Prologue (4)

Limpid (adj.)

Festinate (v.)

Glaciarium (n.)

Abysmal (adj.)

Fanatical (adj.)

Soon, all soldiers had reached the clearing and started setting up a temporary base. As this was going on, search parties of 4 Sections led by their Sergeants spread out to search the area.

In the Section that headed North, 3 parties further spread out with 3 soldiers in each.

"How is this a simple college? It is so big, it is taking a whole Brigade to search the area and this is just counting the soldiers." A woman with broad shoulders and black hair spoke.

"I read that it came into existence just half a decade ago and it was the best institute in the whole world. Students would commit suicide on being expelled from here and getting in was a sure shot guarantee to riches and power. I wonder what happened?" Another woman with blonde hair replied.

"Shut up, you two. Let's pick up the pace. In front of us is the college dorm. Maybe we can find something or someone there. Jenny, you report to the Sergeant." A third woman with black but long hair interrupted the conversation as she told the other black-haired woman. The trio moved forward with festinated steps and soon reached the dormitory.

"Party C, reporting to Delta Base. Come in. Over." Jenny's voice rang in the silence.

"This is Delta Base. Party C, what is your status? Over." A voice crackled through the radio.

"We are at the Dormitory and preparing to enter. Over."

"Affirmative. You have permission to enter. Over and out."

"Alright, let's get a move on and see what the geniuses of this institute hid in their rooms," Jenny spoke to the other two as she put the radio away.

However, as soon as they entered, it felt as if they had fallen in a cold hell. An abysmal smell drifted in the air as the three girls froze in their tracks. They were expecting to find an atrium and then corridors leading to different rooms.

But in front of them were the melted remains of a glaciarium. A whole glaciarium in the dormitory.

"Oi, Jenny. We are in the dormitory, right?"

"Yeah. It says so on the desk, right across the rink."

"Who has an ice rink in a dormitory and that too right near the entrance? Do we live in the same world as these geniuses?"

Look, there is something in the middle. It looks like something broke through from the underground. It is inconsistent with a blast."

"How strong must it be to break free from that? I think we should report first before going further. If whatever broke through 12 inches of reinforced concrete is still around, I doubt we three would be a match. Jenny"

"Yup. On it, right away. Hello. Delta Base, come in. This is Party C, reporting. Over."

"This is Delta Base. Party C report. That was quick. Over."

"We are in the Dormitory, and it looks like something really strong broke through from underground. We are reporting for further orders. We have not investigated thoroughly but we estimate it to be really strong to be able to tear apart 12 inches of reinforced concrete. There is a glaciarium here, melted now. Yes, an ice rink. I think there is something that needed the cold to keep it calm. The blast must have awoken it or something. Without further investigation, we cannot say. Please send backup immediately. Over."

"We hear you. Party A has also found something similar. Do not investigate. I repeat, do not investigate. Hold your positions. Other platoons will soon join up and investigate. Secure the area. Over."

"Understood. Over and out."

As Jenny put away the radio, she turned to her comrades and spoke, "Well, you heard the orders. We are not to investigate. I don't want any nonsense from you this time, Marla. Last time we got into trouble, we had cleaning duty for a month. Also, this time, I really don't like the air here. It feels dangerous as if something is looking at us from the shadows."

With an almost fanatical look on her face, Marla, the blonde woman, cried, "You heard the orders. We have to secure the area. That means we have to go through everything carefully."

Trying to make herself cute a pout formed on her lips.

"NO." Almost shouting, but with a stern voice, Hanna, the last of the trio, spoke quiveringly. She was looking at something a bit far away as her eyes went limpid and fear cropped into her eyes. Fear, not from something known, but from that of being a prey with a predator's eyes set on her. An instinctual fear, one that forebodes of one wrong step and all that awaits is death.