The Art of Deception

CHAPTER 1: Meat and Greet

There was a group of friends that often hung out and enjoyed the time they spent together. One weekend they decided it would be fun to go on a road trip. Vespers was driving and Marie was controlling the GPS. Everyone else sat in the back of the minivan, uncomfortable but manageable. Suddenly a deer flew in front of the van. Vespers realized that there was no way around it. The van smashed into the deer, puncturing its abdomen, its guts spilling out all over the windshield. What a bad omen. Screaming and yelling started up as some people were mortified, others were not. Vespers could care less. Vespers turned on the windshield wipers and it only made the stains worse, as the blood spread more. They were now out in the middle of the woods at night, with nowhere to go. Lake, who sat silently, spotted a cabin. Lake had informed her friends about her discovery and they left the van where it was and headed towards the cabin. They were about to knock on the front door, but someone interrupted them.

Kian: May I help you folks?

Kairo: Um, hi. We kind of, hit a deer. And now we're lost...

Kairo replied nervously.

Kian: You ain't lost if you found you way over to my cabin, eh?

Marie: Yeah I guess so, we're lost because GPS is a load of bull...

Kairo: We... saw your cabin and thought maybe you can help us?

Kian: Well you're welcome to stay the night here. There's nowhere to go for miles, and the bears like to come out at night.

Kian forces a smile, acting as if no one notices the creepy vibes he gives off.

Lake: That would be nice thank you, I can't imagine sleeping out in the middle of nowhere would do us any good.

Lake said with a smile, forced, but not as forced as the suspicious man.

Vespers: Oh wow staying at a complete strangers house, not suspicious or scary at all.

The rest silently agree with the so-called "Ruler of Sarcasm".

Kairo: Vespers, please. Would you like to sleep outside?

Vespers: Hmm, Maybe...

Kian interrupts their small talk.

Kian: Welcome to my cozy cabin

Kian opens the door letting everyone inside.

Marie: Puppy!

Marie bursts through the door to cuddle the large St. Bernard as it wags its tail in excitement. Geneva follows Marie inside.

Kian: I see you met Oscar

Vespers: If that dog has fleas, keep it away from me

Vespers walks inside, silently judging anything and everything.

Marie: Aww, he's such a good boy, yes he is! Don't listen to the mean vampire

Marie plays with Oscar's ears, fluffing them as she pleases. Oscar wags his tail. Lake runs over to Oscar sitting alongside Marie, and immediately hugs the dog.

Vespers: Mean? I'm not mean. How dare you.

Vespers stands, hurt and confused. Oscar jumps onto Vespers and licks them.

Kian: Heh, I think he likes you...

Vespers: EW! EW! EW! IT TOUCHED ME!

Geneva walks over to Vespers and picks up Oscar gently.

Marie: Betrayal! Oscar, why don't you like me?

Marie expresses her words to Oscar though he pays no attention to her. Kairo chuckles.

Kairo: Um what can we call you?

Kairo asks suddenly.

Kian: Names' Kian, Pleasure.

Kairo: Well, thank you again Kian. My Name's Kairo-

Marie: Ok Mr. Kian Pleasure...

Kian: You don't have to be so formal with me now.

Kian said glaring at Marie, he wasn't a fan of that joke.

Lake: Thank you for letting us stay, my name's Lake.

A kind smile appeared on Lake's face.

Kian: Please, don't be a stranger, come sit in the living room. It's right down the hall.

Vespers: I will not be sitting anywhere, but thanks for the option.

Lake tries to get Oscar's attention to follow her to the living room. Oscar trots happily over to Lake and Kairo tiredly snakes his way over as well. Kian shuts the door and locks it for "safety" reasons. No one had noticed that Copper was still in the van. Drake walks upstairs.

Kian: Do we have everyone?

Kairo does a head count.

Kairo: Oh wait

Marie: Oh shit! Copper...

Lake: Oh dear.

Marie: Don't you mean oh "deer"?

Lake: Marie, no.

Marie: Marie yes.

Kian opens the door, once more.

Kian: Feel free to get them.

Kairo leaves the cabin to get Copper. Vespers is still standing there lazily. Copper was luckily alive, but was still asleep.

Kairo: Vespers, Can you accompany me while I go get Copper, please?

Vespers: Ok fine, since you're practically begging me.

Vespers gloats and then follows Kairo out of the cabin. Lake stays in the living room looking around while petting Oscar on the floor. Marie joins Lake, and proceeds to give Oscar belly rubs.

As Lake looked around, they noticed a lot of stuffed animals mounted on the wall. There is a whole assortment of birds, a few deer, and a large bear rug. The lights were dimmed, giving the glass eyes of the animals a slight glow. It was also noticeable that there was a large fireplace, and even though it was awfully cold in the cabin, the fireplace was not lit.

Meanwhile, Kairo finds the van and knocks on the side of it before opening the door.

Kairo: Copper? Are you in here?

Vespers stood there for "moral support".

Vespers: Hurry up, it's gross outside...

Copper's eyes quickly darted open and looked at the door.

Copper: Kairo?

Kairo: That's me. I'm afraid you fell asleep. C'mon, we found a cabin with someone willing to let us stay the night.

Kairo faintly smiles.

Copper: Oh, okay then...

Copper also lets off a faint smile, Copper hops right out of the van and closes the door.

A tig snaps, Kario whips his head around nervously. Kian stood there holding his axe.

Kian: Sorry Love, didn't mean to scare ya... Bears are out late remember? I didn't want you to go alone and unprotected.

Kairo laughed it off nervously, and Copper stayed silent as her ears lowered.

Verpers: Didn't mean to scare us?! Sure ok...

Kian blinked a few times with a blank expression.

Kian: I said I was sorry.

Kairo: It's fine! Let's go back- please.

Kian: Alright, follow me.

Kian leads then back into the cabin. Copper started to follow along, but at a fast pace, then Kairo, and finally Vespers who decided to take their sweet time.