"Today is the day we find out what that sound is." Kat told her twin and best friend. It was getting close to noon but not a soul could tell due to clouds. "Remember the plan?"
"Dad takes us to that old shop, we split up pretending to look for souvenirs and sneak out." Sam recapped. He patted his sam backpack which would have anything they would need. Flashlights, flasks, portable digging tools.
"Are you sure we need all that?" Rina asked still feeling this was a terrible idea, not to mention highly ridiculous.
"It's nice to always to be prepared Rina." Kat pointed out. "Think of it like a nature hike."
"But instead of grass warm lush grass we get deathly cold snow." The girled sighed. "Lovely."
"Dad we're ready." Kat yelled. She secretly hoped they might be able to find somewhere she could get some cell signal. This trip was killing her.
Mr Brooks took the children to the store not far off, the only one which sold everything from hot cocoa to warm clothing.
"I'm going to check out some coats." Mr Brooks told them. "Stay and don't make trouble."
They nodded.
Once he was gone, they approached the man behind the counter. He was a bit old with tackky clothing and a grey moustache. His head was covered by a dull wool cap.
Kat raised her phone to check for bars while Sam conversed with the old timer.
"Me and my friends have been hearing sounds from our lodges." He said with the cool and air of a journalist putting his nose in what wasn't his business. "Know anything about it?"
The man studied them wuth curiosity. "You're tourists?" He asked with an accent Kat couldn't place.
"This place isn't exactly a tourist center is it?" She answered him back. "Just call us visitors and answer the question."
"Fiesty young lady, aren't you?" The man chuckled. He rubbed his hands to warm up. "it was several years ago, centuries maybe, that the legend of the beast came to birth in these lands."
"Legend?" Kat asked.
"Beast?" Sam probed lifting him cam recorder, this was rich.
"Yes, the roar was heard for nearly a year before finally, it stopped but now it has come back."
"Did anyone see this beast?" They boy asked.
"On a stormy day like today, a young boy looked into the eyes of that very monster. Almost killed him if it wasn't he got to the village on time."
"Stormy? Today's the clearest day since we got here." Rina said.
Kat had to agree, she had seen the hint of sun. "How old is this story anyway?"
"About a few hundred years -but it happened."
"Yeah, we'll keep that in mind." Sam said half sarcastic. Part of him wished there was a five hundred year old beast beyond the mountains.
"Mr Brooks, the store owner has an interesting story for you." Rina said as Kat pulled her dad to the counter.
"Okay..."
"We want to have a look at some... coats." Sam added.
"Glad to see you kids getting into the spirit." He smiled turning to the old timer who seemed more interested in getting him to buy a pair of snowshoes.
The children split up snd snuck out one by one. As soon as they were outside, they made a dash for the edge of the village. The ten inch snow not making it any easier.
Kat had experience with hiking so she took note of their path hoping that a blizzard wouldn't start. That was the last thing they needed.
The air was frosty, the sky gray and the temperature seemed to drop every hour they spent walking. They took brief brakes resting on rocks that jutted out from the snow; trading jokes and insulting each other. As long as Kat was sure of the way back, they pushed forward.
All the while, the sounds grew louder, closer.
They broke into a short sprint and made it to a dip in the landscape. A valley. Not too far down they saw construction work. The usual machines like cranes bulldozers, and others. Then there were unusual instruments. Giant computers rolled on trolleys into the caves surrounding the area. People wearing lab coats and yelling orders at one another, the noise was something else. The sounds the equipment almost sounded like what they had heard.
"What's going on here?" Sam asked taking out his camera once more. Not really what he expected but he'd take it.
"Please, no pictures allowed on my premises."
They all hurriedly spun round to see a tall stern faced man looking down at them. Sam tucked his device away.
"Pictures? What pictures?"
"Funny child." The man curtly smiled with and English tone. "My is Ridgewood... Arnold Ridgewood, you three are?"
"Just three children taking a stroll." Kat said taking Rina's trembling hand.
"Not the wisest thing to do in these parts."
"Why? Because of the beast?" Sam pursued.
Ridgewood burst out into mild laughter. "You've been listen to the tales those villagers cook up I see. Utter rubbish I tell you."
"Besides that, what's going on here?" Rina inquired seeing this gentleman was of no harm to them.
"Me and my team of researchers are looking for something quite rare you see."
"What is it?"
"I'm afraid I can't say, top secret project hush."
"We get it." Kat scrutinised him. He was dressed classically in a fur coat with his initials in black thread oll over. Far different from the people in the valley. "We'll move on."
"Best be heading home." He advised. "Oh and if you see anything out of the ordinary, you're welcome to share the information."
"We will." Sam chirped.
They left the site and headed back. There was nothing special, just snow, ice and dumb construction work. The weather took a turn for the worst and became as sour as their mood.
Winds howled and blew threatening to lift them off the ground. Snow made it way into their clothing chilling them to the bone.
"I can't keep up." Rina said sour.
"C'mon Rina we can't be that far." Kat said, determined to get out of the cold.
"Kat stop. We can't get home in this weather. We'd get lost and freeze." Sam held her back.
"Then what are we suppose to do genius? Sit out here and wait for frostbite?"
"We can set up in a cave."
Kat wanted to give him a good smack across the face. "Where the hell are we going to find a cave in a blizzard?"
He pointed behind her.
"There's one behind me?" She asked in half disbelief. As usual, good luck was with anyone on a quest for adventure. Our trio won't die today.
They ran into the cave and huddled together on the stone floor back to back for about ten minutes. The only sounds being their shivering breaths and the wailing wind.
Sam pulled out two lamps. Kat took one and got up. She tried her phone again to no avail. Someone would think she would have gotten the hint by now.
She ventured deeper into the cave until she came to a large frozen pool. She marvelled at how the crystal surface was so smooth. She could skate on it.
"Kat." It was Sam.
"What?"
"Just checking so you don't do anything stupid." He was right behind her with Rina.
She rolled her eyes and knelt on the surface, then pushed herself forward. Being bored wasn't her style. She fell face flat at a point but chuckled to herself. She was about to call them to join the fun when sge noticed an outline.
A very big outline.
"Guys...you need to check this out."