Catherine

But some were unmistakably human. One femur had what looked like bite marks on it. another still had a tattered pant leg frozen to it danny finally hesitated maybe maybe we shouldn't be down here he said his voice lower than usual no crap i whispered still he pulled out a flare lit it and dropped it into the shaft

The red glow fell for what seemed like forever, finally casting light on something below. It moved. Just for a second, I saw it. Something long and pale, crawling across the floor like a spider, with limbs that bent the wrong way. I didn't get a clear look, but it was enough to make every part of my brain scream, run. Danny started muttering, no way, that's gotta be a person, or a bear.

The red glow fell for what seemed like forever, finally casting light on something below. It moved. Just for a second, I saw it. Something long and pale, crawling across the floor like a spider, with limbs that bent the wrong way. I didn't get a clear look, but it was enough to make every part of my brain scream, run. Danny started muttering, no way, that's gotta be a person, or a bear.

Maybe it's just shadow tricks. no no man that's not shadow tricks we backed out slowly i refused to turn my back on the shaft convinced that thing could launch up at any moment back at camp things got worse fast danny went quiet didn't eat curled up in his sleeping bag and wouldn't respond when i talked to him his skin looked gray under the lamplight Not frostbite, just... wrong.

Maybe it's just shadow tricks. no no man that's not shadow tricks we backed out slowly i refused to turn my back on the shaft convinced that thing could launch up at any moment back at camp things got worse fast danny went quiet didn't eat curled up in his sleeping bag and wouldn't respond when i talked to him his skin looked gray under the lamplight Not frostbite, just... wrong.

His lips were cracked, his breathing was shallow. But when I checked our thermometer, it read 42 degrees Fahrenheit inside the tent. Not hypothermic territory. I offered him food. He pushed it away. Then, a few minutes later, I caught him gnawing on a frozen strip of meat like an animal. Mouth open, tearing with his front teeth, barely chewing.

His lips were cracked, his breathing was shallow. But when I checked our thermometer, it read 42 degrees Fahrenheit inside the tent. Not hypothermic territory. I offered him food. He pushed it away. Then, a few minutes later, I caught him gnawing on a frozen strip of meat like an animal. Mouth open, tearing with his front teeth, barely chewing.

When I said his name, he stopped, looked at me like he didn't recognize me, then went back to chewing. Around 2 a.m., I heard something outside again. Footsteps. Crunch. Pause. Crunch. Pause. I reached for the flare gun. The footsteps circled the tent. Then I heard a voice. It was mine. It said my name in my exact tone. Whispered. right outside the nylon wall.

When I said his name, he stopped, looked at me like he didn't recognize me, then went back to chewing. Around 2 a.m., I heard something outside again. Footsteps. Crunch. Pause. Crunch. Pause. I reached for the flare gun. The footsteps circled the tent. Then I heard a voice. It was mine. It said my name in my exact tone. Whispered. right outside the nylon wall.

Then again, louder, more strained, like it was learning. Then silence. When I finally worked up the nerve to peek outside, there was nothing but fresh snow and a trail of bare human footprints. No boots, no animal tracks, circling the tent again and disappearing into the dark. I dragged Danny out the next morning, convinced we couldn't spend another night out there.

Then again, louder, more strained, like it was learning. Then silence. When I finally worked up the nerve to peek outside, there was nothing but fresh snow and a trail of bare human footprints. No boots, no animal tracks, circling the tent again and disappearing into the dark. I dragged Danny out the next morning, convinced we couldn't spend another night out there.

I needed walls, a radio, a signal. The caves, I realized, were at least shelter from the thing stalking us. Whatever it was. So we went back. I set us up inside the wider chamber, away from the shaft, used the sled to block the entry, built a small fire, even though I knew the smoke might draw attention. Danny didn't speak for hours.

I needed walls, a radio, a signal. The caves, I realized, were at least shelter from the thing stalking us. Whatever it was. So we went back. I set us up inside the wider chamber, away from the shaft, used the sled to block the entry, built a small fire, even though I knew the smoke might draw attention. Danny didn't speak for hours.

When he finally did, it was a whisper, soft, like he was remembering something. I can hear it under the ice, he said. I asked him what it sounded like. He smiled, too wide, and said, My voice. When I woke up that evening, Danny was gone. The cave was quiet. Too quiet. Near the back wall, drawn in something that looked like blood mixed with ash, were words I'll never forget. It wants the warm one.

When he finally did, it was a whisper, soft, like he was remembering something. I can hear it under the ice, he said. I asked him what it sounded like. He smiled, too wide, and said, My voice. When I woke up that evening, Danny was gone. The cave was quiet. Too quiet. Near the back wall, drawn in something that looked like blood mixed with ash, were words I'll never forget. It wants the warm one.

I was alone. And I think whatever was down there had decided I was next. I didn't move at first. I just stared at the wall. It wants the warm one. The fire had burned out. The cave floor beneath me was so cold it hurt to breathe. My hands shook. Not from the cold, but from something deeper. Primal.

I was alone. And I think whatever was down there had decided I was next. I didn't move at first. I just stared at the wall. It wants the warm one. The fire had burned out. The cave floor beneath me was so cold it hurt to breathe. My hands shook. Not from the cold, but from something deeper. Primal.

like my body already knew i wasn't alone anymore danny was gone that part had sunk in but i wasn't sure if he'd walked out on his own or if something had taken him i grabbed what gear i had left my pack the flare gun three actual flares my flashlight and unblocked the entrance

like my body already knew i wasn't alone anymore danny was gone that part had sunk in but i wasn't sure if he'd walked out on his own or if something had taken him i grabbed what gear i had left my pack the flare gun three actual flares my flashlight and unblocked the entrance

i stepped out into the pale morning light it had snowed lightly while i slept just enough to blur tracks the wind was dead the lake stretched out gray and flat like a frozen sheet of steel no movement no sound no birds just behind me the cave let out a low groan not from shifting ice it sounded like a breath i turned and ran i followed what i thought were danny's prints but they twisted doubled back