The Blizzard That Changed Everything

For the winter holidays, my parents urged my husband Sam and me to take my adopted sister Sophie and some of his relatives on a road trip into Alaska to see the Northern Lights.

We reached the frozen tundra just as a massive blizzard struck. All three SUVs hit empty at once.

Sophie stared at the deep snow and suggested shoveling it straight into the gas tanks. It will melt into water, stretch the gas, and cool the engines, she said.

Sam smiled and agreed. His relatives praised her cleverness.

In my past life, I had argued fiercely, warning that water would ruin the engines and leave us stranded at minus thirty degrees. Desperate to save everyone, I risked my life siphoning fuel into my car and driving blindly through the storm until I ran out, then walking for a full day and night. Frostbite destroyed my feet before I reached help.

On the rescue mission, Sophie accused me of abandoning her for glory, threw a fit in the woods, and drew a pack of wolves that tore off both her legs. She lied to Sam, who raged and shoved me into the blizzard. I was devoured by wolves, nothing left of me.

I blinked.

Now I stood again in the freezing wind, on that same day. I rubbed my stiff hands together, forcing a bright smile.

Go for it. Snow means luck for the new year. Fill the tankswell drive even faster.

"People online say the gas up here is unrefined. If we put pure snow in, it will definitely clean out the fuel lines and save us money." Sophies sickly sweet voice echoed in my ears.

I reached down and pinched my own thigh hard.

Pain.

I really was reborn.

"Aria, don't be so grumpy. Lets just listen to the group. Maybe this old wives' tale is exactly what we need to get out of these mountains."

Sophie looked at me timidly, shrinking into her thick down jacket like I was some evil stepmother about to strike her.

Sam and his relatives were all staring me down. If I dared to reject Sophies "genius" proposal, they would drown me in insults, calling me a selfish brat who didn't care about the family.

I kept my smile perfectly in place. "Sophie is so smart. I can't believe you came up with such an eco friendly solution."

"Fill them up. Snow is just water anyway. It will be great."

Standing next to her, Sam gave me a rare, approving smile.

"For once, you are actually being reasonable."

I didn't want to waste another second arguing with them. My brain was already calculating a high speed escape plan out of this frozen graveyard.

There were eleven of us in total, split between three off road vehicles.

Originally, Sam and I were supposed to share a car. But Sophie claimed she was too cold and needed Sam to sit in the back with her so he could hold her and keep her warm. So, for the entire trip, I had been driving my own SUV completely alone.

In my past life, my car had the most gas left. To keep them all alive, I left every single thermal blanket and emergency ration with them, venturing out into the deadly cold by myself.

Having lived through death once, I absolutely refused to care about these ungrateful parasites. As long as I made it out alive, that was enough.

According to my memories, there was an abandoned logging camp about fifty miles south that still had a working satellite relay.

My car had enough gas to cover thirty miles. Luckily, I was a hardcore winter athlete. With my physical endurance, I could easily cover the remaining twenty miles on my emergency cross country skis before nightfall. The self heating MREs and thermal packs in my trunk would easily sustain me.

With a concrete plan locked in my mind, my tense muscles finally began to relax.

Just to be safe, I slipped my hand into the inner pocket of my parka and touched the cold plastic of my emergency satellite phone.

It was a Christmas gift from him.

In my past life, he was the one who found this shattered phone in the bloody snow where the wolves had attacked me. He had dropped to his knees, screaming in agony, slamming his forehead into the ice until he bled, blaming himself for not coming on this trip.

The corners of my lips twitched upward. Pretending to adjust my scarf, I pressed and held the emergency SOS beacon.

This time, I hoped he would take me home.

Seeing the expensive, heated ski gloves on my hands, a flash of pure jealousy crossed Sophies eyes.

"Aria, don't you have a whole box of those chemical body warmers in your trunk? Why don't you take them out and share them with the rest of us?"

My stomach dropped.

They wanted to steal my only remaining survival supplies?

"You have four boxes of them in your own car. I bought them for you. Why don't you take yours out?" I shot back.

Sophie pouted, acting completely entitled.

"Aria, we are trapped in the Alaskan mountains. Heat equals life right now. You can't just hoard all the heat sources for yourself."

I let out a dark laugh. Just an hour ago, she complained she was too hot and stuck those exact body warmers onto the car windows just to watch the frost melt for fun. Now she suddenly knew their value?

Sam took a step forward, glaring at me coldly.

"Take them out."

It was an absolute command, like he was talking to a disobedient dog.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the icy rage building in my chest, and tried to reason with them one last time.

"I packed these specifically for extreme weather emergencies."

"This is an emergency! Why are you still dividing things into yours and mine? We are a family!" Sophie interrupted me, playing the righteous victim.

"We have to stick together when things get tough. If everyone was as selfish as you, how would any of us survive the night?"

Right on cue, Sams relatives started throwing disgusted looks my way.

"You're a tough girl, you can handle the cold. Sophie is delicate. Bring the supplies out so we can distribute them evenly."

"Listen to your husband, Aria! Bring the stuff out before one of the elders has to force you."

"These spoiled rich city girls are all the same. Selfish and fragile. Not sweet and understanding like our Sophie."

Selfish?

If it weren't for the massive influx of cash I brought into the marriage to save Sams failing startup, his deadbeat relatives wouldn't even have the money to go to a diner, let alone a luxury vacation. Even these three SUVs were bought with my trust fund.

I suddenly understood why fate put me back on this exact trip.

Extreme environments force the ugliest parts of human nature into the light. This was the universe giving me one final warning.

Seeing that I wasn't moving, two of his cousins marched over and aggressively popped my trunk, looting every single supply bag I had. I stepped forward to stop them, but they grabbed my arms and violently shoved me face first into the snowbank.

I lay there, watching helplessly as they scooped up wet, freezing snow and dumped it directly into the open gas tank of my SUV.

Without pure gasoline, my car would stall out in this extreme cold. I would freeze to death.

"Give me my thermal packs back."

I struggled to push myself up.

Sophie took the opportunity to grab a handful of icy snow and violently shove it down the collar of my jacket. She leaned in, her voice dripping with venom. "Shut your mouth! If you make another sound, Ill shove ice down your throat."

The freezing snow slid down my bare spine. I violently shivered, coughing hard, looking completely pathetic as I crawled in the snow.

Seeing me humiliated, the relatives erupted into cruel laughter.

"Is this really the high and mighty Mrs. Kensington? She looks like a frozen stray dog! Hahaha!"

I gritted my teeth, pushed myself off the ground, and raised my hand to slap Sophie across her smug face.

Before I could make contact, a vicious grip clamped down on my wrist. Sophie realized what was happening, and instantly backhanded me across the face with all her strength.

Smack!

Sam froze, instinctively letting go of my wrist.

My boots slipped on the ice and I crashed to the ground. My cheek instantly swelled, burning with a stinging heat.

Sophie immediately hid behind Sams broad shoulders, trembling like a leaf. "I'm so sorry, Sam. Aria tried to hit me first. I just panicked. I was so scared."

Sam looked down at me, holding out a hand with a look of utter disgust on his face. "Get up. Stop embarrassing yourself in front of my family."

I blinked back the hot tears forming in my eyes and tilted my head up, staring directly into his soul.

"Sam, I want a divorce."

"Sophie just had a trauma response. She didn't do it on purpose. Why are you throwing a tantrum on Christmas?"

Sam shielded Sophie with his body, watching me like I was a wild animal about to rip out his precious darlings throat.

A wave of absolute exhaustion washed over me.

A tantrum?

From the day we got married, anytime I didn't completely bow to his demands, I was "throwing a tantrum."

When I refused to lend more money to his endless line of grifter cousins, I was throwing a tantrum.

When I refused to quit my career to become a stay at home housewife, I was throwing a tantrum.

Whenever Sophie shed a single fake tear, it was always my fault for throwing a tantrum.

"Sam, this marriage is dead. Getting a divorce is the best thing for both of us."

This marriage had corroded my dignity until there was nothing left.

Ten years ago, I found Sam sitting in the dark corner of the university library, eating stale bread. His hands were swollen and bleeding from frostbite, but his eyes were glued to his textbooks with an intense, burning determination.

My heart had broken for him. I secretly paid his entire semesters tuition and forged a letter claiming it was an anonymous school grant.

Sam worked hard. He secured a full ride for his masters, and when he started his tech company, he worked himself to the bone.

During a site visit to a new warehouse, the roof collapsed. He threw his body over mine, taking the brunt of the falling debris. His back was torn to shreds, requiring twenty stitches.

He had laid in that hospital bed, pale and sweating from the pain, but he still smiled and comforted me. "Don't be afraid. As long as I am breathing, I will always keep you safe."

After that, it was only natural that we got married.

But somewhere along the line, his eyes started lingering on my adopted sister, Sophie.

She came from the same dirt poor background he did. Her constant, pathetic damsel in distress act reminded him of his own past struggles. Eventually, his entire heart shifted completely to her.

I stumbled to my feet, lunged forward, and snatched my car keys right out of Sophies pocket. I scrambled into the drivers seat and hit the ignition.

The moment the engine roared to life, a heavy weight lifted off my chest.

I was finally getting away from these monsters.

But a second later, Sam stepped directly in front of the hood. I slammed on the brakes, my forehead smashing violently against the steering wheel.

Sam marched over to my window and slammed his fist against the glass, his eyes flashing with annoyance.

"Stop acting crazy! The blizzard is picking up. If you drive off alone, you are committing suicide."

Sophie trotted over, linking her arm through Sams, shooting me a provocative, mocking smile.

"Aria, stop acting like a spoiled princess. Your SUV has the highest clearance and the best snow tires. If you drive away, what are we supposed to do?"

Her words instantly rallied the relatives.

"Exactly! We are a family, we stay together."

"Drag her out! We keep the car. We can all squeeze in, it will share body heat."

I let out a cold laugh. "This car is under my name. It was bought with my money. Why the hell should I give it to you?"

In fact, all three cars were registered under my name.

A cousin yelled angrily, "It's a matter of life and death! Who cares whose name is on the title right now!"

I rolled my eyes. "Your car is packed to the roof with your stupid holiday gifts and booze. Where am I supposed to sit? Are you giving up your seat for me?"

The cousin went dead silent.

Sophie tilted her head, faking a look of sweet innocence. "Aria, don't you love extreme winter sports? You could just sit up on the roof rack! I bet its way more thrilling than skiing, and you get a great view."

The sheer absurdity of the comment should have been met with silence, but the relatives eagerly jumped on it.

"Yeah, the roof has great visibility. If she loves adrenaline so much, she can enjoy the ride."

"Don't worry, we brought heavy bungee cords for the luggage. Well strap you down tight. You won't fall off."

"Its a VIP observation deck. You can post photos on Instagram when we get back."

Sam let out a heavy sigh. Just as I thought he was finally going to shut down this psychotic idea, the words that left his mouth plunged my soul into an ice bath.

"You have a strong constitution. Just bundle up. You can survive sitting on the roof for a little while."

The very last spark of hope I had for him died in that instant. I slammed my foot on the gas pedal, ready to run him over.

Sophie shrieked, "Shes trying to run! Grab her!"

The mob swarmed the car. Someone grabbed a heavy rock and smashed my drivers side window. Hands reached in, violently grabbing my hair and clothes, dragging me kicking and screaming out of the vehicle.

I thrashed wildly, kicking my boots to break their grip.

"Ah!"

Sophie let out a piercing cry, clutching her stomach and dropping to the snow in agony.

"Sam, why did Aria kick me in the stomach?"

Sam violently shoved me aside and rushed to gather Sophie into his arms, his face pale with panic.

I froze for a second, instantly defending myself. "I didn't even touch her! I am wearing heavy snow boots, I would feel it if I kicked a person."

Sophie buried her face in Sams chest, massive tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Aria, I shouldn't have tried to stop you. Please don't kick me again. It hurts so much. I think something is bleeding inside."

Hearing that, Sams face hardened. He turned his head, his eyes slicing into me like butcher knives.

"Apologize to her!"

"I didn't do anything wrong! Why should I apologize? Are you too stupid to see shes acting?"

The relatives immediately started screaming at me.

"You were thrashing around like a lunatic! You definitely kicked her."

"Sophie is too pure to lie about something like this. Get on your knees and apologize right now!"

Sophies face was deathly pale, her entire body trembling.

"The wind is so strong. My face hurts."

She buried her face deeper into Sams coat.

Sam glared at me with pure hatred. "Aria! Look at how terrified you've made her!"

A mocking smirk crossed my lips. "If you wait any longer, her fake tears are going to turn into icicles."

Sophie forced a weak, pathetic smile, looking at me with big, puppy dog eyes.

"Aria, you don't have to apologize. But could I please borrow your extreme weather parka? The jacket I'm wearing is too thin. My stomach is freezing."

The parka I was wearing was a custom, expedition grade mountain coat. He had specifically commissioned it from overseas as a gift for me. It was completely windproof, waterproof, and designed to withstand the harshest elements on earth.

I rejected her without a second thought. "I have severe cold urticaria! If I take this off, the temperature drop will send me into anaphylactic shock. No!"

Sophie let out a pained, dramatic groan. "Forget it. My life isn't worth as much as my sister's precious body."

Sams face turned absolutely lethal. "What fake allergy are you making up now? You are just looking for excuses to be a selfish bitch."

"I am going to count to three. Take the coat off."

"One. Two."

He didn't even make it to three. His patience completely snapped. He lunged forward, pinned my shoulders down, and violently ripped the zipper of my parka open.

The brutal arctic wind instantly hit my chest. I was only wearing a thin thermal shirt underneath. The biting cold slashed against my bare skin like a barrage of razor blades.

Sam gently draped my custom parka over Sophies shoulders, carefully zipping it all the way up to her chin to make sure she was warm.

Looking at the two of them made me physically nauseous.

I turned around and started to run. Before I made it two steps, Sam grabbed the back of my collar and yanked me backward.

"Its just a damn coat! How long are you going to keep throwing this tantrum!"

The word "tantrum" ignited a nuclear explosion in my brain.

I spun around and slapped Sam across the face with every ounce of strength I had left.

"I don't throw tantrums. I just beat animals!"

A bright red handprint blossomed across Sams cheek. Sophie shrieked in horror.

"Are you insane?! How dare you hit him!"

Sam ran his tongue over his split lip, tasting the blood. His expression turned completely demonic. "Aria, you are hopelessly stubborn. It seems you need a serious wake up call."

My stomach plummeted. A terrifying chill spread through my veins.

"Since you refuse to sit on the roof, you can run behind the car. Lets see if that cools your temper."

My eyes went wide with sheer terror. "Sam, it is negative thirty degrees! You are going to kill me!"

Two of his massive cousins tackled me into the snow. They grabbed my wrists and bound them tightly with a heavy nylon tow strap. They hooked the other end of the strap to the metal tow hitch on the back of the SUV.

"When you are ready to admit you were wrong, Ill let you inside."

Dropping that final, heartless sentence, he turned his back on me and climbed into the drivers seat.

The engine revved. The car lurched forward. I was violently jerked off my feet, stumbling blindly through the deep snow as the vehicle picked up speed.

I couldn't run fast enough. I tripped and slammed face first into the icy ground. The car didn't stop. I was being dragged.

The jagged ice and frozen rocks shredded through my thin clothes, grinding against my skin like sandpaper. The paralyzing cold began to shut down my nervous system.

Panic consumed me. I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Stop the car! Sam, I am going to kill you!"

I could hear Sophies high pitched, mocking laughter echoing from inside the warm cabin. They completely ignored my screams.

The SUV drifted hard to avoid a massive pine tree. The centrifugal force whipped my body outward, slamming me brutally against the thick wooden trunk.

My vision went entirely black. Warm blood poured down my forehead, instantly freezing into crimson ice chunks on my eyelashes.

Absolute despair crushed my chest. The primal instinct to survive erased whatever dignity I had left. I started crying and begging. "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please. Let me go."

The roar of the engine drowned out my pathetic pleas. The car showed zero signs of slowing down.

I was really going to die in this white hell.

My consciousness began to fade into a numb, peaceful dark.

But then, through the haze, I heard the deafening, rhythmic chopping of helicopter rotors. A massive, blinding spotlight pierced through the blizzard, locking dead onto the SUV.

A mans voice, amplified by a loudspeaker and vibrating with world ending fury, boomed from the sky.

"Sam, you are a dead man!"

At that exact moment, thick, black smoke began pouring out of the hoods of all three SUVs. The vehicles sputtered violently and died.

One of the cousins inside screamed in panic. "Oh my god! The engines just seized!"