, no shame, and no more family I can blame... except for one. You might have thought I could disappear like I do, like the name people give me. I became what I couldn't be... and yet longed for people to see what I see. I met those people, and all that's happened since then has helped me realize that no matter what, the past ***can never*** inflict any more scars on my body, even with my trauma. And I'm going to express *myself* for who I really am **loud and clear**!"

"*You-*" Daniela didn't have the seconds on her side, for her former flame rose from the shackles she had been confined to.

She *broke them*.

"**This** is what you made of *us*, Daniela. The words have been *spoken*. There's no changing *our fates*."

Daniela stiffened.

Something was *amiss*.

*This is not the same girl named Snowblind... what- what's going on??*

Winter stepped toward her, baring her teeth. "**You** destroyed ***my life***! You ***destroyed*** *everything* I had. My home, my *family*... *me*. You caused me **immeasurable pain**, took away my **innocence**... and **you** were the one that **killed our love**. **Only you** destroyed it, *hurt my friends*, **tried to kill me**, and renounce me as **useless**. ***Worthless***."

"You have **no idea** what you're talking about!" Daniela insisted angrily, though her tone betrayed that she was beginning to fill with *fear*.

Winter raised her head and *blazed* her ice-blue fire on Daniela - the look in her eyes was a *gut punch* and *blood-curdler* combined.

"I believed in all of your lies. Your claims. I cracked and fled. You stood here triumphantly, soaking in bloodlust, convincing this crowd I was a *snake*. I thought you were **right** about me. That I was *nothing*..."

The North Pole began to inhabit Daniela's body, and she shuffled her boots on the ground apprehensively.

*WHAT...??? This ISN'T HAPPENING!*

"But you're **wrong**, Daniela! I'm **not over**. I'm ***not dead***! For as long as I **breathe**, I'm no coward. I'm not going to give up! *I will not surrender*! ***I won't be held down***! There might be **pressure**, but I have fought and ***WILL KEEP FIGHTING IT***! ***Everything*** you've done to me has **only** made me ***STRONGER***! **I WILL DOMINATE**! ***I***. ***WILL***. ***RESONATE***!!!!"

Winter's anger had turned to *red hot fury* to *white hot rage*, and it simmered, boiled, cooked, and *exploded* inside of her all at once until all she could see was Daniela.

Her ex, her enemy, and the *root* of all evil.

She *destroyed her* long ago and sought to *kill her*, blaming her for a bitter breakup that *she* had caused.

*Daniela* was *always* the one who was going to be *remembered* as a traitor.

She *would* be remembered as a *scourge*.

As the *disgrace*.

As the sociopathic *liar*.

And Winter would make *sure* of it.

Screaming with all of the air in her lungs, Winter charged at speeds rivaling even that of Usain Bolt, colliding with Daniela violently, sirens *wailing* in her ears, air *hot* with *hate* and *anger* and a raging storm.

Daniela swung a punch at her head, but Winter dodged it, knocking the fist away. Swerving to her left, she gripped the side of Daniela's neck and flung her into the side of a table.

*Wham!*

Daniela pushed her off, snarling rabidly, and she clawed at her throat, attempting to leave a mark, forgetting about the pocket knife she held in her hand out of desperation to avenge herself.

Winter, taking this advantage furiously, blood *roaring* in her ears and feeling *unstoppable*, dragged her back out in the middle of the cafeteria and *punched her* with all her knuckles in the nose, hearing a satisfying *bang*, and blood leaked from her left nostril.

Pain seared through the front of Daniela's face, making her groan, and she wiped away the blood, frazzled, shaken, and a new feeling washed over her.

*Foreboding*.

Almost as if she *knew* what was going to come next.

With a final, *enraged* roar, Winter leapt up into the air and swung her boot heel into her *chest*. The force felt like a whole *anvil* had been slingshotted into her. Daniela, screeching in *agony*, tumbled back into the wall, her head hitting the bricks, and she sunk to the ground, bloodied and defeated.

The pocket knife went soaring into the air, but with ease, Winter caught it in her left hand, tucking away the blade and stashing it back in her pocket - where it belonged.

The crowd, mesmerized by the events that had started the minute Winter returned, had flooded back into the cafeteria and watched Winter confront her *vicious*, *hellbent* ex-girlfriend.

They watched the school's bully and horrible, vile juggernaut *fall*.

They stared at Winter and knew - with vindication - that they had judged her *wrong*.

She had *resonated*.

She was a *hero*.

Winter stood in the middle of the cafeteria, panting, and she brushed away the beads of sweat on her forehead.

The battle had drawn to a close - but it wasn't quite over.

She still had some *loose ends* to tie with Daniela - and she had to give her the *killing blow*.

*Time to put her out of commission for good.*

She approached Daniela slowly, and looking up into her *stormy*, icy eyes, she flinched, blood streaming from her nose.

Winter stared at her, giving her a *condescending*, *patronizing* stare.

"Once, long ago, you *took away* someone's life, Daniela. Destroyed it. Because *you* ruined her life and *caused* her to fall. Luckily, that made her *realize* that she was *stronger* than you. I should have *done this* since the day you *swore revenge* on me, but I couldn't be more *proud* that I'm living to *say* those words to a sociopath like you."

Daniela gasped, her heart scarring. Winter was using *her own words* against her.

She had unleashed *Goliath* on herself. And she was *David*.

"Well, what do *you* know?" Winter then remarked. "*You* made me be the *bad guy*. Lost *your* paradise, *fallen* from grace. It *never* should have ended this way... fists, blood, and war... but hey, I think the *villain* is a bit fun to play."

Evie and Mya gasped, clapping, *admiring* Winter.

Evie, in particular, was *impressed*.

*Winter's using reverse psychology on Daniela! She knows Daniela views her like a villain... so she's acting like one to put the stake in her heart! Brilliant, Winter!*

"Yes, Winter!" Mya cheered, golf clapping, and Evie did the same.

"You **know** the **truth** runs in ***my blood*** as it does in ***yours***," Winter added icily. "The **lies** between us **didn't** become *us* - but *you* manifested ***into them instead***. You **are** a villain. It's a **permament** blight on you... and I think it *suits* you."

She stepped closer to her and tapped her boot in front of her face, making Daniela queasier than before.

"And by the way, *Dani*. My name's **not** Snowblind. From this day forward, *you* have lost the **right** - along with ***everyone in this school building*** - to *use* that name. Call me by my *actual name*: *Winterlyn Falin McCormick*!"

The crowd let out murmurs of awe and approval, *astonished* by Winter's show of dominance and bravery, and many jeered at the defeated, slumped Daniela, who mumbled something and stared at her former flame hopelessly.

She was *pleading* for her to spare her life.

*Begging*.

Winter refused to heed her demands, only seeking one more thing.

The final, *crippling* blow. She released it and threw the spear *through* the skull of her head.

"You're a **lesson learned**. What happened to the young lovers, the pain, bitterness, heartbreak, battles, and wars of words, will **always** be on you. I once thought you still had *some good* in you, Dani. I was wrong. You're *pure evil* down to your **core** and won't *ever change*. It's *done*. You've *lost*. It's **over**."

She stepped back from a humiliated Daniela and joined her friends' side.

"Whoaaa. That was *unbelievable*, Win!" Mya exclaimed.

"You *nailed her*. And you used *reverse freaking psychology*! Color me *proud*," Evie said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Daniela, leaning her head up, saw their interaction.

Their happiness, pride, and Winter standing tall, full of fireflies and resilient. *Resilient*.

It was like she had *never* been stabbed in the first place.

*That... that girl... isn't a coward...*

*Winter HUMILIATED me! She's supposed to be weak! She should be expelled! Exiled! Destroyed!*

Without warning, a growl rumbled from her throat, and Daniela leapt to her feet, marching over to the three girls, who jumped, alarmed by her quick rebound.

"Oh, this is **OVER**? You *intoxicated flowery assholes* are going to ***PAY*** for this! I will make you ***RUE THE DAY***! Especially ***YOU***, Snow-"

Mid-sentence, Daniela threw herself in Winter's direction.

Then she felt herself stop.

*Why... why am I not moving???*

Hands gripped her arms and pulled them behind her back tightly. Cold metal scraped against her skin.

*Clink*.

Daniela tried moving her hands, but they didn't dislodge from her backside.

*Oh... oh no.*

*OH NO.*

Daniela swallowed a rock in her throat, turning around to find *three police officers* glaring at her, their eyes shallow and reflecting no color but blackness.

She was in *handcuffs*.

She was going to *prison*.

They grabbed her, and yowling, she tried to tear herself free, swing out, break free, try to get back to Winter, but it was too late. The police officers had already overwhelmed her.

She was no match.

"What? No! *No*! Get your *hands* off me! Let me *go*!" They dragged her near one of the exit doors, and with a last, malignant stare, Daniela found Evie, Mya, and Winter.

"You **three** are going to *hell* for this! Mark my words! I will have my ***revenge***!" she shouted, and then, the doors slammed closed.

It was finally *over*.

Winter had prevailed - and so had the light within her soul.

"Winter! You did it!" Mya yelled triumphantly, leaping into her friend's arms for a hug, and Evie did the same, laughing peacefully.

"You found your voice!" the latter chimed.

"Yeah, and you defeated your past! You *learned from it*!" Mya beamed.

"Mhm." Nodding, Winter motioned at Mya. "Thank you, Mya... without you, I would have ran away forever... and who knows what would have happened then."

Hearing her words, Evie sped up to Mya. *She did it! She... she convinced Winter to come back! Justice was served.*

"Looks like you're a true god, my flower crown goddess," she whispered. "It's crazy how Winter prevented me from nearly dying..."

"Hey, you lived. And you kicked Dani's ass too."

"Yeah. I told her to kiss it."

"Oooh, you *didn't*!"

"*Vâng, tôi đã làm*."

"I hear you two!" Winter shouted, and they giggled, hiding their mouths with their hands.

"Evie! Mya! Winter!"

The girls craned their heads up to the second floor, and they smiled happily, relieved to see *their parents* - the Lys and Heartleys - and among them, Rex.

Rex had brought herself to stand, and she stared back fondly at Winter.

Never related, but proud of her not-daughter.

Eagerly, they ran up the stairs to the second floor and met them. Winter started with Rex, whom she hugged with a surprising amount of force.

"Oh, Winter..." she murmured, sitting back down at a table.

"Rex, will you be... okay? After this?"

Her eyes fogged over with a foreign expression. "I honestly don't know what the future has in store for me... but darling... I'm so- I'm so sorry... I let you down. The secrets between us-"

"It's okay," she assured. "It's in the past, Rex. You did what you could to protect me from the world and Daniela. No one could fault you for wanting to, I *was* going to die..."

She nodded, momentarily holding her hand. "T-Thank you, Winterlyn... for stopping her."

Winter blushed at the high honor bestowed upon her by the principal. She was *proud* of her for stopping Daniela, her *daughter*, the *school's* chaotic, crazed, psycho, sociopathic *bully*.

*Who's also now going to go to jail... that's going to be a lot for Rex to think about,* she noted.

"Evie? Evie?"

Evie froze, recognizing her mother's voice, and she ran up to her parents, hugging them. "Mom! Dad! I'm just so... so happy to see you..."

"That was seriously badass, honey! You were *bulldozing* Daniela out there!" her father told her, ruffling her hair.

Opal fondly held her cheek. "I know I can be a bother when it comes to judging you, but what *can* I say here? You *fought* a *hell child* so *valiantly*! With *all* of the moves I've been training you in... Evie, you've just made me so proud..."

"You are courageous, baby! We're proud of you," Anderson murmured.

"Thank you thank you thank youuuuu!" Evie buried her face in her parents' embrace, hugging them and shedding tears of joy.

A bittersweet, happy day in her life, made better by her mother being *proud* of her, rare from the stern Opal.

On the other hand, Mya had been swept up in her parents' arms and showered with hugs and kisses.

"Mya! We're so glad you're okay!" Nita stated as she squeezed her.

"Are you *okay okay*, pumpkin?" her father asked.

"Yep. Never felt better," she whispered with conviction.

"You did what *no one else* could have done," Patrick then said. "Risking *your life* to save your best friend. Running far out while the time ticked away... that's not just determination, that's *heroic*. *True* heroism."

"He's correct," Nita responded, placing her shoulder on his. "Party or no party, Mya... I think you're going to be a *shining star* in your future, kicking all this ass in the world..."

"I'd save a lot more people than you might think," she buzzed, a little flustered, and she snuck a glance at Evie, who was in a conversation with her parents.

"You know, Mya... we had a very special gift for you that we wanted to save for your birthday... but I think, with the events tonight... you deserve it." Her mother, humming, rummaged around in her bag and pulled out a single sheet of a paper.

Yes, a *paper*.

Mya, confused, took it.

*They gave me a piece of paper?*

Wait, no. There was text.

Mya read it and gasped.

*WHAT? HOLD ON-*

She read it again. Again. And again. And again.

She turned to her parents. They winked at her.

*Holy shrimp???*

Tears of joyous solitude welled in her eyes, and turning, she shouted, "*Evie*!"

Evie dashed up to her side in an instant, peering over at the paper and gasping in turn.

*Whoa! WHOA! That's... that's... that's gotta be one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen...*

"Congratulations," she whispered, nuzzling her cheek briefly before turning to someone *very* special.

"Winter... out of everyone here... I think you're the most *deserving* of seeing this."

*Huh?* Baffled, she trotted over to her friends and took the paper out of Mya's hands, scanning the top.

She gasped.

*Wait... wait. WAIT.*

She read the title.

She read it again.

She read it for a third time.

Holy *moses*.

Winter was *aghast*.

*Me? No way it's me...*

She read the paper, speed-reading it as fast as she could. There was no *way* it was true.

*CERTIFICATE OF ADOPTION*

*This is to certify the adoption of WINTERLYN FALIN MCCORMICK as requested by **NITA DELLANDREA HEARTLEY** and **PATRICK ROBERTSON HEARTLEY***

*Thereby making WINTERLYN FALIN MCCORMICK their adopted daughter and entitled to rights as one of their daughters*

Her eyes widening, she faced the Heartley parents, clutching the paper in her hands.

"You... you want to **adopt me**???"

The crowd let out murmurs of surprised approval, a million eyes gleaming.

The Heartley parents nodded.

"Of course, Winter... we have *always* wanted to give you a place where you could *belong*, ever since the day Mya described her initial meeting with you... you *deserve* a real home! You deserve the chance to *have* a family, a real mother and father, and a sister that will *love you*! You shouldn't have to live on your own for the rest of your life... and we knew our decision was right the night Mya took you to our place... you belong as a Heartley, Winter. You *always* will."

Mya put her arms over Winter's shoulders. "We're going to be *sisters*!"

Winter's head throbbed with euphoria, serotonin, and jubiliation, and *triumph*.

She had defeated Daniela, shattered her fear of the past, and was *now* going to be adopted into a new, loving family.

Her and Mya being sisters was *real*. Her *dream* was real.

*I have a family... I HAVE A FAMILY!*

Screaming in delight, Winter hugged Mya and shook her, jumping up and around her and Evie and then into Mya's parents, hugging them and hugging them again. "Oh thankyouthankyouthankyou THANK YOUUUU!" she thanked repeatedly in a squeal.

"Anytime, love," Nita replied. "You just need to sign here." She pointed to the blank space on the certificate with her fingernail.

Winter turned to the crowd. "Someone give me a pen. *Someone* give me a **PEN**!" she demanded, drinking in the exhileration of everyone around her.

"We have it!" two voices called, and running down to the second floor were two twin Muslim-American sisters - one elder, one younger - that screeched to a stop in front of her.

The elder sister gave her a pen. "We found this in the office... it was on the floor."

"Thanks!" With the most joy and veneration she had *ever* felt in her life, Winter placed the pen down on the paper and signed, in beautiful cursive:

*Winterlyn Falin McCormick*

It was official.

Winter was the Heartleys' younger daughter - and Mya's sister.

"Alrighty, then," Nita concurred. "We'll have to mail this to the city, and soon enough, they'll certify it."

"Thanks, Mrs- no, *mom* and *dad*." A part of Winter blossomed with honor and pride, and affectionately, she held onto her new adopted parents.

"Winter! Hey Winter, can we get a selfie with you?"

Surprised, Winter faced the two sisters.

"Oh, uh," the younger sister said, "I'm Sarah. This is my sister, Evelin."

"Nice names! And yeah, come in." Winter pulled her phone out of her other pocket and snapped a selfie with the Rafiq sisters, who pranced around her, now fangirls of the girl they barely knew.

"*Winter*!"

Hearing that familiar masculine voice, Winter turned to her other side and met the forest-green eyes of Aiden, a friend of his trailing not far behind.

"Aiden!" she greeted, and a *powerful* cologne scent washed over her.

"Ugh! You smell like an Abercrombie & Fitch!"

Aiden blushed. "Oops... you caught me." He shrugged. "You were *kicking ass* out there! Dude, I've seen the *fiery* side of you, but I did *not* see the screaming, *wild* side of you! That was *chaotic*!"

"Chaotic is pretty much who I am, my man."

"Makes me glad I met you."

"Are you trying to flatter me?"

"No!" Aiden detested. "But maybe I admire you."

"Okay, come here," Winter invited, and she hugged him.

*Okay he really smells like Abercrombie how much cologne did he apply-*

Aiden pulled out, dipping his head, and up stepped his friend.

"Aiden's friend?" she questioned.

"Yep, that's me. I'm Henry Danielson, also a friend of your friends. Pleased to meet ya."

She shook his hand, and Evie and Mya gave a thumbs-up.

*Any friend of theirs is an acquaintance of mine.*

Just as Winter relaxed, ready to close out her night, *another* voice shouted to her, and she tensed, instantly recognizing who.

"Winter?"

Evie and Mya, confused, parted and let a tall, bulky seventh grader step up to Winter.

Her eyes narrowed with distrust. She *knew* him like the back of her hand.

He was the football captain - Lars Miller.

Also known as the person who would *utter* the one word that would *permanently* change her life.

Defensively, she squared herself up.

"*You*!" she spat. "*You're* the reason why *everyone* called me *Snowblind*!"

Evie and Mya, along with the crowd, gasped.

From Winter's story, Evie and Mya recalled that Winter had met a boy who had feelings for her, but the feeling was unrequited, and then she fell for Daniela. Then that same boy would harass her and scar her with the name of Snowblind after she had an embarrassing accident in the snow.

It was *Lars* - a boy everyone usually respected for his strength and preaching of good ethics in football, as well as being supportive to his classmates.

"I know," he confessed sadly, shocking the crowd. "I was the person that called you Snowblind. And... I'd just like to say..."

Winter put her hand by her pocket, waiting for a verbal onslaught.

"I'm sorry."

Raising an eyebrow, she tilted her head. The crowd faced the football captain, appalled.

"I'm sorry, Winter. I know the severe amount of damage I caused *creating* that name... back ages ago, you didn't return the love I had for you, and I treated that like it was an *insult*... that morphed into hate. You were *beautiful*, an apple to my eye, and yet I could never have you... and then you sealed the deal with Daniela..."

The cafeteria went silent.

"When I found you walking alone that one snowy October day... jealousy overrode my common sense. I wanted to see you *hurt* for *choosing someone else* over me. It's petty, I get it. But after you had fallen into the snow... something inside of me snapped, and I, just... I called you Snowblind, thought you were blind and couldn't see what was in front of your nose..."

"What are you trying to tell me?" she demanded with a slight stiff edge in her tone.

"That I don't see you as weak," Lars acknowledged, lowering his head with dismay and regret. "You were **never** weak. The events of tonight proved to me that, even when you're facing your worst nightmare... you can still stand *defiant* and *strong*. You *are* a *hero*, Winter. You're *not* Snowblind. I should have never underestimated your strength... and your tenacity."

Winter walked up to him, a stray fragment of darkness breaking free and dissolving.

Lars had come to see his flaws and the *terrible* mistakes he had made in handling his jealousy. Taking it out on an innocent girl was *shameful*. He stooped just as low as *Daniela*.

He had been invited to the party, where he had witnessed every word exchanged between her and Daniela, the truths, the lights, the darkness, and Winter fighting her past heroically.

He saw her as a hero - not a weakling.

Winter could notice that.

*He's not here to attack me... but he wants to forgive. He doesn't want to be the next incarnation of Daniela.*

She chose compassion, ultimately giving her hand to Lars, and he shook it.

"Lars, it's in the past now," she said with a solemn dip of her head. "And I will *not* hold a grudge against you for what you caused. On one condition..."

"Yes?"

"Promise that you will ***never*** utter the word "Snowblind" out of your *mouth* **ever again**. Solid?"

"Solid."

The crowd clapped, making Winter blush, and she waved to them, appreciating this newfound energy.

She had fans, and hoo boy, she was going to get more.

Mya leapt onto a table and stared at the crowd. "**HEY EVERYONE**! Let's acknowledge Winter's **bravery** with a special nickname, one that is not ***demeaning***, but distinctive, only to **her**! She is the school's hero and savior with the heart of an angel and the wings of a *hummingbird* - *Snowlight*!"

"Snowlight! Snowlight! Snowlight! Snowlight!"

Winter, sobbing, hugged Evie, Mya, her adopted parents, and her new friends, the Rafiq sisters, Aiden, and Henry, as well as Lars.

Everything had been righted in the world.

The colors of the rainbow shined overhead.

There may have been no party, but they had one of their own now that Pineshadow's most dangerous, sinister, *evil* criminal had gotten her comeuppance. There was no more kissing up and no more cover ups.

Winter had *resonated*, and her two feet hung *high* off the ground.

Now hear me resonate

A few nights later, Evie, Mya, and Winter laid in the tall grasses at the edge of Pinelake Park, side by side, gazing up at the creamy-white stars dotted across the sky, the cool night breeze drifting across their noses.

This was going to be Winter's last night in her cabin - and she had brought the girls along for some stargazing, wanting it to go out in style. The next day, she'd be packing her things and moving into Mya's house, joining her adoptive sister for the first time.

Speaking of adoption, Winter's certificate had gone through and was approved by the city, now making her legally the daughter of the Heartleys. She didn't mind being called Winterlyn Heartley, but still preferred her old name - it was very special to her.

After the events of the party, PMS staff had decided to start spring break, originally supposed to be a week after the party, early, amidst the debacle they faced in the wake of Daniela's destruction and the secrets exposed. It had made the news, and now, Evie, Mya, and Winter were universally recognized in Pineshadow for their heroics.

Damn crazy.

Rex had granted Winter a one-of-a-kind waiver that gave her permission to carry her pocket knife on school grounds, seeing that she was an exception to the rules because of her interesting case, though she had to sign a non-disclosure agreement to not talk about her knife and swear to never bring it out unless a conflict *absolutely* called for it. She agreed to the terms.

As for Rex herself, Daniela's party appearance, attempts on the lives of both Winter and Evie, and dismantling in general had left a permanent, empty hole in her heart and a dent on her career as principal. A day after, she announced her resignation as school principal and temporarily passed the torch to Bluelund as the school worked to appoint a new one willing to fulfill the position. In exchange for immunity and no prison time, she had testified to police about Daniela, adding to her mounting criminal case.

Rex also confirmed that Daniela was being held at a detention center indefinitely and would go to juvenile prison in no less than a month. Police had already compiled hours of testimonial from witnesses, Evie, Mya, and Winter having the most hours testified, and her trial was to begin shortly. The chances of her going to prison were without a doubt a hundred percent.

In a way, things in the world made sense to Winter after a year. She wouldn't have to slip out the door and run away, not when she had family and friends backing her.

She had a home, a family, and people no longer resented her, instead appreciating her and respecting her for what she was worth.

"This hits the spot," she murmured contentfully.

"Definitely," Mya purred in agreement, resting her hand on hers and using her other to pretend like she could grasp the stars in her hand.

"They're so pretty..."

Evie rolled over to her. "They look even prettier when they reflect in your eyes," she teased.

"You're such a tease, Ev!"

"Why? I'm speaking facts."

"They're shining in your eyes too!"

"You know what else shines? Your ability to give *awesome speeches*!"

"I am not an orator, Evie!"

"Oh, but you'd make a fine one. My mom can't shut up about how good of an orator you are! She wants me to *speak* like you!"

"Sounds like Opal is on drugs."

Evie, snorting, laid her head on her shoulder. "She's just being mom," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

"And I'm just being me," Mya huffed, scratching the back of her head.

Winter got up, the romantic tension between the two filling the air, and she giggled.

*Those two have got to be the gayest best friends I've ever seen.*

"Damn, it's been a long night... I think I'm gonna head in and leave you two to it."

"Aww, c'mon Winter!" Mya pleaded.

"No, I need sleep... lots of moving tomorrow." Without another word, she bounded off in the direction of the cabin.

Evie and Mya turned to each other.

"Tree?" Mya asked.

"Bet!" Evie responded.

Immediately the two raced to their favorite tree and shimmeyed up it, crawling onto a thick, overhanging branch, and Mya sat down first, followed by Evie. Side-by-side, they glanced at the Pineshadow neighborhood, orange and yellow lights dotting up the darkness, and crickets began their late night song.

Up here, it was calm, the leaves sheltering them... and *passionate*.

*Perfect*.

"Pineshadow looks so *small* from up here," Mya whispered, batting an eye to the suburbs and distant mountains.

"*Everything* is small when you sit somewhere high. It's part of the charm," Evie commented, sighing in peace and taking in the pleasant night air.

I could tell within a moment you knew me well

I could see you gave me solace when I needed someone there

"These past few weeks have been *insanity*. We've met someone extraordinary, chased her, got in some wacky adventures and hair-raising scenarios... we *nearly died*!"

"And got trapped in a manor!"

"That too.. but after this war, battles, and that... I feel like I've accomplished everything I've *wanted* in life."

In the darkness, I still see you like a golden arch

Rising high above the sunset in every way you are

"I share your sentiment," Mya said, casting her eyes out onto the distant houses. "I've made a *lot* of mistakes, thinking about it... chasing someone who could have easily killed us, putting me over you, being naive... but I've learned to grow. A sapling blossoming into a tree, come to think of it. With that blossoming came my epiphany, a fragment of me falling into place... coming out as bisexual and getting the closure that I needed... I don't want *anything* to change, Ev. And..."

Evie faced her, smiling warmly, and Mya stared back at her, endlessly enamored by her best friend.

"I want you to be by my side."

I know that everything's in focus now

I'm seeing clearly for the first time

Evie shifted closer to her. "Without you, Winter would have fled. She'd be lost, a rose wilting in the shadows, and Daniela would have won... she would have gone on a *tyrade*. She would have had it out for us... and then you showed Winter that she could combat her past... y'know what?"

"What?" Mya inquired, sneaking in a little flirtatious vibe to her voice.

"You're pretty great at saving people's lives."

Today, I woke up feeling more alive

Tomorrow, everything will turn around

"Oh, you big softie," she teased back, booping her on her nose. "I recall the day we first met... you were socially awkward and wanted your nose to be stuck in a book! To think that you've immersed yourself in a group of actual friends... someone did a lot of growing too."

"Yeah, you caught me reading a fantasy book about gays who kick ass and have magic powers, typical ten-year old me," Evie quipped, snorting.

"And then you snagged yourself the friend of your dreams!"

Evie's dark green eyes filled with amusement. *You're so adorable when you do that...* Her feelings from before the party flooded right back in, blooming in the leaf canopies dotted by moonlight, and Evie marveled at how striking her friend truly was.

*You're more than adorable... I think it's meant to be.*

"When I met you, My... you *changed* my life. It's more than just a friendship... you're my *hero*, my savior, *my idol*, the *light* that dispels the dark, will-o'-the-wisp, luminous and ambitious..."

Her voice died away, thinking of how she could praise Mya more, shower her in affectionate sentences and give her every crown jewel ever.

Everything will turn around

Oh, oh, oh

Observing that Mya's hand was resting idly near her thigh, she placed her hand on top of it, flipped it up a little, and held it, letting the warmth seep into her palm, and her body became numb with affection and a ton of other new things she had yet to discover.

Mya, gripping back, flicked a strand of her hair aside. "You dork. I *told you* objects in the mirror were *closer* than they *appeared*."

Evie blushed, submitting to her words, and she smoothed down the back of her hair. "I was," she confessed. "I was *really* blind to it, though I'm an *expert* at perceiving emotions... it's *crazy* how things change so quickly and you've yet to see what your destiny can be like..."

Everything will turn around

Oh, oh, oh

"My god, you are *such* an idiot," Mya chaffed, deleting the gap between her and Evie and shoving her nose into her face, connecting their noses, and she rubbed against Evie, waves of love pouring into both of them.

The breeze turned warm, tense with the passion the two shared. What they had was *undeniable*.

What they had was *everlasting*.

It was love, pulsing, flooding, wilding, rampaging through their hearts, which beat at the same pace and had the same rhythm. The stars gleamed brighter, the moonlight illuminating their silhouttes, shadowy, yet silver and blue, tying them together in knots.

All the days when I was searching for some kind of sign

Now I've reached the destination with someone of my kind

Evie smiled, her friend's breath ticking her cheeks, and she snuck her hand up, clasping Mya's wrist. Her entire head was *racing*, her heart *scrambling*, *yearning* to make Mya hers. She *had* to be hers.

There's no way it wasn't her... Mya's description of her perfect girl made *perfect sense*.

*Everything's clear...*

Mya, knowing that she had only one thing on her mind, smiled too and slid *her* hand up Evie's wrist.

"It's always been me, hasn't it?" Evie then asked.

Keep me breathing with a feeling like an LED light

Now I'm moving through the shadows, you woke me up tonight

Mya nodded, the understanding between them linking, and she knew it was set in stone. She wasn't going to retreat, not when she had the words on her tongue and could *finally* say them, *finally*.

She had waited for the right time. Now *was* the right time.

"There's no boy or girl I want more than you."

"Same. Oh, by the way... I'm a lesbian. Men aren't really my type... pretty attractive girls has a nice ring to it."

I know that everything's in focus now

I'm seeing clearly for the first time

Mya, cheeks reddening, looked on at Evie in favor of her words.

*She's a lesbian. Just likes girls... just like me.*

*Evie finds me attractive.*

There was nothing left to be said. She pulled Evie close to her, tracing the outline of her cheekbones, and she stared into the *endless* holly green making up her eyes, framed perfectly by her glasses.

Her pale skin, her dark black hair, her eyes, and simple outfits... her *everything* was *here* in front of her.

Evie was all Mya wanted.

*I've waited so long to tell you, Evie...*

She was smart, charismatic, sarcastic, strong-willed, and a lovable *goof* underneath her exterior. It was friendship, sparked up into flame and a storm, blushes to touches to the words they spoke.

Evie and Mya had *said* more than words.

They wanted to *be* more than words.

They were in *love* - and Mya, in that moment, connected her nose to hers again, tracing her cheekbone, the air sweet, passionate, and serene.

And after what felt like *years* of waiting, she let the words slide out.

"I love you, Evie - and I'll love you until the day I die."

Silence hung, soft as a whisper, for fifteen seconds.

Then Evie broke it, putting her hand on Mya's cheek and tracing her cheekbone too.

Mya was all *she* wanted.

"I love you too," she whispered, her nose rubbing against her skin gently.

Today, I woke up feeling more alive

Tomorrow, everything will turn around

The nose grazing, teasing, touch, and professions finally made the girls give up on their self-control, and wanting to cement what they had in stone, they pressed their lips together.

No more dreams. No more fantasies. No more accidents.

This was *real love*. A *real* kiss.

The warmth intensified, the love inducing vertigo, the affection acculmulating rapidly.

What was the perfect kiss became far more than a kiss, and just as quick as their lips touched, they had bitten down gingerly and pressed back, making out blissfully, peacefully, everything in the world quiet, letting things subside so they could finally be *one*.

Their hands traced their faces, cheekbones, to necks, to shoulders, their lips melting together, sweet and drug-inducing, the heat suffocating, yet strangely enchanting.

Everything will turn around

Oh, oh, oh

One minute afterward, Evie pulled back and gasped for air, her face warm and stinging from just how powerful Mya's love of her was. It was *indestrucable*.

*How she's felt about me for forever...*

"*Whoa*," she uttered, starry-eyed. "That... that was *amazing*. You love me back, Mya... I want to do this again. I really do."

"You always can, my love," Mya promised, yanking her up close by her arms and wrapping them around her waistline. She then connected her lips to Evie's, refusing to let go of her, her love, her flame, her *everything*, and the light kisses transitioned back to making out.

Everything will turn around

Oh, oh, oh

Evie allowed her body to be overwhelmed by the feelings, eating her whole, as she kissed Mya back strongly, loving her and all the finer things about her.

*I love you, my flower crown goddess. I always will.*

Everything will turn around

As the moonlight gleamed and illuminated the leaves of their favorite tree, Evie and Mya were devoured in their love of each other, from their kisses, their touch, and their words, it was everything both wanted.

Pineshadow was safe, they rescued their friend from peril...

...and discovered that deep in their hearts, love would flourish in *any* adventure they had.

Wherever they went next, they were *ready*.

## Cast

* **Eden Riegel** as Daniela
* **Mae Whitman** as Winter
* **Jorge Diaz** as Aiden & additional voices
* **Dee Bradley Baker** as Henry & additional voices
* **Kari Wahlgren** as additional voices
* **Matt Chapman** and **Kimberly Brooks** as additional voices
* **Fred Tatasciore** as additional voices
* **Nora Dunn** as Rex
* **Peyton Elizabeth Lee** as Evie
* **Dakota Fanning** as Mya
* **Zehra Fazal** as Evelin and Sarah
* **Lauren Tom** as Opal
* **John Hodgman** as Anderson
* **Wendie Malick** as Nita
* **Trent Garrett** as Patrick
* **Clifford Chapin** as Lars

## Songs

* Twenty One Pilots - *Jumpsuit* (instrumental)
* Varien - *Snowlight* (snippet)
* Tut Tut Child (ft. Augustus Ghost) - *Hummingbird* (snippet)
* Slippy & Danyka Nadeau - *Resonate* (snippet)
* Feint x Laura Brehm x Paul Aiden - *Solace* acoustic

## Trivia

* This is the the last *Evie and Mya* installment to be released in November 2020 and the first of the rewrites, along with any form of media, to be released in January 2023 and 2023 overall.
* Following this episode, Winter becomes a main character for all further installments in the series.
* In the original version of the episode, Winter hid behind the trash cans near the kitchen. Av instead rewrote it so that she tried to run away, wanting to add more emotional depth to the episode.
	+ Also in the original version, Evie and Mya would kiss to the Rihanna song *Diamonds*. However, she switched the song to the acoustic version of the Feint and Laura Brehm song *Solace*, stating that *Diamonds* no longer fit the moment and felt out of place.
		- In earlier developments, she thought of having Evie and Mya kiss to *Neon Lights* or *Made in the USA*, two songs by Demi Lovato, but she swiftly rejected the songs for not fitting with the scene correctly.
* This episode is heavily inspired by the Twenty One Pilots song *Jumpsuit*, which is known as Winter's main theme song overall. The descriptions of storms and falling petals are references to events in the official music video while Winter's potent amounts of fury allude to the song's climax, where Tyler Joseph begins to scream the last few vocals intensely.
	+ *Jumpsuit* also appears as a full instrumental.
	+ *Winter Storm Arising* is also inspired by *Resonate*, a song by Slippy and Danyka Nadeau, the Mother Mother songs *Hayloft* and *Hayloft II*, and the Varien song *Snowlight*.
	+ The ending of *Resonate* plays when Winter embraces everyone at the school while a part of *Snowlight* plays as Winter realizes that she won't be what everyone calls her, Snowblind, but a hero, Snowlight.
	+ Furthermore, Winter references *Resonate* a few times when she confronts Daniela.
	+ Other inspirations include songs from the Tut Tut Child longplay *come to the end; then stop*, notably *Autonomy*, *Just A Dream*, and *You Hide*, the Malinda Kathleen Reese song *Don't Make Me*, and the Au5 song *Snowblind*.
* It is revealed that:
	+ The Heartleys' papers in *She's Plotting Something* were legal filings to get Winter adopted into their family - revealing that they wanted to adopt her the second Mya first told them about her. As of this episode, she is officially the Heartleys' younger daughter.
	+ The school decided to start spring break early after the events of the failed party.
	+ Evie, Mya, and Winter are now local heroes for their actions.
	+ Rex has granted Winter permission to openly carry her pocket knife on school grounds, though it is on tight terms, as she is not allowed to mention it or pull it out unless a conflict absolutely calls for it. Her permissions are noted on an NDA that she signed.
	+ Rex resigned as principal following the events of the episode - Vice Principal Bluelund has temporarily taken her place until a new one takes the job.
	+ Daniela is going to prison for her attempts to kill Winter and Evie, presumably along with many other charges for what she has done in Season 1. Evie, Mya, Winter, and Rex have all testified regarding the case.
	+ Evie is a lesbian. This makes her the fourth officially queer character in the series.
* The phrase "bring the dark into the light" is an allusion to the Maduk song *Colours*.
* Some lines in the episode, such as Daniela and Winter both speaking about young lovers and Daniela talking about a "crack shack" and "not making it messy," are references to *Hayloft* and *Hayloft II*.
* When Daniela tries to guilt-trip Winter by mentioning how her father traumatized her, she briefly alludes to the Halsey song *Gasoline*, one of her main themes.
* Daniela claiming that Winter is drugged on "forced amnesia" is a callback to her referencing *Epiphany* in *Ex-Girlfriend*.
* Daniela asking Winter if she did this for what was a nod to a viral clip from *Catfish*.
* Every allusion to hummingbirds in the episode were references to the titular Tut Tut Child song. The opening of *Hummingbird* plays when Winter visualizes herself meeting one in realizing that she can't flee her past any longer.
* After Winter realizes that she is in a living nightmare, she references one of her other mottos from *Ex-Girlfriend*: "Only in a dream, always in a nightmare." The motto was a reference to two Au5 and Nytrix songs of the same name. Afterward, she also references a line from *Just A Dream* ("dying to live / living to die")
* Daniela calling Winter rotting pus was an allusion to what Miss Trunchbull tells Matilda as she puts her into the Chokey in the 1996 film *Matilda*.
* Daniela mocking herself for saying too much upon revealing one of Winter's secrets (her relationship with Rex) is inspired by the scene from *The Lion King* where Scar does the same thing upon mentioning the Elephant Graveyard to a curious young Simba.
* The line "Morality was no longer her crutch." is a reference to *Alone* by The Upbeats.
* When Daniela tells Winter that the "patchwork to her discord" won't fix anything, she references *Amygdala's Rag Doll*, a song by vocaloid GHOST.
* Winter's recollection of her memories with Daniela was inspired by the 2016 Rich Edwards song *Where I'll Be Waiting*.
* After Daniela pushes the claim that she has tabs on Winter's "damage," she alludes to *Nightmare* by Halsey. In addition, she also references *Don't Make Me*, and she and Winter continue to reference it throughout the episode.
* Shortly before she attempts to kill Winter, Daniela asks her if it's a bitter pill, noting that she hates seeing her like this. This is a reference to the Demi Lovato song *Sorry Not Sorry*, one of her theme songs.
* Daniela declaring that stabbing Winter was what she yearned for is a reference to the 2011 Rihanna song *S&M*.
* Right before Daniela stabs Winter, she references the line before the drop of the Cartoon song *Why We Lose* ("Sugar, there's a reason why we lose").
* In Daniela's statement to Winter after stabbing her, she says that she was a victim of the web she weaved and that she is sick of playing a cat and mouse game with her. She then goes on to claim that she has everything Winter had and lost. The first part is a reference to *Black Widow*, the Iggy Azalea song that serves as a Winiela ship theme, while the second part is a reference to what Narud tells Kerrigan during their confrontation in *StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm*.
* Daniela ordering Winter to run away was based off the scene in *The Lion King* where Scar gaslights Simba into believing he caused Mufasa's death, then banishing the young cub from the Pride Lands, sending Shenzi's Clan after him for good measure.
* When Daniela sneers at Evie, she references TV series *Naked and Afraid*.
* "Chết tiệt" translates to "goddamn" in Vietnamese. This is the second time Evie has said this after *Daze Runners*.
* "Hôn mông tôi" means "kiss my ass" in Vietnamese.
* Evie and Daniela's fight is inspired by the Feint song *Fury*.
* The scene where Mya rescues Winter and uplifts her spirits is inspired by "the past can hurt" scene from *The Lion King*.
* Mya refusing to let Daniela bite into Winter's bones is a reference to the Nomyn and Veela song *Loving You*.
* One of Av's favorite scenes from the episode was writing Winter's epiphany moment, stating that the inclusion of both *Snowlight* and *Hummingbird* made the scene even better.
	+ She also says that it is inspired by *Starscapes*, one of Winter's themes.
* When Evie quietly asks her mother if she was the perfect daughter, believing Daniela is about to kill her, she alludes to the deleted scene in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride* where Nuka, in his last words before his death, asks Zira if he finally got her attention.
* In her final confrontation with Daniela, Winter notably references two of her early themes, both of which are by OneRepublic: *Secrets* and *Stop and Stare*.
* Winter calling Daniela the root of all evil is a reference to the 2014 Stonebank song *Eagle Eyes*.
* After Daniela is knocked into the wall, Winter quotes what she previously told her at the end of *Stalker*, but changes the words to fire back at her: "Once, long ago, you *took away* someone's life, Winterlyn. Destroyed it. Because *you* stole what was hers, caused her to *fall*. Luckily, that made her *realize* that revenge was *magic*. *Sweet*. *Euphoric*. Whatever you do, wherever you go, *I'll* find you. And by then, **I'll kill you FOR ALL THE PAIN YOU GAVE ME**!"
	+ She also uses reverse psychology on Daniela, acting as a villain when she only intends on finishing her off for good.
	+ Afterward, in another callback to *Ex-Girlfriend*, she references the Tristam song *Truth*.
* "Vâng, tôi đã làm" translates to "yes, I did" in Vietnamese.
* Nita and Patrick's middle names are after Dallas Stars players Ty Dellandrea and Jason Robertson, respectively.
* Winter noting that she won't have to slip out the door and run away is another reference to *Just A Dream*.
* While Evie and Mya profess their love of each other, the acoustic version of the Feint and Laura Brehm song *Solace* plays in the background.
* As of this episode, Evie and Mya are now officially dating, thus making their relationship (Eviya) canon.