Submission

The biting cold of Forks, a perpetual winterland, seeped into Rose Dawson's bones, a familiar chill mirroring the one she carried inside. At nineteen, she had fled the nightmare of her childhood, seeking refuge in a college scholarship and the quiet isolation of this snowy town. Her days were a routine of classes, work at the supermarket, and the comforting, chaotic presence of her best friend, Liza.

Today, the snow fell thick and fast, muffling the world outside her window. Inside, the quiet hum of the old house was a stark contrast to the storm brewing in her mind. Liza had just left for a 'date' with Max, leaving Rose to her solitary movie night. The house, ancient and secluded, had become her sanctuary, a place where the echoes of her past couldn't quite reach her.

As the clock on the wall ticked past ten, a sudden, insistent ring shattered the silence. The doorbell. Who could it be, out here, at this hour, in this weather?