Black Ice

Week 1

    "Well folks, you've seen it here first hand. Snow in the middle of May.  What an interesting way to start your Monday.  A whopping 62 degrees outside this morning and tiny white flakes falling from the sky. You're probably wondering how this is even possible, as am I. Could it be the end of the world?" The tiny blonde on the tv chuckled, grasping a microphone tightly in her hand. White flurries swirling all around her. "Back to you, Michael."
    The tv switched to a bald-headed man in a silky blue tie. "Thank you, Fiona. A very strange sight indeed. And now, an update on that overturned school bus in Cleveland..."
My mother clicked the tv off, staring at the blank screen.
    "Is it really the end of the world?"
I turned around to see my younger sister Robin, wide eyed, nervously wringing her hands together.
    "The newscaster was just kidding," I answered. "Right, mom?"
My mother spun around, not knowing either of us were there. She smiled. "Of course. Mother Nature is just messing with us." She cleared her throat and pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. She grabbed a brown paper lunch bag from the counter and stuffed it into Robin's arms. "You're gonna be late for school, girls."
I watched her hurry down the hall.
    "Ready?" I nudged Robin, her shopkins backpack strapped tightly to her. She nodded.

    It wasn't until I was backing out of the driveway that I realized I'd forgotten my psych book on my desk in my room. If I hadn't already forgotten it twice last week, I wouldn't have cared. But Miss Fitzgerald had a strict 3 strikes=detention rule. I put the car in park. "Forgot something. Be right back."

    When I stepped into the kitchen, I froze. The basement door was wide open.  Something that never occurred. I looked around for my mother but she was no where in sight. Biting my lip, I inched closer and closer. Something I had wanted to do for years and now it was finally happen--
    "Jesus Christ, Hazel!" My mother had just reached the top step, I hadn't heard her over the blood pounding in my ears.
    My heart was beating out of my chest. "I-I'm sorry..."
    "What are you doing? You know you're not allowed down there." Her voice was stern, a bead of sweat trickled down her temple.
    "S-sorry, mom. I just forgot something." I ran upstairs and grabbed my psych book. When I reached the kitchen again my mother was gone and the cellar door was closed. And locked.

~~~

"I remember trying to pick that lock for hours when we were kids," laughed my best friend, Eve.  We were sitting at our schools cafeteria, the windows lined with curious students taking pictures of the spring snow.
"You're what, 17? Don't you think you're old enough to know what's down there?" Our friend Penny asked, through bites of Caesar salad.  I just shrugged.
"Maybe your parents have like, I don't know, a huge collection of pornos down there or something.  Maybe they're into some real kinky shit," Dan laughed.
I almost choked on my sandwich. "That's not even funny."
"You think it's a meth lab?" Someone else suggested.
"Okay enough.  New topic."  I dug into my package of Oreos.  "How about this random snow?"
Dan rolled his eyes.  "Unless it cancels school, I don't care about it."
"It is weird though, right?" Eve exclaimed, setting down her fork.  "It's 60 something degrees out, and there's snow.  It doesn't make sense."
"Hopefully its the end of the world," Dan sighed. "Then I won't have to take my SATs."
I snorted.
"Hey guys," Maxwell Reynolds sat down next to Dan.  His almond skin and jet black hair made me weak in the knees.
"Hey maxi pad," Dan patted his friend on the back.
"Holy shit!" Someone across the cafeteria yelled out.  We all turned.  Everyone began running to the windows.
"Oh my god," breathed Penny, staring outside.  "It's like a blizzard."
I swallowed the last bite of my BLT and rushed to join the others.  Everyone was taking out their phones and video taping.  It was so white outside you could barely see anything.
"What the fuck is going on?" someone asked.
"Aliens!" someone giggled. 
"Attention students." Principal Butler's voice boomed across the intercom.  "Due to the sudden, and frankly, odd change of weather.  We are going to be sending you home early today."
Everyone cheered and clapped. 
I turned to Dan.  "Care yet?"  He just grinned.
"Please remain where you are when the bell rings.  Buses will be here in about an hour.  For those who drive, we well be sending you home in about 45 minutes.  For those who need a ride, I suggest you make arrangements immediately.  Thank you for your cooperation."
I shot Eve a worried look.  "I wonder if they're letting my sister's school out early too."
"Probably.  No one is prepared for this type of weather right now.  It's dangerous." Her brow furrowed as she studied the snowfall through the window.  I felt my phone vibrate and saw that my mother was calling me.
"Hello?"
"Hazel? It's me.  Are you alright?"
I looked around.  "Mom, I'm fine.  It's just a little snow."
She paused.  "I got the email your school district sent out.  Can you pick up Robin?"
"Of course.  I'll be home soon."
"Please...be careful." She hung up.
I stared at my phone a minute before putting it in my back pocket.  What was she so worried about?  A little snow never killed anyone.  But did a little snow in May ever kill anyone?