Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-33295018-20171008202921

I wrote this after getting back into writing recentley. I haven't wrote anything for about a year, and am looking to see what you guys think about this. Feel free to be as harsh as you like, also  better title ideas would be appreciated, you can probably tell i suck at titles.



The Impossible Blizzard





It was 4.23 when the clocks stopped and the impossible blizzard rolled over the island. 



There were three of us manning the weather station on the tiny, uninhabited island of Martin ’s Point, just over a mile off from the mainland and one of about 50 little scraps of jagged rock dotted along the outer coast. Martin’s Point struck a good balance between height, accessibility and position, it was one of the outermost islands, with sheer cliff faces all around, and the only access point was a small wooden dock, with a steep path that snaked up the cliff side, to the relatively flat ground above. The weather station was brand new, and although the building itself was a low, ugly concrete block, inside everything was shiny and expensive looking, with a wall of monitors and gauges displaying information from the countless antenna and dishes mounted to the roof. As well as the wall of computers, there was a desk and chair, with a lamp a rack of folders, a kitchen with enough food to last one man two weeks (although it was only intended for one week stays, once a month) a small, open lounge with a TV and washing machine, and at the other end behind two separate doors there was a wash room and a tiny sleeping quarters. Although I guessed all the weather recording equipment could have easily cost over a million pounds, everything else looked cheap. The sofas felt as if they were made out of the same concrete as the walls and the kitchen was stocked with no-name, long lasting canned food. Worse still the TV only worked via DVD player, with no DVD’S provided. 



<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">The three of us were there to do last minute checks and calibrations before the station went live the next morning. I was the hardware guy, I made sure everything was bolted down and secure, the generator and water supply was running as intended and everything that needed to be plugged in was. I also captained the battered little motor boat that brought us to and from the island. Geoff was the tech nerd, making sure everything was properly calibrated. He was skinny and tall, with glasses that looked to always be in danger of falling off his head, and a way of talking that seemed like he was vocalizing every thought he had as fast as he could. He’d mostly kept by the bank of computers, although on the couple of occasions he stepped away for a tea break, he seemed to always manage to get in someone’s way. <span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">Steven was to be the live-in station operator, he was quiet, middle aged and balding. He shot down my attempts at small talk on the way over, and quickly decided he was going for a lie down once we reached the island. He struck me as someone who wouldn’t mind being alone for a week on a tiny island one bit. <span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">We arrived at Martin’s Point around nine, with the cold morning mist still hanging in the air. Geoff and myself got on with our tasks, stopping every now and again to engage in ever so slightly awkward small talk. Steven surfaced from the living quarters as we began to make final checks around three, and by three-thirty we found ourselves grouped together in the lounge area. It had gotten cold, so Steven and I nursed hot tea in our hands, while Geoff lounged in the desk chair. We talked for a while, Steven never saying much, and Geoff saying too much. Despite the company, I felt content, the job was done and although there had been a challenge here and there, no major issues had arisen, which meant that we could head back to the main land as soon as Geoff and I were ready. It was just past four when Steven spoke up. <span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">‘’Do you two hear that?’’ He asked. I looked over at him, noting his puzzled expression, as it was the first time his face had really changed since we got here. I caught Geoff looking my way as we all strained to hear. There  was <span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;"> something. Just loud enough to hear, a faint whistling sound. <span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">‘’The wind?’’ I asked out loud, not really addressing either man. Steven stood and I followed him over the work station. He sat down heavily and tapped a gauge. <span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-bidi-font-family:Aharoni;font-size:12.0000pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Wind Speed : 30 Mph  

<p class="MsoNormal">   

<p class="MsoNormal"> Steven looked up at me standing over him and we exchanged puzzled looks, it had been calm, if a little damp, with no wind all day. Before we could say anything Geoff spoke up.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Holy shit, guys look at this.’’ We huddled round him as he waggled his finger at a complicated looking graph on a monitor in front of him.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’What is it’’ I asked. Geoff shot me a look but Steven cut him off before he could speak.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’It’s the Temperature’’ He said ‘’It’s dropping so fast, I’ve never seen anything like it…’’ He trailed off and Geoff continued.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’The uh, line going down the page is the temperature, the numbers here, and here’’ He stabbed at the screen with his finger ‘’That’s the temperature right now, it’s right, I know that, I calibrated it myself earlier.’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I finally figured out the screen, and followed the line on the graph as it slowly but surely declined.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Minus three, minus five, minus nine…’’ Murmured Geoff as we watched the screen. Suddenly the cozy atmosphere that had developed inside the station was gone, and I felt a chill go up my back. For a moment we were silent, and only the rushing of the wind could be heard. Louder now.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was unsettling, watching the temperature decline so fast, and hearing nothing but the rush of the wind across the island.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’We should go’’ I said, not sure whether to be embarrassed by how frantic I sounded. ‘’Before the wind…’’ I said, trailing off as something began beeping. I looked over at the monitor in front of Steven.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Wind Speed Warning : 50 Mph  

<p class="MsoNormal">   

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’This isn’t right’’ Said Steven, as we all watched the wind speed steadily increase ‘’the wind just came from nowhere, we’re in a weather station for god’s sake we’d have seen this coming.’’ Geoff must have heard something in his voice because he shot me a worried look. We fell silent once more. The wind howled, something creaked and the the monitor continued it’s alarm.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’We can’t sail in this…’’ I said as I walked over to the window, but the rest of my sentence caught in my throat as I looked outside. Through the window all I saw was white. Snow was coming down fast and I could barely see five meters ahead, it was already building up on the island, and it showed no signs of stopping.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’What the hell’’ said Steven, suddenly by my side. Up until now I had been confused, a little shaken maybe, but as I looked back at Steven I saw the fear in his eyes and felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Something was seriously wrong.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> We both turned away from the window, and Steven pulled the blind, almost as if to shut out what we’d seen. Geoff was standing in the middle of the lounge, staring up at the clock on the wall. His long arms hung limp by his side.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Geoff’’ I called, anxious. ‘’What’s wrong?’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> For a while he said nothing, just stood staring up the clock. Then he turned, blinked, as if he was surprised to see me there.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’The clock…’’ he murmured then trailed off. He blinked again and shook his head, then he walked past us and into the toilet. The click of the lock was the only sound we heard over the wind. It was almost roaring now.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Steven and I exchanged a look, and he shook his head. I stepped forward as he turned away and collapsed onto the sofa. The clock had stopped at 4:23.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> For a moment I stood still, arms by my side, staring at the clock. I glanced over at Steven and saw he was looking at me, puzzled. I turned away and grabbed my coat, trying to escape the chill. His eyes followed me as I perched myself on the desk chair opposite.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’This is weird’’ I began, trying to block the roar of the wind out of my head. ‘’Something’s clearly not right here, but there’s got to be an explanation for this. I don’t know why we’re getting all worked up’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Steven stared at me, blinking, until finally he spoke.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">  ‘’This storm, blizzard, whatever it is, it’s not possible. It came out of nowhere. Storm’s don’t just appear, they build. Slowly. And this station is specifically designed to record them as they do.’’ He stopped for breath, and shot a quick glance at the toilet door. ‘’Something’s… happening, out there’’ He went quiet, and I realized I could see his breath as he exhaled.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I went over to the work station, it was no longer beeping.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Temperature : - 23 Degrees Celcuis  

<p class="MsoNormal">   

<p class="MsoNormal"> Wind Speed Warning : 67 Mph  

<p class="MsoNormal">   

<p class="MsoNormal"> I read the stats out loud, and saw Steven’s face darken. It didn’t take a weather man to know we wouldn’t last a second outside in them conditions. The weather had changed so quickly and so dramatically, I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen, and heard, the evidence myself. Steven was right, it wasn’t natural.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I thought for a moment, weighing up ideas.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’We’ll call for help’’ I decided ‘’Let the mainland know we’re OK, but we may need help in the morning, I don’t see how that little boat will survive this. We’ll just have to wait it out, there’s plenty of food, and as long as we have pow…’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> We both jumped as the toilet door came open with a bang and Geoff emerged. He looked like a different man than the one who’d gone into the toilet not ten minutes ago. He was stooped over slightly. Sweating. Sweating in this cold. His dark hair was matted to his forehead. He raised his arm and pointed a long bony finger at me.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Who went outside’’ He whispered, barely audible over the now almost deafening howling of the wind.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Nobody’’ I said quickly, feeling the knot growing in my stomach. ‘’How could we, the weather, we’d die’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> He shook his head slowly. ‘’Someone  was   outside, I saw them’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Steven stood up from the sofa and spoke.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Geoff, I can assure you we’ve both been ins…’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Shut your mouth!’’ Geoff spat, with a venom that hit me like a brick. Steven stood, swayed slightly. For some reason I was glad I couldn’t see his face.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> For the longest time we stood, Geoff, sweat running down his face, leaning forward, the strangest look in his eyes. Steven was still, statuesque. I curled my fists, trying to stop them shaking. I avoided catching Geoff’s eye.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> And then the power went out.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I noticed the temperature drop first. It was almost instantaneous. From chilly but manageable, to that cold biting feeling, right through my body. The lights and the monitors went out, but the snow outside kept it from being completely dark. The room was now cast in strange, almost sickly white light. Not bright enough. Too many shadows.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Geoff laughed a weird, strangled laugh. I felt my chest tighten.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I spoke up, hating the tremble in my voice.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Guys, let’s stay calm, we’re still OK, we’ve just got to keep warm, wait for someone to come and get us…’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Nobody’s coming!’’ Geoff shouted. His voiced sounded strange. ‘We’ve been here for…’’ He trailed off, and his face lost it’s mask of rage. He looked confused now.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’…weeks’’ He finished, voice almost a whisper. He stumbled backwards through the door, and dropped himself onto the toilet. The door creaked as it slowly closed, leaving a small gap through which I could see a sliver of Geoff’s face.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Steven almost tripped over the sofa as he walked over to join me at the workstation. He looked terrified. He wiped his face, and his wet eyes sparkled as he leaned in close to speak.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Something’s wrong with Geoff, he’s changed. You saw it didn’t you?’’ His voice was barely a whisper. I glanced over at the crack of the toilet door, but all I could see was the side of Geoff’s face, sickly white.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’He’s not himself anymore, something’s got inside him. Something to do with the storm I think.’’ I looked over to the white window. Then back at the sliver of cheek in the doorway.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The wind, oh god the wind. So loud, incessant.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’I’m afraid’’ Continued Steven his voice barely a whisper. I didn’t want to meet his eye. I could see his train of though unfolding in my own head.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’We’ve got to do something about him’’ He voice was urgent. Again I glanced over at the toilet door.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’He’s going to hurt us’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’We’ve got to throw him out’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’Do you hear, me, something’s happened to him, he’s dangerous.’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I finally met Steven’s eye, and I knew he was terrified. I watched how his lips trembled. Saw the tears run down his face.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I said nothing for a while, felt my head throb with the rush of the wind. Felt, or rather, didn’t feel the tips of my fingers and toes. Our breath swirled around us in a white mist.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> When I looked back at the toilet door I gasped. Geoff’s black and bloodshot eye, staring at us, unblinking.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The door came open again, and he stumbled out. His hair was completely matted to his forehead, and his face dripped. His long arms hung weirdly by his side, like a puppet with it’s strings cut. He was pale, so pale.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> His face was cast in shadow, but his eyes sparkled.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’You want to kill me’’ He spat, in that weird strangled voice.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’You’re working with the people outside. You want them to take me.’’

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I wanted to speak, to deny, but I couldn’t. I was frozen. Paralyzed by fear.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’You want us to freeze’’ He continued, edging closer now. Weird, jerking steps.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The wind was so loud. Like the storm was trapped inside my skull.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ‘’DON’T YOU!’’ He shouted, and we both jumped as he lunged forward.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I felt a bony hand on my leg as he fell on both of us, but I wriggled and kicked and managed to crawl free.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Steven did not.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Geoff set upon him, wrapping his skeletal fingers around his skull. Screeching, he slammed Steven’s head into the concrete floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Over, and over and over.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I turned away, crawling over to the door. Not thinking, just trying desperately to escape. I didn’t see Steven’s head get smashed to pieces on the ground, but I heard each sickening smack and crunch.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I crawled, dragged myself up the door. Weak, so weak now. The cold was inside of me, freezing my bones, turning my blood to ice.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The howling was inside my head, though whether it was the wind or Geoff I could no longer tell.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> I felt for the handle. Pulled it. The last of my strength

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The door came open and the snow blasted my body.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> And the last thing I saw?

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> People, outside in the snow.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Dark figures in a world of white. <ac_metadata title="The Impossible Blizzard / The Frozen Island (Unreviewed)"> </ac_metadata>