Cold

Erik sat at the kitchen table, mindlessly spooning cereal into his mouth. His eyes were glued to the TV where a frantic news anchor was reporting on the latest disasters striking the world. The milk in his bowl was growing lukewarm, but he hardly noticed."Experts are baffled by the series of unprecedented natural disasters," the anchor said, her voice trembling slightly. "Earthquakes, tsunamis, and now a sudden and severe drop in temperatures across the globe. Scientists are scrambling to find an explanation."The screen cut to footage of towering waves crashing onto coastal cities, buildings reduced to rubble by violent tremors and snow-covered streets in places that had never seen snow before. Erik's hand paused mid-air, the spoon dripping milk back into the bowl."In some regions, temperatures have plummeted to record lows overnight," the anchor continued. "What was once a bustling summer day has turned into a frozen landscape. Residents are urged to stay indoors and conserve heat. Officials are calling this the most severe weather event in recorded history."The camera switched to a reporter bundled up in heavy winter gear, standing in what appeared to be a city park now buried under several feet of snow. The reporter's breath fogged up in the cold as she spoke."Many people here are saying this is unnatural," the reporter said, her voice muffled by a scarf. "Some attribute it to global warming, claiming it's a manifestation of the planet's climate crisis. Others, however, believe something more sinister is at play. There are those who say it's a divine punishment, a sign that the gods are angry."Erik frowned, stirring his cereal without appetite. His phone buzzed on the table beside him, but he ignored it. The theories were wild, each more far-fetched than the last. Yet, as he watched the chaotic scenes unfold on the screen he couldn't shake the feeling that something was profoundly wrong."God's punishing us," an elderly woman said in a video clip, her eyes wide with fear. "We've sinned too much, and now we're paying the price. This cold, it's not natural. It's like the world is ending."The screen flashed back to the anchor, who struggled to maintain her composure."Authorities are urging calm, but with no clear answers, fear and speculation are spreading rapidly. We'll keep you updated as more information comes in."Erik pushed his bowl away, appetite lost. He stood up and walked to the window, looking out at his own snow-covered yard. The chill in the air seemed to seep into his bones, and he shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. This wasn't just a freak weather pattern; it felt like the world was teetering on the edge of something terrible.Somehow, he could feel it.His phone buzzed again, and this time he picked it up. It was a message from Liam:"Dude, are you seeing the news?"Erik sighed and typed back, "Yeah, it's crazy. Let's hope it blows over soon."As he sent the message, he couldn't help but feel a gnawing sense of dread. Something deep inside him whispered that this was just the beginning.He opened the chat group where he, Liam, and Mia were the only members. They were two of his most closest friend.His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he typed, "Hey, let's meet up after school."Within seconds, the replies came in.Mia: "Sure, sounds good. Maybe we could be somewhere warm?"Liam: "Yeah. But seriously, why do we still have to go to school in weather like this? It's insane."Erik smiled faintly at Liam's complaint. Despite everything, his friend always found something to grumble about. But he had a point—going to school seemed almost trivial in the face of what was happening outside."Yeah, but we don't have a choice," Erik typed back. "See you both there."He put his phone down and looked out the window again. Sighing, he turned away and began to prepare for school. He layered up, pulling on extra sweaters and a heavy coat, before grabbing his backpack.As he trudged down the stairs, his mom called out from the kitchen. "Erik, are you sure you want to go to school today? It's freezing out there. I think its okay if you skip.""I have to, Mom," he replied while smiling bitterly. "I'll be fine.""Okay, just be careful," she said, worry etched on her face. "And take this." She handed him a thermos of hot chocolate, which he accepted gratefully."Thankyou."Erik stepped outside, the biting cold hitting him immediately. He pulled his scarf tighter around his neck.He hopped on his bike, the tires crunching over the snow as he pedaled down the driveway and onto the street. The cold wind whipped at his face."So cold. This even colder than last winter. Something is really about to go down."The journey to school was eerie. The streets were quieter than usual, the usual morning bustle muted by the unusual weather. Other students braved the conditions, bundled up and moving quickly. Erik pushed on, focusing on the road ahead.When he finally reached the school, he parked his bike in the rack and locked it up. The school building loomed ahead, amidst the snowy landscape around it.---The history classroom was filled with the usual hum of chatter as students settled into their seats. Erik sat near the window, idly twirling a pen between his fingers. The old radiator in the corner groaned and hissed, struggling to fend off the unusual cold seeping through the walls.Mrs. Blackwell, their elderly history teacher, stood at the front of the class, her gray hair pulled back in a neat bun. She cleared her throat and began the lesson in her usual measured tone, discussing the events leading up to the fall of the Roman Empire.Erik tried to focus, but the strange feeling in his heart persisted, making it hard to concentrate.As the lesson went on, Erik noticed a change in Mrs. Blackwell's demeanor. She paused mid-sentence, her eyes scanning the classroom with a distant, haunted look.Her face had turned pale and Erik could see a flicker of fear in her eyes. The usual firmness in her voice wavered as she spoke again, this time with a tremor."Students. Do you ever wonder about the consequences of our actions? The sins we've committed and the retribution we might face?" she began.The room fell silent, the students exchanging confused glances. Erik felt a chill run down his spine, not from the cold, but from the eeriness of Mrs. Blackwell's words. This definitely wasn't part of the lesson. Something was deeply wrong.Mrs. Blackwell's gaze drifted around the room, her expression growing more troubled. "We live our lives without considering the cost," she continued, her voice rising slightly. "The balance we upset, the wrath we might incur. What if... what if all these disasters are a sign? A punishment for our hubris?!"Erik's eyes widened. The room was dead silent now, every student hanging on her words. He could see the worry etched into their faces, reflecting his own unease."Perhaps it is too late," Mrs. Blackwell said, almost to herself. "Perhaps the gods have already decided our fate..."A loud, terrifying howl suddenly echoed from outside, cutting through the silence like a knife. It was unlike anything he had ever heard before—primal, fierce, and filled with an otherworldly menace. It was a sound that sent shivers down Erik's spine.---