Don't Eat Me, Mister Cold

"Hey, give me my luggage!" Amber screamed while trying to get up from the snow. Her runny nose was already red with anger.

"Hey!" the woman in furry white coat cried again. With great difficulty, she headed to the road. "Stop right now! Don't make me mad! You will regret it if I catch you!"

Unfortunately, when Amber arrived at the shoulder of the road, the car she was chasing had already turned around. The men who had thrown her before, laughed in satisfaction. Both of them waved from the window.

"Adjö!"

Neglecting what the stranger said, Amber screamed as loud as she could. "You liar! I paid dearly to be escorted to Adam Smith, not to be abandoned in the forest like this!"

With teary eyes, Amber watched the robbers' car disappear in the distance. She realized that there was no point in shouting or chasing. The strangers wouldn't come back to pick her up.

"I shouldn't have believed them," the woman grumbled in despair.

While catching her breath, Amber began to observe the situation. There was no one around. There were only shadows of pine trees, scattered snow, and millions of stars in the dark sky.

"This is bad," the woman sighed while hugging herself tighter. The gusting wind had sent chills to the bone. "What should I do? I can't die now."

While wiping her nose with the glove, Amber turned to face her landing point at the snow pile. Two seconds later, the woman sighed in disbelief. Even it was not clear, she could see a chimney blowing smoke not far from there.

"Is that a house?" Amber mumbled as her eyes widened. She thought she had found a glimmer of hope. However, after a blink, her brows furrowed again.

"But, along the way, I didn't see a single house. Is it possible ... there are people living in a place like this?" the woman murmured doubtfully.

Once again, Amber surveyed the surrounding scenery. Convinced that there were no other buildings, she let out a long sigh.

"It's the only way," the woman mumbled before blowing her gloves to warm them up. "People in that house will definitely want to help me." Confidently, the woman exerted her strength to break through the knee-deep snow.

Arriving at the door, Amber could finally breathe in relief. As she continued to rub her hands, she noticed the yellow light emanating from behind the window pane.

"Thank God! This cottage is indeed a house." After exhaling quickly, Amber knocked on the door. "Excuse me. Is there anyone inside?"

Not getting an answer, the woman knocked again. "Excuse me!" she shouted louder.

A few seconds later, still no sound was heard. The silence made Amber's annoyance rise. She had been exposed to the winter air for too long.

"Where have the people of this cottage gone? Didn't they hear my call? Tsk, I could freeze if I keep waiting out here any longer," the shivering woman grunted before pounding harder on the door.

"Excuse me! Is there anyone inside? I really need help!" Amber screamed in panic. Her stiff hands kept hitting the thick board. "Please! I'll freeze to death if you don't help me."

After a while, the door finally opened. Finding a way to enter, Amber's smile widened. "Thank you!"

However, just as she was about to take a step, a well-built man blocked her way. With a cold stare, the stranger asked, "Can't you read?"

Getting an unexpected response, Amber suddenly fell silent. Through round eyes, she studied the face of the bearded man with unkempt brown hair. There was no friendly expression there. It was clear that the occupants of the cottage did not like her presence.

"G-good evening, Sir. I'm so sorry to bother you." The woman suddenly became polite. With great difficulty, she tried to stifle her rumbling breath. "My name is Amber and I am not a bad person. I came to this country to meet Adam Smith. But as it turned out, I got cheated. My stuff was taken and I was abandoned in this frosty forest."

While clenching his jaw, the man brought his head closer to Amber. "I'll ask again. Can't you read?"

Hearing the low tone that was full of emphasis, the woman suddenly shuddered in horror. Holding herself tighter, she whispered, "Read?"

After a small grunt, the owner of the cottage glanced at the board attached to the side of the door. Half of the writing was covered in snow. "Read it and get out of here!" A second later, Amber gasped as the man slammed the door.

"Gosh! Why is he so cold?" the woman grumbled in disbelief. "I just want to ask for help. Why did he kick me out? And what is written here?"

While furrowing her brows, Amber brushed aside the layer of snow that was blocking the writing. "Stay away if you don't want to burn in the summer or freeze in the winter."

After reading the warning board, the woman laughed dryly. "Seriously? I'll freeze if I stay away from this cottage," Amber muttered before returning to the front door. Without thinking, she started banging again.

"Excuse me, Mister Cold. I really need help. Whatever the cost, I'll definitely pay for it. Now, help me not to freeze to death here," Amber cried, ignoring politeness. The cells in her body had urgently needed to be warmed up. "Mister Cold?"

Once again, the door opened. Thinking that the man had changed his mind, Amber took a hasty step. However, before she could pass the door, a bucket of water suddenly slapped her face. In an instant, the woman screamed. Snorting in annoyance, she wiped her eyes with the gloves and the sleeves of her wet coat.

"What is this? Why did you water me?"

Instead of answering, the owner of the cottage put on a lopsided smile. A second later, he closed the door tightly. The man didn't even care if Amber's body trembled with cold and anger.

"You psychopath!" the woman grumbled furiously. Gritting her teeth, she started banging and kicking at the door. "If you want to kill me, why don't you use a knife or a bullet? Why are you torturing me like this?"

The faster her heart beat, the bigger her anger was. "You'll regret if I die here. My parents won't stay still and my friends too. They won't make your life easy."

Suddenly, the door opened again and Mister Cold appeared with a full bucket. Not wanting to get a second splash, Amber hurriedly stepped back. In her haste, she fell to the ground.

"Ah!"

Even so, the man kept pouring water over her head. "Go away or I'll freeze you to the ice!"

"But I have nowhere else to go!" Amber shouted while brushing away the water droplets that had not been absorbed by her white coat.

"That's none of my business!" Without mercy, the owner of the cottage stepped in and closed the door. Witnessing the man's cold demeanor, Amber's breath became shorter. Anger had exploded in her chest.

"Aaargh!" the woman groaned. While her body was shaking violently, she rose to her feet. "Why does that psychopath have to live here? It should be a good person who's willing to help me. Now, where should I go?"

After observing the darkness of the night, Amber finally traced her earlier tracks. "I can't give up. There must be someone else living in this forest. I have to find his house soon."

With all her might, the woman forced her trembling knees to move. Even though her breathing was getting heavier, she kept walking and walking, not knowing that a storm was coming.

Smiling crookedly, Mister Cold poured tea from the pot into the cup. There was absolutely no remorse on his face. The look in the man's eyes even looked satisfied.

"Stupid woman," he mumbled faintly. "No one can disturb me. You should know that."

After taking a sip, Mr. Cold carried his cup to a chair by the window. From there, he could see snow falling from the sky and strong winds starting to stir the pines.

"Will there be another storm tonight?"

Raising an eyebrow, the man enjoyed his tea. He was happy for restoring peace. However, the more snow fell, the more distant his gaze became. At one point, an anxious sigh escaped his mouth.

"That woman ... can she survive?"

After a brief contemplation, Mr. Cold shook his head quickly. The image of Amber shouldn't stay long in his mind.

"Why am I thinking about that disturber? She's nobody."

Nodding, the man raised his cup again. However, before the tea touched his lips, he froze.

"But if that woman dies, I'll be the one in trouble," he thought before placing the cup by the window. After tapping his fingers, Mr. Cold finally went to get his coat and flashlight.

"Tsk, why are women always causing trouble?" he grumbled while pulling the door. Without thinking, the man walked along the trace of Amber.

"Hmm? Where did she go?" Mister Cold thought when he saw that there was no one standing on the side of the road. While furrowing his brows, he quickened his pace.

Five meters from the shoulder of the road, the man's steps suddenly stopped. After a firm blink, he turned his head to the right. A second later, his expressionless face turned tense. Someone in a white coat was lying surrounded by thick layer of snow.

"Damn!" Mr. Cold sighed as he tucked the flashlight into the pocket. Quickly, he checked the woman's condition. "Miss? Miss!"

Even though she was patted a few times, Amber didn't answer. Her cold body was still like a stone. Not wanting to be accused of being a murderer, the man rushed to pick up the woman. With great difficulty, he carried her through the snow.

Arriving at the cottage, Mr. Cold immediately laid Amber near the wood heater. Only then he could see how blue her lips were. Once again, the man tried to wake Amber up.

"Miss? Miss!"

Unfortunately, the shake he gave wasn't enough to bring Amber to her senses. Feeling desperate, Mister Cold sighed deeply. "I shouldn't have crossed the line. Look at the consequences! She has hypothermia."

After nagging himself, the man pulled Amber's glove off. Squeezing those icy pale fingers, he expected a change.

"Come on ... wake up! Don't make me a murderer! It's your own fault for bothering me on a winter night."

Seconds passed, Amber didn't move either. Her breath was barely even detectable. Not wanting to be late, Mr. Cold rushed to strip off her clothes.

"There's no other way. I have to do this. Don't blame me, Miss. This is for your safety."

After a while, the two people were no longer wearing clothes. Without hesitation, Mister Cold pulled the blanket off the couch. While stretching that thick cloth, he cupped Amber's back with his body. A second later, the man began to hug the woman tightly and moved his hands spreading warmth.

***

As soon as she opened her eyes, Amber was greeted by sparks behind the wood heater glass. Seeing that unusual sight, she gasped. Wide-eyed, the woman recalled the events of last night.

"I'm still alive?" she concluded, half believing. After blinking quickly, she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God .... Who saved me?"

While holding the heaviness in her head, Amber straightened up. Just at that moment, the cloth covering her body fell down. In an instant, the joy on her face faded. In a flash, the woman wrapped herself in the blanket again.

"Where are my clothes?" she sighed while staring around. Not finding what she was looking for, Amber spontaneously grimaced. "Gosh. What has happened to me?"

While the woman was confused, someone put the dishes into the sink. The sound echoed through the entire room. Knowing the whereabouts of "the culprit", Amber got up. Dragging the blanket wrapped around her, she walked towards the kitchen.

Finding Mister Cold, Amber spontaneously opened her mouth wide. The gratitude that had grown before, suddenly disappeared. All that was left was immense irritation and anger.

"You ...!" she cried, pointing her index finger. Her eyes were already red and watery. "I understand now. No wonder you left me cold out there. You must be hoping that I fainted, so you could do anything to me!"

Hearing Amber's loud voice, the man suddenly frowned.

"You're ungrateful, apparently. I saved you, but you shouted at me instead?"

With one hand, Amber gripped the shirt of the man who was much taller than her. "You think I don't know? You've slept with me!"

Instead of being afraid, Mister Cold raised his chin. "Stop making it up. I didn't do it," he said in a low, even tone.

"Make it up?" Amber asked in a trembling voice. "Isn't the evidence clear? I woke up without a single string attached!"

The man snorted sinisterly. "What's wrong with it? Don't you want to be safe? You won't be able to put up with that wet coat."

After bringing his head closer to Amber, Mister Cold deepened his voice. "You had hypothermia last night. The only way to save you is to share warmth ... skin to skin. That's why, I took off your clothes," he explained with a cold expression.

"Then, you make it an excuse to get inside me? Is that so?" Amber interrupted, looking up. The hand that gripped the man's shirt tightened.

Unexpectedly, the corner of Mister Cold's lips lifted higher. "You think I'm attracted to you?" While shaking his head, the man narrowed his eyes. "Absolutely not, Miss. I actually hate to touch your dirty body."

A sigh suddenly escaped from Amber's mouth. "Dirty? You call me dirty?"

"Please don't act like an innocent girl. I know a woman like you must have slept with a lot of men."

In a split second, a slap landed on Mister Cold's cheek. With burning eyes, Amber pointed her index finger again. "Watch your mouth! I'm not that kind of woman. You can't just touch me, let alone get inside me!"

While pressing the inside of the cheek with his tongue, Mister Cold returned Amber's cold gaze. "I told you, I did not do it."

"You think I believe? What normal guy doesn't do it when he's with a nude woman? Are you impotent, huh?"

In an instant, the man's eyes filled with hatred. Gritting his teeth, he pushed Amber's shoulder against one of the walls. Without the slightest bit of pity, Mister Cold gripped the woman's chin.

"It is your mouth that should be guarded! If I had known you were this annoying, I would have let you die out there."

Even though she was scared, Amber still maintained her fretful expression. With a slight bow, she glared at Mister Cold.

"Oh, so it's true. You're impotent," the woman mumbled without thinking.

A second later, a fist landed on the wall, right next to Amber's head. Witnessing that spontaneous action, the woman spontaneously screamed. Closing her eyes, she gripped the blanket tightly.

"Don't test my patience," Mister Cold said in a low voice that made Amber shudder in horror. "You should be grateful I didn't eat you."

After giving a warning, the man walked away. A moment later, there was the sound of a door slamming from the front. Knowing that Mister Cold was no longer in the cottage, Amber immediately fell down on the floor. She had been holding back the shaking knees for too long.

"I must be mad. Why did I provoke that Crazy Bear's wrath?" Amber regretted as she tried to catch her breath. With her head down, she tried to reorganize her thoughts.

"Is it true that the man didn't get inside me?" the woman asked quietly.

While furrowing her brows, Amber moved her legs, checking if there was something odd about her lower body. After tilting her head, the woman began to nod.

"He must be impotent. Otherwise, why is he so angry?" Amber grumbled before being silent for a moment. "But, what did he mean by eating me? Is he really a psychopath?"

While contemplating, Amber's gaze began to explore the kitchen. Unknowingly, her hand moved to stroke her stomach. "I need food."

Still with the blanket wrapped around her body, the woman checked what was on the table. As soon as she found the pile of Cinnamon Rolls on the plate, Amber's eyes got widened.

"This must be delicious," the woman said happily. Without thinking, she started to devour the roll-shaped cake.

After finishing one piece, Amber continued to checking the room. "It would be perfect if there was warm milk," she muttered before opening a cupboard.

A second later, the woman was stunned. Dozens of bottles filled with red liquid lined up in front of him.

"Is it wine? Why is the color so thick?"

After blinking for a moment, Amber closed the cupboard and turned to the refrigerator. There, she found what she was looking for.

"Here it is!"

With one hand, Amber took out a bottle of milk and drank it. Even though it wasn't warm, she was happy.

"Why does it taste so good? Is it because I'm starving?" the woman muttered before returning the bottle to the refrigerator.

The next minute, Amber was busy looking for where her coat was. Unfortunately, all the doors she wanted to check were locked. The woman then rummaged through the drawers, investigating the identity of the owner of the cottage.

"Who is this person actually? Why is he so rude and cold?" Amber grumbled while searching. Unfortunately, there was no information she could get. Some drawers were empty and some contained unimportant items.

"And why are there no photos in this house? Is Mister Cold really a psychopath?" Amber opened the cupboard near the couch.

A second later, the woman's eyebrows arched high. Various forms of bones neatly arranged in front of her. "What are these?"

With a horrified look, Amber scanned every part of the cupboard. Only the top tier was not occupied by bones. Balls of crumpled paper filled that space. Curious, she grabbed one and straightened it.

"GET OUT OF HERE, EVIL CANNIBAL!"

Reading the short message, Amber furrowed her brows. "Cannibal?"

Without changing her expression, she picked up another paper.

"CANNIBAL LIKE YOU DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE!"

In an instant, the woman's mouth fell open. An idea just flashed through her mind. With quivering eyes, she compiled the evidence-inhuman warning board, the man's talk about eating her, dozens of bottles filled with blood-red liquid, and collection of bones on display. When she came to a conclusion, her face immediately paled.

"That man is a cannibal?" Amber sighed with round eyes. Cold sweat started running down the nape of her neck.

Suddenly, someone opened the door. A second later, Mister Cold came in with a shovel in his hand.

"What are you doing?" the man asked in a displeased tone. His eyes darted around the frightened woman, the wide open cupboard, and the two sheets of paper on the floor.

Feeling threatened, the woman spontaneously stepped back. Unfortunately, she hit the cupboard. Several bones fell near her feet. Witnessing that carelessness, Mister Cold's eyebrows automatically arched high.

"My bones!" the man cried, rushing over to her.

Thinking "The Cannibal" would kill her, Amber's guts spontaneously disappeared. The woman realized that she would not be able to escape the burly man's grip. Closing her eyes, she dropped to her knees.

"Please don't eat me, Mister Cold! I'm too skinny for you. You won't feel full," she said in a trembling voice.

Hearing the tone of fear, the man stopped walking. With a look of astonishment, he watched the woman who avoided his gaze. "You think I'm going to eat you?" the man sighed questioningly.

"Please forgive me!" Amber cried, gripping the blanket tighter. "I didn't mean to bother you. My arrival here was just a coincidence, and I'm sorry to have scolded you. I should be grateful that you were kind enough to let me live."

Flickering, Mister Cold digested the situation. After seeing the bones in the cupboard and the words "cannibal" on Amber's side, he smiled lopsidedly.

"Stupid woman," he cursed in his heart. A second later, the man put on expressionless face.

"You think an apology is enough to save you?" Mister Cold asked in a fierce tone.

Amber was suddenly confused. After a brief contemplation, she finally peeked out of the corner of her eye. "What should I do to make you let me go?" the woman asked timidly.

"Who knows? I haven't eaten human flesh in a long time."

The light answer made Amber hold her breath. The woman's horror was instantly multiplied. "B-but, you have bread in the kitchen. It's much tastier than ... me."

Once again, the man's eyebrows rose to the max. "You stole my food?"

In a flash, Amber shook her head. "No. I didn't steal it," she replied in a depressed voice.

"You took my food and begged me not to eat you. Is it fair?"

Amber quickly lifted her head. "I really didn't steal your food," she insisted as naturally as possible.

After leaning the shovel against the wall, Mister Cold brought his nose to Amber's face. While the kneeling woman was holding her breath, he started sniffing.

"You ate my Cinnamon Roll," the man said before squinting. "Now, should I eat you?"

Amber's whole body suddenly stiffened. The great fear had paralyzed her nerves. She just imagined how the Crazy Bear tore her flawless skin.

"P-please ... don't eat me," she whispered almost inaudibly. "I still want to live."

While smiling sarcastically, the man shook his head. "I don't care."

A second later, Mister Cold pulled Amber's left hand. Knowing the "Cannibal" was about to bite, the woman put up a fight. With all her might, she withdrew her hand.

"Don't eat me! I'm too skinny for you!" Amber screamed while struggling.

Unfortunately, the woman was not strong enough. Her hand kept approaching the man's mouth.

"Let go! Let me go!"

With her free hand, Amber pushed Mr. Cold's face away. She didn't care if the blanket wasn't wrapped around her anymore. That woman was not ready to lose her life.

Not expecting that movement, the man spontaneously attacked more aggressively. Within seconds, he had managed to pin Amber between his body and the carpeted wooden floor.

"Don't you see? My hands are just bones covered with skin! Your teeth will fall out if you eat them!" the woman exclaimed as she could no longer think normally. Whatever came to mind just slipped out of her mouth. She was really desperate.

"That's exactly my favorite part. Human bones," Mister Cold replied, holding back a laugh. He was happy to see the stupid woman suffer. "Now, say goodbye to the world. You will soon become my delicious meal."

"No," Amber sighed while glancing at her hand which was getting closer to the man's mouth. When Mister Cold gaped wide, she screamed at the top of her lungs. "No ...!"

Unexpectedly, the man stopped bringing Amber's hand to his mouth. The faded suicide scar on the woman's wrist had caught the eye. Why didn't he see it last night?