Surviving In The Freezing Apocalypse With My Alpha

As the day was setting, the air in the gym had begun to sting deep in bones. Riley and the group had also begun to shiver, while one from their group had been struggling against the cold pain in his hand.

Ava looked at Mia. She still seemed fine, clung to Liam's shoulder, somehow didn't seem to let her feel any cold.

But Ava's hands were trembling harder than anyone. Whenever she closed her eyes, the horrifying face of the Frostborn looking straight at her appeared right before her eyes, jolting her awake.

And the coldness from the floor was seeping right into her body, her feet were chill cold.

Earlier, she would have clung onto Liam's jacket tightly, wrapping herself with it, but now there was just this breezy coldness.

Ava's breath became rigorous until her breathing slowed down again, a cold darkness seemed to be freezing her eyes closed.

But suddenly, **< Puff >**, something warm flanked over her, jolting her awake.

"Get in," Riley said as she lifted one side of the towel for Ava.

Ava slid in beside her, their bodies clung to each other due to the short length of the towel.

"Thanks."

"Hmm, nothing, it's just cold, and mine is large, so I shared."

"Hmm." Ava chuckled at Riley's response.

It felt warm. Even though it was hardly covering both of them, it still felt warm.

"Is that really Liam from when we were in 6th grade?" Riley whispered to Ava.

Ava nodded.

"I can't believe it. He is completely different now."

Ava didn't react, just gulped the sourness, darting her eyes elsewhere.

Her gaze shifted to the floor near the door. It was turning white, as if a sheet of something was creeping its way inside.

Then she looked at the windows. A similar layer of whitish substance had gripped the glass, some even beginning to form little cracks.

Then onto the frost creeping over the walls near the windows—the way it glowed faintly blue in the dim light. It creeped her out from the inside. She knew it hadn't been there before.

Her stomach churned up, her arms wrapped around her tightly. "We can't stay here."

Riley turned to her. "What? Why?"

"The frost, it's breaking its way in."

"What!?" Mia joined in.

"See the windows. Cracks have started to appear on them."

"You sure they weren't there before?" Mia asked, squinting her eyes.

"Yes, I am."

"I felt it too," Liam joined. "The floor has also started to freeze."

"We can't be sure how long those cracked glasses could handle the brewing storm outside," he continued.

"Yeah, we have to leave," Ava said softly, rubbing her arms slowly.

"And where exactly do you think we'll go? Outside?" Mia scoffed. "I'd rather freeze in here than get torn apart out there."

Liam sighed, rolling his shoulders. "We don't have a choice, Mia. If we stay here, we'll either freeze or we'll starve."

A heavy silence followed. Nobody rebutted the truth.

Then he spoke again.

"We split up," he said. "Two groups. One for weapons, one for supplies."

"Okay," Mia said. "But this time, I am coming with you." She held tight onto his arm, looking straight at Ava.

Ava smiled bittersweet in response.

"Okay then, we'll go together for supplies," Riley said, pulling onto Ava's hand upward.

"Hmm," Ava smiled.

Liam glanced at Ava's face but didn't argue.

Slowly, they moved out in two groups, while a third group stayed behind to close the doors tightly from inside.

Ava and Riley moved towards the hallway on the right, while Liam and Mia turned left.

They entered an eerily quiet hallway, totally different from what it was earlier in their memories.

Bodies and broken gates of classrooms were scattered all around.

"Ugh, creepy as hell," Riley muttered, rubbing her arms.

Ava didn't respond. Her stomach twisted uneasily.

Mia and Liam were going to the PE room to search for something to defend themselves with—that was right out in the frost storm—while Riley and Ava would go back to where it all started—the cafeteria.

That was the plan. Still, slowly and without making any sound, Riley and Ava managed to reach the cafeteria.

Its doors stood slightly ajar. Ice rimmed the edges, glistening under the flickering emergency lights.

Ava carefully pushed them open.

Inside—it was the aftermath of a huge battle, everything frozen and still.

The long tables were overturned, chairs scattered. The metal lunch trays were covered in a thin layer of frost, and food was frozen solid on the floor.

But the worst part?

The bodies.

Students. Some curled into themselves, others frozen mid-crawl, their skin pale blue, their eyes glassy.

Riley cursed under her breath.

Ava swallowed hard. They had to move.

She forced her legs forward, stepping over bodies as she approached the serving counter. Riley followed, staying close.

They moved quietly, searching through cabinets and drawers. Ava found a few canned goods, stuffing them into her bag. Riley grabbed some protein bars.

Still, something felt off.

It was too quiet, too quiet for it to be the place where it all started.

But it came crashing down, proving Ava's intuition right.

A soft, wet sound. **< Crunch >**

Ava froze.

The noise came from behind the counter. A slow, sickening slurp.

She turned her head slightly, her breath catching in her throat.

A figure hunched over a body, its back rising and falling with slow, grotesque movements. Its fingers dug into the frozen flesh of a dead student, pulling at it, its mouth moving as it sucked the blood from their arm.

Ava's stomach churned.

As the creature drained its victim, the student's skin shifted—darkening, hardening.

Becoming like the Frostborn.

Her pulse pounded in her ears as she slowly began to move back, praying not to make any sound.

But—

Her foot slipped against a frozen tray.

The metal clattered against the ground.

The creature froze.

Ava's breath hitched.

It slowly stood up from behind the counter and looked straight at her.

"Riley" Ava called softly.

"Hmm, Yeah?" Riley responded, completely unknown to the blunder.

Riley slowly stood up, she looked at Ava and then around.

But not a work cam from her mouth, she saw dozens of Frostborns standing up from nowhere and then looking straight towards them.

Silence for a second etched.

The Frostborn's milky white eyes, looked straight into Ava's very soul, it lips stained red, slowly opened, with its mouth cracking with frost.

Then- "Rwaaaar" It lunged onto Ava, from behind the counter

Ava stumbled back as the creature vaulted over the counter, its frozen fingers grasping for her throat.

Riley grabbed a chair, swinging it forward—slamming it into the Frostborn's side. It barely staggered.

"Ava—RUN!"

The silence shattered.

From the shadows, from behind tables, counters, and chairs, more Frostborn emerged.

Crawling. Staggering. Running.

One by one, they ran straight towards toward Ava and Riley.

Ava's pulse exploded. "GO!"

She grabbed Riley's arm, yanking her toward the door. The two of them bolted, dodging overturned chairs, their breath coming out in panicked gasps.

The Frostborn were fast.

The cafeteria doors slammed open as they burst into the hallway.

Behind them—the creatures howled.

The sound pierced the air, high and shrill.

Ava's legs burned as she ran.

They ran without looking back, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.

The wind howled, snow blinding them as they dodged overturned furniture, sliding over frozen tiles.

The gym—they were close.

But then—

Riley gasped.

Her foot caught in the shallow frost, twisting at a painful angle. A sharp cry tore from her throat as she collapsed to the ground.

Ava skidded to a stop.

"No, no, no—come on!" She bent down, wrapping an arm around Riley, hoisting her up.

Riley gritted her teeth, trying to push forward, but her leg cramped, locking up.

The Frostborn's shrieks pierced through the storm.

They were getting closer.

Ava's chest tightened. They wouldn't make it like this.

Her eyes darted around—searching, thinking, planning.

Then—she got an idea.

Quickly, she dragged Riley to the side, pressing her against a broken wall.

"What are you doing?" Riley panicked, clutching Ava's sleeve.

Ava didn't answer. She grabbed a dented tin sheet from the debris and propped it over Riley.

Then—she took the bags of supplies and stacked them on top.

Riley's breathing hitched.

At first, she thought—Ava was leaving her behind.

Her heart sank.

Tears pricked her eyes as she opened her mouth to speak—but then she froze.

Ava wasn't abandoning her.

She was hiding her.

The tin shielded her body from the storm's icy touch. The bags weighed it down, preventing the wind from exposing her warmth.

Realization hit Riley like a punch.

"Ava… no."

Ava turned to her, offering a small, tight smile.

"I'll lead them away."

Before Riley could stop her, Ava grabbed a broken chair leg and a smaller tin cover.

Then—she ran.

Straight into the storm.

She banged the metal against the chair leg, clanging it against lockers and walls, shouting.

Luring the monsters away.

Riley fought back a sob.

"No, no, Ava—please!"

Her hands clawed at the tin above her, trying to push it off.

But it was too late.

The Frostborn screeched and turned—chasing after Ava.

And then—

Silence.

Riley clenched her fists, tears slipping down her frozen cheeks.

Her chest ached, her hands trembled—but she had to move.

She had to get back to the gym.

The gym was tense.

Liam and Mia had returned with weapons, their group huddled around what little defenses they had managed to scavenge.

They were waiting.

For Ava. For Riley.

A sudden movement in the storm made one of the students gasp.

A shadow.

A figure, stumbling.

Liam's heart pounded.

Then—Riley emerged.

She walked slowly, trembling, her arms wrapped around herself.

Her steps faltered, knees buckling every few seconds.

Snow clung to her clothes, her face pale, streaked with frozen tears.

And on her back—the bags of supplies, and she alone.

Liam and the others rushed to the doors.

The second Riley reached the entrance—her legs gave out.

She collapsed to her knees, sobbing.

Liam was already beside her, his hands gripping her shoulders.

He barely noticed the bags—all he saw was the emptiness in her eyes.

A chill ran down his spine.

Something was wrong.

Riley couldn't speak.

Her lips trembled as she finally forced out the words—

"Ava—she…"