The beginning of frost-storm

"The report states that this winter is expected to break all previous cold records. Last night marked the coldest October night on record, with temperatures hitting an all-time low. Some areas even experienced unexpected snowfall. Expert says-"

The anchor's voice crackled through the speakers as the classroom TV aired the morning news.

A red banner at the bottom was flashing on the screen, reading: [COLDEST OCTOBER IN DECADES?], while cut scenes of a map of the state flashed beside the anchor, with deep blues and purple hues swirling on it.

The voice of the anchor soon faded as the murmurs of students grew louder, huddled in their hoodies and puffer jackets. Someone sniffled, while others' desks squeaked as they tried to huddle themselves tightly.

The main concern seemed to be the worn-out heater in the classroom, which was rattling and groaning against the cold, as if it would die any minute.

"I swear, if they don't fix the radiator soon, I'm staging a protest." A girl frowned, burying her face in her folded arms, her chestnut-brown hair always a little messy and spilling over her sleeves.

She is Riley.

"Yeah, that worked so well for you in the past." The girl behind her smirked. She was wearing a white hoodie that complemented her electric blue eyes.

This is Ava. She usually seems quiet and observant and only seems to speak to Riley.

Of course, they are best friends.

Riley lifted her head just enough to glare at her, hazel eyes sharp with mock offense. "Hey, my 'No Homework on Fridays' petition got twenty-three signatures, okay?"

"Yeah, and absolutely no results."

Riley tried to retort, but the homeroom teacher entered the class.

"Alright, good morning, students," Mr. Lawson said, switching off the TV as he stood up at the podium.

"Good morning, Mr. Lawson," some greeted.

"Let's get seated," he nodded.

The class went by, but today it seemed anyone could hardly focus on the board, some sitting heads down cuddling their arms together, while others were chatting softly.

In front of Ava, two girls were chatting in a low tone.

"Mia's story yesterday was fire!" one of the girls said, nudging her friend in front of Riley.

"She posted one?"

"Nah, just on her close friends. I'm on the list, so I saw it."

"For real? Let me see!"

She held out her phone. "Look—she looks gorgeous in this dress."

"Wow! I wish I had a boyfriend that stylish."

"Yeah, Liam picked that dress out for her himself."

"No way! Seriously?!"

"Yup! She told me he spent like half an hour picking between two dresses."

"Aww, that's so sweet! I swear, guys like him are rare."

"Right? And the way he looks at her—ugh, total couple goals!"

"Lucky girl! If my boyfriend ever picked out a dress for me, I'd probably frame it."

They both giggled before the first girl added with a smirk, "Well, maybe if you start dropping hints, your man will catch—"

Ava listened to their conversation until it became unbearable, then shifted her focus elsewhere.

As she turned right, her gaze flicked toward the back of the classroom, toward a boy, his head resting on the desk, thick arms and broad shoulders that seemed to cuddle around his dark tousled hair like a pillow.

Ava glared at this sleeping boy, her eyes filled with resentment, until her eyes startled and she turned back around.

The boy woke up and looked straight at her. This boy was Liam.

Ava's heart pounded hard, a feeling of being caught red-handed filling her up, but after a bit, she looked back again.

But this time, Liam wasn't looking at her; he was chatting with his friends.

Liam was, of course, the most handsome guy in the school—strong jawline, sharp features, hot muscles, and whatnot.

But to Ava, he felt too foreign. He hadn't been like this six years ago.

'He has forgotten you, Ava. Move on,' Ava sighed as she tried to console herself, her eyes growing wet.

Every time she thought about him, the past pricked at her heart, and her eyes turned red and wet.

Soon, she chose to focus her attention on the lecture until the heater groaned again and, with a loud clunk, finally died.

A collective groan filled the room.

"It's okay. Bear with me today; I will get it fixed by tomorrow," Mr. Lawson continued, but he suddenly paused, frowning at the window.

Something fell outside the window, though it wasn't clear.

Mr. Lawson shook his head and continued, "Let's move on to the next topic: thermodynamics. Who can tell me—"

But then suddenly—

Bam Bam Bam

Something repetitively crashed against the wall near the windows and fell down, as if a hailstorm had occurred, though this hailstorm seemed murkily white.

"What?" Everyone got startled; some who were sitting near the windows even backed up.

"Whoa!" But some other boys jumped out and went to the window. They wiped the haze on the window and looked down.

"Hm? There's nothing," one said.

But soon, his attention went to the snow falling outside. The ground had now been covered with white, murky snow.

"Hey guys, snowfall!"

"What! Lol," the other said, his accent seeming a bit Gen Z type.

"But what the hell was that?" a girl whose seat was near the window asked, her face clearly pale.

"Don't know, maybe some hailstorm," the boy said in a funny tone.

"Lol, bro, hailstorm!" the other said.

"Alright, get back to your seat," Mr. Lawson said, his face also seeming a little confused.

Ava was also startled by the sudden loud sound as she looked outside.

She had been feeling this uneasiness since morning, and now the turmoil in her heart was even greater.

Though everyone got back, the class never returned to its usual, and the chatter seemed even louder now.

→→ →

By the time lunch rolled around, the whole school was talking about the weather.

"Did you hear?" Riley said, dropping her tray onto the table. "They canceled the football game tonight. Said the field's completely frozen over."

Ava blinked. "But it was fine yesterday."

"Yeah, well, apparently it's not now."

While they chatted, a sudden loud burst of laughter caught Ava's attention from across the cafeteria.

It was Liam and his group, sitting with the usual crowd—football players, cheerleaders, the golden circle of popularity. With a gorgeous blonde girl sitting beside him—Mia Reed, Liam's girlfriend for the last three years and the number one goddess of the school.

Ava's gaze fell on Liam, the resentment in her eyes seeming to deepen.

While Ava was looking at Liam with squinting eyes, his gaze lifted—straight to her.

Their gazes locked, both frozen for a second, but then Mia touched Liam's arm, jolting him back.

Liam blinked and turned away, breaking eye contact.

Ava exhaled. 'Stop being an idiot,' she thought, turning back to her food.

Before she could spiral further, a group of students near the windows started shouting.

"Holy crap, look at that!"

Ava and her group turned in the direction of the shouts.

The courtyard, which had been clear that morning, was now blanketed in white frost. A thick frost crept up even the windows in jagged patterns, as if something had grown over the glass.

The students nearest the windows pressed their hands against them, talking excitedly.

"This is insane."

"I've never seen ice spread that fast."

"Dude, take a video." 

Slowly, Ava reached toward the glass. Her fingertips brushed the surface—it was cold and even sticky.

A bad feeling curled in her heart, and she immediately withdrew her hand.

"Ahhhh!"

Suddenly, a student slipped near the entrance, their tray scattering across the tile. But that wasn't what made Ava's blood go cold—it was their hand.

The student's hand hung down as if it had no life in it, while the skin looked… wrong. Discolored. Fingers pale blue, veins dark against the skin.

The girl screamed upon seeing the state of her hand. "Ahhh, it—it's cold! My hand!"

Ava's heart pounded with uneasiness and pity, while Riley grabbed her arm. "Okay. That's creepy."

Before Ava could move to help the girl, a low hum vibrated through the air. The cafeteria lights flickered.

Then, in an instant—the power cut out.

A collective hush fell over the students.

Ava's breath caught as the silence stretched. Until—

A high-pitched scream came from outside, terrifying everyone.

Ava turned back toward the window just in time to see something move in the frost—something human-shaped.

"Some—something's not right," Ava whispered low.

Cracked

One of the glass windows cracked.

And then, the screaming really started.