Episode 1- The Beginning
Hi, my name is Josh.
I worked with a group of people here at a polar station. We were 5 people.
I was waking up every day at 7.AM or sooner to start working. Eating, going outside, watching the penguins, working on our research, and so on.
It was an interesting type of job. Definitely much more different compared to any other job in this world.
It was nice, but then everything changed...
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I walk around the abandoned streets of my hometown. No one is here. As I keep walking, I look at the buildings and notice that my apartment is completely destroyed. Suddenly I feel cold and uneasy. It gets dark... extremely dark. I hear strange sounds, which make my body shiver. Suddenly I'm in another room full of blood and with the bodies of my family members.
It looks terrifying.... So terrifying.
I wake up.
Josh: Fuck...another nightmare...
I truly don't know what my problem is with these dreams.
It was a sunny morning with good weather in Antarctica, and I woke up early like I usually do.
That seems quite new compared to all the snowstorms we had recently, so I'm glad everything is so calm now.
I brushed my teeth and got ready to eat breakfast with everyone. I quickly forgot about my nightmare and went on.
As I enter the common room, I directly see Veronica sitting and eating already.
Veronica: Hi Josh. Woke up early, huh?
Josh: Yeah, I did. Everyone else is asleep, as it seems... I mean, yesterday was a hard day after all.
Veronica: Yeah, that's true... You watched the news recently?
Josh: Oh, nah, you know I don't really watch the news.
Veronica: Damn, what a shame. I heard there's a new virus in France.
Josh: In France?
Veronica: Yeah, but there are also some first cases in the USA. I'm kind of scared, to be honest.
Josh: Hmm...well, I think you shouldn't be so scared of another normal virus. I mean, there were already hundreds of viruses on this earth so let's not think about that nonsense. Right?
Just a useless attempt of mine to calm her down...
Veronica: Yeah you're probably right...
She smiles at me like she always does with that huge smile on her face and looks at me with her blue eyes which look like two oceans I could look into every day.
Veronica is a nice girl. She's 19 so a year younger than me since I'm 20. We work a lot together because she's the kindest person in this group, even though she can get easily scared sometimes, like right now. But we two work perfectly together, and we grew pretty close throughout our lives.
Josh: Should I make some tea?
Veronica: Yeah, that would be nice. Thanks...
Andrew: Good morning, Josh and Veronica.
Andrew is my best friend. We both share similar interests, and he's a nice guy after all, even though he can be quite competitive and impulsive. But after all he's still my best friend.
Josh: Good morning, Andrew
Andrew: Good morning, Josh. I'll make myself a cup of tea by the way.
Josh: Alright...
I give Veronica her cup of tea and sit down to drink my own and eat an egg. Besides, the other two people will most likely just wake up in a few hours.
Andrew: Ah, all of social media is going crazy because of that new virus.
Josh: Nah, don't tell me you also think this virus is dangerous.
Andrew: To be honest. I do think that. People who get infected turn crazy or some sort of crap.
Veronica: Yeah, I also heard about it. It's genuinely terrifying...
Josh: Well, that sounds new... But anyway, we're on fucking Antarctica haha. No one can touch us here, right?
Andrew: Hehe, yeah man.
Anyway, you and Veronica should go and meet the supply ship today, okay?
Josh: Yeah...of wait? Today!? I thought that's tomorrow. But alright, we'll do that.
Andrew just nods at me.
After we were done eating, the two others woke up.
Jary is a man around the age of 30 and his wife Mary is also around the age of 30. Jary and Mary, what a cute couple huh? Arguing every evening about what to watch on the TV here. It truly feels like we can never choose anything because of them.
Me and Veronica went outside to wait for the ship. The sun keeps shining at us and the ocean is calm. A perfect morning...
Josh: They should be here already...
Veronica: Hmm, yeah, it takes longer than usually.
Josh: Well, we could use the time and watch the penguins. How does that sound?
Of course she likes that idea.
The penguins are now resting and some of them are catching fish in the water. Truly a wonderful view while being surrounded by all the snow next to the large ocean. So much more peaceful than it is in those large cities. Especially since there's most likely so much panic because of that new virus.
Veronica: Yeah, that sounds awesome.
You know my father always brought me to zoos. I always felt bad for them being captured there. Here it's genuinely beautiful to look at them.
Josh: Yeah, I understand you. They are so free here and this is so much more beautiful. Imagine how free they would be if humanity never existed...
Veronica: That would be wonderful for them. But I'm happy we both escaped from all these crowded cities.
Josh: Yeah... I guess that's true...
As the hours go and we talk and watch the penguins together, we genuinely enjoy the time, but the supply ship doesn't arrive and we can't contact anyone.
So we decide to go back and tell Andrew about it.
Veronica: Something is off... It shouldn't be like that. We need the supplies...
Josh: Yeah, I know we do...but we'll just contact the ship later or tomorrow.
Besides Veronica... Wanna watch a film together later today?
Veronica: Well, that sounds nice to me, hehe.
As we arrive and want to tell Andrew about it, we see the crew completely devastated.
Josh: What's going on here?
Andrew: We can't call our families. We can't get in contact with someone from our team.
Josh: No supply boat arrived...
Andrew: WHAT?!
Josh: We waited for hours, but no one arrived.
Mary: You're kidding, right?
Jary: Fuck... That's bad...
I see Mary and Jary being completely shocked, which surprises me a lot since they're so calm usually.
Josh: What is? I mean, we can wait a few more days or weeks, right?
Andrew: No... We didn't check the supplies and we don't have enough. The ship had to come or a helicopter... We need the supplies now!
Josh: Just call the other polar station.
Andrew: You don't get it right?
No walkies are working and we have no contact with other polar stations anymore.
We don't know what's going on...
Veronica: Wait...wait no, this has to be a bad dream.
Josh: How long? How long do we have time until there's no food anymore?
Andrew: 2 Days...
Josh: Fuck...wait... can't we just go to the other polar station?
Andrew: We could, but it would take two days, and after the snowstorm this week, the road to the other polar station could be dangerous.
Josh: Do we have a different choice?
Andrew: I guess we don't
Jary: I was talking a few weeks ago with someone from the other polar station. He said that a ship full of supplies arrived at their station during that time. If we arrive there, we could have enough food for a year.
Andrew: Damn Jary. The nonsense you were talking about with Joe truly gives us something finally.
Josh: Well, I suggest we head out tomorrow early in the morning.
Andrew: Alright. Prepare everything today.
I look at Veronica's terrified face.
Josh: It's alright, Veronica. I know that everything will be fine, okay?
Veronica: Okay, I trust you, Josh....
After preparing this day, the night arrives, and I walk into my room and say good night to Veronica before I lay down in my bed.
I never thought I would just have to leave this station. It became my home after I left my home in the United States.
This crew became my family, and I care about them. But that journey will be dangerous, and I know that I'm not ready to go through that. I'm so scared... As scared as I never was in my life before. Not even as scared as I was when I left my family to work here. I just don't want to lose the life I have here. It was never much, but I know that everything will change now, and I just want my life back.
This virus isn't just a virus, and I feel like something awful will be ahead of me.
And to be honest. I lied to Veronica because I don't know if everything will be fine, but I know one thing. This journey will be dangerous and it will change us forever.
Good night....
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I hope you enjoyed this episode and if you want to share your thoughts, then you can do that and I will appreciate it of course (:
