Cold vapor billowed out, swirling like ghostly serpents.As it cleared, Jenna stepped closer, steeling herself for what she knew she would see.
Rebecca Hartley lay inside the freezer, arranged with care.Her pale skin had the blue-white sheen of frost, her dark hair spread around her head like a mourning veil.Her hands were folded primly over her chest, fingers curled around a bright red apple with a single bite taken from its flesh.
Jenna recognized her immediately from her dream.The same delicate features and long black hair, dressed in the same ordinary clothes.The sight hit her with physical force, a verification of her lucid dream that brought no satisfaction, only hollow confirmation.
“Looks almost like Snow White, doesn’t she?”Ernest said.“With the apple and all.I guess that’s what she’s supposed to look like.”
“My God,” Jake whispered beside Jenna.
“Rebecca Hartley,” Morgan said, his voice thick with shock and anger.“What have you done to her, Chase?”
Ernest looked genuinely confused by Morgan's reaction.“Done to her?Nothing.I'm just protecting her.”
Spelling moved forward, placing himself between Ernest and the freezer.“Step back, Mr.Chase.”
Ernest complied without resistance, his eyes never leaving Rebecca's frozen form.“You shouldn't disturb her,” he said, his voice taking on a childlike quality.“I don't think it's time for the lady to wake up yet.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Jenna thought that the body in the freezer looked as though the woman was merely sleeping, just as Ernest had said, but the unnatural stillness and the frost clinging to her skin told a different, more sinister story.In her lucid dream, Rebecca Hartley had complained about the cold and about being trapped.And Piper had shivered from the imaginary cold at the crime scene yesterday.
Because of this,Jenna realized.
Her thoughts were interrupted by movement beside her.Chief Morgan stepped back from the freezer and advanced on Ernest with handcuffs already drawn.“Ernest Chase, you're under arrest for the murder of Rebecca Hartley.”
Ernest's eyes widened with genuine bewilderment."Murder?No, no, no.You're making a mistake."He didn't resist as Morgan secured the cuffs around his wrists, but his gaze darted frantically between the other officers and the freezer."She's just sleeping!Can't you see?She needs to stay cold and comfortable until it's time for her to wake up."
Morgan continued reciting the Miranda rights while Jenna exchanged a troubled glance with Jake.The self-proclaimed Mr.Huntsman stood compliant but agitated as Morgan informed him of his right to remain silent.
“I understand my rights,” Ernest said as soon as Morgan finished.“But I’m trying to tell you.You need to understand—I didn't put her there.”
Morgan replied derisively, “If you didn't put her there, Ernest, then how did she end up in your freezer?”
“I came home two days ago after hunting.Been tracking a ten-point buck, you see.”Ernest's words tumbled out in a rush.“When I got back, I went to put away some venison and there she was, right on top of my meat packages.Not even frozen yet.”
“And you didn't think to call the police?”Morgan's voice dripped with skepticism.
“Why would I?”Ernest blinked, genuinely perplexed.“She wasn't really dead.”
“Was she breathing?”Jake asked.“Did she have a pulse?”
“Not that I could see.Of course I didn’t touch her.”
“But you didn't think she was dead?”Jake persisted.
“Course not.”Ernest leaned forward, as if sharing a confidence.“Why else would they put her in my freezer?It's to preserve her until the right time.Then she’ll get up and put on her fine robes to go on with her story.”
Jenna studied his face as she asked, “Who are 'they,' Ernest?”
The man shrugged his shoulders as much as the handcuffs would allow.“Aliens, I guess.Who else would it be?”He said it as if it were the most reasonable conclusion in the world.“They're playful like that, you know.Always testing us.”
Colonel Spelling moved closer, his expression unreadable.“Testing us how, exactly?”
Ernest's face lit up, pleased that someone was finally understanding.“It's like Snow White, don't you see?I know she's not really Snow White,” he added quickly, as if they might have misunderstood.“But there was a huntsman in that story.”He gestured toward himself with his chin.“And that's obviously me.”
Chief Morgan stared at him with his mouth hanging open.
“The huntsman in the story kept Snow White safe,” Ernest continued.“That's my job now too, at least until it's time for her to wake up.”