Chapter 2

Winter led Weiss through the parking lot to her car. It was late, well after dark, and light snow had begun to fall. The pair had just sat through one of their father's stupid "lessons." As head of the Schnee Development Corporation, their father ran the world's largest and most powerful company. The company itself was larger than the economies of some countries. One day Winter and Weiss would take over, and their father was determined to make sure they were ready. Winter thought his idea of how to do that was beyond pointless. He had his daughters sit in on board meetings like the one earlier in the evening to see how he did business. It was an education, to be sure, but more on how to be a strong-arm dictator than a CEO.

Mr. Schnee had absolute control of SDC and ruled with an iron fist. The board was made up of yes-men who knew that any serious disagreement would mean their firing. The boss talked at them more than with them. Occasionally he would ask for advice or opinions, but those he received never strayed far from his own. Even if he could not, Winter and Weiss could see how stupid the whole charade was. He may as well have just done what he wanted to do without wasting everyone's time.

Winter slipped behind the wheel of her car, a large luxury sedan, and Weiss sat in the front passenger's seat. A thin layer of snow blanketed the windshield but a swipe of the wipers took care of that. Winter and Weiss had always been close, even though their difference in age was considerable. Their mother had died from complications resulting from Weiss' birth, and their father was emotionally cold, so they really only had one another for support. Though she was entirely of the wrong temperament, Winter had tried to be a surrogate parent to Weiss. Now they spent less time together - with Winter running a small R&D division of SDC and Weiss attending business school - but were still best friends in addition to family.

Their father still dominated every aspect of their lives. Weiss attended the Atlas Academy, her father's alma mater, at his insistence. Winter ran the part of the company she did because he had directly appointed her. Winter's appointment was a test, albeit one she could not fail. When she took over the R&D-C division was in chaos after a scandal and major lawsuit. The management had been gutted and Winter was left to rebuild from almost nothing. If she failed, no one would have blamed her. If she succeeded, she would cement herself as a shrewd businesswoman and heir apparent to her father. She had passed the test with flying colors and already there was talk of appointment to the Board of Directors.

The day had been exhausting and the drive home would be no better. The board meeting had run long as usual. Winter had been working since the early morning as was her habit. Weiss had had classes earlier in the day as well. Now Weiss slept in the passenger's seat as Winter drove the car down the seemingly endless b-road that connected the remote SDC headquarters to the highway. Winter never understood why her father would want to work somewhere so out of the way, and when she asked he only told her he liked the scenery. For someone who had been so successful in business, Winter saw it as a colossally poor decision.

The snow was just beginning to accumulate on the road and distinct tire-tracks appeared where cars had passed before. Winter followed along as the wipers swiped back and forth, clearing the slowly falling snow. Just a week earlier Atlas had seen its first major snowfall and the ground was still blanketed with a shimmering white. Weiss loved the snow. She had since childhood. Even now she longed to play as she had as a child, though her father had instilled in her the need to be formal and she stifled such immature impulses. The occasional snowball fight with Winter was an opportunity to cut loose, and Winter loved seeing the smile on Weiss' face when she allowed herself to drop the icy facade their father insisted upon.

A rumbling and bumping shocked Winter awake. She had been drifting to sleep at the wheel and the car had departed the tracks of those ahead and strayed into the gathering snow. Winter realized she was across the centerline. As the wipers swiped away another layer of snow she was blinded by the headlights of a truck rounding a turn, traveling in the other direction. Winter panicked. She jerked the car back towards her side of the road. In the deep slush the car began to slide. Winter jerked the steering wheel back but it was too late. The car slid off the road which was immediately bordered by a downward embankment. Now there was nothing she could do but slam on the brakes and pray. The car careened downhill, gathering speed as it pushed through the ice and snow, before coming to a sudden stop as it slammed into a tree.

After being smashed in the face by the airbag, Winter was left groggy. The wipers were still on, though the terribly deformed state of the car meant they no longer made contact with the windshield. A spiderweb of cracks spread from the bottom corner on the passenger's side, nearest where the impact had been made. Winter looked over at Weiss. The dashboard had been smashed back into her stomach and now trapped her against her seat. Weiss looked frantic, her eyes wide, though she was pinned and unable to move.

"Weiss...are you alright?" Winter asked.

"It hurts." Weiss groaned. Her voice was weak. "I can't move."

"What hurts?" Winter asked, growing more worried as she saw the pain and fear in Weiss' eyes.

"Winter, I'm scared." Weiss said.

"I know, I know." Winter said. She unbuckled her seatbelt and shifted closer to her sister. She attempted to dislodge the dashboard but it was no use. "I promise, everything will be alright." She grabbed Weiss' hand and squeezed it. Weiss squeezed back weakly.

"It's so cold." Weiss said. She tried to look at Winter but it seemed she was having difficulty focusing her gaze. "Your hand is cold." Her head lolled about, her eyes seemingly searching for Winter. "Please...don't leave me."

"Never, I'll never leave you Weiss." Winter said. She reached out her other hand and cupped the side of Weiss' face, holding her head still. "We're family, family doesn't leave."

"I...I want to go home." Weiss said.

"Me too Snowflake. We will soon. I promise." Winter said. Weiss' gaze was fixed on Winter but she said nothing. "Weiss?" Still Weiss did not respond, her eyes unblinking. "W...Weiss?" Winter squeezed Weiss hand but she did not squeeze back. She moved her hand away from Weiss' face and her head lolled limply to the side. "N...no...Weiss...Snowflake, please don't...don't go." Winter took hold of Weiss' shoulders and shook her but she just flopped limply. "Please don't go. Don't…" Winter's words devolved into incoherent sobbing as she embraced her sister's lifeless body.

Though Winter could not see, Weiss' legs had been shattered in the crash. Her femoral artery was punctured and she bled out. Winter came away from the crash physically intact, her only injuries a sprained ankle and burns on her wrists caused by the airbag. Emotionally it was a different story. Days of hysterical crying followed. Winter was inconsolable and absolutely overcome with grief. Her beloved sister, someone she saw almost as a daughter, was gone and it was her fault. Reminders of Weiss were everywhere, from her things to family photos. Just looking outside was a reminder. When Winter thought of snow she thought of her sister, and the ground was still covered in it. Given Atlas' climate it would be like that for months. She had to get away. It was the only way she could hope to stay sane.

Winter stood before her father's desk. Her father's cold blue eyes stared at her. She was having second thoughts. He was not an understanding man, and her request would likely anger him. But Winter decided she had to do it. "I wish to request time off to grieve." Winter finally said. "I can't work effectively until I clear my head."

"Very well." Her father said. It was not the response Winter had been expecting at all. "I know how close you and your sister were. Do what you must."

"Th...thank you." Winter stammered.

"Anything for my favorite daughter." Her father said.

Winter found the comment beyond inappropriate. Her father had never liked Weiss, blaming her for his beloved wife's death, and both Weiss and Winter knew it. Still, to say such a thing at a time like this… "I'll be in touch." She said. She shook her father's hand and left.

Winter headed straight for the airport. If her father had not granted the time off she would have just quit. She already had plans. She would go to Vale. Its subtropical climate meant she would not have to see any snow. She was already just a signature away from the purchase of a beach house there, a place where she could get away from it all. Vale was one of the few places she had never visited, and she hoped the new sights and experiences would help her get her mind off her sister. Only time would tell if it would actually work.

Winter arrived in Vale in early evening. The following day she would take a look at her new house and if everything checked out she would sign the last of the paperwork and make the final payment. For now she checked into a seaside hotel. The ocean's calm clear waters were a far cry from those that lashed the shores of Atlas. Frigid and tempestuous, the seas around Atlas were not exactly ideal for beach excursions. Vale on the other hand was known for it's beautiful beaches. Though Winter was eager to experience them, she was too exhausted, both physically and mentally. She went to bed early.

After a night of fitful sleep Winter checked out of the hotel. She loaded her luggage into the trunk of the limousine she had hired and headed out. Her first stop was the bank. She withdrew an obscene amount of cash then headed for her new house. After meeting with the sellers and inspecting the house, she put her signature on the last of the paperwork and handed over a briefcase full of cash to pay for it in full. Her new home was not particularly large but the view was stunning, with the front of the house overlooking a private white sand beach bordered by clear blue waters. She would live there until she had her head on straight.

The first order of business was unpacking, but with that done Winter put on a swimsuit and walked out onto the beach. It was winter in Vale too but still quite warm. The water might be a bit cold but the air was not and the breeze smelled and felt refreshing. The feeling of sand between her toes was invigorating, something she had not felt in far too long. The sun shining through a clear blue sky warmed her skin. This place was so unlike Atlas. She walked along the beach for a time, hoping to let her mind wander to happier thoughts, but all she could think about was how much Weiss would have enjoyed being there. Instantly the happiness was ripped from her mind and her guilt and pain surged back.

The constant visual reminders of Weiss were gone but Winter's own mind continued to torture her. That night she got no sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes she saw the scene, Weiss' lifeless body slumped over the dashboard, the snow slowly accumulating on the shattered windshield as Winter's vision was blurred by tears. The next day she tried the beach again. She tried seeing the sights. But no matter what Winter did memories of Weiss always came flooding back. She could only think of one solution. If distractions could not turn off her mind, alcohol might. Vale had plenty of bars and nightclubs and was a famous party destination. Surely she could find what she was looking for.

"Hey Yang!" Junior called from behind the bar. "Come here!"

Yang walked over and leaned against the bar. "What's up?" She asked.

"The girl in Booth 2 needs to leave." Junior replied, pointing.

Yang looked to see a white-haired woman slumped over the table with empty glasses scattered around her. "Evict the drunk, got it." Yang said.

"Try to be gentle this time." Junior warned.

Yang ignored her boss and sauntered over to the booth. She put her hand on the woman's shoulder and gave her a gentle shake. "If you're going to pass out you'll have to do so elsewhere." Yang said.

"Leave me alone." Winter groaned with a drunken slur. "Just leave me to my sorrow."

"Miss, I'm going to have to insist you leave." Yang said. "Don't make this harder than it has to be." Still the woman refused to budge. "You can't say I didn't warn you." Yang grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the booth, forcing her to her feet.

"Let go of me!" Winter shouted. She smacked Yang's hand away. "Don't touch me you stupid blonde bimbo!"

Yang stared the drunk woman in the face. She had been forced to take plenty of abuse already that night and this was the last straw. "You bitch!" Yang screamed as she reared back and uncorked a wicked right-hook that landed flush on the side of the woman's face. She went down hard.

The hit sobered up Winter immediately. She sat up and held the side of her face, still shocked. She knew she had deserved it though. Here was someone only trying to do her job, and Winter was being a belligerent drunk. "I...I…" She struggled.

"Goddamn it Yang!" Junior yelled. He came out from behind the bar and walked over. "That's it! You're fired!"

"But she...I…" Yang stammered. "You can't fire me, I can't pay my bills as it is."

"You should have thought of that before you punched one of my patrons." Junior said. He bent down and helped Winter up. "I'm very sorry miss. Oh God, please don't sue me. Your drinks are free tonight."

"Junior please…" Yang started.

"Shut up and get out of my bar." Junior snapped. "I don't want to see you around here ever again."

Yang wanted to argue more. She wanted to plead, beg. As little as the job paid it was all she had. Without it she would end up homeless. But she recognized that it was pointless. Junior had been close to firing her a few times for being too rough with the customers, and this was just the final straw. Truth be told, he probably should have gotten rid of her long ago. Yang began to tear up, not knowing what her future held, but she ran out before she made a scene. The last thing she wanted was to be both fired and humiliated.

"I'm really very sorry." Junior said to Winter.

"You...that was my fault." Winter said. She felt dizzy "I...antagonized…" Before Winter could finish her thought her world went black as the combination of her inebriation and the blow to the head finally robbed her of consciousness.

Winter woke up in the bed of her beach house. She had no knowledge of how she had gotten there. Helpfully there was a note on the nightstand:

Sorry about the unpleasantness last night. Some papers in your pocket led us to this address. You were still pretty out of it when we dropped you off, so we're leaving this note.

Melanie and Miltia

PS: Please don't sue us.

There were large gaps in Winter's memory of the previous night but she did remember one thing. She had gotten the bouncer fired. And it was all her fault. Winter felt terrible. It was bad enough that she had gotten drunk and lost control, but that she had screwed up someone else's life was so much worse. She had to make it right. After a shower and a cup of coffee, Winter called a cab and headed back to Junior's club. She had slept very late and it was around noon already, so it might be open. It was.

Winter walked in. Junior was behind the bar as he had been the night before, though at such an early hour the place was almost empty. "Oh no." Junior groaned when he spotted Winter. "I'm really sorry about what happened. Please don't sue me."

"I'm not here for that." Winter said. "I'm here to get that poor girl her job back."

"Absolutely not." Junior said. "She's been nothing but trouble and it's only been getting worse. You're not the first patron she's punched. One day someone won't be satisfied with an apology and free drinks. I can't take the risk anymore."

"But it was entirely my fault." Winter pleaded. "I said some horrible things to her."

"I'm sorry but I'm not changing my mind." Junior persisted. "If this was her first mistake I would give her another chance, but I'm seeing a pattern of behavior that's unacceptable."

"Could you at least give me her phone number?" Winter asked. "I'd like to apologize."

"I don't have her number." Junior said. "I'm not sure she even has a phone. But I'll give you her address. Be warned though, don't expect her to be happy to see you." He handed Winter a slip of paper with an address scribbled on it.

"Thank you." Winter said. "And thanks for seeing that I got home safe last night."

Winter made her way to the address Junior had given her. Early signs were not good. The neighborhood was a bad one, with rundown buildings and lots of broken windows. It was a far cry from the tourist areas she had seen so far. The address seemed to be among the worst of the lot. The building looked abandoned based on its state of disrepair but the people going in and out showed that not to be the case. The apartment was on the second floor. The elevator was out of order so Winter took the stairs. Paint chips that had dropped off the walls crunched under her feet. Number 205, home of Yang Xiao-Long. The paint on the door was peeling and the numbers were rusted. Winter was increasingly regretting coming, but she still felt the need to make things right. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. She could hear footsteps approaching. The door swung open. The tattooed blonde who had punched her the night before stood there, her long hair a messy tangle. The blonde balled her fists and gritted her teeth. "You."