With a slight sense of unease, he approached the forbidden crossing, determined to see the snow scene from above. He paused at the bottom of the steps and looked up. Icicles filled the gaps between the steps, transforming them into a staircase, fit for an ice palace. He placed his foot on the first step and heard a crunch, as it sank into the snow. One of his Dad’s sayings came immediately to mind - a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Just beneath the layer of soft snow, compacted ice waited to send him tumbling back down, to deny him his goal.  In the silence, he feared the sound of his steps would alert the gangs of his daring mission. But the goal was a worthy one and he pressed on. He passed the level of the orange sodium streetlamps and sensed a further drop in temperature.

The summit achieved, he turned to look down the length of the bridge - still deserted. Relieved, he strode along and imagined himself as a warrior prince, bravely daring to enter the unknown and defeat the evil forces, terrorizing his people.

Suddenly his fantasy shattered. He stopped dead in the middle, stripped of his armor and bravado. A lone figure stood on the opposite side, watching him. Tomas could just make out the form of a woman, wearing a long, hooded coat. But something didn’t look right. In spite of the falling snow, the woman didn’t have a flake on her. Somehow, there seemed to be a tear in the canvas, revealing something behind the picture. The woman watched Tomas, then turned and walked away. He stood for a moment, not knowing what to do, before his legs made the decision for him and he set off after her.

The steps were as treacherous as those he had climbed, and by the time he’d descended, the woman had vanished. He looked down at the snow but could see no footprints. Something creaked to his right; he turned and saw a dark alley, between the shops. The gate, normally shut, stood ajar, hinting at the only way the woman could have gone. It had a low archway and he could just make out a light at the other end. He paused, wanting to be sure the exit was clear before entering.

Inside, the air was damp and he immediately felt uneasy in the gloom. Without snow under his feet, the noise of his steps on the cold pavement, echoed against the close walls. Just as he drew near to the far end, he stopped. Two red eyes blocked his exit. The eyes glowed brighter, revealing two smoking youths behind.

“Lost Moonie?” Tomas’s heart pounded as he instantly recognized Greg’s voice. “We’ve been watching you. Thought you’d come to join us.”

Fixed to the spot, Tomas gaped at his tormentors, through the vapor of his breath.