Adam, shivering and covered in snow, flinched as his numb fingers twitched back to life. Every nerve in his body screamed in pain, his head pounding in rhythm with his heartbeat. With a shaky breath, he pushed himself upright, snow cascading off his tattered jacket as he staggered toward the nearest tree, leaning heavily against it for support.
Clutching his throbbing head, he growled through clenched teeth. "Rghh..." The sound was raw, guttural, his frustration steaming visibly in the frozen air.
"That Schnee..." he muttered, his voice laced with venom and bitterness. "Ruined everything."
The frigid wind howled around him, biting into his skin as he trudged forward through the snow. His steps were uneven, dragging as the world around him blurred, shifting in and out of focus like a distant, unattainable memory. Shadows of the past seemed to loom behind every tree, the weight of his failures and anger threatening to crush him with every step.
House
The house creaked under the weight of the winter winds outside, the warm smell of beans cutting through the cold, stale air. Selene carefully balanced a tray of plates, each filled with steaming food. She moved quietly, her footsteps soft against the worn wooden floor, ensuring she didn't disturb anyone unnecessarily.
As she walked past one of the dimly lit rooms, she froze. Inside, slumped over a counter, was Qrow. But he wasn't nursing his usual flask. Instead, a nearly empty bottle of rum sat loosely in his grasp, its glass reflecting the flickering light of a nearby lantern. His head rested on his forearm, his usually sharp demeanor dulled into an unguarded vulnerability.
Selene sighed, a mixture of pity and resignation. Without a word, she stepped into the room, placing the tray of plates on the counter beside him. From it, she carefully picked up a plate of beans, the steam curling upward as she set it gently beside his head. The warmth of the food seemed out of place in the cold, shadowed room.
She turned to leave, her hand still clutching the tray, when suddenly Qrow's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Selene gasped, her heart jumping, as the tray wobbled precariously in her other hand.
"Summer...?" Qrow's voice was rough, slurred, and aching with longing. His bloodshot eyes, unfocused and glazed, stared at her as though trying to pierce through the haze. "Is that you...?"
Selene's breath caught. She stared at him, her lips parting slightly as if to speak, but no words came. The weight of his words hung in the air between them, heavy with emotion and pain that didn't belong to her. Slowly, gently, she pulled her arm free from his grasp.
"No," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. There was no cruelty in her tone, only quiet understanding. She stepped back and turned away, leaving him as she moved toward the doorway.
Behind her, Qrow remained where he was, his hand falling limply back to the counter. He stared at the plate of warm beans in front of him, his reflection distorted in the glossy surface of the food. For a moment, his lips twitched, as though he were trying to say something, but no sound came. His gaze dropped, and he gripped the bottle tighter.
Selene walked down the hallway, her expression unreadable but her steps steady. She entered the living room, where the warm light of a fireplace cast flickering shadows on the walls. The atmosphere was far livelier here, though subdued.
The living room was dimly lit, with the crackling flames of the fireplace offering the only light and warmth. Rinko, Yang, and Ruby sat close to the fire, their bodies huddled together after their ordeal with the frozen river. The room still felt cold despite the fire's glow, but it was a far cry from the icy grip of death they had narrowly escaped.
Yang and Ruby, dressed in only their shorts and sleeveless shirts, were wrapped in Selene's maid uniform, the fabric barely enough to ward off the chill. They sat next to eachother while Yang rested her head on Rinko's shoulder.
Rinko, half-naked and soaked to the bone earlier, sat at the fireplace to warm up. Though, the tight set of his jaw betrayed the discomfort he was hiding. He sat next to Yang, his arm resting on her chest.
Selene entered the room, the soft clink of plates on a tray announcing her presence. The rich, warm scent of beans wafted in with her, momentarily overpowering the cold air. Her eyes softened at the sight before her: three people who had been pushed to their physical limits but were still holding on, finding strength in each other's presence.
"Dinner is ready," Selene announced, her voice calm yet purposeful. She carefully placed the tray on the floor near them, lowering herself gracefully. She glanced at Rinko, her gaze lingering for a moment before she spoke again. "You should eat while it's still warm."
Ruby looked up at her, her movements slow and deliberate as she reached for a plate. "Thank you..." she murmured, her voice barely audible. She cradled the plate in her hands as if the warmth radiating from it was a treasure. Yang, her head still resting against Rinko's shoulder, blinked sluggishly and extended a hand. Selene handed her a plate, the maid's expression softening as she watched the blonde take a small bite.
Rinko, sitting upright and took his plate. He turned to Yang, "Eat slowly," he said, his voice calm but carrying a note of authority.
His sharp blue eyes flicked to Ruby, who was already shoveling the food into her mouth despite her trembling hands. "Ruby," he said more firmly, "slow down. You'll make yourself sick."
Ruby paused mid-bite, her silver eyes blinking up at him. She nodded meekly, chewing more carefully as she glanced away.
Selene went to Maria as she gave her a plate of beans, "Thanks young'un."
Selene nodded as she turned back to Rinko, she sat back on her knees, observing them in silence for a moment. "You're lucky you made it back alive," she said softly, her words laced with a mixture of reproach and relief. She looked toward Rinko. "You should dry off completely after eating. You'll catch a fever if you stay like that."
"I'll be fine," Rinko replied evenly, though his posture stiffened slightly.
Selene's lips thinned, but she didn't press the matter. She simply went to the couch as she sat.
The flicker of the firelight danced across the faces of the group, the only sound the occasional pop of wood and the wind howling faintly outside. Ruby, wrapped snugly in a blanket, broke the stillness with her usual curiosity.
"So... Miss Maria," she began, her voice tentative but warm. "I didn't expect you to be heading to Argus too. What brings you there?"
Maria closed the worn book in her hands with a soft thud, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Ah, well, it's a coincidence," she replied, settling deeper into her chair. "I was heading to Argus to check in on some of my businesses. You see, I own an apartment building there. It's their monthly due, and someone has to make sure those tenants are paying up." She gave a small, self-satisfied chuckle, but it lacked arrogance, more like an old soldier who'd learned to enjoy life's smaller victories.
Ruby tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her silver eyes. "You run apartments? That's... kinda unexpected. I thought retired Huntsmen just, I don't know, hunted smaller Grimm or did teaching gigs."
Maria let out a soft snort, brushing a lock of gray hair from her face. "Oh, believe me, kid, when you've spent most of your life fighting monsters, the last thing you want to do is hang around them after retirement. You start looking for... different hobbies. For me, it's business. Not the most glamorous line of work, but it keeps me busy—and pays the bills."
She paused, her brow twitching as she raised a hand to her face, rubbing at her left eye. "Ugh... Stupid mechanical eye," she grumbled under her breath. Her voice took on an irritable edge as she muttered, "I'm beginning to think this thing needs some mechanical attention. It's been glitching like crazy lately."
Ruby leaned forward slightly, concern etched on her face. "Glitching? Like how?"
Maria waved a dismissive hand but winced, betraying her frustration. "It flickers, loses focus now and then, and gives me these annoying little shocks. Like I don't already have enough aches and pains to deal with at my age." Her tone was sharp, but there was a hint of vulnerability beneath the gruff exterior, a rare crack in the facade of the once-legendary Grim Reaper.
Yang glanced up from where she was sitting, her expression thoughtful. "Can't you get it fixed? I mean, Atlas tech is cutting-edge. They'd have the best parts, wouldn't they?"
Maria scoffed, her good eye narrowing slightly. "Oh, sure, if you've got a fortune to spare. Do you have any idea how much Atlas charges for prosthetics maintenance? It's highway robbery! And let's not forget how insufferable their engineers are—treating me like some relic from a museum exhibit." She leaned back with a sigh, shaking her head. "No, thanks. I'll deal with the glitches for now."
Rinko, who had remained quiet up until this point, spoke up, his voice calm but thoughtful. "Mechanical parts don't last forever. If it's giving you trouble, ignoring it might just make it worse." His gaze shifted toward Maria, his tone carrying a subtle weight. "Sometimes it's better to deal with the problem sooner rather than later."
Maria's lips twitched into a wry smile. "Hmph. Spoken like someone who's had their fair share of wear and tear." Her sharp eyes seemed to study him for a moment, as though trying to gauge what lay beneath his even demeanor. "You've got a point, though. I'll think about it."
The living room grew quiet as everyone focused on their meals, the faint crackle of the fireplace the only sound accompanying them. Rinko was the first to finish, setting his empty plate down. He glanced at Yang and Ruby, who were now huddled together, wrapped in Selene's uniform. Their eyes were heavy with exhaustion, and it was clear the warmth of the fire was the only thing keeping them from succumbing to the cold completely.
Selene, sitting quietly nearby, arched an eyebrow. "Did you always have this... business streak? Or was it something you picked up after retiring?"
Maria let out a low chuckle, the sound dry but genuine. "Oh, no. Back in my prime, I wouldn't have touched paperwork with a ten-foot pole. I was too busy tearing through Grimm and chasing the glory days. But life changes you, sweetheart. You get older, slower, and you start seeing things differently. I figured if I wasn't going to be out there fighting anymore, I might as well find something that lets me feel... in control. Business was the answer."
Her tone softened, and for a moment, her expression was distant, almost wistful. "It's not the same, of course. Nothing ever really replaces the rush of battle. But when I walk into that apartment building and see tenants living their lives, raising families... It's nice to know I've built something that lasts."
The room fell quiet again, the weight of her words lingering. Outside, the wind howled, but the warmth of the fire seemed a little stronger now, the shared conversation filling the empty space with a sense of connection.
Ruby smiled faintly, adjusting her blanket. "That's... actually kind of cool, Miss Maria."
Maria snorted, though the faintest trace of a smile played on her lips. "Don't get too sappy on me now, kid. I'm not about to start handing out life lessons." She opened her book again, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Besides, you've got enough of those coming from your own adventures."
As the fire crackled and the conversation drifted into comfortable silence, each of them was left with their thoughts.
But suddenly, a blood-curdling scream shattered the quiet.
It was Weiss.
Yang jerked awake, her eyes wide with alarm. Ruby bolted upright, her fatigue replaced with panic. Rinko was already on his feet, his movements sharp and precise. "Stay here," he ordered Yang and Ruby exchanged glances.
Rinko wore his white shirt mid steps.
Without waiting, he darted toward the stairs, his bare feet barely making a sound against the wooden floor. Behind him, Selene and Maria followed.
Second Floor
Rinko reached to the doorframe. The room was dimly lit, the cold air seeping through cracks in the wooden walls. Blake was crouched on the floor, holding Weiss tightly as the princess trembled in her arms. Weiss's face was pale, her eyes wide with terror, tears streaking her cheeks.
"What happened?!" Rinko demanded, his voice sharp but steady.
Blake looked up at him, her amber eyes filled with unease. She gestured toward the bed in the center of the room, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Rinko's gaze followed her hand, and his expression darkened.
On the bed lay two corpses, their bodies stiff and lifeless. Their skin was unnaturally dark, stretched taut over their skeletal frames as if frozen in mid-decay. The faint smell of rot clung to the air, mingling with the icy chill that made the room feel almost otherworldly.
In the corner of the room, a baby crib sat undisturbed, its contents hidden in shadow.
Weiss whimpered, burying her face into Blake's shoulder. "I-I thought... I thought someone was here," she stammered. "I heard something, but when I looked—" She broke off, shaking her head violently as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
Blake tightened her grip on Weiss, her own voice soft but firm. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything more. Let's get you out of here."
Rinko stepped aside, his expression unreadable. "Take her downstairs," he said to Blake.
Blake nodded, carefully guiding Weiss to her feet. The two of them moved past Rinko and out of the room, Weiss's quiet sobs fading as they descended the stairs.
Selene and Maria entered the room next, their footsteps hesitant as they took in the scene. Maria's eyes narrowed as she adjusted her goggles, leaning closer to the bed.
"What in the world..." Maria muttered, reaching out to touch one of the corpses. Her fingers hovered above the darkened skin before she pulled back, grimacing. "This.. this is more than just cold. Their skin's completely deprived of oxygen."
Rinko crossed his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "It's as if they suffocated," he said. "But how could that happen here?"
Selene moved closer to the baby crib, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for the edge. She hesitated, glancing back at Rinko.
Rinko simply shook his head.
Selene swallowed hard, lowering her hand as she stepped back. "This place... it's unnatural," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Maria straightened, her expression grim. "Whatever happened to them, it wasn't quick," she said. "This level of petrification doesn't happen overnight. The cold preserved them, yes, but their bodies show signs of prolonged oxygen deprivation. It's as if they were trapped in here, unable to breathe."
Rinko's gaze flickered to the crib again, his jaw tightening. "And the baby?"
Maria sighed, her shoulders slumping. "The same fate," she said. "It didn't stand a chance."
Selene wrapped her arms around herself, her usual composure faltering.
"Are there any possibilities that these are the work of grimm?" Rinko spoke as he clenched his fist.
Maria turned to him, she pondered for a while. "Mmmm there's a chance." She approached the crib cautiously, the wooden floor creaking under her weight. Carefully, she reached down and pulled the blanket back just enough to reveal the baby's face. The infant's tiny features were frozen in a haunting stillness, its darkened skin mirroring the adults'.
Selene turned away sharply, wrapping her arms around herself as if to block out the image. Her composure, usually so steadfast, cracked as she squeezed her eyes shut. "No.." she whispered, her voice trembling.
Maria's glanced lingered at the crib, she adjusted the blanket around the baby's tiny body. The act felt almost instinctual, as though she were trying to provide a sense of dignity to the lifeless form.
"Maybe the Grimm didn't do it," Selene murmured. "But... could they have driven whoever—or whatever—did? This place feels like despair itself."
Rinko didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a step closer to the bed, his sharp eyes scanning every detail of the room. The faint smell of decay mixed with the icy chill in the air made his skin crawl, but he pushed the discomfort aside. "What if this wasn't a natural death at all? What if the people of this village met the same fate?" he said aloud, more to himself than anyone else.
Maria frowned, her gaze shifting to Rinko. "It's possible," she said, her voice measured. "But without seeing more of the village, it's hard to say. This family could have been isolated, or..." Her voice trailed off as a darker thought took hold.
Selene's eyes widened slightly. "You think this could've spread? Like a plague?"
Maria hesitated, rubbing her temple. "Not.. in the traditional sense. This isn't biological—it's something else. Something more sinister. If it affected the whole village..." She shook her head, her words trailing off into silence.
Rinko's gaze lingered on the baby for a moment longer, a wave of unease washing over him.
Maria, her expression hardening as she adjusted her goggles once more. "Whatever's going on here, it's beyond anything normal. If it is Grimm, it's not like any common grimm like Beowolves or Manticores."
Rinko gave one last glance at the room, his sharp eyes taking in the eerie stillness before turning on his heel.
Selene hesitated but followed, her steps heavy with unease. Maria was the last to leave, pausing at the door to glance back at the crib. She murmured something under her breath—too soft for anyone to hear—before closing the door behind her.
The hallway was deathly quiet as the three of them walked down the creaking floorboards, the cold air biting at their skin. As they descended the stairs, Weiss and Blake were sitting near the fire, Weiss still trembling as Blake rubbed slow circles on her back. Yang and Ruby stood nearby, their expressions filled with concern.
"What did you find?" Yang asked, her voice tight, her eyes narrowing in concern.
Rinko met her gaze, his own sharp but weary. He hesitated for a moment before replying, his tone flat and restrained. "It's... unpleasant."
Yang frowned, crossing her arms. "That bad, huh?"
Rinko didn't answer. He didn't need to. The weight in his eyes, the subtle tension in his jaw, said it all.
He stepped outside, Selene following close behind. The evening skies roared with snow and wind, an unrelenting storm that masked the lifeless silence of Brunswick Farms. House by house, the pair searched, and each time they found the same haunting sight—bodies, perfectly preserved in their frozen state, faces twisted in eternal repose. The cold, black stung at their skin, but it paled compared to the chill that crept into their souls with each discovery.
When they returned to the main house, they wiped the snow off their shoulders, the weight of their findings evident in their expressions. The warmth of the firelight did little to ease the icy heaviness that clung to them.
Rinko turned to the others, who had gathered in the living room, their faces filled with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "It's the same in every house," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Corpses in a petrified, preserved state. In every bed. In every home."
Blake's ears perked in alarm, her eyes wide. "What...?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ruby and Yang exchanged uneasy glances, while Weiss's gaze locked onto Rinko, her expression a mix of fear and disbelief.
Rinko walked over to the fireplace, extending his arm to feel the heat, though it seemed to do little to warm him. "It's like the whole estate fell asleep and never woke up," he said, his voice carrying an undercurrent of unease. "Strange, isn't it?"
Weiss hesitated before speaking, her voice trembling slightly. "Then... we're not staying here, right?" she asked, looking up at her twin with wide, uncertain eyes.
Rinko glanced toward the window, where the storm howled and the wind rattled the glass. He shook his head. "We don't have much of a choice right now. The storm's too strong. We wouldn't last an entire night out there."
Weiss bit her lip, nodding reluctantly. "I see..."
Maria, who had been silent, leaned back with a sigh, pulling out a small, weathered book from her bag. "Well, then, might as well get comfortable," she said dryly, flipping the book open as though trying to distract herself.
Ruby, seated by the fire with the relic nestled in her lap and wrapped in blankets, looked up. "If this place isn't abandoned, there might still be supplies we can use. Like the canned food Selene found earlier," she suggested, her voice a little steadier now.
Selene nodded, stepping closer to the fire and kneeling next to Weiss. "There's also a cellar in the kitchen," she said, her voice soft but even. "I noticed it earlier but didn't have a chance to check it out."
Weiss drew in a shaky breath, calming herself. "I... I can go with you, Selene," she offered, her tone hesitant but determined.
Selene paused, studying Weiss for a moment before nodding. "Alright, Miss Weiss," she agreed.
"There's also another shed at the opposite side of the property," Rinko added, looking at the group. "It might have tools or parts we can use to repair Yang's bike. Since this is a farm, there might even be a wagon we can attach to it."
Yang's eyes lit up slightly at the mention of her bike. "I—I can come with you," she said quickly, standing up.
Rinko hesitated, his gaze meeting hers. He could sense her eagerness, but more than that, he saw her determination. After a brief pause, he sighed and nodded. "Alright, Yang," he said, offering her a small, reassuring smile.
"I could come too—" Blake began, stepping forward, but Rinko gently interrupted her.
"It's okay, Blake," he said, his tone soft but firm. "Just stay here and watch over Ruby."
Ruby shook her head, standing up from her spot by the fire. "It's fine, Rinko," she said, her voice resolute. "I can go with Weiss and Selene. I'm feeling a lot better now, and... I want to help."
Rinko studied her for a moment, his sharp gaze searching for any sign of weakness or hesitation. Finally, he sighed and nodded. "If you insist," he said, though his tone carried a hint of reluctance.
Turning back to Blake, he gave her a small nod. "You can come with us instead," he said.
Blake's golden eyes flickered with understanding, and she nodded, her usual calm composure returning.
As the group began preparing for their tasks, the air in the room grew heavier. The storm outside howled louder, as if warning them against venturing out again. Yet, despite the unease that clung to them, they each carried a sense of quiet determination. Whatever was happening in Brunswick Farms, they would face it together.
[End]