Beneath the Ice

The wind howled over the frozen tundra, sending sheets of snow spiraling into the twilight sky. Maya tightened the hood of her parka, her breath crystallizing in the frigid air. Ahead, the jagged entrance to the ice cave loomed, its edges glistening like glass.

“I still think this is a terrible idea,” Noah called over the wind, clutching a metal detector.

“You’re welcome to stay in the snowcat,” Maya shot back. “But I didn’t haul you all the way to Greenland to chicken out now.”

Noah sighed, following her into the cave. Inside, the air was eerily still, and the walls glowed faintly blue. Maya shone her flashlight, its beam dancing over ancient carvings etched into the ice.

“Look at this,” she said, running her gloved fingers over the symbols. “It’s older than anything I’ve ever seen.”

“Older than you?” Noah quipped, earning a glare.

“Very funny. Help me find the artifact.”

The expedition had been funded by a wealthy collector obsessed with Norse mythology. He’d given Maya a crumbling manuscript that spoke of a legendary weapon—the Frostheart Spear—hidden beneath the ice and guarded by an ancient power.

They ventured deeper, the tunnel narrowing until they reached a massive chamber. In the center stood a frozen pedestal, and embedded in it was the spear. Its blade shimmered with an otherworldly light, and frost spiraled outward, coating the walls.

Maya approached, her breath catching. “This is it.”

Noah hesitated. “And you’re just going to… grab it?”

Maya smirked. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

As soon as her fingers touched the spear, the ice beneath their feet cracked with a deafening roar. The chamber trembled, and a deep, guttural growl echoed from the shadows.

“What. Was. That?” Noah asked, his voice shaking.

Maya didn’t answer. From the far end of the chamber, a massive creature emerged. It looked like a bear, but its body was made of jagged ice, its eyes glowing white with fury.

“Run!” Maya shouted, yanking the spear free.

They sprinted back through the tunnel as the ice beast charged, its claws raking the walls. Frost spread in its wake, and the temperature plummeted even further.

“Do something!” Noah yelled, slipping on the icy ground.

Maya stopped and turned, clutching the spear. She pointed it at the creature, unsure of what to expect. The weapon hummed, and a pulse of energy shot out, striking the beast. It roared in pain, but instead of collapsing, it grew larger, absorbing the frost around it.

“Great plan!” Noah shouted.

“Shut up and keep running!” Maya replied.

They burst out of the cave just as the ground behind them collapsed, sealing the beast inside. Panting, they fell into the snow, the spear still glowing faintly in Maya’s hand.

“I told you this was a bad idea,” Noah grumbled.

Maya grinned despite herself. “Bad ideas make the best stories.”

Far below, the ice beast roared, the sound a promise: this wasn’t over.