Cyber Chronicles 1: Crimson's Effect

Chapter 2 : Lincoln (Past)

The frigid winds howled through the snow-covered landscape as Lincoln and Dexter embarked on their dangerous journey up the snowy mountain in Ontario, Canada. "It's starting to freeze out here; we should move faster!" Dexter's voice crackled through the earpieces in Lincoln's helmet.

With a grunt, Lincoln used his ice axe to heave himself upwards, each pulling a struggle against the biting cold. The mountain had long lost its name and significance, dwarfed by the towering man-made structures that now dominated the world.

In this new era, the once-pristine gifts of nature had been exploited, and humans had reshaped the world to their liking. Oceans were either hidden beneath sprawling cities or left untouched, while mountains like the one they were climbing were viewed as obstacles to human progress. Everything had been transformed into a vast playground for human innovation, from the bustling urban apartments with towering heights to skyscrapers that reached unimaginable altitudes, even surpassing the mountain once known as Mount Everest.

Lincoln and Dexter, however, were among the few who still found the natural world to be the most beautiful. Though they appreciated the advancements of this new age, they couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the way it was destroying the planet. The never-ending conflicts and wars over land only worsened the situation, leading to a world with an uncertain future.

"We should find a spot to stay the night! It's getting late... And cold," Lincoln suggested, struggling against the relentless chill that was slowly sapping their strength. Dexter, however, remained silent.

As they climbed higher, the treacherous terrain showed its true colors. "Oh no," Lincoln whispered as the snow shifted beneath their feet. "We need to climb faster!" Dexter's voice came through their coms as he used his remaining energy to secure his ice axe higher up the slope. But exhaustion began to take its toll, and he lost his grip, sending one of his axes hurtling toward Lincoln.

In a split-second decision, Lincoln reached out and managed to catch Dexter's plummeting axe, the curved hook of the axe catching onto the shaft of his own. His heart raced as he held on tightly, using all his strength to ensure they didn't lose the vital piece of equipment. It dangled precariously in the icy air, threatening to slip from his grasp, but Lincoln's determination prevailed. With a careful twist, he secured the axe, his grip unyielding. "Got it!" he called out through the coms, his voice tinged with relief and triumph.

With tremendous effort, he hurled Dexter's axe back up to his friend, who caught it with his free hand.

"Nice catch, dude!" Dexter's voice rang out weakly. Lincoln forced a smile, saying, "You too," even as their energy waned and the cold gnawed at them.

Together, they needed to find shelter and warmth before it was too late, but the events leading to this moment had sparked some tension between them. "It's getting colder, and it's getting dark," Lincoln's voice sounded through their coms, his anger evident. He knew that if they survived their first day on this unforgiving mountain, it would be a small miracle.

The source of their dispute was Dexter's insistence on pushing higher for a faster summit. They were seasoned hikers, having conquered taller mountains, but today, Dexter's unwavering confidence had put them in a precarious situation. The thinning air sapped their ability to think clearly. Lincoln felt torn between anger and the realization that they needed each other to survive.

Their surroundings grew dimmer as the sun descended, and the temperature plummeted. "Torch," Lincoln commanded, and his wristwatch emitted a piercing light that cut through the gathering darkness. 

Dexter flinched at the sudden brightness. "You scared me there!" he chided through their coms.

"Sorry," Lincoln replied, "We both need some light." 

Dexter agreed and illuminated his surroundings.

"Wait, I see something!" Dexter announced and continued climbing upward. Lincoln groaned; the earlier catch drained his energy. Nevertheless, he couldn't let Dexter explore alone. He glanced down at their backpacks, still tethered to the rope. With a determined resolve, he continued the ascent, striving to catch up with his friend.

As Lincoln drew near, he noticed Dexter fixated on a small opening in the snow. Normally, such a discovery wouldn't warrant this much attention, but a dim, strange crimson glow radiated from within. Lincoln followed Dexter's gaze, his eyes shifting to the eerie light. He saw his friend's gaze glazed and distant as if he wasn't looking at the light at all but staring right through it.

"Dex?" Lincoln called, his concern evident.

Dexter shook his head, snapping back to reality. He worked to widen the opening with his axe, hoping to reveal whatever lay beyond. "I've got an idea," Dexter murmured, his eyes never truly settling on the mysterious light. Lincoln watched as Dexter worked, and for a moment, he couldn't see the crimson glow. 

Perhaps it was just a trick of the cold.

Peering down at their backpacks, still dangling from the end of a rope, Lincoln couldn't help but feel that they were dancing on the edge of danger. His feet stayed stuck on the snow, as his heart began to race in anticipation. 

"I found an opening, but we need to dig our way through. Come on, help me," Dexter said without making eye contact. Lincoln nodded and closed in on his friend, thrusting his ice axe into the snow.

Suddenly, the small opening started to expand as if it had a life of its own, greedily sucking the snow into its dark depths. "It's too big! We're going to fall in!" Dexter cried out in panic, and both used their ice axes to halt the expanding abyss. Their efforts, however, only resulted in disaster. The ground collapsed beneath them, and they tumbled into the gaping maw.

Their screams echoed through the icy abyss as they fell into the unknown. The world above vanished, and they plunged into a long, disorienting descent. Eventually, the darkness swallowed them whole, and their consciousness slipped away, leaving them lost in the frigid abyss of uncertainty.