Midnight Maiden

Chapter 2

I was almost done my route when I heard him. Close to the forest where Jimmy waited for me I heard an exuberant laugh. I slowed down only to be picked up by a strong, cold gust a moment later. It would have flung me into a solid oak if I hadn't caught a limb to myself onto. Climbing from branch to branch, I made my way to the top of the large tree. From my perch up high I could see most of the forest floor but I couldn't spot anyone.

The laugh echoed through the forest again. Where was it coming from? Even when I leaped to a taller tree I still couldn't see a person among the emerald of the forest. It wasn't until I looked up, ready to shoot into the sky, that I saw him.

Glistening my ruby sunset, he glittered like fresh snow. His body was caught up in a gush of wind like grass thrown up by a child, and he laughed like a child as well; carefree, enjoying life in the moment, and completely innocent.

I crouched lower into the branches now, not wanting to be spotted. Was this who I thought? Could this be the famous Jack Frost? Ever since he became a Spirit he was the biggest gossip topic. Not only was he one of the youngest Spirits, which already made the others take special notice of him, but he had proved to be quite the trouble maker. From what I'd heard not many humans believed in him anymore and not many of our kind associated with him. He was a lone figure in this already lonely world.

I should go back to Jimmy. My job is done for the night; he'll be waiting. I kept telling myself that but I didn't move. Jack Frost, or who I supposed to be him, was captivating. He had such grace, such joy, such a light soul. It made me envious, it made me happy, and it made me paranoid. If I tried to leave would he see me? Would he know I was watching him? I didn't want to seem creepy but I always watched without anyone giving it a thought. It was who I was; I was day and night, always there but never thought of.

Maybe I should talk to him. Surely he could understand how lonely I could get? I mean, the name Jack Frost was unheard of in the ears of children and shunned by Spirits. If anything, he was probably worse off than I.

You can do it. Just go up to him and introduce yourself. 'Hello, my name is Midnight,' it's that easy.

Nervously, I stood up on the branch. He was floating around in one general spot with a large stick thrown over his shoulders. I could do this. I took a deep breath and stepped off the branch.


Back at my tree with Jimmy, I filled him in on the little experience.

"I think it was Jack Frost. I don't know for sure though; I couldn't bring myself to socialize," a shiver ran down my spine at the word, "but I almost did. It was terrifying."

There was a slight satisfied squeak as I scratched behind Jimmy's ear. Sometimes I expected him to talk back – maybe hoped was the right word – but then I would have to fill awkward silences and it would be like having a person around instead of a pet. Therefore his squirrel form was perfect; fat, fur, and all.

Sitting in that tree with only Jimmy, talking about another being that I could communicated with reminded me that there were others close by. I had seen a little town nearby, maybe I would look over some people today. The thought brought a smile to my lips.

I basked in the sun on my branch for a few more moments and then I was off. I like to think of myself as graceful when I leap catlike off of ice slick branches into the air but let's be realistic; cats don't fly. I do.

Yeah, I'm fairly graceful but that Jack Frost… He might have been better. Possibly.

Regardless, I flew into the air with the occasional loop or spiral just for the fun of it. Flying was even more fun when I wasn't doing my job. I could go as fast or slow as I wanted, doing tricks galore. The town was coming up and, since no one could hear me, I laughed out loud. I don't know why. Perhaps the thrill of flying had got to me again or perhaps because it sounded so fun when Frost had done it.

When my bare feet touched the ground my grin spread. There was a good inch of fresh snow blanketing the grass, not letting any green poke its tips through. When I pressed a foot against the river it was frozen solid and the windows of each house where painted with "Frost," I whispered. Of course. He wouldn't be so close to a town without sending a bit of cold. It also explained the chill in the air.

A high pitched shriek made me spin around just in time to see a group of girls sprinting strait at me. It was no surprise when they ran right through me since I was used to it by now. But what were they running from? No sooner had the question formed in my head than a snow ball soared past my ear. There was a group of boys behind me by the sound of it, launching snowballs at the girls in what, they would learn one day, was the flirting of the child domain.

I didn't bother turning around. Instead, I crouched to the girls level as they huddled together and giggled.

"Ladies, ladies!" I scolded them playfully, "don't let those boys get the better of you! Give them a little fight back!" with that I leaped behind a rock to form a snowball. I lobbed it at the group of boys, gently of course, and hit one square in the face getting snow behind his glasses. Both groups let out a laugh and the war started. At first it was boys against girls but soon it was a free for all. I stood at the side and watched with Jimmy on my shoulder. I giggled as their noses turned pink and their clothes soaked through with melted snow. But still they played on.

"Jack frost certainly seems to be nipping at your noses, kids," I laughed. Jimmy jumped off my shoulder at the shaking of my laughter and ran towards the children.

"Guys, look!" One of the girls squealed. "It's so cute!" another one piped up. They all stopped throwing their snow so as not to scare him away.

I sighed. I forgot they could see Jimmy. Only Jimmy.

"It looks like you've done my job for me."

My body snapped to attention and I threw my hood over my eyes. When I saw the speaker I froze. He was crouched on a high tree branch with a long thin stick gripped in front of him. It really was him.

Jack Frost leaped lightly from his branch to stand only feet from me; if we both reached forward our fingers would have touched.

He had snow white hair and ice blue eyes. How fitting. His build was slim under his leather leggings and loose blue hoodie. His feet were bare also. One side of his mouth pulled up into a careless, but still somewhat welcoming, grin and he reached out a hand.

"My name's Jack," he stepped forward. I stepped back. Hello, my name is Midnight. I thought it but I couldn't say it. It might have been rude but I didn't know what to do. I hadn't made contact with someone in hundreds of years.

His smile faded, his hand dropped, and his eyebrows furrowed. His gaze made me uncomfortable so I stepped even further back. With a quick squeaked, I signaled Jimmy to come. The moment he was on my shoulder I moved to leave. With a leap I was slicing through the air. The 'aww' of the children quickly faded behind me.

"Hey! Wait!" Jack called after me. He was following me. Why was he following me? My speed increased but he only sped up. He was gaining.

"Wait!" He shouted. But I didn't. Instead, I plummeted downward into a lake. (Jimmy just barely made a break for it before I got to the water.) Breaking through the ice, I shot to the bottom. Hopefully he hadn't seen me, but if he did he would probably get the subtle hint that I didn't want to talk.

This is how much I hate confrontation.

It might have been an overreaction but some of the Spirits, especially Bunnymund, got defensive about whatever they were in charge of. If Jack had felt resentful about me starting the winter fun without him, well, I wasn't sure how he would react.