Chapter 1: The Missing Bell

The winter bell rang at midnight.

Rowan woke immediately.

The bell never rang at midnight.

He ran outside.

Snow covered the village.

His sister was missing.

Her footprints led toward the northern forest.

Rowan knew the rule.

Never go north.

He followed her anyway.

The forest swallowed him.

After an hour, he found a bell hanging from a frozen tree.

It was identical to the village bell.

Except this one was covered in frost.

When Rowan touched it, someone whispered his name.

“Rowan.”

He turned.

Nobody was there.

Then the snow beneath him cracked.

He fell.