Chapter 15

Billy drove Mark and Stella into town. As they drove, Mark observed the simple white lights that adorned the town. They flickered to life, casting a warm and inviting glow, giving Barrow a touch of naive romance.

The townsfolk were out and about, celebrating as if it were New Year's Eve. There were honking horns, joyful hugs, and tender kisses exchanged among the residents.

Mark's thoughts wandered as he took in the lively scene. "How many of these people can survive the month, I wonder," he mused, his gaze flicking from one cheerful face to another.

Billy joined in on the celebration, lowering his window and cheering along with the residents, all while honking the car's horn.

Stella wore a beaming smile as she looked outside, the earlier frustration of missing the plane completely forgotten. The festive atmosphere of the town and the warm celebration had a way of lifting her spirits.

Mark observed her, a smile gracing his lips as he watched Stella giggle and even snort in amusement. Stella felt his gaze and, upon meeting his eyes, shared a warm smile with him.

He leaned in a little closer, a playful glint in his eyes, and replied, "You know, they say it's the people you're with that truly light up the night."

Mark leaned in a little closer, a playful smile gracing his face as he replied, "You know, it's the people you're with that truly light up the night."

As he leaned in, Stella subtly caught a whiff of his natural, pleasant smell. Her eyes softened, taking in his calming scent.

She snorted and playfully quipped, "Well, you've got a point there, Mark. It's cheesy but sweet."

When they arrived at Billy's house, his family was in the front yard, gathered around and enjoying the company of their neighbors. His two daughters were cheering and playing with the neighbors' kids, while the mothers engaged in lively conversations.

Billy parked the car and turned to Stella. ""Do you want to join us inside, Stella?"

Stella glanced at her watch. "It's still early, so I think I'll grab dinner at Lucy's diner first." She warmly greeted Peggy, Billy's wife, and then noticed Mark, who was handing out chocolate bars to the kids.

Billy turned to Mark and raised an eyebrow. "You got a place to stay, Mark? Inns are probably closed around this time. Not many tourists during the polar nights."

Mark waved at the kids, exchanged pleasantries with Peggy, and then turned to Billy, scratching his head. "Well, I didn't really have a plan for accommodations. I guess I'll need to figure that out."

Stella offered a helpful suggestion. "You can try at Lucy's. She usually has a few vacant rooms in her diner. In fact, I'm heading there myself. So, perhaps we can begin the tour then?" She playfully nudged him.

Mark grinned and nodded. "Sure, Stella. I'm up for some local adventures. Show me around."

They prepared to stroll to the diner, which was just a few streets away. Peggy and Billy waved them goodbye. Mark handed Billy a Walkie with a grin. "I'll give you a call on this if I need a ride later."

Billy watched them walk away, looking at the device, contemplating why Mark didn't just exchange phone numbers with him.

Peggy interrupted his thoughts with a curious tone. "So, who's the handsome and polite young man?"

**

In the dimly lit alley, Stella's breath misted in the cold air as her heart raced in anticipation. Leaning against the sturdy support of the wooden wall, her upper body pressed lightly against it. The icy wind cut through the skin of her thighs, making her shiver.

The narrow passage was shadowed, with occasional light from a distant streetlamp casting faint glows on the frosty walls. The air was filled with an unmistakable sound of skin meeting skin, breaking the eerie silence. Each slap of movements sent shivers down her spine, and she bit her lips to stifle a moan. Each moment, she felt the rough texture of the wood against her coat as hands pinched her chest, eliciting a sharp quiet gasp.

Cold gusts of wind howled through the place , contrasting with the warm, sensual feeling growing inside her. Her breath quickened, and a slight but pleasurable pain teased at her neck. She tilted her head slightly, allowing the feeling to deepen. Her eyes closed instinctively, savoring the moment as a soft and wet sensation brushed against her skin.

A gentle pull tilted her head to the side, and then she felt a warm, wet sensation on her lips. She savored the moment with a gentle sigh, a taste that left her yearning for more.

Suddenly, a vehicle approached the alley, its engine humming softly as it neared. The slapping sound ceased abruptly. Stella catched her breath as she supported herself on the wall. She attempted to break free from the moment but she found herself trapped and unable to escape.

After a brief pause, the slapping sound resumed, quickening in pace. The motion persisted as the vehicle gets closer and closer, its headlights casting a shadowy veil over the narrow passage. Stella's core tightened. Her senses heightened as her heart raced. A mix of fear and pleasure shrouding her thoughts. The movements behind her grew faster, intensifying her sensations. Creating an overwhelming rush of conflicting emotions inside of her.

The vehicle finally passed by, its distant hum fading into the night. Stella breathed a sigh of relief as she felt a hot sensation in her womb, and then she shivered, her legs weakening beneath her, overwhelmed by the intense pleasure and warmth flooding through her. She stumbled slightly, her body swaying as if she might collapse. Supportive arms reached out and steadied her just in time, preventing her from falling to the snowy ground.

**

An impressive Satellite Dish Tower stood tall at the north end of town. Its silhouette was menacing, bristling with antennas and cell receivers, a testament to the wealth of the oil industry that birthed it. Nearby, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline snaked past the tower's base, separated only by a barbed fence.

Snowflakes began to fall, swirling in the darkness. Footprints traced a path around the tower in the snow. Without warning, a pale, ghostly face appeared, disappearing into the darkness.

The operator, in his late 60s and portly, sat at the control panel, absentmindedly whistling an old swing band tune. Somewhere outside, a distant, eerie howl grew louder, its pitch climbing higher and higher.

He cautiously opened the door, and as he stepped outside, gentle snowflakes landed on him. He shivered, his breath visible in the cold air. But then, there was a crunch of a footstep in the snow behind him. He swiftly turned around, flashing his light in every direction, but there was nothing there. Just eerie silence, interrupted only by the soft patter of snowflakes falling around him.

He moves forward into the dark, and then, there's something moving behind him again. He spins again as there's another crunch in the snow. He's looking around, trying to find where the sound is coming from, his flashlight shaking a little in his hand, but there's still nothing. Tensing up, he realizes he doesn't want to be out here. He quickly turns, heading back for the building, fear urging him to move faster.

As he follows the path, he discovers several lines of footprints leading to the dish tower, the operator quivers. Following the footprints with his flashlight, he comes across a pair of gleaming black eyes sizing him up in the darkness.

Then it vanished. He swings his flashlight beam intently, scanning the darkness like a searchlight. A shadow crosses the beam, much closer to him this time and then it disappears. The operator struggles to catch his breath. 'What on earth is happening here?' Right over his shoulder, a low guttural chuckle, harsh and sounding hungry, breaks the silence.

He drops the flashlight in fright, its beam casting a spotlight on his terrified face. Surrounded by a group of shadows, ominous figures closing in on him.

The operator stammers, "Who... who are you people?"

With a swift movement , a shadow swoops down, slashing a taloned hand across his face. Blood arcs through the darkness as he screams and staggers backward. The shadows close in, launching a frenzied assault, their talons tearing through his flesh. Their eerie laughter and strange shrieks surround him, amplifying his terror.

In mere moments, The operator is overwhelmed, the shadows tearing into him with savage delight. He collapses to the ground, and he is rendered nothing but prey. The air is filled with audible gulps as the shadows feed, and beneath them, blood trickles, staining the icy ground.

In his final moments, fear grips him, his heart heavy with dread, and terror seizes him as his life slips away, his world fading into darkness. The shadows, barely visible in the dim light, emit strange, guttural sounds, resembling whispered conversations in an otherworldly language.

A sudden snap pierced the silence. Moments later, the operator's head was impaled on a spike by the shadows, who then continued their walk towards the town.