Blood on the Snow

BLOOD ON THE SNOW

I

Ruben knew it was a desperate move, but alternatives were scarce. He had to do something.

To Ruben, everything slowed to a crawl. He leaned down to put his hand into the snow and curled his fist tight. When he came up, he ran, footsteps firing across the snow, and Javier turned the rifle on him.

Ruben hurled the ball of snow and ice. Fire sprang from the barrel of Javier’s rifle and the snowball exploded into his face. Ruben dove, but not quickly enough.

The blast clipped him and red erupted through his vision. Warm wetness flooded the side of his face.

Carried by his momentum, Ruben crashed into Javier’s legs. The rifle jerked. Javier slipped, flailing down the precarious slant and over the edge.

Ruben sprawled facedown into the snow. It reddened with his blood.

Keller stood in shock. He stood gaping at the white mountain ledge, at Ruben and the red snow around his head.

Keller made a crooked path toward the ice cave’s opening. Outside it, he slumped again