Some Like it Cold (standard:horror, 8533 words)
Author: Kenneth Brosky	Added: Aug 13 2002	Views/Reads: 3357/2329	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Three teens, on their way home from a ski trip during a heavy snowstorm, end up stuck in a small town where something is very wrong.

The mist was thick, but that was okay because the van had a new set of
headlights. What wasn't okay was the fact that there was a mist 
outside. Adam turned on his wipers and cranked up the heat full blast 
to melt the frost that was accumulating on the windows. 

“It's a fucking mist,” Rico was saying from the backseat, “and it's
fucking freezing outside. Where the Hell are we anyways, navigator?” 

The navigator—Jeff, sitting in the passenger's seat—smoothed out the
creases on the map in his lap. “Um,” he said. “Um, um, um. Honestly, 
I'm not sure. I think we're coming up on a small town called Sommerset 
any second now. I mean, I think we passed a sign that said it was 
coming up, at least.” 

Adam was about to retort when he caught the outline of a small building
just off the main highway road. It was a Post Office; where there was a 
Post Office, there was at least some form of civilization. He tapped at 
the gas gauge dramatically to get his two friends' attentions. “We need 
to stop for the night. I can't see shit in this mist, it's snowing 
outside, and we're fresh out of gas.” 

“Yeah well I'm fresh outta fucking money,” Rico said. “If you got the
spare cash to bunk us up for the night, then be my guest. 

The clunky old van coughed hard a few times before picking back up. It
belonged to Adam's father for ten years, and—according to Mr. 
Harrington—could Adam's in one more. If the old bitch made it another 
year. Adam was sure it wouldn't. 

“Okay, we need a gas station and we need one soon,” Adam said. His hands
were gripping the wheel as hard as possible and he could feel the van's 
engine sputtering and beginning to stall. Below, the wheels were weakly 
trying to grip the icy blacktop of the town's main highway road. It was 
a typical Wisconsin town: bars and shops and everything else tourist 
and shopping-related on either side of the main highways, while the 
houses were tucked away in the thick forest. Let the travelers gas up 
and buy what they need to buy and continue on their way without 
disturbing the townsfolk. No, the locals never enjoyed the 
out-of-towners much. Just a bunch of hicks, thought Adam. 

“I've got fifty bucks left,” Jeff said. “The night's on me; I charged
the lift tickets to my credit card anyways. I think it's maxed out 
now.” 

“Tight,” Rico said. “Very smooth, Jeff my boy. Very smooth.” 

Adam reached one hand into his pocket quick enough to feel around, then
quickly placed it back on the steering wheel as the van began to veer 
right on the icy road. “Okay, I think I have enough for gas. I remember 
putting a ten in my pocket. That'll get us seven gallons of gas or so, 
and that should be more or less enough to get us home.” 

Old Bessy—sensing that everything was coming together for her
passengers—coughed once and puttered out. Adam guided her slowly to the 
side of the road. By now, sidewalks were visible in front of the 
buildings on both sides of the main road. Most of them were bars and 
small markets, from what Adam could see. Unfortunately, he couldn't see 
much; two buildings on either side at a time before the silhouettes 
blended back into the thick, white mist. The van came to a stop next 
to—surprise—a bar. The neon light in the window was on, and Adam could 
hear music playing inside. 

“Fuck,” Rico said. “She finally died.” 

“She's not dead,” Adam said. “She's just outta gas. Let's find a gas
station and then we'll look for a Motel.” 

Jeff was looking at the back of the map. “It says that this town has
fifteen thousand people. That means there's probably a nice-sized row 
of buildings along this main road. Probably a few Motels and gas 
stations. We shouldn't have to walk far.” 

“Yeah but how many are open at—” Rico checked his watch “—twelve-thirty
in the morning?” 



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