It had been a year since Jack Frost was born from the frozen pond that he drowned in and, with it being winter once more in Burgess, he returned to what he considered his pond, his laughter and shouts of glee echoing on the wind catching the attention of a girl child who recognized his voice and sent her racing for the pond where she last saw her older brother alive.
Reaching the pond she halted on its edge, scared to step on it ever again, and searched the area for the source of her brother's voice. "What are you looking for little girl?" Her brother's voice asked from two feet in front of her but she didn't see anyone there.
She answered her brother's voice anyway. "I am looking for my older brother I heard his voice but cannot see him. His name is Jack can you please help me find him?"
"Can you hear me?" Her brother's voice asked in hope.
"Yes I can hear you but I can't see you. Are you a spirit?" She took a timid step onto the ice.
"I am, my name is Jack Frost and I am a winter spirit. You may come further onto the pond I made sure it is safe. What is your name?"
The girl choked back a sob at the words her brother's voice spoke. "You don't remember me?"
"No, I'm sorry should I?"
"I was hoping… you do sound like my big brother so I…" She stopped to wipe away her tears then continued. "My name is Emily Overland and my brother drowned in this pond a year ago after saving me."
There is a brief silence then her brother's voice spoke up again, "I was born from this pond a year ago though I cannot remember anything before I was born except cold, dark and fear."
Emily lowered her head, her eyes slipping close and a light sob escaping her. "I wish I could see what you look like to see if you look like my brother. He had the same hair and eye color I do."
"If you want to see me then you just have to believe in me." She heard and jerked her head back up at the familiar words, her eyes filled with tears.
"My brother told me to believe in him before he drowned." She whispered quietly as the tears began to fall.
"Please don't cry Emily." The voice pleaded, sounding right in front of her now, as she felt a cold brush against her cheeks, as if the voice was wiping away her tears.
She blinked, fighting back the tears, and gasped as her brother's face suddenly appeared in front of her though his skin was paler then she remembered and his eyes were a cold blue instead of a warm brown. "Jack?" She whispered, scared if she spoke any louder he would fade away, and reached out a shaking hand to lightly touch his face.
The boy in front of her smiled softly at her making fresh tears fall as she let out a sob and threw her arms around his shoulders despite the cold that seeped from him into her. "It is you Jack, you came back to us."
Unsure of what to do Jack timidly wrapped his own arms around Emily, his eyes sliding closed as he welcomed the warmth from her body. As they stood there in the others embrace memories hit Jack without any warning making tears come to his eyes and he slightly hugged Emily tighter. "I remember now, thank you for helping me regain my memories little sister." He whispered before stepping back as she begins to shiver from his coldness.
"You should go home before you catch your death from cold out here Emily." He insisted, gently pushing her towards their parents' cabin before turning away from her, preparing to leave.
"Please do not leave me again Jack." Emily pleaded with him as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
Jack gently unwound her arms before he turned to kneel in front of her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "I will never leave you again but have to bring winter to other places as well. Do you remember the stories mother told us about the winter spirit Jack Frost?" Emily nodded. "Well I am now that winter spirit, the moon was the one who brought me back to life and gave me my name. I do promise that I will come here first when it is time for me to bring winter to our home and play with you little sister."
"I guess it will be fine if you leave if you have to make it winter in other places as long as you come home first to visit and play." Emily replied, her tears now gone a smile replacing them.
"Of course I will." Jack told her ruffling her hair then calling for the wind to take him to his next stop, flying up into the sky. Emily watched him go, waving as he did, knowing that he will be back and turned to return home, a smile now on her face.