Chapter 12 - Stranded in the Storm
A fierce mountain blizzard chose that exact moment to unleash its fury, howling through the pine trees and blanketing the road in thick, blinding sheets of white snow. Mark cursed under his breath, popping the hood to inspect the engine, but the bitter sub-zero wind immediately froze his fingers, making any mechanical repair impossible in the dark. Elena wrapped Leo in an extra wool blanket inside the freezing cabin of the car, keeping him calm by whispering comforting stories while the wind battered the vehicle like a battering ram. Mark climbed back inside, shivering and out of breath, knowing that staying in the dead car meant risking hypothermia within hours. They had to walk the remaining mile to the old logging station on foot through the blinding blizzard. Bundled up as best as they could, Mark carried Leo on his shoulders while Elena held tightly to Mark's jacket sleeve as they trudged step-by-step through the drifting snow. Visibility was reduced to mere inches, and the howling wind swallowed up their voices entirely. Just when exhaustion threatened to overwhelm them, a faint, flickering yellow light pierced through the heavy snowfall ahead, signaling the salvation of the abandoned logging station—or perhaps something much more dangerous waiting in the dark.
