The three girls stood still for a moment outside the battered old cabin. Large drifts of snow surrounded them like prison fences. Even here in the shelter of the trees, stray currents from the blizzard blasted them. Swirls of snow danced along the tops of the encircling drifts. The sun was still hidden behind the clouds, only dimly lighting the landscape. The white clouds of their breath were tattered by the fierce gusts.
The leafless branches of the trees whipped back and forth, clawing at the intensely cold air. The harsh contrast of white snow and the grey bark of the trees made an eerie contrast to their blinking eyes. Their hair was teased by the wind, blowing into their faces by the swirling air.
Quinn blinked, leaned toward the other two and said, "We'd better not waste any time out here! Stay right with me, and let me know if you see anything!"
They crunched through the snow to the back of the cabin. A small mound next to the back door revealed another small pile of wood, though it was frozen into a solid chunk. A snow covered barrel was used to burn trash, though it seemed empty now, filled with the blowing snow. The back of the cabin only had the single door, and a thin curl of smoke from the stovepipe that was ripped away by the wind.
Looking around Quinn and Stacy could see why Tiffany had been so frightened out by the place. The only colors were white and grey. The old cabin huddled in the snow as if it were slowly sinking down into the snow covered ground. The trees were thick, and completely leafless, blocking the wind.
Looking up, they couldn't even see the clouds, only the swirling snow. The light seemed to come from all around them, but not from the unseen sun, hidden behind the swirling snow. The girls
grouped together uneasily, staring around them at the harsh surroundings.
Stacy tapped Quinn on the shoulder and pointed to a dim outline in the nearby trees. Wading carefully towards it, the girls discovered a small building like a tool shed, and the unmistakable shape to even these city bred girls of a battered outhouse. Their "ewws' of dismay sounded as one, followed by their nervous laughter. Quinn gingerly opened the door, to discover the inside was still intact, though dusty, and filled with cobwebs and leaves.
They next checked the shed, grateful to leave the storm if only for a moment. It was dirty and dusty, with the wind blasting drifts of snow through cracks in the walls. It was filled with various pieces of junk, including broken axe handles and old car parts, as well as rags and other rubbish. Stacy spotted an old fashioned hubcap, and picked it up. To Quinn's and Tiffany's inquiring glances she just shrugged and said, "I just thought we could clean it out, and melt some snow to drink. Even as cold as it is, I'm really thirsty." Tiffany just smiled and nodded. Quinn said, "Good thinking, I'm getting thirsty myself."
Quinn picked up a rusty axe head with a big crack in it to chip apart the frozen wood by the back door. There were odds and ends of broken furniture in the shack as well, so she was reassured as to a future wood supply if needed. Bracing themselves, they marched back out into the storm.
After their brief shelter, the outside seemed even worse. They struggled toward the cabin. Tiffany tripped on something buried in the snow, falling forward with a cry of surprise. The other two girls helped her up, and arm in arm marched toward the front door of the cabin.
Quinn shouted at the others, "Should we rest now, or just try to get to the car? Tiffany, how's your leg?" "It's ok-ay, Quinn, "she replied. "I'm alright, but lets just get to the car and back inside." Stacy nodded in agreement. Still arm in arm, the pushed into the face of the blowing wind, toward what they hoped was the general direction of the car.
The thinner the trees got, however the stronger the howling wind was, until they could barely force their way forward. Just at the beginning of the clearing, their way was blocked by a huge drift of snow, higher than their heads. They stood there, braced against the wind, staring in disbelief.
They walked along the edge, hoping to find a way around it, but had no success. They looked in despair at each other. Quinn shook her head in frustration, and leaning in towards the others shouted," lets just go back to the cabin now, and we'll think of something else!" The wind pushed at their backs, so that they half ran through the lesser drifts to the cabin.
Passing the lamp post, they noticed the lantern was gone, though they didn't stop, but kept on to the door, hitting it with a loud thump. Quinn grabbed the handle and turning it, she and the others stumbled back inside. The dimly fire-lit darkness blinded them, and they stopped, breathing hard from their forced run.
As their eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the cabin, they made out the shadowy form of Sandi, still huddled on the bench next to the fire. She was bent over, arms wrapped around herself, shivering almost violently. She hadn't even looked up at their entrance. Quinn and Stacy dropped their burdens by the door, and the girls moved uneasily to Sandi. Stacy gently reached out to touch Sandi's shoulder and said softly, "Sandi? We're back. Are you alright? What's wrong?"
Sandi jumped up with a small shriek. "I, I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep. It's so hot in here, and I'm so thirsty and hungry, and, "her voice trailed off, looking at her concerned friends. Sandi's face was pale, her hair damp with sweat. "Quinn took off one glove, and touched her forehead. "Sandi, you're burning up with fever! Lay down on the bench. Stacy, Tiffany, put your jackets on her."
Quinn went to the door and picked up the old hubcap. Opening the door and stepping outside, she scoured it out in the snow, and scooped more snow into it into it. She opened the door and stepped back inside the cabin. Sandi was lying on the bench, covered with the other girls coats. They had sat down on the other bench, leaning toward the old stove. Quinn sat the hubcap down on top of it, waiting for the snow to melt. She laid her own jacket on Sandi's shivering form and sighed.
Sandi had already fallen asleep again. Stacy looked at Quinn, fear in her eyes, "Quinn, what are we going to do? She's really sick. We can't get to the car, and we still cant call out!"
"It'll be okay!"Quinn replied. "The Highway Dept is probably plowing the roads now, and we can try to get to the car a little later , is all. We can just keep Sandi warm, and give her plenty of water to drink. It'll be okay, I promise!"
"Quinn, this is really freaky! Who put that light out there last night, just in time for Tiffany to see? Who would even guess she would leave the car at that time? Why was the door unlocked? And who was singing last night, and attracted her attention to the cabin? I don't like this at all!" Stacy was clearly on the verge of one of her hyperventilation fits.
Quinn put her hands on Stacy's shoulders, staring directly into her eyes. "Stacy, it'll be alright! We can't fall apart. We've got to stick together to get through this. It's still early. It'll clear up outside, and we'll get some help for Sandi, and go home." Stacy stared back into Quinn's eyes, her hands clasped together in front of her, trembling, then slowly forced herself to calm down.
"I, I'm sorry, Quinn, it's just that this is spooky, and I'm worried about Sandi, and I don't like this, this dirty old place, and I, I have a d-date tonight, and I really want to go home."
"Well, lets just warm up in here a bit, and then we'll try that opening in the tree's that Tiffany thought might be a driveway, okay? It's still early in the morning, and somebody should be coming along anytime."
Stacy smiled weakly and sat down next to Tiffany, who smiled back, and started touching up her nail polish, with intense concentration. Quinn smiled and sat down next to Sandi, glancing at her friends. I guess some things don't change, even in a situation like this!