Chapter 2
But before Pearl could say a word, a local doctor squeezed between them and handed a vial of penicillin to Gabriel.
"Guardian, this is the very last vial in all of Frostvale. You must take it to Alice," the doctor said, his voice trembling with urgency.
"The Guardian" was the highest title in Frostvale, a name that meant protector. It was a title that made Gabriel the most respected person in all of Frostvale.
The doctor looked at Gabriel with deep reverence, holding the vial out with both hands.
"Pearl needs penicillin, too!" the little girl cried out, her voice urgent and unwavering.
But Gabriel just took the vial in silence and quietly thanked the doctor.
The door clicked shut, leaving just Gabriel and Pearl alone in the room.
"Alice's injuries are too serious, so..." Gabriel spoke like he was just stating a fact, but the guilt was still there in his voice.
A wealthy heiress of the big city, Pearl had come to Frostvale for idealism—for teaching, for chasing the love she'd clung to so stubbornly. But now, she was tired. Tired of clinging on when there was nothing left to hold.
Suppressing the storm of emotions inside her, she lifted her eyes to him, a faint glimmer of hope still lingering in her voice.
"You're only here for the penicillin?"
Gabriel froze. His faith forbade lies, and so he said nothing, his silence speaking volumes.
"Alright, I get it," Pearl said, her voice dull, like she'd finally given up.
Everything was clear now—her dreams had finally crumbled, leaving nothing but emptiness behind.
Something in him softened at her calm acceptance. For the first time in ages, he stepped closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"I'll come back for you."
With those words, he swung himself out the hospital window and vanished into the night—swift and unyielding as a cheetah, born to roam Frostvale's endless icy plains.
This time, Pearl didn't watch him go. Instead, she pressed her hands to her chest, holding onto the steady beat of her own heart.
In a week, she'd be free of him—her hero, her guardian, her greatest regret.
*****
By evening, Pearl was determined to check out.
Her reputation in Frostvale was irreparably damaged; to the locals, she was nothing but a disaster, a temptress who'd corrupted Gabriel.
Whispers and curses followed her down the corridor—some in Frostvale's native tongue, others in broken English, learned just to insult her.
The meal the nurse brought was spoiled, reeking of rot.
She stared at it numbly, then gritted her teeth and peeled off the blood-soaked bandages, tending to her wounds and giving herself a meager nutrient injection.
Once packed, she opened the door—only to find Gabriel standing outside.
He took her bag without a word, lacing his fingers through hers as he led her through the clinic, ignoring the stares of everyone around them.
A strange warmth stirred in Pearl's chest as he pulled her collar tight against the cold and placed his thick reindeer-skin hat on her head.
"W-Where are you taking me?" Pearl murmured, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
"I'll walk you out. This place..." Gabriel began.
His words were cut short by a series of crashes. One by one, the stone cairns surrounding the clinic's entrance crumbled to dust.
A scream pierced the air. "The butter lamps have gone out!"
Pearl's eyes went wide in shock, but what happened next was even crazier.
Followers came charging from the distance, their faces contorted with rage. Before she could react, one kicked the back of her knees, sending her crashing to the ground with a thud. Her hands were wrenched behind her back, bound tightly.
"Guardian, can't you see? The prayer cairns have fallen! The butter lamps have died! This woman is a curse!"
"Keeping her here defiles Frostvale! Defiles the sanctuary!"
Pearl felt the wounds on her back split open again, blood soaking through her bandages as pain bit into her nerves all over again.
She lifted her head, anger and hurt flashing in her eyes as she stared at Gabriel.
"Gabriel! You know it wasn't me!" she cried, her voice cracking with a mix of fury and desperation.