An American plane took off from the runway and flew into the cold air. Amelia smiled as she stared out the widow and watched the runway disappear from view.
"I can't believe we're actually doing this," Elizabeth mumbled, shaking her head.
"We have to do it now or never," Amelia told her. "North Pole and Antarctica are out there, and it's only this time of every year that's warmer to land a plane. Besides, our parents aren't going to do anything about it. If they did, it wouldn't be much help. We have to go ourselves."
"Antarctica is zhe largest continent, but I doubt it will take them long to find us. Ve should stick together vhen ve land," Germanancy advised.
Mayling walked in the room and sat down beside Francis and Kibu.
"The pilot says everything is in order and we should be there in a few hours."
"Great!" Amelia smiled. "I can't wait to defrost these guys!" Ivan was staring at his hand with a worried expression.
"Are you alright, mon amie?" Francis asked, tapping his shoulder. Ivan woke up from his dazed expression.
"What? Oh, yes, I'm fine. I'm just a bit scared, I guess. These guys could be worse than Yao."
"Don'ta worry, Ivan. Maybe they'll talk it over with us? I'ma sure we can come up with some way to end this." Ita said, trying to lighten the mood. Then he pulled out a snack.
"Want a miranda?"
"Don't you think of anything besides food?" Elizabeth frowned.
"Can't fight a war without snacks!" Ita said squealed and began to much on the snacks.
"I want one!" Amelia said, reaching for some and popping it in her mouth. "It's good, man! Where did you get this?"
"I made it!" Ita said, jumping up and down with glee.
The eight children must have dozed off, because the next thing they knew there was something wrong with the plane. Amelia snorted awake as something fell in her lap. She noticed the plane had tilted and was beginning to rumble. She got up and walked to the pilot who was struggling with the wheel.
"What's going on?!"
"The cold. It's freezing the engine! I don't think we'll be able to land safely, we may crash!"
"Crap!" Amelia cursed as she walked back to her friends.
"Wake up! We need to get off now!"
"What's wrong?" May asked as she rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"The cold is freezing the engine. It's possible we may crash!" Amelia said, jerking Francis and Ita awake.
"But that's not right. It's suppose to be warmer this time of year in Antarctica."
"Well, with those two troublemakers out there on the lose, they're probably the ones responsible for it!" Amelia said as she grabbed parachutes for them all and tossed one to each.
"I'll get the pilot," Kibu said as he grabbed a parachute for the pilot and left to get him. Amelia noticed that Ita was trying to pack everything, including the snacks.
"I'm sorry, Ita. But we can't take everything we see with us."
"Even the snacks?"
"Maybe a few snacks, but we have very little time and we could go down at any minute."
"Is everyone suited up?" May asked as she put hers on. Everyone nodded, and Kibu and the pilot had returned.
Pressing a switch, the shaft opened and the very, freezing cold weather blasted at their faces. They jumped one by one and opened their parachutes as they neared the ground. The plane went down and caused an explosion, burning everything.
Amelia shivered against the bitter cold and the wind was so load that it prevented her to hear much.
"Ivan! Ita! Francis!" She called, but no answer came. "Elizabeth! May! Nancy! Kibu!" Still there was nothing and she even called out to the pilot. Did they survive the fall? Have they froze to death?
"Amelia!" came a voice. It was Ivan.
"I'm over here, Ivan!" Amelia called out to him. She couldn't see anything and she worried where she stepped.
"Amelia!" Ivan cried as he sounded closer. She at last could see him and she stood beside him.
"Have you seen the others?"
"Elizabeth and Francis are together, but I do not knowing where others are," he told her.
"We'll find them!" Amelia nodded, despite the cold that bit at her face.
Francis held the freezing cold Elizabeth close to keep her warm, despite her complaints.
"I can warm myself, Francis. I just need to start a fire." She pushed him away and called him a perv under her breath. It took a few minutes, but she did start a fire and the two gathered around it. It was a tiny flame, but it warmed them a bit.
"Elizabeth!" called a voice. It was Kibu and May along with Nancy and Ita.
Ita quickly rushed up to the fire and warmed his butt. The three others joined him, but they were warming their hands not their butts.
"Are you alright?" May asked them. Elizabeth and Francis nodded.
"Yes, but where is Amelia and Ivan?" Elizabeth shivered.
"I haven't seen zhem," Nancy shook her head. "I hope they made it. The cruel wind died down and they began to feel better. They also were able to hear Amelia calling out to them.
"Hey! Save some room for us!" She called.
"Did you find the pilot?" Francis asked. Ivan shook his head.
"I was hoping you did?"
"I guess it's just us now," May said. Everyone nodded.
"We should probably find a station, it can't be too far," Amelia said. Elizabeth reluctantly put out the flame and the eight of them made a long walk in the snow.
As luck would have it, they did find a station, but no one was there.
"That's strange," Amelia said. "I thought for sure someone would be here. It's not like these people to just all disappear like this."
"Well, looks like that have plenty of supplies," Elizabeth said, inspecting the cabinets. "Maybe they went out for a walk?"
"Would they all be gone?" May asked. "There should be at least one person here."
"I guess something came up," Francis said.
"Either that or they've been chased away."