The Deep Freeze

Part 3

It was 5am and if Michael had left the store, the alarm would have tripped and he would have been called. Terror raged through his mind, fearing for Michael. If he were there, he would be scared, and he walked to work! Bob ripped off the covers and started getting dressed. He had to see if everything was alright.

A sound came from the back. It was the sound of keys. Oh no! Someone was coming and they were in for a big surprise. Xanthan moved from the door. Michael knew he heard them. He had to do something before they became a feast for Xanthan. Michael carefully opened the door. Xanthan was gone, seeking new flesh. Michael grabbed the closest thing he could find and threw it across the room, in the opposite direction of the door. Xanthan lunged for it. The teeth and tongue came protruding outward. The whole back of the head sunk in as the teeth left the mouth. It looked like an inverted, mutated shark mouth with ten times the teeth and much sharper with a curve.

As Xanthan leaped through the air, almost flying now, Michael made a run for the door. He saw the door begin to open and he pushed hard and fast on it to get out of there. Michael quickly slammed the door shut behind him and saw that it was Dorkle Morkle. He grabbed Mr Morkle by the arm and pulled him away, telling him to run and he will explain later.

The snow and wind were painful as they ran as fast as they could. Mr. Morkle was puzzled as he ran with Michael through the back lot of the store. They stopped behind the dumpsters to have a look. It was too blinding to see anything. Michael had hoped Xanthan would not venture out in this since it only came out of the freezer just now; after it thawed out. As they crouched there, Michael tried to tell Mr. Morkle there was something in the store. It was some kind of animal, Michael explained. Mr. Morkle was only concerned with getting Michael to safety. He told Michael he remembered allowing him to stay longer last night and was coming to check the store. He had hoped Michael was not locked in all night. He figured Michael probably just let himself out, but he had to be sure. Mr. Morkle knew it was odd that the alarm was not tripped though it was hard to tell with a storm like this but came to investigate anyway.

Bob had to go back for the truck. Michael had been locked in the freezer all night and now, out in the bitter cold and wind. There wasn't a vehicle in sight, and even if there was, they wouldn't be able to see it through the white out. Michael didn't want him to go but he too knew there wasn't much chance of them getting too far without the warmth of a vehicle. Any other day, Michael could walk all the way across town in this, but after the night he had, there was little chance for him to make it across the street. He was tired, scared, hungry and weak. Not a good combination in a blizzard. Michael warned Bob again and told him to be very cautious when he got to the store.

Bob made his way towards the truck, which was parked directly in front of the door he had tried to enter. The snow was blinding. He did his best to cover his face but had to look for anything that may be headed his way. He was unsure of what Michael was talking about and feared hysteria from being locked in the freezer. Still, the look on Michael's face was genuine, so Bob proceeded with extreme caution. The truck was in sight now. Bob quickly ran to it and hopped in. The stillness and warmth that remained in the truck was comforting. Now to get back to Michael.....the keys!

Michael sat motionless as he did in the freezer. He was weak, tired and shivering from the depths of his organs to the outer surface of his skin. He could swear his blood was starting to freeze over. He felt like a living ice machine and the flavor inside was red but definitely not cherry. He wondered why it seemed to take Dorkle Morkle so long. The man was a dork but had enough sense to manage a store and leave his huge winter coat with Michael. Bob was wearing several layers of clothing and hadn't been locked in a freezer for a whole night. Plus, he was sure to be in the nice, warm truck by now...shouldn't he? What if the monster was waiting for him when he got there? What if Bob decided to go in a take a look? Michael knew Bob didn't take him too seriously and hoped he hadn't decided to check on the alarm like he planned to do in the first place upon arriving to the store.