The Silence Broke

The night seems too long and silent, when a frost-storm slowly started outside, now everything out seems blurry.

The school windows rattled violently, while the glasses seem to have been covered with a hazy white layer.

Ava immediately recognized the eerie layer—it was the same one she'd seen on the gym windows, and just after that cracks had started to form on those glasses.

Her expression was grim, she clearly understood gravity of the situation.

Her gaze fell onto Liam, his expression was also grim, as he was also looking at those windows.

The frost-storm was the only breaker of that ominous silence, but that strange behavior of the Frostborns was still bugging Ava from inside, she was getting restless.

Though Mia and her group seem to be frightened but they were a little relaxed thinking that now the danger has gone.

But it wasn't the same for Mark, Riley and others, their faces were grim, somewhere they knew that this seems to only be the beginning.

From the little gaps between the window frames, the cold storm wind blew inside, the room's temperature started to drop and some frost has started to freeze on the wall and edges near those gaps.

The cold has started to settle deep inside their bodies, making everyone shiver violently.

As Mia was sitting near Liam, he took off his jacket and covered her up with it, while others tried to find something to get even a bit of warmth inside their bodies.

Ilsa, Jason, Eli, formed a group, sitting close to each other, avoiding the cold, Riley and Elise were also the same.

But there were two people there whose condition wasn't that great, it was Ava and Vin.

Riley looked at Ava, and noticed her pale face.

Riley glanced at Ava, her teeth chattering slightly. "That hoodie's... too thin," she muttered, her voice tight from the cold.

Ava just gave a bitter nod, while she tried to rub herself with her hands.

Riley didn't say more. She stood with a shiver, signaling to Elise, and they slid down beside Ava.

Elise rubbed Ava's arm gently, while Riley pressed in close, sharing what little warmth she had.

"Better?" Riley asked softly.

"Hmm," Ava nodded, "Thanks."

Liam was also looking at Ava, his eyebrows were knitted tight, his fist was clenched tight, tight enough to make his fingertips pale in lack of blood.

Whenever he looked at this condition of Ava, his heart ached as if it's bleeding. His jaw clenched tight, but even if he wants to run to her, he can't, he could only bitterly look, and close his eyes, and hope for her.

In a corner of the classroom, Vin was laying, his wound wasn't healing even after Ava trying all she can.

And there is this fear that was gripping his heart, his eyes were filled with reluctance more than the pain.

This cold seems to even seep right into his wound, he could feel it. Even though it was band-aided tightly, he could clearly feel this eerie cold wriggling like a parasite in his hand and then to his bones.

He was already outcast by Ilsa and others from the group, when he took the side of right, instead of siding with them, he spoke on behalf of Ava.

Hence they were avoiding him clearly now, as if they don't care how he would feel.

Vin clenched his fist tighter and tighter, as the pain was becoming more and more intense, every second that was passing seems a trail of endless pain for him.

It was getting unbearable to him, and just as he was about to let out a painful scream-

"Bam" "BAM" "BAM"

A loud, jarring impact struck the door, startling everyone. The barricade trembled, and they swallowed their fear hard. Even Vin had to choke back his scream.

Everyone stood straight, this was literally nightmare for them, They rushed to the barricade, Liam and Mark were the first, then Ava and her group.

The barricade shook, but as it had been gripped really well, it didn't fall. And everyone knew that the worst had come, the frostborn have attacked again.

"Eli, Jason" Liam signaled them, as he held and pressed to support the barricade.

Jason and Eli moved up onto the tower-like structure made by stacking benches and chairs beside the barricade. This was suggested by Vin after the first attack.

He said that if something like what happened last time were to happen again, then they could only hold on the defense, with no choice to retaliate.

But this would give them a chance to retaliate against the relentless attack of the Frostborns.

"It's just like the survival games," Vin had said. "You hold the high ground, wait it out. Hope the storm passes."

Jason had sneered at the idea. Eli too. But in the end, they had to help build it after Liam agreed on it. Because deep down, they knew Vin was right. If the barricade fell, they had nowhere left to run.

Now, standing on that makeshift tower, Jason caught the crowbar Vin threw up to him.

Mia and Ilsa stood nearby, helping Eli balance himself on the unsteady structure. Elise and Vin pressed against the base, steadying Jason from below. Everyone moved as they had planned.

Mia also went to help, but Ilsa stopped her and signaled her to stay back and safe.

"She'll get hurt," Ilsa had said sharply. "She's not strong enough."

Though others looked at this statement of hers in disbelief, where everyone was trying hard to fight to survive, she is telling them that Mia doesn't need to, cause she is fragile?

But since Liam said nothing, they chose to ignore it.

Riley and Elise had exchanged glances, their disbelief clear. They said nothing, but they seem to now agree more on Mark's previous statement about the group.

"BAM"

The second impact was stronger. The whole barricade shuddered, the vibrations like an earthquake through their bones.

Startling everyone, their expressions have become more grim. Jason and Eli hardly avoided falling.

"Hold tight" Liam ordered, there was war in his eyes, and everyone knew the gravity of the situation, it's do or die.

"What the hell is happening? How many are out there?" Mark grunted, pressing harder.

Jason, crouched at the top of the tower, peered over the barricade and what he saw made his face go white.

His eyes were in disbelief, as he said shuddering in fear "Only three"

Mark's eyes widened. "Only three? And they're hitting this hard?"

Liam's jaw tightened. His arms strained as he held the barricade steady. "That doesn't make sense."

Then Eli spoke, his voice trembling. "They're… different."

Jason continued, his tone strained, "They seem darker… but thinner."

A heavy silence settled in the room as their words hung in the air, sinking into everyone's minds. The weight of fear was almost tangible. Before anyone could react, the world cracked open with a piercing sound that ripped through the stillness.

SCREEEECH!

As if creatures, driven purely by bloodlust, and devoid of any bit of intelligence, they ram themselves into the barricade like a siege.

They were nowhere like those previous Frostborns, they seem mutated, but in a different way, it was completely different mutation.

Only raw, unfiltered aggression. Pure instinct. Pure hunger.

The barricade trembled violently, each impact sending shockwaves through the hands and arms of those pressing against it. Eli's and Jason's hands began to shake, their knuckles whitening as fear crawled up their spines.

"Eli, Jason, do something, or it will all be for nothing!" Liam said clenching his teeth, his eyes were brimming with war and determination.

His spirits clearly haven't given up.

Eli and Jason hesitated. Their gazes dropped, shoulders trembling. Their fear was obvious, just the sight of these frostborns make their bodies tremble.

These weren't creatures they could fight. Their teeth were long, jagged like canine fangs. Eyes like black voids. Faces like death.

"And these cowards wanted the crowbar." Mark sneered, seething his teeth.

Liam shot him a sharp and cold glance, his expression was dead serious, and the message was clear- this is clearly not the time for mockery.

Turning back to Jason and Eli, Liam's face hardened further, his eyes became more cold and serious, "Jason, Eli".

Jason and Eli swallowed hard, and nodded. Though his hands were still trembling, but they very well knew the meaning of those words of Liam.

Eli grabbed a bottle and notebook that Elise passed up, while Jason gripped around the crowbar tighter.

The attacks of frostborn wasn't stopping instead it was only growing stronger.

Jason stood taller, though the fear still gripped around his heart, but he knew he needed to act.

Jason swung the crowbar through the small gap, aiming for the frostborn.

But it wasn't enough. The strike fell short, it didn't even touch the frostborn.

While Eli's attempt was even worse, whatever miscellaneous items he threw at them, doesn't even attract their attention, much less even harm them.

"It isn't working-" Eli said, but stopped saying further, when Liam's gaze fell on him, shivers ran up to his spine.

"Here try with this, Aim for the head" Elise passed up a chair to Eli, with a sneer on her face.

Eli bitterly smiled and took the chair, he slowly uplifted the chair, maintaining his balance onto the small tower platform, and with a deep breath, he swung it down hard onto the Frostborns.

SLAM!

The impact echoed like thunder, as the chair slammed onto two of the three Frostborns, it instantly crushed one's head like brittle ice, while the other staggered back, it immediately looked up to Eli, screamed with a soul chilling screech.

Eli's leg gave up instantly when he heard the voice, but there was ecstasy in his eyes "Haha, one down!"

Jason grinned, "Good job, Eli"

He then turned, gripping the crowbar tighter, this time he even took out his arm out of the gap and swung again. This time the strike went through, instantly tearing through the 3rd Frostborn's head.

But the sense of achievement in Jason's eyes was short lived, the crowbar stopped mid way, Jason tried to pull it, but the frostborn staggered back and fell onto the floor, with the crowbar still stuck in its head.

"Oh shit" Jason gasped, his hands clenching his hairs.

"Jason you-" Riley said, but stopped herself any further, though she was really frustrated now with their clumsiness and behavior, but she knew she shouldn't say anything now.

"Haha Don't worry Jason, I will handle it alone" Eli said, as he got up, the Frostborn who roared at Eli in anger seems to crackle a little, twisting its neck and then again it launched itself onto the barricade, completely ignoring Eli.

This time the impact was much greater than when the three forstborns were attacking together, this time it seems the Frostborn has completely disregarded its breaking body with each impact and its only goal is to completely break the barricade anyhow.

The whole barricade shook, as if it would break if it attacked another time. Together with the barricade the two small towers made of benches and chairs also trembled, while Jason held onto himself as he was sitting on the platform.

But Eli who was standing tipped off his balance and bent forward, his body leaned forward, outward the class and was just about to fall, when Vin's hand grabbed his ankle.

Vin grabbed his ankle tightly, even disregarding his wound reopening.

"Don't let go!, Don't you dare let go!" Eli cried and screamed, there was clearly terror in his eyes, his face was aghast and his body was completely pale, as if he was just a bit away from death.

"Ahh, don't move" Vin cried, his hand trembled, the wound had reopened, as red blood covered the band aid on his hand.

Everyone was startled, Ilsa, Jason had even clearly disregarded the volume of their voice and clearly shouting onto Vin to not to let go of Eli.

Pain gushed in Vin's arm like crazy and his fingers started to turn numb, still gathering all of his strength he tried to pull back Eli.

Just when Ava saw it, she immediately left her spot to help Vin, they both have nearly same height, but just as she moved her hand forward to also grab Eli's leg backward.

A sudden gust tore through the air, A sharp piercing swoosh-like the a something piercing through the air, came from the opposite classroom.

Then with a terrifying speed, something struck and pierced through Eli's chest.

A tentacle, murkily white, with veins of deep indigo pulsing over it like roots of a parasite, its blue and jagged tip was that tore through Eli's chest was laced with blood.

A tentacle, murkily white, with veins of deep indigo pulsing over it like roots of a parasite, its blue and jagged tip was that tore through Eli's chest was laced with blood.

Everyone was aghast, a strong silence filled the room, and nobody spoke, nobody moved and no one even breathed.

From the tip of the tentacle, the blood coming out of Eli's body was just about to drip, when it got sucked as if the dripping was just reversed.

The tentacle moved, with Eli's lifeless body attached to it, as if it was teasing them and it retracted back with Eli's body into the dark classroom opposite.