I looked up to see the grin on the blue skinned man’s face.

“Seriously, I almost feel like I’ve seen you somewhere but I know I haven’t.” I started making him look at me curiously. “I know you said….all you remember was drowning in that accident?”

He nodded once, “All I remember was the sinking and the eyes that watched. I feel like I did remember at one time, but those memories faded and all I was left with was a rage.”

I went deep in thought. Assuming that what accident happened was recorded, it seems to me we should have heard about it….

Accident…..

My head snapped up and I looked up at him, eyes wide.

It couldn’t be!

The only accident that we ever heard about the pond was with the Morgan brothers, almost 17 years ago. I looked at his face. The face of boys turning into men tended to change but his smile....

Ah-ha!! His smile!! I had seen it in a photo before!

“Joshua M. Morgan?”

He looked at me blankly before asking, “Who is that?”

“I think….that might be you.”

He blinked, “Me? What do you mean?”

“Alright, let’s go over what you know now. You drowned and you remember a pair of eyes watching you. And considering this is your 17th winter, that means it might have happened 17 years ago….”

He nodded.

“The only accident that I’ve heard about with that pond, is the one with Liam and Joshua Morgan. They are the sons of the Morgans who had a cabin in this area years ago. The youngest loved the snow so the oldest took him out. They went ice skating. The pond was supposed to be completely frozen over at that time but apparently in some places it wasn’t. It began cracking and the youngest drowned. The oldest tried to get his brother but was unable to and had to get off the ice himself. They couldn’t rescue the youngest and strangely they never found his body.”

While I was speaking I was watching his face closely. I couldn’t discern any emotion or any sense of recollection on his face.

But then his face began to darken, “So….it was my brother that killed me.”

I shook my head, “It was an accident. In fact two years ago when this resort construction became underway it was Liam Morgan who decided to build it. Then he dedicated it to his late brother. That's why you look familiar. I saw your photos at the resort.”

He shook his head violently, drilled a hole in front of him, “That’s isn’t correct. He killed me. He let me die.”

This was Liam Morgan they were talking about. I had a hard time believing that they would do something so cruel. Especially at such a young age but he seemed convinced of that fact.

“I remember those eyes. The cold, distant and calculating eyes that just watched. If it’s what you say that I am this Joshua then it wasn't an accident.” He looked up at me, “It’s a murder.”

I swallowed. I would need proof that, that was so. I didn't want to believe that Liam Morgan who was such an inspiration would harbor such a dark secret. However, I didn’t say anything.

Apparently I didn't need to as it must have shown on my face.

“You don’t believe me”, he murmured broodily.

“It’s not that. It’s just…..surely you realize that magnitude of what you are saying, don’t you?”

“It explains why every time I see that resort I get so angry, I just want to tear it down. It seems none of them heed my warnings.”

“What warnings?” I asked sharply.

“I tend to sleep until it’s winter, however two years ago I was awoken in the dead of summer by a lot of noise. They were building that resort. With my limited power I was able to cause two accidents. Nothing major, unfortunately. However, just before this place opened, I was able to localize a snow storm and fell a tree. It delayed them but this blasted place still opened.

It was disturbing to hear the so-called hauntings they talked about was his doing all along. He placed the young cub on the ground with a gentleness that belied the anger that flowed off of him in waves. Then he stood up and with his long strides was almost halfway across the cave to the door. I set the cub’s sibling down on the ground next to the other before taking off.

I quickly ran over and grabbed his wrist making him stop.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

He just stared in front of him for a long moment before he snatched his wrist back, “What do you think? What I should have done before.”

“Joshua!”

“Don’t call me that!!” he snapped, turning to me, eyes blazing, “I have no name, least of all that one.”

“Okay, I’m sorry but we should think about this.”

He cocked an eyebrow, “We?”

“Yes, we! Can’t we find out the truth together? Innocent people don’t deserve to be hurt because you are angry like this.”

He snorted and bared his teeth at me, “I’m so past the point of caring! No one, not one person even knew I existed like this. So why should I care!”

“Because I know you exist!” I cried.

He paused, “I know you exist now and I want to help you. No one should be like this….” I waved my hand over the cave, “If you really are the young brother and it was your older brother…..” Here my words stumbled, “Then your older brother is the one deserving of your rage. No one else. Let me help you.”

He was silent for a long while.

Finally he asked, “How?”

I shrugged, “Honestly, I haven’t gotten that far yet. Fate brought us together like this. Maybe I’m supposed to help you. And if it’s to save others then I don't mind. I don’t know what I’m going to do yet, but I don’t mind. Besides….”

I looked him over before saying slowly, “If you really are Joshua that died, I would wonder why are you still here. Are you stuck in a kind of limbo or something? If so, you don't deserve that either. To hang around like some Winter Ghost.”

He seemed thoughtful at this before slowly nodding, “That you are willing to try is beyond my expectations.” Then he added after a beat, “Very well. If you are willing to try to help me then the least I can do is not bury this place in 50 feet of snow…..”

He turned around, his robe snapping behind him as he threw over his shoulder at me, “....Yet.”

I rolled my eyes.

Hard.

I thought I might have seen the corner of his lips lift as he turned away and walked towards where the white bird was currently sleeping. It hadn’t so much as stirred since entering the cave.

I trailed after him at a distance. I stopped when he stopped and then turned to me.

“Here, come pick something….”

I cocked my head, “Pick what?”

He gestured to the jutted out rock that was like a shelf. I eased closer to see what he was talking about. I gasped in delight as I saw a bunch of ice like figurines.

“Pick something you like. Consider it my thank you.”

I waved my hand, “You don’t have to. There is nothing to thank me for.”

He shook his head, “There is much to thank you for. I will always be grateful that you could see me. Regardless of whether you can help me or not, whatever end awaits me, I am truly grateful. I know it’s a small thing but it’s the only thing I have.”

I reached out gingerly and figured some of the figurines. They were mostly of animals. A few were of humans. Others seemed to be jewelry pieces.

“Did you make these yourselves?”

He nodded, “Hm.”

“They are beautiful.”

“Do you see something you like?” He asked as my eyes and fingers kept coming back to two identical pieces. In the back of my mind I was thinking they’d make a nice earring set. They glimmered like ice.

He reached and picked them up before offering them to me. I gazed at him a moment before I eventually accepted them.

I was glad I did for I was rewarded with that dimple smile.