Iris Icicle's Arc

Chapter 1 of 4

Iris stepped onto the ice as a voice rang out across the rink. Someone was challenging the skaters, daring anyone to match their speed. Her chest tightened before she even looked up. She knew she could do it. She was fast enough, smooth enough. But the crowd pressed in around the rink's edge, watching, waiting for someone to answer. The challenger stood on a wooden bench near the coffee stand, arms spread wide. The crowd had gathered there, thick and buzzing with excitement. Iris felt her lungs stop working. She could skate circles around this person. Her body knew it, remembered what it was for. But her feet wouldn't move her forward. She stopped beside a wooden signpost carved like a pointing hand. Its frost-covered finger aimed toward the center of the rink. The challenger called out again, louder this time. Other skaters glanced at each other and shook their heads. No one stepped up. The crowd shifted, restless. Iris opened her mouth, but nothing came out. The words sat trapped in her throat. She turned away from the signpost and pushed off toward the far edge of the rink, skating fast and low. Her blades cut clean lines across the ice. She didn't answer the dare, but her body answered anyway. The crowd turned to watch her move.