Quietly. Slowly, calmly, breathe. Her body shook. Maybe because of the cold, maybe because of... It was there; Frieda could feel it. Her heart was pounding. Hopefully, it didn't hear anything. Carefully, she pulled the already frozen teddy bear into her arms. But she couldn't help but listen. Whether it was moving, whether it came. Whether it was waiting or just wanted to play. Did she have to run... could she even?
Frieda sat against the wall of a hallway. Hidden by darkness, where the moonlight found no one. She didn't even peek. What if it saw her?
The squelching sound, the breaking of bones. Again and again, the cruel rhythm sounded. Once more, the creature raised its long arms and smashed its fists into the floor. The wood splintered, the lifeless body twitched. No groaning, nothing.
Silence, then it gurgled and raised its hands again. Once more, the hallway shook. Frieda pulled her feet up to her body. She had to be quiet; it wouldn't find her here. She was hidden. Coldness flowed like an endless fog. The glass was blurred. Ice. Now she couldn't even look outside. Maybe that was for the best. She didn't know.
Snow covered most of the room, while the frost caused the wooden beams in the hallway to burst at the seams. Outside, thick white-blue snow swirled. Lantern sparkled, searched, and... other lights in a color she had never seen before. Tall towers collapsed, cars and some trees were swept away by the storm. And then the sudden cold. As if the universe wanted to stand still.
What—what had happened here? The wind howled. A windowpane broke. Across the street, car parts smashed through the main building.
Frieda trembled, hugging herself and her teddy bear for comfort, to find protection. But it didn't help. She was afraid. Why couldn't she control herself? Her fingers dug deeper into the fabric. Why didn't her body stop trembling? It would hear her. She just had to stop moving.
The gurgling grew louder; it was still there, beating against the already frozen corpse. Why?! Why didn't it go away? Please, please—Frieda folded her hands in prayer and waited for a sign. Nothing answered. Did Rivjord abandon her? No... Terror made her breath tremble. The thing remained, and Frieda buried her face. What—what should she do? Help, please… someone. The cold was getting worse, burning deep in her lungs. Her fingers were already numb.
What if she made a blood circle? Would that... thing smell it? Taste the warmth or the iron in the air? Feel the Riva—the magic?
Frieda had no idea. But it probably did. She didn't want to find out. It hadn't noticed anything yet, continuing to beat senselessly on the poor corpse. It would disappear, for sure. She just had to wait. Just a bit longer. Then everything would be fine.
Silence. And behind it, the strange song of the Dead Sea. So peaceful, so beautiful... so cold, as if it called. A soft embrace. Fatigue overcame her. Just close your eyes for a moment, and the monster will go away. Then the dream could end. She had nothing else to do. Just for a moment, it was so exhausting to stay awake.
"Rivjord, please. Don't leave me alone. I... I don't know what to do." It was getting dark—wait! Frieda tensed. There was no sea here. Not even rivers! What the...? Through her closed eyes, she saw something.
What was happening here? A cone of light illuminated the windows. Something big and old. A heavenly cold light she had never seen. Mist-like figures screamed; they almost looked human, as if they were desperately trying to hold on to rocks and trees. But it was no use; wherever they were being dragged to, Frieda didn't want to know.
The cone—no, several cones—swung over the military base, sucking in everything that moved and leaving behind a trail of eternally shimmering ice. Blue and white flames in the burning lanterns. One might think they were alive, searching for their next prey.
Frieda couldn't explain any of this. It had to be a dream, it had to! IT HAD TO! Help would come. A scream rang through the hallway. She flinched, closed her eyes, and instinctively hugged the teddy bear tightly. Please… she was scared; she was alone. Help... Where was everyone?
The teddy bear crunched between her arms like glass. The fabric arm broke and fell to the floor. Oh no, she quickly grabbed it. She wouldn't leave her teddy bear here. Not in this darkness. They would get out together and eventually sleep in the warm sun.
The smacking in the hallway stopped. The thing grunted, sounding confused. Paralyzed with fear, Frieda listened. The floor creaked. Ice crunched. One step. A second. Chains rattled. Bones rubbed against each other. Hissing and heavy breathing. It—it, it... came... A shadow stretched across the hallway, growing in the fading moonlight.
Frieda looked up at the hand reaching around the corner. Not a ghost, not a soul... a thing. Emaciated bones and remnants of blue flesh. What was that? She couldn't move. As if caught by a curse, she stared at death creeping around the corner, clothed in a faint mist that slowly fell to the ground like snow.
Their eyes met. Emptiness. It was suddenly so much colder. Layers of ice crept over her, but she didn't even notice. All feeling disappeared from her skin. She saw only the monster and the moonlight shimmering like a halo around its decayed head.
Her thoughts came to a standstill. She felt tiny. Defenseless, found. Stone Age emotions bubbled to the surface. Perhaps to find survival, but perhaps also to—it raised its arm. Death, she knew instinctively. The blue blade between its claws shimmered.
Death, she should... "Run!" Mia's voice cut through the paralyzing fear like a ray of light. How? She couldn't have... Was she here? No, impossible, but what if Mia needed help? Maybe an enchantment on the teddy bear? Or... "Survive!" As if someone had flipped a switch, her body remembered what to do. Frieda rolled to the side; the sword crashed through the ceiling pillar and shattered the floor.
Her teddy bear exploded like glass, but Frieda didn't look back. She ran. Away, as far as possible. Corridors and windows blurred together. Behind her screams and behind them the rumbling of a living nightmare. She really should keep running, right? What exactly had happened? Just a moment ago, it had been the warmest summer day, and shortly after, she awoke in a nuclear winter.
Frieda caught a quick glimpse outside. Snow, meters high and strangely blue?
Suddenly, Frieda became aware of the cold. How it ate her skin. Riva crackled around her body, ignited. Red flames poked out under the heavy clothing. At least it kept her warm, if only just barely, but now she would be visible. Like a beacon in the darkest night. She should disappear as quickly as possible. But where to?
If Frieda hadn't known these corridors so well from her internship, she would have had no idea where she was. The monster tore through the facility. She looked behind her. Truly a living avalanche. Once again, the panic that once protected humans from the unknown returned to her body.
Yep, she didn't want to find out if it was a dream.
Pillars collapsed. Glass, chairs, and tables shattered as it made its way through the corridor like a growing monstrosity. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Frieda jumped to the side and fell to the floor. The sword hissed. Frost cut through the thick hair covering her shoulder and bit into her skin a little. She immediately pushed herself off the wall and catapulted into the next corridor.
Frieda hissed around a corner and closed the door. "Protect me," she whispered, almost desperately. Blue Riva snuggled up to the wood and reinforced it. And not too late. The door reared up. Wood bent unnaturally. She stumbled backwards, but the door held. Not for long, Frieda was sure of that. When had her spells ever held? Mia would certainly have done a better job.
It banged and hammered. The door groaned and creaked under the sharp blows. Frieda shook her head. Okay, what now? The roof? A room? Outside? Could she survive outside? No, no, no, giving up the protection of the walls and the building was out of the question, especially since she didn't know what lurked out there.
Wait! A magic circle, no, much better, a blood circle. Perfect. She needed time and a safe place. She had to—Cracks interrupted her thoughts. The monster broke through the thick stone and climbed outside the building. Cold air streamed through the crack under the door. The thing clung to the outside wall. Claws and bare bones pressed against the glass panes as it looked through emotionlessly.
At her. By Rivjord! And on top of that, it climbed effortlessly. She was prey. Usually, she was the one doing the hunting... was that how it felt? Frieda swallowed as terror paralyzed her body once again. She felt like a tiny mouse. "Run!" Mia's voice echoed again, warming her body.
When did she start sprinting? Suddenly shaken awake, Frieda found herself in a place she didn't recognize. Still surrounded by the cold. The walls shook. She had left the monster behind. Hopefully, far enough. It was still screaming.
One glance outside told enough. Minutes must have passed. The blue-white snow had grown a whole meter. Why couldn't she remember? Frieda pressed her fingers to her lungs. Her breathing was rapid. Everything blurred. The air suddenly felt so thin.
Frieda had to keep going, not stop now. If she found a safe place for the blood circle, everything would be fine. A place where nothing would find it. Then she could escape. She stumbled. Darkness... Damn it, she slapped her cheeks. Don't close your eyes.
Suddenly, she noticed the giants outside with old silver lamps as large as a car. That's not what a ghost looked like. Not even faceless ones had such a shape. They had to be creatures from Rivjord, no doubt about it. But how and why were they here? That should be impossible...
Did the lighthouse send them? Was it a holy judgment? Or did a clan have a hand in it? Please let it be the latter. How would she find her way without THE guiding light? Frieda couldn't even imagine a dark earth and formed her hands into a prayer. Just—just a sign, please! "I don't want to die."
There was a screech, and Frieda took the next door into an office. She had barely entered the room when she fell powerlessly to the floor. Every muscle burned. The cold threatened to extinguish the flames around her body. Calm down, calm down, damn it! She was breathing; what was going on? Then her eyes widened, as if light lifted the veil.
Broken windows. Large holes had torn through the walls. Where was the wind from the Dead Sea? She could hear it, the sound from beyond the world, but Frieda didn't feel anything. No wind. She waved her hand and hardly found any resistance.
Filled with terror, Frieda looked at the blue and white snow when it suddenly dawned on her. The air itself was snowing from the sky... A gruesomely beautiful spectacle. And the deadliest thing she ever saw.
With her last ounce of strength, Frieda bit her arm. Burning blood dripped down in a stream and ignited on the frozen wood. She. Had. To. Draw. A. Circle. The magic blazed up, dispelling the darkness. Blackness enveloped her eyes. She felt so weak. The teddy bear—where was her teddy bear?
Frieda couldn't feel it, only the hard, cold floor. Had she done her homework? Oh, she still had to write her internship report. Hello? Where was... Mia? "Are you there?" No answer. She reached out but found nothing. No hand, no warmth. Where was everyone? And where was she? So cold... Hello? Was anyone there? Help... She was here... Why? Did. No one... come?
Monsters hissed in the distance. But Frieda no longer heard them. Then she saw it, the golden blazing light of hope. It, it really existed...
In the middle of the burning blood circle, her hair had spread out into a stiff fan. The fire magic around her body died out. A beacon flashed as runes glimmered in the bleeding flames and enveloped her body. Then nothing but a dark room, enveloped in an eternal layer of ice.
At midnight, Camp Grafstein fell victim to Rivjord's wrath. So far, there have been no further findings.
At 12:30 a.m., nothing remained but the ice of the frozen order. A dome that resembled the morning of a second sun. No survivors found so far.