Ice Castle

The powerful ice crept up buildings, shooting cracks across the walls. Ominous, dark clouds covered the sky only letting a dim white glow through.  Towers of ice rose encasing old buildings.  Thunder echoed through the ice ravine as lightning flashed illuminating the clearing. Low-lying areas of the town slowly sank into the freezing slush.

Silence was interrupted by a lone call of a solitary penguin.  Calling away, every day.  Held at the hands of nature.  Inside a protected bunker lay a human.  A lone survivor.  Sentenced to rebuild the town brick by brick.  Starvation was close at hand for there was no food.  Just lots of water.  Days dragged past not knowing if he would make it through the night.  All of his contemporaries had perished due to the cold.  But he was safe in his bunker.  The penguin who was left behind was his only companion.

Time passed pitifully slowly as their hopes dwindled.  Clouds gave way to blue sky causing the temperature to rise.  Suddenly, a faint hum echoed through the valley.  Slowly getting louder until it was roaring.  He cautiously took a peek.   A white base on wheels was looking for survivors.  He wasn't the only one!  He sprang up as the monstrous vehicle stopped.  Hydraulics pushed open a square door revealing a bright light.  He dashed inside as quickly as he could and collapsed on the hard floor. "Congratulations!  You passed the first test,” said a voice. As his eyes adjusted to the light he could just make out a figure standing in front of him. T he looming figure chuckled menacingly.