Good morning and happy Friday. I hope your week has been going well. This has been a rough month but I sort of feel like I am starting to find my balance. Here’s hoping it lasts. For now, let’s kick off the day with our morning writing prompt. Timers set and off we go!
This feels like a short story, a tale of murder and mayhem at least, perhaps family secrets revealed or an inheritance questioned. Perhaps I should indulge my inner Agatha Christie for a bit…
Friday, October 24th: The radio was working at least.
The radio was working at least. Harold clicked the button. “This is Hotel Darington calling for emergency assistance.” He let go of the button and listened. For a moment there was simply static. Everyone held their breath hoping there would be someone on the other end to hear their emergency. When the line crackled Anna could hear nearly everyone draw in breath at the same time.
“This is Atwater Station what is your emergency Hotel Darrington,” a voice said. It crackled and it was clear the connection was not good.
“We’ve had an accident and require medical assistance,” Harold relayed quickly. Anna was certain that like the rest of them, he was worried the connection wouldn’t last.
‘Or the details would scare help away,’ she thought.
“We will dispatch a team but weather is rolling in heavy,” the voice on the other end said. “They may not be able to get back down quickly. Details will help with gear.” The crackling was getting worse.
“I’ll get the doctor,” Harold said. He motioned to Dr. Everett. “Be as concise as you can, I don’t know how long the connection will hold.”
Anna looked towards the window as the doctor began relaying a list of the supplies needed if the wounded were to be helped but then asked to wait. Outside she could see the wind picked up. The Hotel was located near the top of the mountain. There was one long winding road up to and down from the mountain. At the moment it was impassable. Supplies would need to be brought in by helicopter.
The view from the window, from all the windows was spectacular. Most showed views that cut out the road entirely so that guests could forget the outside world existed. This window showed a sea of trees leading to an unoccupied valley. There was a lake in the valley with a rocky shore around it and a few sandy patches where people occasionally picnicked in warmer weather.
It wasn’t warm now. There were spots of ice floating across the top of the lake. She could see the filmy white on top of the blue. ‘More white than yesterday,’ Anna thought. The approaching storm was bringing in colder weather.
All the trees in the valley were swaying with the wind. She could almost imagine the creaking of the pines as the wind moved them back and forth. She wondered if the helicopter would even be able to bring the supplies. She knew there was a helicopter pad behind the hotel. It was a wide, flat area with a path that let back to the hotel. She knew this because she arrived by helicopter three days ago.
‘Three days,’ she thought. It seemed longer. Much longer.
Ten til Midnight 