They set off down the, now icy, road. They eventually came to a crossroad. Hikari told Misaki to turn left, up a very narrow dirt track, as Hikari had described it earlier.
"We stay on this track for 8 miles, and then we turn left. My Father's cabin is on that road." said Hikari.
Then continued up the dirt track. The car shook as they went over the rough terrain; it clearly wasn't made for going off road like this.
The snow was now creating blankets of white over everything. It was like a wonderland, or would be if the situations weren't as they were. Now it just felt like the world was out to kill them. It had taken their carers from them first, and now was punishing them with cruel weather just as they needed it least.
"Turn on the radio!" said Eito, quite loudly. This was the first thing he had said since he had told Takao his name.
"If you're right, and all the adults are gone, then there will be no radio." replied Takao, quite stubbornly, as if he didn't believe Eito.
"Oh yeah... well try it... anyway." said Eito.
Misaki turned on the radio with the push of a button. That was strange. It wasn't static as they had been expecting. Instead there was this sort of... well... what sounded impossibly like a voice....
"What's that?" Asked Eito
"Turn it up" said Takao
"Yeah" Hikari exclaimed.
Misaki did so, and as she did, the wonder that had been on the student's faces grew ever greater at the sound that came from the radio.
It was a voice.
It was talking.
It said: "Citizens of the Kimcho Mountain District. This is a Code 4 Warning. This is not a test run..." and it repeated so on and on and on...
"That's strange" inputted Akio, "How is the radio still broadcasting?"
"Must be built in to the radio system rather than a broadcast" replied Takao.
Finally, after a treacherous journey up the mountain side, they reached the cabin. The lights were still on.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"My parents haven't been up here in over a week now" Hikari pointed out, "They never leave lights on. This is very strange." she continued.
Takao simply nodded as the car pulled up to the parking area. Misaki parked the car and the group got out of the car. Takao could feel the cold mountain air combined with the storm of snow which was now falling from the sky. It was an immense freeze. This weather would certainly kill some of the less competent kids down in the main town. It would cause havoc.
People would be looting houses for things to burn for warmth, and more importantly weapons and valuables. Children and teenagers are unpredictable when authority is removed. Anyone is.
The group approached the cabin. Hikari tried the door; strangely, it was unlocked. Hikari was about to enter when Takao held her shoulder.
"I'll go in first. You have no idea what could be in there." He said to her.
At first, Hikari put tried to put up some defense.
"It's my families cabi..." there was a large thud from inside the house, followed by a crash.
She decided to let Takao go in first. When he entered the house he signalled for the others to wait outside. He then grabbed a cane which was by the inside of the door. He was ready.
He made his way down the hall. He heard sudden footsteps from the kitchen, at the back of the house. He ran to the kitchen to see if he could catch what was likely a looter. The room was empty. A photo was smashed on the floor, and the back window was flung open; curtains drifting in and out with the wind.
Takao looked out. Footprints dotted away from the cabin. Whoever it was had left, and in a hurry too.
Takao called for the others, telling them it was safe to enter the cabin. They met him in the kitchen...