Deep in Antarctica stood a great mountain of pure ice and ash, indifferent beneath a sky of endless white. Around it, ships from military forces and scholars across the world gathered, drawn toward it like moths to frozen fire.
Once they landed, a group of American scholars and armed military personnel rushed toward the mountain — excitement and unease tangled in their breaths.
One of the scholars, a thin man with glasses and eager eyes, smiled brightly.
"It's our lucky day!" he said. "We're the first to explore this mythical mountain."
The other scholar exhaled slowly, his expression tense.
"What's wrong, Finsint?" the first asked.
Finsint slowed his steps.
"Don't you know the story of this mountain?" he muttered.
"What story?"
Finsint glanced around to make sure the soldiers were out of earshot. Then he leaned closer.
"They say this mountain holds the source of all evil. That it was suppressed here by the Almighty… by Jesus."
The other scholar snorted quietly.
"You seriously believe that?" He glanced at the armed soldiers ahead. "There's no evil mountain. Just people. Look at them. Same greed as always."
Finsint lowered his gaze to the snow.
"But doesn't that story explain our viciousness? Maybe we were corrupted to become like—"
A rough hand landed on his shoulder.
Finsint stiffened.
Behind him stood Leon Gold — tall, broad, unshaven, sharp-eyed , around fourty-five.
"What's holding you two up?"
The scholars straightened immediately.
Leon smirked.
"You two gossiping again?"
Awkward laughter.
A soldier approached, face pale.
"Sir. You might want to see this."
On the left side of the mountain stood a broken door made of black and red ice — the color of dried blood.
The three of them stared.
Leon stepped forward and smashed the frozen door open with brute force.
"I don't care what this is," he said. "Nothing's keeping me from that promotion."
The scholars exchanged uneasy looks and followed him inside.
The cavern stretched deep into darkness.
The ground was littered with blackened bones — skulls of creatures not quite human.
Finsint swallowed.
"You believe me now?"
"Bear remains," the other scholar muttered.
"Move," Leon barked.
They pressed deeper.
On the wall — a black drawing.
A demon kneeling before a graceful human figure.
Below it, Latin carved into the ice.
Finsint leaned closer.
"Secundum peccātum Ādae."
Leon glanced at him. "Translate."
Finsint hesitated.
"It means… The Second Sin of Adam."
Leon scoffed. "Grow up."
Further inside, another drawing:
The same human stabbing the demon and casting it into a box.
And there it stood.
A white box.
Ancient. Untouched.
Latin words covered its surface.
Finsint's hands trembled as he read aloud:
"Magnum malum quod in hāc arcā habitat est id quod vos vivos servat.
Aperite eam, et finis vester erit.
Nām alterum mē ad vos servandōs nōn habētis.
Ādam."
Leon frowned. "What does it say?"
Finsint swallowed.
"It says… The great evil inside this ark is what keeps you alive. Open it, and it will be your end. You have no second me to save you. — Adam."
Leon smiled slowly.
"Good."
He stepped forward.
"Then we open it."
"Wait!" Finsint lunged toward him.
Leon shoved him aside easily.
"If there's something valuable in there, it's ours."
The other scholar grabbed Finsint.
"Enough. We need results. Stop sabotaging everything."
Leon lifted the lid.
Inside —
White matter.
Shifting.
Like smoke trapped in liquid.
Leon frowned.
"That's it?"
He reached down and touched it.
The substance slid from his fingers.
Then it moved.
It rushed toward Finsint.
"What is this? Get it off me!"
The white matter wrapped around him instantly.
It hardened.
Expanded.
His body twisted.
Bones cracked.
Skin stretched.
His scream deepened — distorted.
Until he stood no longer human, but something vast and blue, with a jaw wide enough to swallow a man whole , the same shap as the devil in the drawings .
The other scholar grabbed a gun and fired.
The bullet vanished into the creature's flesh.
Finsint's scream became a roar.
He leapt forward.
Tore the scholar's jaw free.
Devoured his head.
Leon stumbled back, breath ragged.
Behind him, the white box overflowed.
The white matter spilled across the cavern floor.
And the mountain echoed with screams.
And laughter.
A few days later, inside a prestigious university lecture hall, a frail boy with long blond hair sat with little interest in the discussion.
His name was Silas.
The lecture was about the Antarctica incident.
Silas barely listened.
He was only there because of his best friend, Theo, who sat beside him.
Theo had everything — looks, money, influence.
"What do you think happened?" Theo whispered.
Silas glanced at the professor, who looked unusually tense.
"Probably did not go well " Silas muttered. "Maybe most of them are dead."
Theo frowned.
"Don't joke about that."
Silas shrugged.
"Stuff like this happens all the time."
Theo looked down.
"My dad was there."
Silas froze.
Fuck.
He forced a smile and placed a hand on Theo's shoulder.
"I know. I'm just messing with you."
Theo didn't look convinced.
The professor cleared his throat.
"The incident ended tragically. All personnel were lost… except the well-known Leon gold . Authorities believe it was a terrorist attack , what you guys think? I want to hear your opinions tomorrow "
The room fell silent.
Silas looked at Theo.
Theo's face tightened — grief mixed with relief.
The lecture ended.
Outside, a familiar voice called out.
"You two! Finally!"
Rose.
Silas's girlfriend.
She ran toward them.
"You heard, right? Everyone died… except your dad."
Theo nodded quietly.
"Yeah."
Silas shot Rose a look.
She blinked, understanding.
"So," she said quickly, "are you guys coming to the party tonight?"
Theo grinned.
"Of course."
She turned to Silas.
"You coming?"
He hesitated.
"I'll meet you outside."
"Where are you going?" Rose asked.
"Cigarettes."
He was lying.
Outside, Silas lit one and leaned against the wall.
What's taking them so long?
Then he saw them.
Rose's hand slid around Theo's waist.
Too close.
Theo didn't move it away.
Something tightened behind Silas's left eye.
He looked away quickly.
It's nothing. They're just friends.
Theo is my only friend.
Right?
A hollow laugh escaped him.
Hours later, Silas stood on his small balcony, smoking beneath the moon.
The image replayed in his mind.
Her hand.
Theo's smile.
This wasn't the first time.
Was it?
He pressed his fingers against his temple.
"They're just friends."
His phone rang.
Theo.
Silas stared at the screen.
Why now?
"Answer it," he muttered to himself.
He picked up.
"Why'd you take so long?" Theo said lightly. "You depressed or something?"
"I was in the bathroom," Silas replied.
"We're picking you up. Meet us at the park."
We?
Before Silas could speak, Rose's voice cut in.
"Stop whining. Just come."
Silas clenched his jaw.
"Fine. Five minutes."
Silas brushed his long blond hair back and changed into something cleaner before heading toward the park.
He lit another cigarette, walking slowly, thoughts tangled.
Are they really having an affair behind my back?
And if they are… what do I even do?
If I confront them, I lose Theo and Rose..
He's been my friend since I was seven.
He stood beside me at my mother's funeral.
She is my first girlfriend.
The one and only one who actually wanted me ..
A dry laugh escaped him.
"Of course," he muttered. "It's probably my fault anyway."
The street was darker than usual.
Too quiet.
He barely noticed the headlights until it was too late.
Something slammed into him.
A sickening crack.
His ribs shattered inward.
The world flipped.
His body hit the asphalt.
His vision blurred, fading at the edges.
But through the haze —
He saw it.
Theo's car.