CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
The ice dome had thickened enough that the outside world was now only a hazy golden blur.
The sisters had marked the first week by carving a simple calendar into the rock wall near the black lake. One line for each day. They were already on day nine.
Elena stood at the edge of the shrinking shoreline, watching the water level drop as the ice pressed inward. The air felt noticeably thinner, every breath a deliberate effort.
They had rationed the salvaged supplies carefully, but the real limitation was space. The dome was contracting faster than they had anticipated.
Mara worked on reinforcing a small shelter using fallen branches and tarps from the collapsing meadow. Her strong hands moved with purpose, but her eyes carried the weight of responsibility.
“We have
