The icy wind bit grievously into my face, giving the terrifying impression that I was tasty, as it mercilessly chewed at every pore of my exposed skin. It jumped up at me in the most painful way, as if it were thrusting icicles up my nostrils. The branch I was gripping hold of, high up in the big oak, dared to creak and a violent shiver of terror attacked my frozen body. I would not fall, I promised myself. Still, the fear squeezed at my heart with its frightening grip and I could almost hear the devil's twisted, sly laughter being carried toward me by the wind.

Again, I was encased in dread. Panic consumed me, so much so that as I tried to suck in the chilling air, I couldn't. I can't breathe. I can't breathe! I wanted to screech it but I didn't even dare risk the chance to whisper it, for uncontrollable tears and cries would definitely follow. I slowly opened my mouth and, after many failed attempts, a relieved gasp escaped my blue lips.

I become frozen. Because, despite the howl of the wind; taunting me, my ears had not deceived me yet. The dreadful howl of the wolf. Its hungry cry possessed me with a monstrous fear, I was too weak to handle, and it caused my bones to tremble. The beast's tormenting tune was followed by another and another and another, eventually drowned out by the chilling yapping of ravenous dogs. I shut my eyes tight and bit down hard upon my quivering lip, that exposed my fear to the winter wood and to the devil; I was sure he was watching. I felt the warm trickle of tears flow silently down my frost-bitten cheeks. Resting my head back against the tree, I brought a trembling hand up to my mouth, as I listened to the wolves, surrounding the base of the tree, yapping ferociously at the sight and stench of me.

I didn't dare look down. No matter what I heard, I would not let y fears become real. I wouldn't look down. The endless chant, in my head, sang an ineffective comfort. Not me. Not me. Not me. This can't be happening to me. Even when the slow cracking of the branch threatened to bring my nightmare to life, I still screamed at God, he'd got it wrong.

"Not me, not me, not me!"

The world rushed around me and I barely had time to scream as the branch snapped and all that was left beneath me was air and in a split second, the malignant ground. It only took a second for a scramble of grey and blood to erupt around me.