Isolation (Penumbra Fanfiction)

A/N: Okay. This is a Penumbra fanfiction. For those that don't know - It's a horror game.

Don't let that stop you from reading, please. You don't need to know anything about Penumbra to understand this, as anything to do with it are explained fully, so no background knowledge of the game is actually needed. 

Soyeah. I hope you enjoy it. Feedback is appreciated (:

______________________

“An expedition to the Archaic Research Center and Mine, in Northern Greenland will be taking place within a week, setting off on the 2nd of May. The list of scientists that are joining is in the main hall, on the bulletin board.” An announcement came on, informing all the workers of the upcoming expedition that had made the workers either nervous, or excited.

The Archaic Research Facility and Mine was located in the depths of Northern Greenland and was abandoned years ago after an outbreak of a deadly disease, so it's been said. However, recently an email came in to a professor who taught linguistics in a university in London. The email was supposedly sent from the Archaic explaining about something called the “Tuurngait”. Many of the professional scientists didn't believe it, thinking it was a hoax or words of a madman. Either way, the Science Research Center of London did more study on the Archaic and what they were doing in the isolation of Greenland, and have now taken the risk of going there.

The expedition was first announced, with no date, almost a year ago, with a huge doubt that it'd ever happen. And now it actually was. Only a maximum of 5 people were allowed to attend, and not many more than the limit had volunteered.

Christina was most eager for it; praying she was chosen. The Archaic and the disease, or infection, had caught her interest from the moment she heard about it. So when the announcement came overhead, she rushed out of her office and towards the hall. Already, there was a small crowd, she pushed her way through to see the notice.

“The expedition to the Archaic in Greenland is an extremely dangerous one that will leave on the 2nd of May. The following scientists are joining this expedition, and an email will be sent shortly regarding what should be brought and safety regulations.

Cameron Rodgers

Eric Wilson

Natasha Burton

Christina Cohen

James Walker”

Christina beamed as she saw her name. She couldn't believe she was picked, she had only just joined this center from university. She looked over the other people's names. She knew them. They worked with her on the research of the Archaic. She was quite happy to be going with them, they were more experienced than she was, and on a dangerous expedition, experience would be vital.

A week had passed. It was the night the expedition set off to Greenland and the scientists going were told to remain at the center as they'd be leaving in the middle of the night. Christina sat in the mess hall, staring at her bag in front her, not being able to believe that was she was heading to Greenland in just only an hour. They weren't allowed to bring more than a rucksack's worth of items, and only key items for survival. It was all a little confusing for her, weren't they going to have supplies there? Or have built a new building next to the Archaic for them to stay in? Isn't that what normally happened? She looked up, everyone was sitting at a table to themselves. No one wanted to talk to anyone, even though they were all friends, more or less. Maybe it was the nerves.

The silence was broken when the door creaked open, the head scientist of the center came in. He simply looked at us for a moment, and they all looked back at him expectantly. He finally spoke after another few moments of silence. “The car that is taking you to Heathrow is ready outside.” He informed them tonelessly. The five scientists glanced at each other, the atmosphere of the room began increasingly tense. “At Heathrow you will be flying on a private jet to Nuuk, the Greenland capital. And from there, you go via boat to the Archaic.” He paused again, expecting someone to say something, ask a question, when they all remained silent, he spoke again, “The only entrance we know of to the Archaic is through the mine, so you'll be going through there. Good luck,” He said and turned around to leave.

“Wait.” Christina called, he turned around, “You make it sound like we're going alone without any actual experts like yourself.” Surely they wouldn't be sent over there by themselves?

He hesitated, then spoke. “That's right. You're all going alone.”

“You're kidding, we can't go alone, it's too dangerous!” Cameron yelled, outraged. There were nods of agreement from the others.

“You'll be alright,” The man waved his hand, acting as if it was no big deal, “You have to go now. The car is ready.” With that, he left before anyone could say anything else on the subject.

Cameron swore loudly in anger as he left out the door to the car park, the rest of them following him.

If possible, Christina's nerves increased, her stomach doing continuous somersaults, they were going alone. It was dangerous. What if they died? No. That wasn't going to happen, chances are nothing that dangerous could be in there.

The whole journey to and through the airport was silent, filled with a tense atmosphere between the five of them. Christina did want to talk, to break the silence, but everytime she tried, a lump in throat prevented it. On the plane, she was sat next to Eric, with Natasha on the side of Eric, and across the aisle was Cameron and James who seemed deep in conversation about something Christina couldn't hear from her seat by the window.

“How dangerous do you think it could actually be? In the Archaic?” Eric asked her suddenly, making her jump slightly.

“Oh... I don't know...” She mumbled.

“Are you ready?” Eric then asked.

It was a question that, if asked one day earlier, she would've confidently replied 'Yes', although now, after realising the five of them would be going without any assistance from professionals caused her to become nervous and worried. She was dreading the moment the plane landed at the Greenland airport, and it would be time for the board the boat, when there'd be no turning back. Christina wasn't sure how to reply, she didn't want to seem weak and say no, but she wasn't about to lie and say yes. “As ready as I can be,” She finally replied to him. He nodded, but said nothing more.

From the plane at Nuuk to the Nuuk docks and onto the boat happened too fast. All the events blurred to Christina who felt extremely jet lagged and wasn't ready to jump on the boat straight away. They had landed in the freezing temperatures of Greenland's night, snow surrounding them, and they were immediately taken to the docks where a single white and red boat was bobbing in the water, ready to take them to their final destination. It was clear on everyone's expressions that they weren't prepared to get the abandoned and life threatening Archaic. However, with no other option, they moved forwards and boarded the boat, heading to the last place they'd ever visit.