CHAPTER 235: Alaska, a Safe Place - 2

CHAPTER 235: Alaska, a Safe Place - 2

Hours later, the plane finally landed.

Alaska received them with a blast of dry cold and a constant wind that seemed to pierce through clothing. Everything was white, immense… and silent.

Fenix and Selene descended from the plane along with the few passengers. Lucian remained still between them.

As soon as they set foot on solid ground, Selene took a folded map from her backpack and opened it carefully, holding it so the wind would not tear it away.

—Alright… —she murmured, observing attentively—. We have to get to Mount Huntington.

Fenix approached a little, looking at the map.

—Is that where those… White Nocturnes are?

—In theory, yes —she replied—. That's where their fortress should be.

Selene traced the map with her finger, calculating distances.

—There are no direct routes there —she added—. It's complicated terrain.

Fenix sighed.

—Perfect.

Selene raised her gaze.

—But I have an idea of how to get there.

Fenix looked at her, waiting.

—We can take transportation to a nearby point… some town or mountain base —she explained—. From there, we go on foot.

—And how long is "on foot"?

Selene made a brief pause.

—Quite a while.

Fenix let out a small tired laugh.

—Great… trip, extreme cold, and a suicidal hike. Perfect plan.

Selene ignored the comment.

—We don't have many options.

The wind blew harder, lifting snow from the ground.

Fenix looked toward the white horizon.

—Then let's not waste time.

Selene folded the map quickly.

—Follow me.

The icy wind struck without rest as they advanced through the snow-covered terrain. Their steps crunched in the silence of the white landscape.

Selene walked a few steps ahead, without turning around.

—Fenix…

He raised his gaze slightly.

—Sorry about earlier… on the plane.

Fenix remained silent for an instant.

—It's nothing —he replied at last, in a low voice.

Selene nodded slightly, though he could not see it.

—We have a long way to go —she added, adjusting her backpack—. But if we keep up the pace… in about five, six hours we should arrive.

Fenix looked toward the frozen horizon.

—Then let's keep going.

The wind blew hard again.

And without stopping, they continued advancing.

Munich — Cargo Zone, Shipment Bound for Alaska

The port was wrapped in the constant noise of heavy machinery, running engines, and orders shouted between workers. It was already night, but the activity did not stop.

Several operators were finishing securing the last containers on the cargo ship.

—Come on, this is the last one —one shouted, signaling to the crane operator.

The hook descended slowly… but when they tried to lift one of the containers, something did not add up.

The metal structure creaked slightly.

—What the hell…? —another worker murmured, looking at the panel.

—How much does this weigh?

The operator checked the data.

—I don't know… it's not listed.

—What do you mean it's not listed?

The worker approached the side of the container.

Nothing.

No clear labels.

No origin.

No contents.

Just a generic code badly printed.

—This isn't registered —he said, frowning.

—Well, someone paid for it to be —another replied, shrugging—. And quite well.

The first one looked at him.

—How much?

—Enough not to ask questions.

There was a brief silence.

The wind blew between the port structures, making the metal of the container vibrate slightly.

CLONK.

A dull blow resonated from inside.

The two workers stood still.

—…Did you hear that?

The other hesitated a second.

—It's probably the cargo shifting.

CLONK.

Again.

Louder.

The first one swallowed.

—That doesn't sound like cargo.

The operator from above shouted.

—Hey! Do I lift it or what?

The two looked at each other.

One second.

Two.

The one who had mentioned the money let out a sigh.

—They paid us to load it… not to open it.

The other did not seem convinced.

But finally he stepped back.

—Do it.

The crane tensed the cable.

The container rose slowly, emitting a metallic screech as it was placed with the rest.

Inside…

Silence returned.

But only for a moment.

The engine roared with force as the enormous cargo ship began to slowly separate from the port. The city lights were left behind little by little, reflecting on the dark water.

The ropes were released.

The ship advanced.

And the journey began.

On the deck, several crew members watched as the port became smaller and smaller.

—Another long trip… —one murmured, leaning on the railing.

—Yes… —another replied, arms crossed—. How long do you think we'll take this time?

The first shrugged.

—No idea. Depends on the weather, the routes…

A third crew member, more experienced, intervened without taking his eyes off the horizon.

—About two or three days.

The other two looked at him.

—That long?

—It's Alaska —he replied calmly—. It's not exactly around the corner.

The wind struck hard, colder as they moved away.

—If the weather turns bad, even longer —he added.

The first let out a sigh.

—Great… two or three days stuck in this thing.

—It could be worse.

—It can always be worse.

There was a brief silence.

The ship kept advancing, cutting the water with a constant rhythm.

Far below them…

In the depths of the cargo.

Among sealed containers.

Darkness.

Silence.

And something more.

A slight…

KNOCK.

Then another.

Louder.

As if something inside one of those containers was not willing to wait two days.