𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 - 𝐵.𝐸

22 - 𝘈 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘛𝘰 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳

"Take this with you, and when I call you a better answer. I mean it." My mom handed me my new phone she had bought earlier.

I thanked her and slung my bag over my shoulder making my way outside to Jasons red pick up truck already filled with my friends. I climbed in, throwing my overnight bag into the trunk and squished in between Billie and Alison in the backseat. None of us were actually wearing our prom outfits but we did pack them since all of our parents made it clear they would be driving up later to take pictures with us. What a lame prom.

We started driving away from Clearwater watching the towering trees reach up towards the sky, their leaves creating a vibrant canopy overhead. The sunlight filters through the foliage, casting dappled shadows on the road ahead.

Zoe plugged in her aux playing some songs I didn't recognise, Billie did though she was singing for the past twenty minutes straight. Alison rolled down the window, allowing the air to fill the car with the scent of pine needles. Every time you inhale, you feel like you're taking in a little bit of the wilderness itself.

We passed through small towns, each with their own unique charm. Some are nestled in clearings amidst the trees, while others sit at the base of rolling hills. We stopped at a gas station to grab some snacks, I think I stopped here before it seemed familiar. I thought to myself holding the glass coca cola bottle in my hand.

The road twists and turns, following the contours of the land. I caught a glimpse of some squirrels running up trees which made me smile, they were so cute.

Half an hour later we turned on a familiar road, knowing we were close to our destination. Memories of the traumatic experience flooded my mind, causing my heart to race and hands to tremble. The once peaceful surroundings now seem ominous and threatening.

Jason drove up a narrow dirt road, lined with tall trees that create a canopy above us, blocking out much of the sunlight. The leaves rustle in the wind, their movement producing an eerie sound. I remembered how the wind had howled that night, the way it felt to pull a trigger, the way my entire body was covered in blood and scratches. It sent shivers down my spine.

The cabin finally comes into view, perched on a small hill overlooking a picturesque lake where Ali once became my enemy. It looks serene and inviting from the outside, but I knew all too well the horrors that await within. The cabin itself was peaceful, filled with nick nacks and pictures of Billies childhood, but I couldn't get past the thought of dragging our friend across the snow rolled up in a carpet.

We parked the car and stepped out, the smell of pine needles and fresh air filled my nostrils, but it did little to calm my nerves. I took a deep breath and forced myself to approach the cabin, each step bringing back vivid memories of that fateful night.

The door creaks open, and you step inside. The interior looks just as I remember it, with its rustic furniture and log walls. I can almost hear the sound of the floorboards creaking under my feet as I move through the cabin. I stopped walking over the rug by the fireplace we strategically placed to cover the red soaked wood underneath my feet.

Just stop thinking about it and try to have fun, my mind comforted me.

"Hey are you okay?" I asked Billie after throwing my bag onto the bottom bunk in one of the bedrooms.

"Yeah it's just..." She stops talking.

"No I know I get it Bil, it's weird being here. At least to the police it looks like we aren't scared of this place which is good." I calm her down.

"Let's just try to have fun okay." I bring her face closer to mine and kiss her. She started smiling. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I laughed.