linic door. She jolted upright, her mind still clouded with the memory of wh

the door to find a young boy, no older than ten, standing on th

ome quick!" he gasped, his wo

, her worry spiking. "What'

ce trembling. "He's... he's not rig

e led her through the snow-covered streets. The town was eerily quiet

house on the outskirts of town. The door

boy whispered, refusi

n the frost that had crept through the doorway. The ai

, her voice echoing

ral growl an

he corner, a man crouched on all fours, his back to her. His c

, stepping closer. "I'm Dr

amed unnaturally in the dim light, pupils dilated to an inhuman siz

is voice distorted, as tho

placating gesture. "You're n

s body convulsing as if fighting agains

ehind her. She turned to see Kieran standing in the

here," he said,

Maren snapped. "

sharp gesture. "This isn't

vements deliberate as he ai

ping between them. "You

"If we don't, he'll ki

low snarl, his body contorting a

pleaded. "There has

inger hovering over the trigger. Then

"But if he attack

art pounding. "Sir, I need you to tr

s trembling as if struggling to f

inching closer. "Whatever's happening

sion seemed to drain from him. But just as Maren reached for hi

r back as Daniel lunged forward. His hands-now clawed

barked, shoving he

in the icy air. Behind her, she heard the cr

Kieran emerged,

," he said

h churned. "Yo

as unflinching.

-

he had seen many illnesses in her career, but nothing like this. Whatev

ock at the door. She opened it to find the

" he asked, his

ted to comfort him, to tell him everything

rry," she

and he turned and ran bef

the weight of the town's sec

-

n returned, his expressio

stepping inside without w

er voice sharp. "You killed a

wasn't a man anymore. You

ded help," Maren shot

n him medicine? Stitched him up and sent him on his way? The curse doesn't care abo

You're telling me this is just... normal here? People turnin

o be done," Kier

ilence was heavy, filled with the unspoken

to stay in Winterveil, you need to understand something: this curse doesn't just go away.

nger giving way to a cold

ing. And when it does, t

he asked, her voice ba

ed. "You don't stop

-

s she had taken about the day's events. Her hands shook as she sketched

nd there was only one

lit a lantern and headed

s windows dark. Inside, the shelves were crammed with ledge

er marked with the town's founding date. She flipped through it

earliest days. The town had been founded by settlers fleei

, reading the words aloud. "A

were clear. The settlers had struck a bargain

curse wasn't just a myth. It was real, and it w

carried a familiar sound through

moon was

feeling that she wouldn'