Cole looked out of the window at the landscape below. As beautiful as it looked, he was feeling anything but happy.
"Why did this have to happen?", he grumbled.
Even for a thirteen-year-old boy, he was quite athletic. He was always the best runner on the school's track and field team and they had everything all planned out. This was supposed to be the year that Cole Marty, the shining star of Boise Middle School would have gone to Minnesota for the semifinals of the school sports, but then his dad had to get a job that required him to move to Nome Alaska. Everything had changed so fast for poor Cole. As his darkened hazel eyes looked upon the landscape, the memory came flooding at him like a tidal wave of anger and regret.
"Dad, we're about to start the semifinals. I can't let my team down."
Cole's dad merely just kept packing.
"I know this is unusual Cole, but think of the new place we're going."
Cole frowned.
"Nome Alaska?", he scoffed, "Sounds like a dead end town in the middle of northern nowhere."
Cole's mother who had been finishing packing the dishes came by the door and looked Cole's way firmly.
"Cole, language.", she said sounding caring, but there was a hint of firmness in it.
As much as Cole wanted to object, his parents had made up their minds and decided to move to the one state Cole had sworn that he would never go.
"Cole?"
Cole turned to his dad sitting next to him and his mother in the aisle. His father's eyes showed he was hurting also, but he was trying to make the best of it.
"I know this is hard for you, but try and have a better attitude. It'll be fun. It's an adventure."
Cole just sighed and turned away again. This time his mother and father had a talk.
"Do you think he's doing okay?"
"Honey, I'm sure that once he gets to our new home and settles in, he'll be fine. You know how kids his age feel when something like this happens."
Cole just looked out and brushed a lock of his dark hair aside from his face. He was wondering how his old team was doing right now and if they even missed him. Needless to say, he wasn't feeling too thrilled to go to somewhere called Nome.
"Excuse me, can I get you anything?"
Cole turned and saw the stewardess was nearby with a cart of beverages and snacks.
"We'll go with water.", Cole's mother answered.
Cole flipped up his tray table and braced for the disappointment.
"Why?", he thought bitterly to himself, "What did I do to deserve this?"
/
After what felt like an eternity, the plane came down and landed in the Nome airport.
"Thank you for traveling to Nome Alaska, the current time is five forty-five in the afternoon. Please make sure to pick up your baggage at baggage claim on your way out."
Cole's heart sank even further as he waited with his parents to get their things. The rest of the luggage would be mailed to their new home. Once they got their stuff, a large van pulled up alongside the many other cars outside and Cole's father looked eager.
"Oh good, he's here."
Cole followed his parents out though he dreaded the moment he would take his breath of Alaskan air. While he was following his mother, an Inuit man looking like he was in his middle ages wearing a coat with jeans and boots had a talk with his father. Cole took his first breath and as much as the air smelled cool and refreshing at the same time, he wasn't feeling any better. There was hardly a good amount of buildings and the town that stood aways off looked old fashioned and only made Cole feel even more bitter.
"Is he okay?", the Inuit asked as the family and him filed into the car.
"He's just . . . not used to moving that's all.", Cole's mother answered, "A little nervous."
The man looked Cole's way, but Cole turned away.
"Hmm, he looks like he's a bit lost.", the man said sagely as he started up the van, "You know, there's a story about this town that you might be interested in."
Cole looked the man's way coldly.
"If it's about the dumb serum run, then I'm not listening."
The man didn't flinch, but looked up to the window as he started driving. Cole's mother was not about to let her son's bad attitude get out of hand.
"Cole, be nice to the driver. He's your dad's friend he met back when he was your age."
Cole tried to hide his face in his hand. His mother would usually pull this card whenever he was in a bad mood, but it was starting to grow old. It may have worked when he was little, but now in his middle school years, he was more unmoved. Still, it would get his mother off his back.
"Sorry sir.", he grumbled.
The man raised an eyebrow.
"I'm Mr. Inuk if that's what you're asking.", he said clearly not moved by Cole's mood, "But my friends call me Ivan."
Cole said nothing. He was already thinking of the things that were wrong with Nome. It was too far north, there wasn't any proper shopping places, too many unpaved roads, and no proper eateries he was used to.
"Hey look Cole, there's your new school.", his dad had said from the front and pointed to his side.
Cole followed and noticed the school and was instantly reminded of his old one.
"How comforting.", Cole thought darkly, "A place full of students who probably won't like me and the teachers are probably worse."
/
Finally, Mr. Inuk pulled the van up to a house that Cole guessed was their new home. It was a two-story house with faded blue paint along its walls and a stairway led from the ground to a door that looked like it was between floors. Cole got out and instantly looked unsure.
"This can't be it.", he said dully.
Cole's parents weren't moved as they were already talking.
"I hear the kitchen is on the second floor and the laundry room is on the ground floor."
"Relax, there are two bathrooms and Cole will have his own room for once."
Cole wasn't feeling better. His new bedroom was right across from the boiler room and the thought of an exploding boiler made him even more tense. Still, here he was to stay so he just grabbed the nearest box with his name on it and started lugging it up the stairs.
"Hey, why not go through the other door on the side?", Mr. Inuk asked.
Cole groaned as he went around to see another door leading into the house on the side and after a little struggle, got it open to reveal a washer and dryer right in front of him and went past to the open room with a window that looked out into the driveway and after going past that, Cole came to two doors and chose the one on the right. Luckily it was the room where he'd be sleeping, but as bare as the room was, he wasn't feeling okay. He put his box on the ground and after opening it, a familiar DVD case was the first to meet him. Cole took it out and placed it aside feeling a bit comforted, but not much. There was much to unload, but by the time most of the stuff was inside the house, it was past eight and it was getting dark. Dinner was a short microwave of some leftover casserole, but it did little to help Cole.
"I'm worried about Cole.", his mother said to her husband as they settled into bed, "His mood hasn't changed at all since we moved away."
"He's thirteen honey.", he told her softly, "He just needs a little time. He's probably feeling better already."
Cole lay on his mattress still awake. Next week would be the start of his new school year in a town he would rather die than live in. At least his portable DVD player still worked and after setting it up, he was thinking of watching the DVD that had helped put his mind at ease. But something held him back. Was it his dread of being here, or was it something more? He looked up at the photo of his old track and field team wishing them luck.
"Why must I go through this?"
/
The following morning, Cole was feeling more than a bit tired, but still, the aroma of waffles was enticing. His parents were already up for the day and his father looked dressed to impress.
"Hey, good morning Cole.", his father beamed, "How did you sleep?"
Cole sighed as he sat at the table in the kitchen. Cole's mother came over with a plate of waffles with a syrup bottle and a pat of butter.
"I'm sure you'll feel better after you eat.", she told him.
Cole ate his breakfast without complaint, but his face read that he was still not liking the move.
"You know, if you would look around, and give this place a chance, you just might like it here.", his father told him, "Now I have to get over to the district to make sure I get your enrollment in."
Cole felt even worse even as he finished his waffles, but his mother then gave him a warm smile.
"What?", he asked trying to sound curious, but it couldn't hide his sorrow.
His mother just put what looked like a coupon on the table near his plate and gathered the dirty dishes to clean. Cole looked at it and it looked like a coupon for a store where the purchase would be 90% off if he was there today. Thinking his mother wouldn't let this slide unless he did it, he took his new coupon and headed out. The morning air was still chilled, but that would change soon as his shirt complimented his jeans and sneakers.
"Maybe a jog would help clear my head.", he thought to himself.
So, he started a jog to get the leg muscles moving and remembered his water bottle he forgot. After a quick trip back in, he gathered some leftover clam chowder from the fridge, a thermos of water, and his cell phone in case his parents called. As he jogged along, he remembered that his dad was going to be the new corrections officer at the local juvenile detention center while his mother was content to be the homemaker in the relationship. At least one thing in his old life still remained and he was grateful for that. But still, how could he give this place a chance? If it was this dull in fall, he could only imagine what winter will be like. After jogging along for about an hour, he came to what looked like an old shop that looked as old as its name: Inuit Antiques and Gift Shop. With a sigh, he walked up to the door and almost knocked, but then the door just creaked open.
"That's weird.", Cole thought, "This better be worth it."
Cole entered only to be greeted by a dark and dreary room with some old looking junk lining against a wall with a counter nearby with a dusty register that looked like it hadn't been used in years. There was a stairway that led upstairs, but Cole guessed there would just be more junk and not worth his time.
"This can not be the place.", he grumbled turning to leave.
"Excuse me young man."
Cole paused and turned to see an elderly looking man behind the register wearing a jean shorts, sandals, and a white collared shirt.
"Can I help you find something?"
/
Cole looked confused.
"You . . . weren't there a moment ago."
"Oh, I was just checking inventory in the back.", the shopkeeper answered, "Lots of items, lots of fun."
Cole rolled his eyes as he held out his coupon.
"Am I in the right place to use this?"
The shopkeeper nodded and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, so you're a Balto fan huh?"
Cole was a bit surprised.
"How did you know about that?"
"Simple.", the shopkeeper answered slyly, "I'm a good guesser. And it's also on your shirt."
Cole looked down and noticed the faded "Balto" shirt he was wearing and felt a bit embarrassed. Guess he didn't exactly think when he was getting dressed for the day. Still, he didn't feel okay.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
The shopkeeper looked interested.
"I'm a fan of that tale myself. He really did put a lot on the line for people who didn't really know him too well."
Cole frowned.
"Only cause they didn't know the real part of the story.", he stated, "Balto just picked up the slack and just got the glory another deserved."
The shopkeeper looked intrigued.
"Oh, so you know your history. You might find that people like you can find a lot of new friends up here."
Cole turned away, but the shopkeeper kept talking.
"I sense you're distraught."
Cole turned to him firmly.
"I had to move here cause my dad had to get a job opportunity and I left behind everything I cared about for nothing."
"Nothing?", the shopkeeper asked still smiling slyly, "I'm thinking you're just feeling a little lonely and I just might guess you're not used to making new friends."
Cole stiffened.
"I don't want new friends.", he said coldly, "I want my old ones and I am not taking chances."
/
The shopkeeper's smile didn't flinch.
"What if I told you that I might have a little something that might . . .oh, how you might say . . . change your mind?"
Cole now looked interested, but doubted this person might have something that could help him out as he ducked behind the counter while Cole approached. He then came back out with what looked like a necklace with ivory carved in the shape of a wolf's head hanging among some beads and rhinestones. Cole looked the shopkeeper's way confused.
"This is it?", he asked, "I'm not a fan of Inuit junk."
"Didn't people tell you not to judge by appearances?", the shopkeeper answered still talking slyly, "You might laugh, but I guarantee you that this will help you change your life."
Cole sighed and after paying the bill, walked out the door.
"You might think it's not much yet Cole.", the shopkeeper said though Cole couldn't hear him, "But sometimes the supernatural can show up when you least expect it."
Cole thought nothing of his new trinket when he got home. His mom was busy housecleaning so she wouldn't notice him as he walked in and headed to his room and closed the door.
"Why was he so insistent?", Cole asked as he took out his new necklace and watching the wolf's carved face, "Can't be that valuable if he just sold it for three bucks after the coupon."
As much as it was against his better judgement, he just slipped it on his neck anyway and observed it in the mirror in his closet door. It just hung there so he turned away.
"Geez, why can't I just get back what I lost?", he asked himself.
Then a sound caught his ears. A wolf's howl and it sounded close. Cole turned around, but nothing was stirring until he noticed that frost was forming on the mirror as the wolf howl sounded again.
"What's going on here?", Cole asked getting anxious.
And then a wind of ice and snow whipped out of the mirror engulfing him with its cold touch.
"That's not normal!", Cole gasped in surprise.
With one more wolf howl, the wind pulled Cole closer to the mirror's surface. Cole tried to fight, but the grip of the wind was too strong and before he could even call out for help, he noticed a blurry vision of some town before he touched the mirror's surface and vanished from his room without leaving a trace behind at all.
