Page 71 of The Snow Witch

But he – the owner of the voice, Jake – laughed, albeit a little shakily. ‘Come on Violet. I mean it. Get up. Honestly…’ He helped her to her feet, and she stood unsteadily, leaning against him, feeling light-headed and far too sleepy as he put his arm around her. ‘Look. Hot tea. Have some.’

He thrust something towards her, and she realised it was a flask – that stainless steel one he always carried in the van, the one that had all the stickers on from the places he’d visited.

‘I’m very glad you came,’ said Violet, sipping at the hot liquid. It unfroze her mouth a bit so she felt like she could actually speak again. ‘Are you okay? And oh God – Ollie. Is he okay?’

‘I’m fine, thanks to you, Vi. I didn’t meet my demise at the claws of a black thing today, which has to be a bonus. And as for Ollie, I think he’s a bit shocked, but he’s awake. He’s over there.’

Violet looked and sure enough, Ollie was there, sitting to one side, his head between his knees. ‘Oh thank goodness. I’m so fucking pleased your itinerary was flexible today, Jake.’

‘It’s always flexible for you, Violet. And anyway, I changed my plans; perhaps because you mentioned bloody Ollie, or perhaps because I knew you might be the one who needed a rescue mission. It seems like I was right.’

‘I might have rescued you too.’

‘Yes. You did. Thank you.’

* * *

Jake tried to wrap his head around the last few minutes. His neck was sore. He had genuinely been terrified that he was going to die, choked or strangled or despatched in some hideous way by something he couldn’t see.

‘I don’t know what was going on there,’ he said, ‘but all I could hear was someone swearing at me, calling me Emory, telling me I’d be sorry and he’d see me in Hell… then you were there. With a – dagger.’ He waved his hand in the general direction of the weapon, then dropped it, embarrassed to see that his hand was shaking. ‘I mean. What the actual?’

Violet shook her head. She was white, with a horrible green tinge, and she was pressing her lips together.

‘God, are you okay?’ He reached out and took her hand. ‘Are you going to throw up?’

54

NOW

Oh God. There was a very good chance she’d throw up. She wasn’t sure which way it would fall yet.

‘It’s not the best weather to be hanging around this place,’ Jake said. ‘Not sure if you’ve realised, but yeah, it’s snowing again. Drink up. Please. Have something hot.’

As she lifted the flask to take another drink, she saw the sticker from Dunnet Head – the place they’d stayed on the Winter Solstice.

Her stomach somersaulted once more.

It was time.

‘Jake.’ She clutched the flask like a talisman. ‘I need to tell you something.’

‘Oh? The fact that you can now feel your face, perhaps?’ His gaze roved around her, as if he was checking her nose wasn’t going to drop off with frostbite or something, but the worried expression in his eyes belied the teasing words.

‘Nope.’ She looked at the flask again and held it up to him. ‘See Dunnet Head there?’

‘Yes?’

‘Can you remember our – trip. The one in December?’

A flush coloured Jake’s cheeks as he nodded, clearly remembering the trip. ‘Hard to forget. Best trip I’ve ever had in the van.’ He looked unsure as to where the conversation was going, as well he might.

‘Yes…’ Violet nodded. She took another sip of tea, as if it was something strong and alcoholic that might give her a bit of courage. ‘So – remember your party from work, the one that made me ill?’

‘Oh God, how could I forget?’ Jake screwed up his face. ‘I still say we should have sued for food poisoning.’

‘Yes. Hardly the most romantic of dates, was it?’

‘Not afterwards. Certainly not. But the night itself was good.’