Chapter 30 – The Icebound Exodus

The fire outside burned like a beacon in the storm, a fragile lifeline against the relentless cold. But it wasn't enough.

We were still running out of food.

Water supplies were low.

And if the storm didn't ease up, we'd be buried alive.

The Problem No One Wanted to Face

I sat in the dimly lit command center, staring at the flickering status monitors. The facility's internal temperature had stabilized, but the storm showed no signs of stopping.

Ray stood beside me, arms crossed, his expression grim. "We need more supplies."

I didn't respond immediately. I already knew. We all did.

Daniel was the one who finally said it. "If we don't act now, people are going to start starving."

Silence.

I looked at the gathered survivors. Some avoided eye contact, others clenched their fists. The fear in the room was almost tangible.

"We need to send out a team," I said finally.

Ray exhaled through his nose, clearly not liking the idea. "In this storm?"

I met his gaze. "We don't have a choice."

Risk and Reward

The problem wasn't just the storm. The cold had frozen everything solid—doors, vehicles, even some of our backup storage. Anything exposed for too long became useless.

"We know there's an old supply cache about four miles west," Daniel said, pulling up a rough map. "It belonged to a pre-collapse research station. If it's intact, it might have rations, medical supplies, maybe even fuel."

Ray studied the map, then let out a slow breath. "That's a long way to go blind."

"We can use drones," I said. "Send them out first to map the terrain."

He nodded, considering it. "And if the drones confirm it's still standing?"

"Then we go."

The System's Calculation

System Notification:

Calculating Risk Assessment…

Survival Probability of Expedition: 46%

Chance of Fatality: 31%

Warning: Conditions Will Worsen in 12 Hours

I frowned. Those odds were not in our favor.

But waiting would only make things worse.

"We move in four hours," I said, making the call. "Drones go out now."

Ray didn't argue. Neither did Daniel.

Because deep down, we all knew—this was our only shot.

Into the White Abyss

The drone feeds came in, showing a desolate landscape—snow-covered ruins, abandoned roads, broken buildings half-buried in ice.

The research station was still standing, but just barely. The entrance was partially collapsed, and if we didn't get to it fast, the storm could bury it completely.

I geared up. Heavy insulated clothing, reinforced boots, gloves, thermal goggles. Every layer was the difference between survival and frostbite.

Ray and Daniel prepped their weapons, just in case.

We weren't the only ones desperate for resources.

Other survivors might be out there.

Or worse—the creatures.

A Dangerous Gamble

We stepped out into the storm, a wall of white swallowing us whole.

The cold was bone-deep, biting at my skin despite the layers. Each step felt like dragging myself through quicksand.

No talking. Just movement.

The only sound was the wind screaming around us.

After nearly an hour, the research station loomed ahead, barely visible through the blizzard.

We pushed forward, reaching the broken entrance. Snow and ice had sealed the main door shut, so we had to pry it open manually.

Ray jammed his crowbar into the gap, muscles straining. "Almost… got it…"

With a final shove, the ice cracked, and the door groaned open.

Inside, the air was stale, frozen in time.

Shelves lined the walls, stacked with supplies. Food rations. Medical kits. Insulated blankets.

Daniel exhaled in relief. "We actually did it."

I wasn't ready to celebrate yet.

Because then I saw the tracks in the snow.

We weren't the first ones here.

If you were in James' position, would you risk going out in the storm, or try to survive with what little you had left? Drop a comment and let me know!