The Long Dark- A Journey Through Frozen Hell

Secrets

Yukari slowly opened her eyes, unsure of where she was at.

She raised her head to discover she was beside a fireplace, warming up.

She remembered passing out by a car but not remembering getting here, though.

"So... She lives." A woman's voice called.

Yukari looked over to see a pale faced woman with a red sweater and thick coveralls approaching her and knelt down.

"Where am I?" Yukari asked.

The woman knelt down.

"And she speaks. You're in my house. Found out in the snow a few days ago."

Yukari's eyes widened.

"A few days?"

"Almost dead. You're half frozen and then feverish. Judging by those bruises on your neck and arms, I'd say you've been dealing with more than just bad weather."

The woman took out a cigarette and lit it, making a small cloud of smoke that burned Yukari's lungs.

"I ran into some trouble." 

"I know. I found that rescue party of yours. All dead. If the convicts didn't get them, the wolves did."

Yukari's heart sank as a pit of worry filled her.

"I..."

"You're still weak. Rest up, and we'll talk more later."

"No, I'll Uh, I'll be okay."

"Suit yourself. Then let's talk."

Yukari sat up, meeting the woman in height.

"What's your name?" Yukari asked.

"Names Molly."

"I'm Yukari Akiyama. You said you were in your house. How did I get here?"

"I was out... hunting... when I found you laying in the snow. Buried. You'd been out there for hours. Maybe days, nearly dead."

"Uh... thank you for finding me."

"Don't thank me. Thank the crow."

"Crow?"

"Yeah, a crow. Maybe a raven. Damn bird wouldn't shut up. Maybe it was guiding me to you."

Yukari looked down at her feet, noticing she was only in her socks with her boots next to her.

"So... the power has been out. We were trying to survey the island for the Peacekeepers and Red Cross when we were attacked."

"Yeah. We're used to power going on and off in Pleasant Valley sow ere usually prepared for that. Feels like you run this far on generators for a better part of this year. The problem is now the generators won't start. Or the cars. Tractor. The TV's dead and the radio. The only thing that works is the old landlines and rotary phone"

"How does that work?" Yukari asked.

"Don't know. The old party line from when thus farm was originally put in maybe sixty, seventy years ago. I don't know how or why it still works."

"So can we call for someone?"

"There's nobody to call."

"Nobody else lives around here?"

"Nobody who'd help if you ask."

Yukari looked to the left to stare at the fire.

"So you carried me here, right?"