Chapter 14: Buried in Snow

The mansion groaned under the weight of the storm. Snow pelted the windows like a relentless force, and the wind howled, shaking the walls of the old house as if it might tear them apart. George stood by the flickering fire, watching the flames dance, but the heat felt like it barely made a dent against the biting cold that crept through the mansion's cracks. He could see his breath hanging in the air, and his fingers were stiff, even with the layers of blankets and jackets they had piled on.

"I can't believe how fast it's gotten this bad," Raven muttered, wrapping her arms around herself. She was standing by the window, staring out into the swirling storm. "It's like something out of a nightmare."

George couldn't disagree. The blizzard was unlike anything he'd ever seen. In a matter of hours, the temperature had plummeted, and snow had piled up to nearly cover the first-floor windows. It was only mid-afternoon, but the dark clouds made it feel like twilight, casting everything in a dull, oppressive gray. He could barely make out anything beyond a few feet from the house, the world outside buried in white.

Bear whined from his spot by the fireplace, curled up in a ball, his nose tucked under his paws.

"Poor guy's freezing too," George said, reaching down to give Bear a reassuring pat. "We're doing our best, bud."

Raven moved away from the window, her face etched with concern. "The generator's dead, and the power's out. I don't know how much longer we can keep warm in here, even with the fire."

George nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I tried checking the generator earlier, but it's too cold to do anything about it. It's frozen solid. We'll have to make do."

Lucy, who had been pacing near the kitchen, groaned and flopped into one of the armchairs, pulling a blanket tight around herself. "This is ridiculous. We're stuck in the middle of a freaking arctic apocalypse. How are we supposed to survive if this keeps up?"

Marcy came in from the hallway, holding a tray with mugs of hot tea. Her face was pale, and her hands were shaking slightly as she set the tray down on the coffee table. "Here, everyone drink this. It's not much, but it'll help keep us warm for now."

George took one of the mugs and blew on the steaming liquid. The heat felt like a small luxury in the bitter cold. As he took a sip, his eyes drifted to the windows again. The snow was piling higher by the minute. Soon, they might be completely sealed inside.

"We'll need to hunker down for the night," George said, setting his mug down. "There's no way we're getting out of here anytime soon. We'll need to block off the windows, make sure the fire stays going, and bundle up as much as we can."

Lucy looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, but what about when the fire goes out? And what if the blizzard lasts for days? We're going to need more than tea and blankets to stay alive."

Marcy gave her a stern look. "We'll get through this. We just have to stay focused. The storm will pass eventually."

George glanced at Raven, who was staring into the fire, her brow furrowed in thought. He could tell she was worried, everyone was. But she was holding it together, just like she always did. He appreciated that about her. No matter how bad things got, Raven was a rock.

"I'll take first watch tonight," Raven said, not looking up from the fire. "We need to keep an eye on the fire and make sure it doesn't go out. We can take turns through the night."

George nodded, but a sinking feeling gnawed at his stomach. The storm wasn't just dangerous because of the cold. Something darker was coming, he could feel it.

The hours crawled by, the storm raging outside like a beast that refused to be tamed. The fire was doing its best to fight off the cold, but with each passing minute, it seemed like the temperature dropped even further. Despite the blankets and the fire, George's teeth chattered, and his fingers were nearly numb. He'd already lost feeling in his toes, despite wearing two pairs of socks.

"This isn't working," Lucy muttered, shivering as she huddled closer to the fire. "We're going to freeze to death if this keeps up."

"We need more blankets," Raven said, though even she looked like she didn't believe it would help. "Maybe if we all stick together, we can share enough body heat to keep warm."

George felt a pang of guilt. The others were struggling just as much as he was, but as the leader of this ragtag group, he couldn't afford to let the cold break him down. "We'll have to sleep in shifts, like Raven said," he said, his voice rough from the cold. "But she's right. We'll need to huddle together to stay warm."

Marcy nodded, though she looked worried. "The kids are already struggling to stay warm, and if this storm lasts longer than a night…"

"We'll manage," George said firmly, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

Lucy rubbed her arms, her teeth chattering as she tried to adjust the blankets around her. "Well, I don't know about you two, but I'm freezing my ass off. If we're gonna huddle, we better do it now before I turn into a popsicle."

George glanced at Raven, who was already moving closer, her expression unreadable. She wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and settled down next to George, her body pressing against his. A shiver ran through him, not entirely from the cold.

Lucy hesitated for a moment, but then she sighed and moved to the other side of George, pulling her blanket over both of them. "This doesn't mean anything, by the way," she muttered. "We're just trying to stay alive."

"Whatever you say," George replied with a smirk, trying to mask his discomfort at the closeness of both women. He wasn't used to this. The storm outside might have been brutal, but the tension between Raven and Lucy felt just as dangerous sometimes.

For a few moments, they sat there in silence, the fire crackling softly in the background. George could feel the warmth from both women seeping into him, their bodies pressed close to his. It was awkward, but it was necessary. He wasn't sure if they'd survive the night otherwise.

"You know," Lucy said after a while, her voice soft, "this reminds me of something I read in one of those survival books. People used to do this all the time, huddle together to conserve body heat during the winter."

Raven chuckled, the sound surprisingly light considering the situation. "Yeah, well, I doubt those survival books had this much drama involved."

George laughed softly, though it was mostly to cover his nervousness. Despite the cold, despite the storm, there was something… intimate about this moment. He wasn't sure what it meant, but for now, he was grateful for the warmth.

The wind howled again, and the house creaked under the strain of the snow piling up outside. The cold air still slipped through the cracks in the walls, but with Raven and Lucy pressed against him, George felt a little better. At least, for now, they were all in this together.

As the minutes ticked by, the awkwardness of the situation started to fade, replaced by the necessity of survival. The warmth shared between them was real, even if the tension still lingered beneath the surface.

Raven adjusted her blanket and rested her head against George's shoulder, her breath soft and steady against his neck. Lucy, on the other side, shifted closer, her body pressing against his. George couldn't help but feel the electricity of the moment, his heart racing, even though the storm raged on outside. The howling wind and biting cold seemed distant now, pushed away by the quiet intimacy of the situation.

It was Lucy who broke the silence first, her voice low. "You know, for all the crap I gave you back at the college, I didn't think we'd end up like this."

George chuckled nervously, trying to play it off. "Yeah, well, I didn't expect to be stuck in a mansion during a blizzard, either."

Raven smirked, though her eyes were still focused on the flickering fire. "Life's funny that way. We were all so different back then. Now..."

"Now we're surviving," George finished for her, his voice quiet. The weight of everything they'd been through hit him in that moment. The battles, the near-death experiences, and the way the group had come together, despite the odds. He'd never thought he'd be in this position, let alone with two women who had become so important to him.

Lucy's voice softened, and there was a hint of something more than her usual teasing. "I never hated you, you know. It was just... easy to pick on you because you were always so sure of yourself when you were in your element. Video games, Dungeons & Dragons... all of that. I was just... well, you know."

George turned his head to look at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her words. "Yeah, I guess we all had our ways of dealing with things. But none of that matters anymore, does it?"

Raven, still resting her head on his shoulder, murmured, "No, it doesn't."

The silence stretched between them again, but this time it was different. There was a shared understanding, a realization that they had become more than just a group of survivors thrown together by circumstance. They were a family now, and George could feel that bond strengthening in the quiet moments like this.

As the night grew colder, the tension between Lucy and Raven finally started to dissolve. They weren't rivals anymore, at least not in the way they had been before. They were both here for George, and that realization brought them closer together.

Lucy shifted again, her breath warm against George's neck. "You've always been a good guy, George. I just... I didn't see it before. But now..."

Raven looked up, her eyes meeting his. "We're in this together. All of us."

George's heart raced, the intensity of the moment building as their bodies pressed closer, the cold forgotten for now. His mind buzzed with everything they'd been through, the emotions swirling around him like the storm outside. He could feel the warmth between them, not just from their bodies but from the unspoken connection they shared.

Raven moved closer to me, her body pressed against mine. "You're part of us now," she whispered, her lips brushing against my ear. "And we take care of each other."

Lucy nodded in agreement, her hand reaching out to stroke my chest. "We've been through so much together," she said, her voice soft and tender. "We trust each other, and we care about each other. And now we can show each other just how much we care."

George looked at the two beautiful ladies and a naughty thought crossed his mind.

"No, it couldn't be." He thought to himself.

Raven chuckled and gave me a playful smile. "What do you think is happening here, George?" she teased, her hand tracing lazy circles on my stomach.

Lucy giggled and sat up, leaning against the headboard. "We're having a threesome," she said bluntly. "Isn't it obvious?"

Raven and Lucy both laughed at my surprise, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"Come on, George," Raven said, her hand moving lower, her fingers brushing against my inner thigh. "You can't tell me you haven't thought about this before."

Lucy nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We've been wanting to do this for a while now," she admitted. "And now seems like the perfect time."

I looked back and forth between Raven and Lucy, still trying to process what was happening. "Wait, you guys don't hate each other?" I asked, confusion evident in my voice. "I thought you were always fighting."

Raven rolled her eyes playfully. "We don't hate each other, George," she said, her hand still tracing patterns on my thigh. "We just have a... unique dynamic."

Lucy nodded in agreement. "We may argue a lot, but deep down, we care about each other," she said, her voice softer now. "And we both care about you."

Raven moved closer to me, her body pressing against mine again. "And we both want you," she whispered, her lips brushing against my ear. "We want to show you how much we care about you, and how much we want you."

Lucy scooted closer as well, her hand joining Raven's on my thigh. "We want to make you feel good," she said, her voice husky with desire. "We want to make you feel loved and wanted."

I felt my heart racing as Raven and Lucy moved even closer, their hands and bodies pressed against mine. I couldn't deny that I was excited and nervous, but I tried to play it cool.

"So, you guys are just going to gang up on me, huh?" I teased, trying to hide the fact that I was getting turned on.

Lucy smirked at my comment, her eyes glinting with determination. "Oh, we're going to do more than just fuck you," she said, her voice low and sultry. "We're going to make you scream our names and beg for more."

Raven and Lucy both leaned in, their lips attacking my neck with a fervor. They kissed and nipped at my skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Lucy's hands roamed over my chest, while Raven's fingers teased my inner thigh.

I let out a moan as they continued their assault on my body, my mind reeling from the sensation.

Raven and Lucy's lips met in a passionate kiss, their tongues tangling together as they explored each other's mouths. They seemed to forget about me for a moment, lost in the heat of the moment.

I watched in awe as they kissed, their bodies pressed together in a way that was both erotic and beautiful. It was clear that there was a deep connection between them, one that went beyond physical attraction.

As they kissed, Raven's hand found its way to Lucy's breast, squeezing it gently. Lucy moaned into the kiss, her body arching towards Raven's touch.

They broke apart for a moment, both of them panting and flushed with desire. "You taste so good," Raven whispered, her eyes locked on Lucy's.

Lucy smiled and leaned in for another kiss, this time capturing Raven's bottom lip between her teeth. Raven let out a low growl, her hand still on Lucy's breast.

"You're such a tease," Raven said, her voice husky with desire. "You know I can't resist you."

Lucy chuckled and ran her hand down Raven's stomach, her fingers tracing the lines of her muscles. "That's the point," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Raven and Lucy began to undress each other, their movements fluid and practiced. They removed each other's clothes with ease, leaving a trail of discarded garments on the floor.

As they stripped, Lucy turned her attention to me, her eyes roaming over my body hungrily. She climbed on top of me, straddling my hips as she began to remove my clothes.

As Lucy's hand reached under my boxers, I let out a gasp of surprise. I couldn't believe this was happening. It was everything I had ever fantasized about, and it was happening in real life.

Lucy's hand wrapped around my cock, her touch sending shivers down my spine. "You're so hard," she whispered, her voice low and sultry.

I couldn't help but moan as Lucy stroked my cock, her hand moving up and down slowly. Raven, who had been watching the scene unfold, moved closer to us, a smirk on her face.

"Looks like he's enjoying himself," she said, her eyes fixed on my face.

"Are you okay?" Lucy asked, noticing my panic. She slowed her movements, her hand still wrapped around my cock.

Raven leaned in closer, concern etched on her face. "You look like you're about to pass out," she said, placing a hand on my chest.

"I'm fine," I managed to say, trying to catch my breath. "It's just... this is all so surreal. I never thought this would actually happen."

Raven and Lucy exchanged a glance, both of them smiling at me. "We're happy to make your fantasies come true," Raven said, her hand joining Lucy's on my cock.

As Raven's hand joined Lucy's, I let out a moan of pleasure. The sensation of both of them touching me was overwhelming, and I felt my body responding eagerly to their touch.

Lucy leaned down and whispered in my ear. "We're going to take good care of you," she said, her breath hot against my skin. "We're going to make you feel things you've never felt before."

Raven and Lucy continued to stroke my cock, their hands moving in perfect unison. They worked together, their touch sending waves of pleasure through my body.

Lucy's other hand began to roam over my chest, her fingers tracing the lines of my muscles. "You're so sexy," she murmured, her eyes locked on mine.

Raven leaned in and nipped at my earlobe, her teeth grazing the sensitive skin. "We're going to make you come so fucking hard," she whispered, her voice low and seductive.

Lucy increased the pace of her strokes, her hand moving faster and faster. I could feel the pressure building inside me, my body tensing up as I approached the edge.

Raven and Lucy took turns kissing and teasing my cock, their lips and tongues driving me wild with desire. They would take turns sucking on the tip, their tongues swirling around the sensitive head, before switching off and teasing the rest of my shaft.

I could feel myself getting closer and closer to the edge, my body trembling with need.

Lucy bit her lower lip and giggled playfully. She turned her head and looked at Raven with a devilish gleam in her eyes.

"Mmmm I think he's gonna cum."

Raven chuckled and nodded. "I think you're right," she said, her hand still stroking me. "He's getting pretty worked up."

Lucy smiled and increased the pressure of her mouth on my cock, her tongue flicking against the underside. "Just let go, George," she said. "We want to make you feel so good baby."

Raven and Lucy began to take turns sucking my cock, their mouths moving up and down in perfect sync. They would take turns taking me deep into their throats, their tongues swirling around my shaft as they did so.

I could feel the pleasure building inside me, my body tensing up as I got closer and closer to the edge.

As Raven and Lucy continued to work on me, they began to giggle and moan playfully. They could feel how close I was to the edge, and it seemed to excite them even more.

"He's almost there," Raven said, her voice husky with desire. "Can you feel it?"

Raven moved down to my balls, taking one into her mouth and sucking gently. She used her tongue to tease the sensitive skin, sending shivers of pleasure through my body.

Meanwhile, Lucy continued to suck on my cock, her mouth working up and down the shaft with renewed intensity. She could sense that I was close to the edge, and she wanted to push me over it.

"Oh fuuuuck!" my voice trembled as I neared my orgasm.

The sensation of Raven sucking on my balls and Lucy sucking my cock was overwhelming. I could feel the pressure building inside me, and I knew that I wasn't going to last much longer.

"I'm gonna come," I gasped, my body tensing up as the pleasure threatened to consume me.

Lucy smiled around my cock, her eyes locked on mine as she continued to suck me off. She could tell that I was on the brink of exploding, and she wanted to make sure she was ready for it.

Raven, sensing my impending release, moved her mouth back up to my cock, joining Lucy in the effort to bring me to climax.

As Raven and Lucy worked together to bring me to the edge, I felt my body tense up even more. My breathing became ragged, and my hands clenched into fists as I struggled to hold back.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. With a loud moan, I came hard, my cock pulsing in Lucy's mouth as I emptied myself down her throat.

As I came, Lucy eagerly swallowed every drop of my cum, her eyes never leaving mine. She kept sucking and licking until I was completely spent, then finally released me from her mouth with a satisfied sigh.

Raven moved up to kiss me, her lips meeting mine in a hungry, passionate kiss. "You taste so good," she whispered, her hand running through my hair.

After Lucy had finished cleaning me off, Raven and Lucy exchanged a knowing glance. They had something else in mind for me now.

"We're not done with you just yet," Raven said, her voice low and sultry.

Raven straddled my lap, her eyes locked on mine as she lowered herself down onto my cock. She let out a low moan as I filled her, her body arching back in pleasure.

Lucy moved behind her, wrapping her arms around Raven's waist and pulling her close. She began to kiss and nibble on Raven's neck, her hands roaming over Raven's body.

As Raven began to ride me, Lucy continued to kiss and touch her. Raven's body moved in a slow, sensual rhythm, her hips grinding against mine as she took me deeper and deeper inside her.

Lucy's hands moved up to cup Raven's breasts, her fingers teasing Raven's nipples through her thin tank top. Raven moaned louder, her head thrown back in pleasure.

"God dam you're both so fucking, hot!"

"Dam right we are!" Raven moaned, her thrusts quickening with her need to come.

Raven's movements became more urgent as she rode me, her body moving faster and harder. Lucy's hands moved down to Raven's hips, guiding her movements as she continued to kiss and touch her.

I could feel my own arousal building again, my cock throbbing inside Raven as she rode me to the edge.

Raven's breathing grew ragged as she neared her climax, her body trembling with pleasure. Lucy could sense that she was close, and she increased the pace of her own movements, grinding her hips against Raven's ass.

"I'm going to come," Raven gasped, her eyes locked on mine. "Oh god, I'm going to come so hard."

With a cry of pleasure, Raven reached her climax, her body shaking as waves of ecstasy washed over her. She collapsed against me, her head resting on my shoulder as she rode out the aftershocks of her orgasm.

Lucy continued to move behind her, her own arousal evident as she watched Raven come undone.

As Raven recovered from her orgasm, she lifted herself off of me and moved to the side. Lucy took her place, straddling my lap and lowering herself down onto my cock.

She moaned as she took me inside her, her eyes locked on mine as she began to ride me. Raven moved behind her, her hands roaming over Lucy's body as she kissed and nibbled on her neck.

Lucy rode me hard and fast, her body bouncing up and down on my cock as she chased her own pleasure. Raven continued to kiss and touch her, her hands moving to Lucy's breasts and pinching her nipples.

I could feel myself getting close again, the sensation of Lucy's tight walls gripping my cock driving me wild.

Lucy's movements became more erratic as she neared her own climax, her breathing ragged and her eyes glazed with pleasure. Raven whispered something in her ear, and Lucy nodded eagerly.

"Oh fuuck that feels good!" Lucy cried out in pleasure as she rode me.

Raven moved down between Lucy's legs, her mouth closing around Lucy's clit as she continued to ride me. The sensation of Raven's tongue on her clit pushed Lucy over the edge, and she cried out as she came hard, her body shaking with pleasure.

As Lucy came, her body trembling with ecstasy, Raven continued to lick and suck her clit, prolonging her orgasm. I could feel my own release building again, the sight of Lucy coming undone on top of me pushing me closer and closer to the edge.

With a loud groan, I finally reached my own climax, my body shuddering as I spilled my seed deep inside Lucy. She moaned as she felt me come, her walls clenching around me as she rode out the last waves of her own orgasm.

As I finished coming, Lucy collapsed against me, her body limp with exhaustion. Raven moved back up to join us, a satisfied smile on her face.

"That was amazing," she said, kissing me softly. "That was so fucking good."

We all lay there for a few moments, catching our breath and basking in the afterglow of our shared pleasure. Lucy eventually lifted herself off of me and snuggled up against my side, her head resting on my chest. Raven lay down on the other side of me, her arm draped across my stomach.

"No more fighting," Lucy said, her voice still a little breathless. "We can all be together, and we can have hot sex whenever we want."

Raven nodded in agreement, a sly smile on her face. "I'm in. As long as I get to have you both whenever I want, I'm happy."

The fire crackled softly as George lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, his mind still buzzing from what had just happened. The storm outside had quieted down, the howling wind now a distant whisper. The cold still lingered, but it didn't feel as biting as before.

Raven was curled up against him, her head resting on his chest, her breathing slow and steady. Lucy was on his other side, her arm draped across his stomach, her body pressed against his. For the first time in what felt like forever, George felt... at peace.

The tension that had once existed between Raven and Lucy was gone, replaced by something warmer, something deeper. They weren't just survivors anymore. They were something more, something George had never expected but now couldn't imagine living without.

"I think we're gonna make it," George murmured, his voice soft.

Raven lifted her head slightly, looking up at him with a small smile. "Of course we are. We're tougher than we look."

Lucy chuckled softly from his other side. "Yeah, and you've got two badass women watching your back now. Nothing's gonna take us down."

George grinned, feeling the warmth of their words seep into his heart. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

For a few moments, they lay there in comfortable silence, the firelight flickering softly around the room. The world outside was buried under feet of snow, but inside the mansion, they had found a moment of peace, a moment of connection that made the storm seem less threatening.

But George knew better than to think it would last forever. The storm had been a warning, a reminder that the world outside was still dangerous, still filled with threats they didn't fully understand. And whatever had caused the blizzard, whatever dark force was behind it, wasn't finished with them yet.

"We should check on the others," Raven said, her voice quiet but firm. "Make sure everyone's okay."

George nodded, though he wasn't in a hurry to move. "Yeah. We'll need to figure out what we're going to do next."

Lucy stretched, yawning before sitting up, her hair tousled from sleep. "And we'll have to figure out how to dig ourselves out of here. That storm probably buried the whole town."

George sat up, pulling the blanket around him as he glanced out the window. The snow was piled high against the glass, blocking out most of the light. He couldn't even see the yard anymore, let alone the road.

"First things first," George said, standing up and stretching. "Let's get some more wood on the fire and make sure we have enough fuel to last another night. Then we'll figure out what's next."

Raven and Lucy got up as well, quickly getting dressed and pulling on their jackets. The moment of intimacy was over, replaced by the cold reality of survival. But the bond they had formed wasn't going away. It was something they could rely on now, something that would keep them going when the storm raged again.

As they walked back into the main room, George could hear the others stirring. Marcy was stoking the fire, and Elijah was sipping on a cup of hot tea. Grace and Danielle were still wrapped in blankets, looking out the window at the sea of white beyond.

"We survived the night," Marcy said with a small smile. "That's a victory in itself."

George nodded, feeling a sense of determination settle in his chest. "Yeah. But the storm's not over yet."

The morning light was a weak, gray wash against the snow-covered world outside, but it was enough to signal that they had survived another night. As George, Raven, and Lucy joined the others in the main room, the warmth of the fire did little to mask the biting cold that still seeped into the mansion from every corner.

The storm had buried everything.

George took a deep breath and glanced at the barricaded windows. Snow was piled high against them, nearly reaching the tops of the panes. Outside, the world was a stark, frozen wasteland, the road leading down the hill completely obscured by drifts. The only thing visible was the endless sea of white stretching toward the horizon, swallowing the landscape.

"We've got our work cut out for us," George muttered, rubbing his hands together to fend off the lingering cold.

Raven, standing beside him, surveyed the damage. "We're lucky the mansion held up through the night. I thought for sure the windows would blow in at some point."

Marcy, who was tending to the fire, nodded in agreement. "We're not out of the woods yet. We'll need to keep the fire going and make sure everyone stays warm. This storm's far from over."

Elijah approached, handing George a cup of tea. His expression was grim. "Radio's dead. Whatever happened outside must've knocked out more than just the power. There's no communication, no way to get any updates on the storm."

George sighed, taking a sip of the tea. "Great. So we're on our own for now."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of their situation settling in. Without power or any reliable way to communicate with the outside world, they were completely isolated, trapped inside the mansion by the relentless blizzard. The weight of it pressed down on George's shoulders, but he knew he couldn't afford to let it show. Not now.

"We'll need to ration what we have," George said, glancing at Raven and Lucy. "We've got enough food for a little while, but we'll have to be careful with it. And we should stockpile more firewood while we can. The last thing we need is to run out of fuel."

"Agreed," Raven said, grabbing her jacket and zipping it up. "We'll take turns gathering wood outside. The snow's too deep to get far, but we can pull some from the tree line and chop what we need."

George nodded. "I'll help with that. Let's make sure we've got enough supplies for a few days, at least."

After gathering wood for a few hours, the group reconvened by the fire. The pile they'd collected would be enough to keep them warm for a few more days, though the effort had left them exhausted. Bear curled up beside the fire, content and warm, as Grace and Danielle handed out cups of tea to everyone.

George slumped into one of the chairs, feeling the strain of the long night and the morning's labor finally catching up to him. His muscles ached from chopping wood, and the cold still clung to his bones, no matter how close he sat to the fire.

Lucy sat down next to him, nudging his arm. "You holding up okay, boss?"

He smiled at the teasing tone in her voice. "Yeah, I'm good. Just tired."

Raven leaned against the armrest of George's chair, her fingers brushing his shoulder. "We've got enough wood for now, but we'll need to figure out a plan. This storm isn't going to let up anytime soon."

George nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. They were stuck, but that didn't mean they couldn't be proactive. "We'll need to check on the food next. And we'll have to find a way to keep the rest of the mansion warm. The fire's not reaching the other rooms."

Marcy, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "We can section off parts of the house we don't need. Close the doors, stuff blankets under them, and keep the heat where we need it most. That should help conserve what little warmth we have."

George nodded in agreement. "Good idea. We'll start on that after lunch."

As they talked, a strange sense of calm settled over the group. Despite the cold, despite the isolation, there was a certain comfort in knowing they were all in this together. The night had tested them, but they had come out stronger for it. The tension that had lingered between them for so long had melted away, leaving behind a sense of unity that gave George hope.

"We'll get through this," George said quietly, glancing around the room at the faces of his friends, his family. "One way or another."

Later that afternoon, while they were working on sealing off the unused rooms, an ominous rumbling sound echoed through the mansion. George's head shot up, his heart skipping a beat. The rumble grew louder, shaking the walls of the house, and for a split second, he thought it was an earthquake.

"What the hell is that?" Lucy asked, dropping the blanket she had been nailing over one of the windows.

The answer came before anyone could respond. A deafening roar ripped through the air, followed by a thunderous crash. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the sound of snow and debris cascading down the mountainside filled the air.

"It's an avalanche!" Raven shouted, running to the window.

They all rushed to the windows, pressing their faces against the frosted glass. In the distance, they could see it, massive sheets of snow crashing down from the hills, burying the landscape under tons of ice and rock. Everwood and part of Englefield were now covered in feet of snow, completely erased by the storm's fury.

"We're trapped," George said quietly, the reality of their situation sinking in. "There's no way we're getting out of here anytime soon."

Marcy stood by the window, her face pale. "We'll have to dig ourselves out when the storm passes."

Raven let out a frustrated sigh. "If it ever passes."

But despite the overwhelming nature of their situation, George felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. They were still alive. They still had each other. And for now, that was enough.

"We'll make it through this," George said, his voice firm. "We always do."

As the group nodded in agreement, George's mind began to race with ideas for their next steps. The storm wasn't over, but they were ready for whatever came next.