Hey, everyone! I wanted to share my joy — and surprise about winning 1st Place in the writing contest. It was another “Dialogue Only” competition, where the author cannot use any words that are not part of the dialogue between the characters. Take a look! It was quite fun and rewarding.
“You got anything, Riley? My radio’s all static tonight.”
“Same here, Nate. Just fuzz. Thought it was my set, but you’re gettin’ it too?”
“Yeah. Outpost 7’s dead quiet otherwise. Middle of the tundra ain’t exactly a hotspot for signals.”
“Ha, no kiddin’. You try the backup freq? 89.3?”
“Yup. Same mess. Wait—hold up. You hear that?”
“What? More static?”
“Nah, it’s… like a hum. Low, kinda throaty. Like someone’s breathin’.”
“Breathin’? Nate, you been out there way too long. It’s probably just interference from the aurora, ya know.”
“Aurora don’t hum ‘run.’ You tellin’ me you don’t hear that?”
“Run? Okay, now you’re freakin’ me out. My set’s silent. You recordin’?”
“Tried. Recorder’s actin’ up, keeps spittin’ out some kinda static bursts. Battery’s drainin’ fast too.”
“That’s weird. My power’s fine at Outpost 4. You check your generator?”
“Gen’s hummin’ along. But this hum… it’s in the room now, Riley. Not just the radio.”
“In the room? Nate, you sure you ain’t imaginin’ this?”
“Hey, I know what I hear. It’s sayin’ ‘run’ again. Clearer now. Like it’s right behind me.”
“Okay, calm down. I’m 20 miles out, but I can hop in the snowcat. You got the shotgun?”
“Yeah, it’s leanin’ by the console. Why?”
“Just grab it. Keep it close. You know the stories ‘bout this place.”
“Stories? You mean the old research team? The ones who vanished?”
“Yeah. Locals say they heard voices on the radios before they went missin’. Beggin’ for help.”
“Great. Thanks for that, Riley. Now I’m really on edge.”
“Sorry, man. Just stay sharp. You seein’ anything weird out there?”
“Windows are iced over. Can’t see a darn thing. But… I swear the hum’s movin’.”
“Movin’? Like, around the room?”
“Yeah. Like it’s circlin’ me. Radio’s off now, but it’s still hummin’. ‘Run, run, run.’”
“Nate, lock the door. I’m headin’ out now. Stay on the line.”
“Door’s already locked; I just checked again. But the hum’s gettin’ louder. Like it’s pressin’ against the walls.”
“Pressin’? Nate, what the hell does that mean?”
“I don’t know! It’s like… the air’s heavy. Cold as hell in here right now.”
“Alright, I’m in the snowcat. Fifteen minutes, tops. You got heat?”
“Heater’s on, but it ain’t helpin’ much. Riley, the hum’s words now. ‘You can’t run.’”
“Can’t run? Nate, grab the shotgun and get to the emergency hatch.”
“Hatch is across the room. I… I see somethin’. Shadows. Flickerin’ on the walls.”
“Shadows? From what? You got lights on, right?”
“Yeah, but they’re dimmin’. Like somethin’s suckin’ the power. Riley, I’m scared.”
“Hold it together, man! I’m comin’. Shoot at anything that moves.”
“Wait. The hum stopped. It’s quiet. Too quiet.”
“That’s good, right? Maybe it’s gone.”
“No. It’s worse. I hear… scratchin’. Oh. Inside the walls.”
“Scratchin’? Nate, get to the hatch now!”
“I’m tryin’! The shadows—they’re movin’ closer. Like they’re reachin’ out.”
“Nate, shoot the damn lock and run!”
“I can’t! The shotgun’s… it’s gone. It was right here!”
“Gone? How—”
“Riley, the radio’s back on. It’s… laughin’. Low, like some kinda growl. ‘Nowhere to run.’”
“Nate, I’m almost there! Get out!”
“It’s too late. The shadows… they’re touchin’ me. Cold. Err, so cold.”
“Nate! Talk to me!”
“They’re in me, Riley. I feel them. Don’t come inside.”
“Nate, what’s that mean? Nate!”
“…”
“Nate, answer me!”
static “Riley… run…”
Word count: 564
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