But something was wrong. She should have reached him by now, yet she appeared further away. The sun dipped behind a cloud and the air grew colder. Dark clouds rolled in behind Sky. But still she smiled, unaware of the change. Tomas tried to call, but couldn’t find his voice. Darkness fell. Suddenly, under his feet, the path shook and ripped in two, sending earth tumbling down into the crevice beneath. Then silence. Tomas held his breath - something stirred below the earth. He looked up, trying desperately to shout a warning, but he couldn’t make a sound. A black shape rose from the depths, looming over Sky. The wind shrieked and Tomas clasped his hands to his ears. But still, she seemed oblivious to the danger lurking behind. Tomas froze as two clawed-limbs grew from the shadow, creeping closer to Sky. The claws grasped her ankles - she screamed. Tomas dropped to his knees, but could only watch, as the creature wrenched his love away. She stretched her arms towards him, pleading for help. Tomas finally found his voice and screamed after her. But she’d gone.

He cried out, “No! No!” The ground shook and he fell flat on his face. Tears of rage and despair flowed, as he beat his fists onto the hard earth beneath, until it became soft.

He woke to find his face buried in his pillow, wet with tears. The wind howled outside, rattling his window. Tomas rolled onto his back and covered his face with the sheet. The image of Sky’s nails clawing at the ground, stuck in his head. But it was the sound of her fraught screams as she disappeared, dragged below by the beast, that really hurt. And he’d done nothing to save her.

5

The digits on the bedroom clock defied belief. Tomas stared at it. Nine o’clock! Had he spent the whole day in his bedroom playing games?

He stood and stretched. Something moved outside the window. He turned to see snowflakes tumbling onto the sill. It had been below zero for several days and his wish for snow had finally been granted. Tomas reached forward to open the window and was greeted by a sound he’d never associated with his street - silence. The constant background hum of traffic and drum beat of wheels thumping into potholes, had stopped. His eyes widened as he surveyed the landscape outside. It must have been snowing for some time, as several inches already lay on the car roofs and walls. The road that cut the neighborhood in two, had gone, buried beneath the falling snow. Within hours, the terraced houses had been transported back to the time of their youth and looked just like a picture of a Victorian Christmas. Tomas had to get outside. He scooped up his coat from the bedroom floor and rushed down the stairs to find his shoes.