One Deadly Night

Seven

Nothing but black surrounded her. The air was hot and thick with smoke.

Smoke? Skye thought. How did smoke get under the snow?

She was certain her eyes were open, but still, she couldn't see a thing.

High pitch ringing filled her head as she licked her dry lips. There was a strange metallic taste on the tip of her tongue.

Dull pain radiated through her skull and down her spine.

There was a hint of familiarity to all of this.

A woman was crying.

Skye strained to hear but it was too muffled.

"G-Gummie Bear?" The cry came again with more clarity.

Skye froze.

Her mother was the only one who called her by that name.

"M-Momma?" She whispered.

No, this can't be right. Momma died in the crash.

"Wake up, Gummie Bear!" The woman cried again but sounded much closer.

Skye became gradually aware of something cold squeezing her body.

"Wake up!" The voice boomed in her head.

Skye's body jerked and she instantly realized that huge clumps of snow was falling on her.

She wiggled in attempt to move but the tunnel she'd created was collapsing around her.

"Momma?" Skye whimpered. "Grandpa!"

Only the silence answered.

**

It was a treacherous hike around the snow pile since he had to make his way through broken tree limbs and stumps and at times, up to his waist in snow.

He's stopped at one point to seriously consider whether or not to turn around and head back to his truck. But something kept edging him on.

His hearing began to pick up faint trickling of water. He must be near Beaumont Fall now.

Determining that he should be near the midpoint of the avalanched area, Jon dropped his pack to the ground.

A quick glance at his watch told him that he was well past the ability to make it to the base by deadline.

He hoped his effort will pay off with retrieving survivors. But as soon as that thought entered his mind, he swore at himself furiously for being so heartless and selfish.

It was the main reason why he chose to become a Park Ranger – to be able to help people and animals in need. Unlike the military where he was bound by orders which many times at the detriment of others' lives and wellbeing.

Reaching into the pack, Jon pulled out several items which he attached to the belt around his hips. He replaced his Ranger's cap with a hard orange hat that contained a headlight, and slipped the crampons over his boots.

He clambered up the side of the mound, snow crumbling with each step, but he reached the top minutes later.

From there, his headlight showed many giant lumps of snow spread out before him.

He stole another glance at his wristwatch. It was nearly midnight. They've been buried for at least six hours. Maybe as long as eight. His chances of finding any survivors were slim to none at this point.

He won't give up. He can't.

He'd pulled out one man after being buried for more than ten hours.

There was still a glimmer of hope – he had to at least try.

Jon removed an item from his belt and opened it.

A metallic stick nearly eight feet long also known as the avalanche probe – Jon drove it through the deep snow.

**

Skye somehow managed to free herself from the collapsing section of the tunnel and was crawling back to the tiny cavity where Grandpa was when she stopped suddenly.

Strange clicking and hissing noises were coming from there.

Trying to quiet her rapid breathing, she inched forward until the dimly lit space came into view.

Her eyes grew wide as her breathing hitched sharply.

Grandpa's body was covered with grotesque-looking black beetle-like bugs.

What were they doing to Grandpa?

A large section of bugs slipped off the side of Grandpa's face leaving behind a gap where she saw the white of Grandpa's skull and jaw.

A shriek escaped before she could clasp her mittens over her mouth.

Skye paused – waiting to see if the swarming bugs would come after her. But they continued with their feast as if she wasn't there.

The realization hit her that she had no choice but to head back into the tunnel.

She crawled backward and bumped into something solid.

She craned her neck and saw that a wall of snow had partially filled the tunnel.