Chris looked down at Winter. “What's going on? When'd you get here?”

“We need to leave. Now.”

“We’ve been tracking you down since the school,” added Ian with a scowl and proceeded to shove some papers into a duffel bag he had hanging from his shoulder.

“Why didn’t you just call me? How did you know I’d be here??”

“Someone I know from school told me, and I had not taken my phone with me; Gates drain them, and they can be traced. Ian, close that thing. We need to go, the Gate's ready.”

As if responding to her, the light shining from the hole seemed to strengthen. Chris's hands were starting to shake.

“I know that this is a bad time to say it, but we were kind of on our way to a vacation, and uh--” Winter gave him a long, hard stare. “Okay, it doesn’t matter, yeah, duty awaits! I’m ready! Crown, fight, all that!”

He felt her cold blue eyes shattered any kind of thought he might have had bubbling up. He glanced at Daniel and Julia.

“Oh, and those are—“

“Doesn’t matter.” Winter was getting impatient. “Let’s just hurry. You go first, Ian. We will all follow one by one.”

“I am not going there!” Julia crossed her arms on her chest.

Winter inhaled sharply. “You, do whatever you want, but if you stay behind, you will be questioned by the Hunters.”

Ian rolled his eyes and stepped through the Gate. A cold breeze swept through the room, a few snowflakes carried through behind him, and then he was gone.

Daniel and Julia exchanged a long look. Daniel mouthed ‘Well?’ and Julia’s eyes widened in warning. She shook her head.

“Julia,” Daniel whispered. “If we stay behind, we’ll really get in trouble…”

Winter was growing impatient. “Christopher.”

Chris was hesitating; on one hand, of course, he had no issue following Winter and of course he wasn't going to decline a request of hers, but he wanted to know what his friends were going to do. The idea of leaving them here didn't seem very appealing.

“It'll be fine, I think,” he said. “I mean you can just get back here from that side when things calm down, right?”

“When what calms down?” hissed Julia, giving Daniel another hard look. He shrugged, and nodded towards the Gate. She twisted her face and finally said, “Oh, fine!”

Relieved, Chris turned back to Winter. “Is more than two people okay, though?”

He gave the Gate a cautious look.

“Just go!” and with that, Winter pulled him through.