Frost Hollow Hall Read Free

was doing it on purpose.
    ‘Oh come on!’ I said, as the frost soaked through my skirts. ‘It’ll be summer at this rate.’
    He offered me his hand for a pull up but I waved him off.
    ‘Suit yourself,’ he said, and stood back as I got to my knees, then to my feet. Blimey, it was hard enough just to stay upright on the grass! As I stepped onto the ice, my feet shot out in front of me, my arms whirling like mad.
    ‘Steady there!’ laughed Will.
    I wished he’d just clear off. His blasted skates didn’t help much either; they were easily three sizes too big. With my heart in my mouth, I tried to go forward but tipped back, arms flapping like a goose. This was no fun at all. I gritted my teeth. I’d show Will Potter. And I’d wipe that stupid grin right off his face.
    I focused on my feet. Though it pained me to admit it, Will had a knack to how he moved his – down and out , down and out . Somehow, I managed it too. And I stayed upright. I leaned forward, wobbled a bit, went faster. The skates began to glide like they had a life of their own. My hair lifted off my shoulders. Ice-cold air stung my cheeks.
    This was it! I was skating!
    A great rush of joy came over me. I kept going. Faster and faster. Everything around me was a blur. I grinned like a mad thing ’til the cold made my teeth hurt. And when I saw how far I’d gone, I finally turned back for the bank. There was Will. He waving both arms over his head, calling something; I didn’t hear what. The sight of him soured my mood.
    ‘What you on about?’ I yelled.
    ‘Stay away from the middle! You’re too far out!’
    What an old woman he was!
    With a whoosh, my feet went from under me. I fell flat on my backside. I couldn’t get up again. My hands and feet slithered like a drunk’s. I didn’t dare look at Will, though I heard him all right, laughing his ruddy head off.
    ‘Nice linens!’ he shouted. ‘Show us some more!’
    My face went hot. I’d had enough of his smart jibes. ‘I’ll throttle you, Will Potter! Just you see if I don’t!’
    All around me, the ice looked rough. There were lines criss-crossing it and I began to feel uneasy, for these weren’t skate marks; these were cracks. As I scrambled to my knees, the ice gave an almighty groan. I froze to the spot.
    Oh no! This in’t right!
    The ice seemed to shift beneath me. I fell forward onto my hands. Right in front of me, the ice turned dark. My heart began to pound. I staggered upright, fell down again.
    ‘For God’s sake!’ cried Will. ‘Get over here! Quick!’
    He stood at the edge with his arms outstretched. I was too far out to reach him.

3
The Other Side
    Black, stinking water spewed over the ice. It sucked at my skirts. And it was cold. So cold it knocked the breath clean out of me. Another great cracking sound and the ice gave way. I clawed like a mad cat, but there was nothing to get hold of. The water kept tugging. My clothes grew heavy. Slowly, gently, the lake closed over my head and all went quiet but for the blood pounding in my ears. I went down and down into blackness. My chest was too tight. I couldn’t breathe. Then my feet touched something soft. I stopped sinking.
    Panic kicked in. I thrashed and flailed. Mud got in my mouth, my eyes. Then, somehow, I was swimming up towards daylight. I saw sky and trees, all blurred through the ice. My lungs felt fit to burst.
    Help me! Help me!
    I lashed out madly. But there were no cracks or holes here. The ice stayed solid as marble above me. Dark spots danced before my eyes. Arms, legs, head, everything went heavy. All I wanted was to sleep. I pictured Pa, come home at last and wondering where I was. And Eliza and Ma looking at the clock and starting supper without me.
    The queerest feeling came over me.
    Something warm like a person’s breath tickled my cheek and I was no longer fighting for air. The water now seemed full of the strangest pearly light. A boy in a billowing white shirt floated towards me. I wondered if