The Shadowhunters

Warm in the Cold

It was October 24th, a week from Halloween and Elizabeth Gray and her daughter were going shopping. "Every Halloween

needs candy, Tessie," Elizabeth Gray instructed. "I'm sure Sophie and Jem would like some. Everyone likes candy. And it's on sale!"

Tessa nodded. Sophie's Halloween gathering with her neighbourhood friends was approaching and Sophie had instructed her to bring lots of candy. "You're lucky that Tesco sells

everything. It's going to be a busy Saturday, Tessie. Once Tesco opens in about…" Elizabeth Gray checked her watch, "Two minutes, rush in and grab anything you see. I can't

believe Tesco opens so late on the weekends. Those lazy bums. We're going back home to eat dinner at six so you have about five hours to grab everything you can."

Elizabeth Gray eyed the women, children and men around her. All straining to enter Tesco first so that they could get their things on discount. Candy, clothes, candles, cigarettes –

everything was on sale. Elizabeth Gray was going to make the best out of it, going to fight through the other people grabbing for things.

And Tessa was going to help her.

Then the doors open. "Go!" Elizabeth shouted. Tessa rushed in like a madman, grabbing everything that looked decent. Shoes, shirts, candy, lighters, books – everything she could

stuff into her pockets, her basket, her bag and her arms.

Tessa dumped her things in a spare cart, rushing around to put more things in. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her mother wrestling with another woman over a shirt.

Tessa shoved piles of things in – cereal boxes, chips – everything she could see. Her cart was full to the brim already and Tessa wasn't even done. Tessa quickly checked out

everything she had and it was only twenty pounds. Cheap stuff. Tesco had a big blowout sale and the Grays were just getting started. Tessa quickly dumped out her stuff in the SUV

her parents had brought for this occasion and sprinted back into Tesco with her cart. Once again, she resumed her mad dash for items. Instant noodles, pots and pans, more candy.

By the time Elizabeth and Theresa Gray were done, they were exhausted, tired and even had scratch marks on their skin from being clawed at from other women who wanted the

things they had.

"We only spent a hundred pounds, Tessie! And we have so much stuff!" Elizabeth said with glee. The back of their SUV, including the backseat, was all filled with various items.

There was no room in the back of the van, and barely any room in the front either. It was dark out, the sky an indigo blue.

"What time is it, mom?" Tessa asked, checking her frozen watch. It had stopped ticking inside Tesco. Her watch froze at a quarter past three.

"Almost six, Tessie. Why?"

"Nothing," Tessa said, settling into her seat. Then it struck her. Will. Tessa swore like a sailor, earning a disapproving look from her mother. "I have to go!" Tessa kicked open her

door and ran madly down the street. It was raining cats and dogs, like her brother would say, and Tessa opened her umbrella, struggling to hold it while running. Then Tessa froze

in the middle of the street. No way William Herondale would still be there. It was raining horribly and Tessa was almost two hours late.

Just to be sure though, Tessa walked calmly to the Institute, several blocks away.