Somewhere Wrong by Molly Black

Author:Molly Black [Black, Molly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Piper's unease grew as she slowed to a stop, peering through the frosty windshield to read the sign posted beside the road: "Restricted Area: Authorized Personnel Only. Unauthorized Entry Will Result in Criminal Prosecution."

"Looks like we're not exactly welcome," Wade muttered, his breath fogging up the window.

It was early morning, and the sun had just begun its tentative climb over the horizon, casting long shadows across the icy expanse that surrounded them. The landscape was barren, with only the occasional snow-covered tree breaking up the monotony of white. The silence hung heavy in the air, reminding them just how many miles they were from civilization.

"Seems that way," Piper agreed, her fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against the steering wheel. She surveyed the area, noting the lack of security cameras or obvious barriers beyond the warning sign. "What do you think we should do if they won't let us in?"

Wade stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes squinting as he tried to make out any details in the hazy distance. "I don't know. I guess we'll just have to convince them."

As Piper continued to drive, the glacier came into view. It was massive, an icy behemoth that sprawled across the horizon like a slumbering giant. Its surface was a gleaming expanse of white and blue, scarred with crevasses that plunged into deep, dark shadows. Sunlight glinted off the ice, casting a dazzling display of shimmering light that seemed to dance along the glacier's jagged edges.

"Wow," Piper said softly. "It's beautiful."

Wade grunted in response, rubbing his hands together for warmth. "I prefer watching glaciers on documentaries. At least I can admire them without freezing to death."

Piper smiled at the thought of showing Wade a glacier up close and personal—perhaps as part of a romantic date, hiking across the ice hand-in-hand. But she quickly dismissed the idea; there were more pressing matters at hand.

As they neared the facility, Piper expected to see a sprawling complex of buildings, a veritable fortress against the elements. Instead, what greeted them was a haphazard arrangement of Arctic solar tents, equipment, and temporary structures, all surrounded by a makeshift fence. The place had an air of impermanence, as though it could be packed up and relocated at a moment's notice.

At least a half dozen men moved about the site, their breaths visible in the frigid air as they went about their tasks. They wore rugged attire – heavy parkas, fur-trimmed hoods, and thick gloves – more suited to explorers than lab technicians. Piper watched as one researcher drilled into the ice while another man, armed with a high-resolution camera, snapped photos of the glacier's surface, documenting its every crevice and fissure.

"Looks like they're studying the glacier pretty thoroughly," Piper observed, trying to gauge the nature of their work. "But what are they looking for?"

Wade shrugged, his eyes scanning the scene with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "Beats me. This ain't exactly my field of expertise."

Deciding they wouldn't find their answers just by watching, Piper drove up to the gate and waited for someone to notice them.

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