Permafrost

25: Icicle

⭐️Chapter 25: Icicle

The Infernos loved the meal. It was very well cooked. Elias sat down and ate with them as well. Together, they had a nice time. They had a chat about backgrounds and such. Ryn had brought her backpack up with her too, in case there were snacks that could be packed for their journey.

Elias had more siblings, and lived a life learning how to grow plants. He had never heard of the Frost Army ever in his life, nor run into anything of the sort. He HAD run into his own monster problems though. Mutant fishes that ate and tore up his crop to other creatures that didn't touch his crop but attacked him personally. The Infernos agreed that issues like that sounded hard to deal with.

The Infernos told him about what had happen to their home. Elias felt very sorry for them, and had no clue as to why the Frost Army would do something like that. He said he wished he could help them more other than providing a temporary stay and food. The Infernos told him that it was okay, and that he didn't need to do more. Elias only shook his head as they continued breakfast.

As the Infernos ate, they noticed that Elias ate faster than they did, and would always offer them more food despite saying he wasn't hungry himself. Once this had happened multiple times, Elias excused himself, saying he wanted to tidy up a little around the house. He told the group to help themselves and left. Jack eyed him suspiciously as he walked down the halls. Cosmo was also a little wary of him.

"Should I follow him?" Jack whispered.

"I can do it! I'm smaller!" Ryn offered.

"I'm not sure if you'll be able to take the pain of a bite or possibly being electrocuted, but...well...maybe I should do it."

"Jack!" Silvia hissed.

"Look, the less people involved the better, ok? I'll just go and make it quick."

Jack stood up out of his chair as Silvia shook her head and sighed, resting her forehead on her hand. Jack quietly walked over to the staircase that Elias had gone up, then sat there, trying to losten for something. Upon getting nothing back, he VERY slowly began to crawl up the stairs on all fours, praying that a stair wouldn't creak on him and give him away. He paused to listen. Still hearing nothing, he continued up the stairs.

Once he was near the top of the stairs, he made no move to get on to the top floor. He paused, now hearing some mumbling. Luckily, the Infernos talking downstairs was drowned out enough so he could listen. It seemed like Elias was in a room nearby, so Jack closed his eyes. He focused on what he heard...

"...Then, I'll just have them eat more! I can trap them in the shed and then set it on fire to cook them! Oooh, I could use the nice spice I got recently too! I remember when mom would make me this kind of stuff all the time...cooked squid was always a favorite..."

Jack quickly backed away, now scared of what else this man might be plotting.

He had to warn his friends, and FAST, before anything else nasty happened. Quickly but quietly, he tiptoed back down the steps, wincing as a few of them creaked. Once he was at the bottom floor, he quickly walked back to the table. The Infernos immediately noticed his worried expression, and, despite not wanting to know, had to ask about it.

"W-well? What happened?" Cosmo asked shakily.

"He wants to eat us. He's tying to make us eat so he can feast on us" Jack whispered, though desperately.

"He WHAT?!" Ryn exclaimed loudly, only to be quickly hushed by the others.

"We need to get out of here, NOW!" Silvia hissed.

Cosmo nodded.

"Right!"

The other Infernos got up from the table. Their current only way out was back through the shed, but that ran a risk of making noise while they were panicking. The front door was riskier though, as that one would make more noise, and the staircase was nearby it. Slowly and carefully, they dug through the pantry for a few rations to take on the road, gently putting them in Ryn's bag. They then began to work their way over to the shed doors.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps coming down stairs. Panicking, all of them quickly sprinted over, opened the doors, and darted through them, closing it behind them. They heard the footsteps get faster and sped up. They did their best to weave in and out of the shed tools, and by the time they heard the door to the shed open, they were already by the exit door. Still panting and huffing from running, they desperately tried the door.

You can imagine how scared they were once they found out it was locked.

Jack, full of adrenaline at the moment, pulled out his dynamo and began hammering at the wooden door as hard as he could. Ryn made a bit of a barrier around them with her hot ink, which the group could shove Elias into if needed. Speaking of which, his face popped around the corner, and saw the group, now with all of their weapons out. Jack paid no attention to him, but the others gave him the death stare. He seemed confused.

"Guys, guys...what's the fuss? Why you tryn'a damage my stuff all of a sudden?"

The other three Infernos exchanged glances. They weren't about to tell him.

"We have reason to believe you may be housing something dangerous in your home, and we want OUT" Ryn said firmly.

Silvia glanced at Jack, who had almost broken through the door.

"Dangerous?! Wh...whatever could it be?!" Elias exclaimed in shock.

Jack took one last swing, and the whole door collapsed. Silvia glared at Elias, speaking loud and clear:

"You."

And off they ran, as far away from that place as possible.

-----

"Okay, so can you do it?"

"Sorry. I'm busy with something that day."

"Drat!"

"Try one of the other two, okay?"

"Yeah...I know..."

Corrin hung up.

He really needed more friends.