The moment Ryan thrust himself through the door warped into the style of an industrial refrigerator, he tripped and face-planted into a mound of freshly fallen snow. Cold bit into his nose and cheeks as they began to freeze, and he rolled over, gasping for air. The biometric readings next to the little body in the corner of his HUD flashed blue where his skin was contacting the icy surface, his O2 sat slowly rising as he slowed his breathing and calmed himself. He was staring at a bright blue sunless sky, somehow day without any apparent source for the light. He looked around but couldn’t find the door he came in through. The only thing he did see amidst the sea of endless white was the dark blue maw of an ice cave, beckoning him to enter it.

  He did not want to go in there, but he didn’t see any other choice, so he trudged through the snow towards the mouth of the cave. The PerSpectives scanned the environment and then highlighted certain sections of the cave floor that were most likely slick with ice, giving a percentage of the reduction in traction Ryan might experience given the tread pattern of his shoes. It displayed all the data and calculations in tiny boxes above the highlighted sections. Despite the situation, Ryan marveled at this precious piece of technology he had been gifted. No, that he had earned, he told himself.

  Despite doing his best to tread carefully he managed to lose his footing a few times, cartoonishly running in place at one point, at another almost doing the splits. Once he got to the lower part of the cave, the floor seemed to become less smooth. He found himself in a beautiful cavern broken up by huge icicles, all about him bright white and a deep blue were contrasting each other in breathtaking ways. But while he may have been mesmerized, his PerSpectives were still analyzing the space. They focused in on a fallen pile of ice, penetrating the visual blockage with infrared sensors that showed the supine form of a person.

  Warning.

  Human male trapped under debris.

  Stable life signs, though elevated heart rate. Minor contusions and abrasions detected.

  Ryan rushed over and started lifting blocks of ice off the pile, pushing aside shattered icicles and tufts of snow until he revealed the face of Mr. Fritzinski, the Physics teacher who ran Derek’s after-school club. The man turned and smiled at the familiar face.

  “Mr. Donovan, was it?” he said. “What a welcome sight.”

  “Just a minute Mr. Fritzinski, I’ll get you out of there.”

  “Please make haste, there is something in here that likes to freeze things.” Right on queue another system message popped up.

  Warning! Anomaly Detected

  Chimeric Entity

  Grade (D)

  Ice Reaver

  Advanced Movement Assist Activation Recommended

  At the same time a window in his HUD showed a view from the cameras on the back of Ryan’s headset. A spindly four-legged creature, somewhere between a spider and a yeti descending from the cavern ceiling. Its legs were cylindrical and narrowed into sharp points, explaining how they had blended in perfectly with the icicles above. It had two large burly arms covered in white fir that ended in ape-like fists. Unaware Ryan was watching, it slowly stalked across the cavern towards him.

  New Task:

  Defeat the Ice Reaver

  Objective: Figure out how to defeat the Anomaly

  Penalty for Failure: Death

  Reward: Calculated Upon Completion

  “Ryan,” Mr. Fritzinski whispered. “I don’t have time to explain. Take this device,” He offered Ryan what looked like a steampunk styled tuning fork. “Turn the power dial to maximum and start trying to tune the frequency. If I’m right, you should be able to break that creature down to its base state.” The PerSpectives immediately provided an analysis, still keeping a view window displaying the creature slowly stalking towards him.

  System Notice

  New Device Archived

  Name: Experimental Frequency Generator (Prototype F-03)

  Max Output: 180 W / 120 dB

  Frequency Range: 80–300 Hz

  Analysis:

  Device can be used to emit targeted sonic waves for destructive interference on anomalous entities.

  “Aitherios,” the AI spoke. “I believe Mr. Fritzinski is referencing a technique that was developed during the latter stages of the Crisis based on Archetype frequency. It was never fully tested, but the basic idea is that the more dangerous anomalies evolve from a base archetypal state, and that they can be reduced back to that state by being exposed to destructive interference. Applying this concept to analysis of the anomaly.” A box showing a series of calculations popped up next to the creature’s window, scrolling too fast for Ryan to read, even if he could understand the higher-level math.

  “Helios,” Ryan whispered urgently. “It’s getting kind of close.”

  “Calculations still in progress, more data points needed, please follow on screen prompts for evasive action.” As the creature drew close a movement indicator showed up on Ryan’s HUD, much like in the advanced movement tutorial he’d practiced. It flashed insistently when the creature lifted a front leg to pierce him, and Ryan rolled out of the way. A new arrow had him dashing underneath its tall legs. The creature was awkward and gangly as it tried to turn around in the tight quarters of the cavern. Ryan ran behind a pile of icicles and oversized snowflakes so wide they were practically an ice wall. Despite the obstruction the PerSpectives kept an outline of the creature in his view through it. An updated analysis of the creature appeared in a window to its side.

  System Alert

  Anomaly Update

  Subject: Ice Reaver

  Classification: Chimeric Entity Grade (D)

  Observations:

  ? Rapid close-quarters attacks; agile on slick surfaces

  ? Lower form exhibits partial segmentation (likely exoskeletal)

  ? Cryo-tendons maintain structural cohesion at subzero temps

  Threat Assessment: HIGH

  Structural Weakness:

  ? Unstable resonance at frequencies 120–135 Hz

  ? Potential reduction to base form if disrupted

  Recommended Action:

  ? Maintain evasive movement

  ? Prepare frequency generator to induce destructive interference

  “Calculations complete, please tune the device to 128hz at 62db,” Ryan looked down at the large tuning fork and started lining up the dials to the positions Helios directed him. Nothing happened. The creature moved closer, showing that it could move quite fast in a straight line, and shoved its front legs through the ice wall, sending broken shards flying as Ryan dived out of the way. A flying block hit his hand, and he dropped the device which spiraled away from him.

  “The damn thing doesn’t work!” he complained as more flashing arrows had him ducking and dodging the creatures blows. He got behind it again to force it into another of its awkward multi-step turns. The PerSpectives highlighted the device.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  “It is difficult to determine the function of the device if you do not turn it on first, Aitherios.” Ryan couldn’t believe it, the AI sounded like it was actually scolding him like he was an idiot.

  “How dare you,” he muttered, feeling like one as he eyed the device a few feet away. There was a very clear black switch on its side, and the PerSpectives helpfully zoomed in on it, showing it said “On” at the top and “Off” at the bottom (where it was pointed). The PerSpective’s motion assist clearly wanted him to do another of those dives under the creature before going for the frequency device again, and he happened to agree. The creature was wise to his act, however, and feigned an attack before immediately stabbing down just as he tried to duck underneath. The pointed tips of its legs just barely missed piercing him, though they made a large rip in his jacket and a shallow cut in his arm. A red point appeared on the arm of the human outline by his biometrics and began flashing.

  Ryan barely registered this as the blow sent him tumbling, fortunately in the direction of the device. The PerSpectives highlighted it and prompted him when the timing was right to reach out and grab it during his semi-uncontrolled roll. He slammed into the cavern wall with a thud. The creature hissed and started galloping towards him, toothy mouth open and slavering tongue flapping like a streamer along its cheek. Ryan turned and pointed the device—on this time—in its direction. The Ice Reaver had interlocked its hands into one large fist raised over its head and was about to bring them down hard when one of its legs shattered, sending the creature sprawling and screaming, grabbing onto the stub of its leg. A notification appeared in Ryan’s view showing the battery life of the device draining rapidly, but Ryan kept pointing it at the creature, his PerSpectives providing visuals of the sonic waves rippling towards it.

  System Notice

  Ice Reaver Vital Integrity Shifting

  Ice Reaver’s structural coherence: 60% ... 40% ... 15% ...

  It turned towards Ryan, lifting itself up by one arm then froze, its entire body phasing in and out of existence until the rest of its legs shattered like they were made of ice, its arms crumbled like dry snow and its head fell to the ground. It now looked like an angry snowball with teeth and hollow holes for eyes.

  Analysis Update

  Base Archetypal Form: Biting Cold

  The collective anxiety of those facing the piercing frost of a winter’s morning made manifest.

  Threat Assessment: Minimal

  For a moment Ryan froze, expecting an attack, but instead of continuing its assault the angry snowball whimpered and rolled away.

  System Alert

  Task: Defeat the Ice Reaver

  Complete!

  Reward:

  300 CP

  250 XP

  Partial Qliphothic Data

  Ryan frowned at that last part, but was distracted from it as the ice cavern began to melt rapidly, the pile on top of Mr. Fritzinski turning into a puddle as he rolled onto his knees. Ryan went over to help him get up when the whole cavern rippled again, this time turning into the actual Physics classroom it had been in before all this insanity started, complete with lab tables and stools. Ryan felt a wave of nausea passing through him, leaning against one of the tables for support as he took deep, heavy breaths.

  “Sweet Moses, Ryan!” the teacher exclaimed. “You moved like you knew where that creature was going to strike before it did. Are you a practitioner of martial arts or something?” That made Ryan laugh, a little more bitterly than he had intended.

  “My mom can barely afford to send me to this school let alone a dojo,” he said before coughing a few times. He felt a stinging pain in his arm and tried to examine it, but the angle was hard to see.

  “Here, let me a take a look,” Mr. Fritzinski said, walking around the table to get to Ryan.

  “Don’t worry about it, Mr. Fritzinski,” Ryan said. “Are you OK?”

  “Mike,” the man said. “Mr. Fritzinski is for when we’re in class. And yeah, that thing didn’t seem to want to eat me or anything, just make me cold, but didn’t seem to know that burying me under all that ice actually helped insulate me more than when I was wandering around the cavern.” He gently took up Ryan’s arm and folded the torn pieces of his jacket and shirt aside. He took in a sharp breath. “Looks like frostbite to me, your skin is all blue. I’m guessing the more it thaws out the more you’ll feel the cut. It’s pretty superficial though, I doubt it’s any more life threatening than the situation we’re already in.”

  “Were you in here when all this started happening?” Ryan asked.

  “No,” he said, shaking his head. “I was walking the halls earlier and spotted the IT guy…” he trailed off searching for the name, pulling at one of this insanely angled locks.

  “Mr. Clark?” Ryan prompted.

  “Yeah,” the teacher said, slamming his hand on the counter as a form of admonishment for forgetting. “Anyway, he was walking in the opposite direction of me, and I could have swore I saw a hand sticking out of his head. It reminded me of a creature that was rather infamous during the Crisis. Back then I was really into DIY gadgets and a little paranoid about having to defend myself, so I’d constructed the Freak.”

  “The ‘Freak’?” Ryan asked.

  “Yeah, you know, it’s a Frequency thing,” the man nodded, self-amused.

  “So, you know what’s going on?” Ryan asked.

  “I have a vague notion. If I’m right, we’re all pretty much doomed no matter what we do. Have you heard of an Emergence Zone?” he asked.

  “A Zone of Inverted Reality?” Ryan pretended to guess, a little too confidently. He had underestimated just how much Mr. Fritzinski—Mike—knew about the subject matter.

  “That term is almost exclusively used by the Sifting corporation,” he squinted his eyes, really examining Ryan for the first time, until he caught a glimpse of something that was trying to be invisible but couldn’t quite get there. “You have PerSpectives!” he almost shouted. “No wonder you were able to move so preemptively. Still, it would take complete trust and a total disregard of self-preservation to do what you did.”

  Ryan didn’t know what to say, he felt caught out, and when the fight or flight instinct kicked in his body chose the always forgotten third option: freeze. His eyes were wide, his mouth had gone a little slack jawed, and his biometrics display started showing an alarming uptick in heart rate. What if the man figured out he was the likely catalyst for this whole thing?

  “Don’t worry,” Mike said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I’m not going to rat you out to anyone, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m sure you’ve realized that this event is connected to you somehow.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “Well, when the world ripples, you…kind of ripple back.”

  “What?!” Ryan shouted in alarm.

  “Aitherios,” Helios cut in. “Your vitals are spiking; you may be on the verge of going into shock. Please start taking deeper breaths.”

  “Calm down, Ryan,” Mike said. “I think you might be about to go into shock.”

  “Would you two give me a moment!” he yelled and turned away, lifting his goggles so he could rub his eyes. His arm was starting to smart, and he wasn’t sure what it meant that he “rippled back” but he didn’t think it was anything good, though it did jive with what he had discussed with Helios earlier. The hand thing was still trying to find him. He slid his goggles back down.

  “What do you mean ‘You two?’ Is your PerSpective AI talking to you? That must be so cool,” the “teacher” was starting to sound a lot like a kid in a candy shop, or a techy at Tech Town.

  “Aitherios, with consideration to what Michael Fritzinski has noted, further analysis of the Inverted Reality ripples indicates that something may be attempting to triangulate your position.”

  “Oh, well that’s just great,” Ryan opined.

  “I’m assuming your headset just told you that you’re being pinged?”

  “My God, can we just do an open chat here?” Ryan said, exasperation somehow lowering his heart rate.

  “Synchronizing with F-03,” Helios said in his headset, and then a distorted version of its voice emanated from the tuning fork. “Ping is not an inadequate description of what is happening. Something is attempting to locate your position by sending pulses from various locations. It has most likely determined your current location from the last pulse, it is advised that both of you relocate immediately.”

  Ryan checked his minimap. The drone had been flitting up and down the hallway to provide an updated readout of the general area. Its battery level was at 89%, still nothing to worry about. There were several red dots heading down the hallway from the bathroom he had been in earlier. The area towards the stairwell seemed to be clear, and a route was generated in that direction.

  “Aitherios, the Eye-in-the-Sky has detected your friends Derek and Lisa, there is a Nightmare Entity registering as Grade (A) with them. The drone can replicate the frequencies required to disrupt the creature. Shall I deploy?”

  “What? Of course, yes! And have it lead them to a safe area. We’ll find them after we get out of here.” He turned towards the teacher. “Ok, Mr. Fritzinski—”

  “Mike,” he corrected.

  “It’s going to be really hard for me to call you that, but whatever. Some unfriendly creatures are headed this way. We’re going up the stairwell to find another space to stow away in.”

  “Just lead the way,” the teacher said. Ryan wondered at the complete trust he felt from the man. It was weird coming from an authority figure, but he didn’t have time to really consider it at the moment. They headed out and into the hallway. The PerSpectives turned on night vision so Ryan wouldn’t alert the anomalies by using his flashlight, and they made their way down the hall as quietly as possible.