Cold & Dark

This far North, you’d think I’d be grateful for the compound’s light and heat. You’d think its constantly running boilers and furnaces would be welcome, and that I would cherish my ability to stay inside during the long, dark winters.

Of course, you’d think those things out of ignorance. The blissful ignorance of safety and not knowing what’s coming – what the compound is calling.

To tell the truth, I don’t know much myself. A few first hand accounts, but mostly just the stories. Now, I know stories can be… exaggerated, but hearing them here, when you know it’s out there, you can’t help but understand just how much truth is in each and every tale.

* * *

“It’s a monster!” cried a grizzled voice from a few tables down. The bar was never busy, but when contracts were up at the oil rigs or the mines, there were sure to be some interesting characters taking refuge from the snow, bringing tall tales and skeptics alike. “That’s all there is to it. No point in fighting over details. If you’re close enough to see it, you’re dead.

“Don’t be ridiculous, old timer. I’m sure it’s nothin’ a few 12-gauge slugs can’t solve.” The young woman sat at the table next to me, shotgun resting against the table. She wasn’t as dirty as the others. She was probably coming in for work instead of leaving.

Sharp eyes stared her down from behind weathered lids with more fear and concern than you’re liable to see in these far and dark corners of the world. “That’s what we thought too… Now I’m the only one left.”

The fire crackled loudly. An old woman near the bar shed a silent tear. A few of the greener men looked like they might wet themselves. A few of the older people stared absently at the floors or tables, remembering a time long past.

The old-timer rose from the gnarled wooden stool and limped over to the young woman and placed a hand on hers and a stump of a wrist on her shoulder, stared fiercely into her eyes, and said, “you think you see a monster; you drop everything. You run. You get away.”

* * *

So that’s why I have to shut the compound down. I wish I had known how close it was sooner. I wish I had a plan. I wish I could get to the generators without being apprehended by guards three times my size, to be tried for treason or insubordination or attempted vandalism or whatever they’d claim.

But I can’t worry about any of that now. I don’t have time.

I need to move. It’s close. I can hear the even purr of its breath, just under the sound of the wind, rising and falling in concert with my own heartbeat. I’ve only got one shot.

* * *

Roc used to be a whaler. They weren’t proud of it, but it made a living, and it paid better than the mines.

When Roc got back from one particularly successful run, they went into town to spend some money in one of the few places in the world where nobody cared too much how you got it. But they were greeted by the sight of mangled corpses, ruined huts, and the sounds of anguish made by the few survivors.

“What the hell happened here?” Roc demanded of a figure leaning against the wall. It was the only person around who didn’t seem too choked up—still sad, but coherent enough to talk.

“I don’t know,” said the shadow of a person, “I didn’t see it. Only one survivor did. Talk to Lee.” Roc looked where the hand was pointing, nodded a thank-you, and made their way to Lee.

“Lee?” The small person looked up. Lee couldn’t have been older than 20, but living up here makes even the youngest features look chiseled from granite. “Hi, Lee, I’m Roc. You’re Jamie’s kid, yeah? I used to bunk with Jamie back when I worked in the mines. I haven’t seen you since you were probably 8 years old. Do you remember me?” Jamie looked up at Roc and nodded slowly. “I…” Roc hesitated, “I heard you’re the only one who saw what happened. Can you tell me?”

Lee swallowed hard, staring at Roc, terrified and bursting with sorrow. “I saw… something… ripping them apart. Everyone. The miners, my friends, my…” Lee choked on the words, whimpering with grief, “my mom…” Lee’s voice cracked and faltered.

Jamie, thought Roc, Lee, you poor soul. “Go on,” Roc gave a weak, sympathetic smile. They wished they could offer more comfort.

Lee worked up the nerve to keep telling the story. “I… I ran. That’s… That was all I could do. I saw some of the hunters shoot it and get…” Lee gulped and swayed, looking nauseated, “pulled apart. I didn’t have time to think… I don’t even remember deciding to run, I just did it.” Lee’s words were flowing freely now like water from a broken dam, like they couldn’t get out fast enough. “I looked over my shoulder and saw…” Lee shuddered, “I saw it behind me. It wasn’t close enough to see what it was, I just ran faster.

“My uncle lives in a hut near the next town, so I figured I’d run there. It’s close enough, but I had to drop some layers while I ran. I got to the cabin and slammed against the door but it was closed tight. I turned around expecting to die right there. Expecting it to get me. But it had slowed, and I saw it getting closer.

“That’s when the alarm went off. I guess it was from the next town. The monster made a sound like I never heard before – it sounded, like, angry or scared or hurt or something – then it bolted toward the alarm. I thought I was going to freeze from the sweat,” Roc put their arms around Lee in a tight embrace, “I don’t know how long it was before uncle got to the cabin.”

“Shit,” said Roc, letting go of Lee, “Let’s get you warm. I’m gonna look out for you, Lee. I wish I could say it’s gonna be okay, but if this beast is what I think it is…” Roc put an arm around Lee’s shoulder, “Nevermind, let’s just get some food and get warm.”

* * *

I don’t know when I started running, but I hear my own feet skimming the ground. I focus on the lights of the compound and hope I make it first.

There are a lot of guards at the gate. At least 6. It must be a shift change. As I get closer, I see the uniformed brutes shift from relaxed to alert to… afraid? It’s hard to say under the masks and hats and goggles, but they definitely hear it approaching. I just hope they see me first. I sprint toward the gate, ID stretched out in front of me as the guards aim their weapons toward the cold and dark – for whatever good that’s going to do.

I cry out to tell the guards not to shoot, and my stomach flips when they start firing as I pass. I try not to think about how close it must have been behind me as I stumble through the buffer between the outside and the main compound, shedding unneeded layers, but keeping as many as I can dragging behind me. It’s going to get cold fast once those generators stop. Then again, I could stand a bit of cold after that run, and it’s too hot in here.

I look behind just for a moment and the smell of blood washes over me even before I see it. I barely hear the screams over the tremendous thumping of my heart as I fight to keep my wits about. There’s no time to stop and help. I have to keep moving.

* * *

Dean was so nervous before the doors opened. He didn’t understand why—he was pretty confident, and nobody could say he wasn’t brave—but when he saw Roc walk through that door to the sound of the harp, he knew this was right, and his nerves settled.

It had been 8 years since Roc brought Lee into his tavern looking equal parts exhausted and terrified. 8 years since Dean had lost his wife to that creature. But Roc and Lee basically moved into the inn and kept him busy—a welcome distraction, then. After a while, he knew Roc meant a lot more than that to him.

Dean looked at Roc walking slowly down the aisle. He knew every detail of their face from memory, but never got tired of looking at it. He smiled as Roc joined him in front of the crowd.

A commotion from the congregation stole Dean’s attention momentarily. Aqu, one of the fisherwomen, was bleeding from a wound she bragged about in the tavern the day before, even though she was annoyed it ruined her ‘totally badass shark tattoo.’ Something about a scuffle with pirates or smugglers that made Roc laugh and laugh. It looked like Aqu was going to be okay, but she left the chapel to get cleaned up, leaving drops of blood every couple feet as she left.

When Dean looked back at Roc, he saw a sneer over their shoulder. Lee’s mouth puckered and brow furrowed. Dean frowned, whispering, “Is everything okay with Lee?” to Roc.

Roc smiled curiously, and cocked their head to one side. “Oh, you know Lee,” they said sarcastically, “always out to cause trouble.”

Dean looked back at Lee, who was practically scowling now. That wasn’t reassuring.

“Roc, maybe you should look for yourself… Something isn’t right.”

Roc looked over their shoulder at Lee, then whipped around in shock. Roc apologized to everyone and escorted Lee outside. “I think we just need some fresh air,” they announced.

A few awkward minutes later, Roc reentered the small chapel and returned to their place at the altar. “I think Lee needs some space for a bit.”

The minister resumed the ceremony, until the abrupt sound of shouting broke through the walls.

“No! No! Not like this!” came the voice from outside, then a thrashing, a shrieking sound. An arm crashed through the window and tumbled over pews and people, landing in the aisle, the outline of a shark fin visible through the blood.

Panic rose in the faces of everyone in the chapel as they all scrambled toward the exits. Roc and Dean huddled under the altar. The sound of creaking and cracking wood came from the main door. Several people screamed after a loud crack, followed by several gunshots. That must have been the sound of the door giving in.

“Minister, if we’re going to die, can we at least finish the ceremony?” Dean asked, surprisingly calm, “I just…” Roc put their hand on his, looked at him, and smiled sadly.

* * *

As I run through the corridors, the alarm starts to sound above the clamor of footsteps, shouting, screams, and my pulse beating in my ears.

Everyone I see is terrified, and armed to the teeth. A great combination when you’re fighting something like this. Surefire way to hurt your own people.

More screaming comes from nearby and I round another corner and see what I’m looking for – the generator compartment. I sneak a glance behind me and lay witness to the gruesome scene of limbs, parts, organs that should be inside something, and all that blood.

* * *

Ned didn’t know why Lee worked at the compound, other than that it wasn’t the mines. Everyone knew Lee preferred quiet and nature, and couldn’t ever work in the compound longer than a few hours before needing to go… well, Lee said ‘home,’ but nobody really knew where that was. But Lee was friendly, and always got the job done, so nobody complained.

Out of nowhere, one day, Lee worked later than anyone had ever seen. Ned joked and suggested Lee was changing into a working fiend. Lee didn’t laugh. Ned admitted to himself it wasn’t funny anyway. Lee was working in the office by Ned’s workstation, so he popped in every hour or so with a snack or a joke. Normally, Lee was gracious and appreciative of the company—and the snacks—but today there was something… off. Lee was constantly grumbling and seemed oddly restless.

Ned decided, after a while, to keep to himself for the rest of the day. Figured Lee just needed some space. Maybe it was a bad headache, or something going on at home. He didn’t want to make it worse.

After a few hours of not seeing Lee at all, though, Ned decided to check in and see if there was anything he could do or help with. Lee hadn’t even left to go to the bathroom in hours. Just when he was about to go in, Frank, the supervisor for Lee’s department—engineering, maybe? Or electrical? Ned didn’t actually know—came to check on the progress of some projects, and seeing that Lee was still in, went into the office. Ned decided he’d check in after Frank left instead.

Ned’s attention strayed from his work a lot for the next two hours. Frank didn’t usually stick around one office for so long. What kind of project were they working on? Suddenly, Ned heard raised voices through the door. Lee and Frank are really going at it, he thought to himself. The yelling grew louder and Ned realized it was pretty one sided. He was pretty sure Frank was doing all the yelling. Poor Lee.

Ned found himself at the door before he realized what he was doing. His hand was on the knob when he realized the yelling didn’t sound angry—it sounded scared. Ned reached over and grabbed a metal pole and opened the door. He heard the sound of metal clanging against concrete and found himself crashing down on a table before he even knew what had happened.

As his vision started to return, he saw a shadowy mass rip a hole in the wall of the compound and disappear as the room filled with stifling cold air.

Ned stood as quickly as he could, head spinning, ears ringing, and stumbled over to the office again. Leaning against the broken door frame, he peered into the office. “Lee?” he coughed, “Frank?”

He heard a weak cry from the corner and peered around the doorway. It was Frank, hunched against the wall, one arm cradling his belly, blood covering his clothes. Ned turned away and threw up on the floor. He looked back in the room cautiously, and asked, “Where’s Lee?” Frank looked up at Ned, terror in his eyes, turned his head toward the hole, then slumped over, the organs he was holding in with his arm spilling onto the floor.

Ned threw up again, then passed out.

* * *

As I crash into the little hangar that houses the generator, I feel a throbbing pain in my temples. How long has my head been hurting? My vision flickers as I force my way through piles of parts and stacks of tools to get to the controls. I feel a burning on my left arm as I brush past a furnace.

* * *

When Dean died, Sherry took Roc in. Lee suffered some memory loss from the incident at the chapel, and Roc spent all of their time caring for Lee and warning visitors about the dangers of the North.

Sherry banned electrical equipment from the inn when Roc and Lee moved in. Lee always got headaches around the things, and Sherry didn’t like seeing Lee so grumpy and upset. She made sure to keep the fireplaces lit, and the cellar was plenty cold to keep anything from rotting. Even then, though, Lee was inclined to sitting outside, or sealing off a room without a fireplace and sitting in the cold and dark most of the time.

Sherry had her suspicions about Lee, but never raised the question, especially because Roc was so determined to keep Lee calm, and to keep Lee’s secrets. Sherry didn’t think Lee had a lot of secrets, just dark secrets. The kind of secrets that change the way you look at someone. Sherry liked Lee, so she was just as content not knowing. That is, until it was too late.

Sherry heard a scream, a bang, and a thud from upstairs. Roc’s room. As she got to the door, she heard another scream, then realized the door was locked. She fumbled for the right key, but when she finally got the door open, the room was still. She looked down and saw Roc laying sprawled across what looked like a breaker or a transformer. Roc’s leg was too far from their hip… “Oh my God,” Sherry said, realizing Roc’s leg was torn off, and their hand was missing.

Roc’s eyes opened suddenly and darted around. “Lee,” they said, “Lee.”

“I’m sorry, Lee ain’t here, it’s just me, just Sherry.”

Roc looked at Sherry and, sadness and pain in their eyes, said, “I’m sorry,” then, “You deserve to know.” Roc took a deep, painful breath. “It’s Lee,” they whispered before looking to the window, closing their eyes, and beginning to cry.

* * *

I finally reach the panel and push, pull, turn, and flip anything that could be responsible for powering the generators until… SNAP!

A generator begins to let off sparks, then the whole hanger whirs to a dark, silent halt. The whole compound shuts down, getting quieter and quieter, darker and darker until the only remaining light comes from emergency LEDs along the base of the walls.

The smell of smoke slowly subsides.

All that remains in the dark is the smell of blood and the sound of my breathing as my mind clears and I wait for my memories to return. For my heart to break.