Packing the Impossible
1202 Words
Chapter 2
Ariel Froswyn stared at the open suitcase lying on her bed like a blank page waiting for a story to begin. Her apartment was a mess of half-packed clothes, camera gear, and scattered travel-sized toiletries she wasn’t even sure she needed.She paused for a moment and looked at her window.
Norway.
A castle.
A haunted one, supposedly.
She still couldn’t believe she had said yes. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she thought about what might await her in such a place.She knew Norway is a very beautiful country of course and it is a dream to travel and explore its culture.
Rubbing her face, she grabbed the first item on her mental list: her camera, scratched but reliable. She packed extra batteries, spare lenses, and memory cards labeled with black tape. A voice recorder went in next, along with a battered notepad filled with doodles and her shorthand notes.
Her winter jacket,far too thin for Norwegian weather—was shoved in any way. She’d figure out the cold once she got there. Gloves, boots, a scarf she hasn’t used in years… essentials, sort of.
She paused at her passport, running her thumb over the faded edges.
“Holiday,” she whispered to herself. “Sure. Alone.”
The suitcase still looked half-empty. She tossed in a flashlight and other emergency equipments, just in case those “spooky vibes” Marcus mentioned weren’t just imaginary. A pocket-size first aid kit followed; castles weren’t exactly OSHA-approved. After a moment’s hesitation, she slid in a small silver charm bracelet her mom had given her. A tiny anchor hung from it, a reminder to stay grounded.
Finally, she zipped the suitcase shut and took a deep breath.
Ariel stood for a moment, heart pounding with a mix of dread and exhilaration. This wasn’t just another assignment. It felt like a door opening into somewhere cold, ancient, and full of secrets. She laughed softly at herself for imagining creatures roaming the halls. She knew better—but Norway’s allure, with its fjords and forests, made her believe anything could happen.
She turned off the lights, leaving the packed suitcase waiting by the door like a loyal companion ready for adventure.
Tomorrow, she would leave the familiar behind.
Tomorrow… Norway.
At exactly 6 a.m., she was already at the airport, dragging her suitcase behind her. Marcus had told her that once she landed in Oslo, she’d need to catch a ferry to Bergen. Her editor had given her enough pocket money for daily expenses for a temporary place to stay. She had no idea how long she would be in Norway and it all depended on how the assignment unfolded.
The ferry cut through icy waters, leaving a trail of white foam behind. Ariel pressed her hands against the cold glass window, her breath fogging it slightly.
Mountains rose like silent sentinels on either side, their peaks dusted with snow glittering under the pale winter sun. Tiny villages dotted the fjords, colorful houses clinging to cliffs as if defying gravity. The sheer beauty made her chest tighten—Norway was nothing like the photos she had seen.
She felt a mix of awe and disbelief. The air smelled crisp, clean, and somehow electric, carrying the faint tang of the sea. The soft sound of water lapping against the ferry hull became a soothing rhythm, almost like it was welcoming her.
Her camera, safely slung around her neck, felt heavy with potential. She snapped photo after photo, though no lens could truly capture the grandeur of the fjords, the endless stretch of water, or the way sunlight bounced off the mountains like scattered diamonds.
Even as excitement bubbled inside her, a shiver ran down her spine. In the distance, the silhouette of the castle loomed—a dark shape against the snow, mysterious and almost alive. The stories Marcus had mentioned about haunted halls crept into her mind, but fear was tempered by fascination.
Ariel leaned back against the railing, letting the cold wind whip her hair around her face. For the first time in a long while, she felt fully alive. The adventure had only just begun, and she knew that whatever awaited her in the castle, Norway itself had already stolen a piece of her heart.
As the ferry neared Bergen, she took a deep breath, steadying herself. The quaint harbor city appeared, its cobbled streets and colorful wooden houses promising warmth and life. Yet the dark silhouette of the castle on the hill reminded her that the true journey was only beginning.
She disembarked with the other passengers. Cold air bit her cheeks, and she clutched her suitcase tightly as she searched for a hotel. Unfortunately, every place was fully booked. She had no choice but to duck into a convenience store to buy something to eat and a cup of hot coffee to fight the chill.
As she was about to leave, a banner outside the store caught her attention:
“Cabin for Rent”
Without thinking twice, she grabbed her phone and dialed the number printed on the sign.
A short ride later, she arrived at a small, slightly worn house with no neighbors nearby. The streets were quiet, fog curling around lampposts. She pushed open the door, suitcase in hand, when she suddenly collided with someone coming down the hallway.
“Oh! I’m so sorry—” she began, looking up.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stood before her, wearing a dark mask covering the lower half of his face. His presence was commanding, almost intimidating, yet the careful way he avoided bumping her too hard made him seem alert, almost protective.
“I… I didn’t see you,” Ariel stammered, eyes scanning the stranger.
His eyes, the only visible part of his face—locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. He said nothing, simply stepped aside, letting her pass, but the weight of his gaze lingered long after she moved on.
She tried to shake off the uneasy feeling as she stepped inside. The banner had said it was an apartment, but Ariel was surprised to find out she was renting the entire house. Though small, it felt convenient—especially since she was alone.
She locked the door and opened the window. Ice covered the streets all around. She could see only faint glows from distant street lamps, wooden structures blurred in the fog, and the lights of houses she had passed earlier.
“Well, this isn’t so bad,” she muttered. Compared to staying in a hotel, she could do whatever she wanted here and enjoy her privacy. She closed the window and lit a fire in the fireplace, a small stack of wood ready to use, warming herself for the first time that evening.
Her thoughts drifted to the man from earlier. He had appeared from somewhere inside the house, but she wasn’t sure if he had come from within or outside. She shrugged it off, organized her belongings, and went into the bedroom. It seemed clean enough, so she added another cover on the bed and decided to sleep. She would think about what to do next tomorrow.
- Writer
