Backwards Into Hell

Part One: The Lodge

Jake's Diary

Monday 25th October

Morning again and my head was pounding, positively splitting in two as I slithered into fresh clothes. It was warmer that day so I ditched the second jumper and opted for just a few layers.

I focused on my clothes, numb. Don't think about it.

If I did, I ran the risk of breaking down at breakfast and giving it all away. I needed to act normal and calm, even if my mind was swirling, because soon enough, all hell was going to break loose.

I skimmed a brush through my hair, thinking of a target on whom to pin the blame. My fall-guy. It had to be someone the other guests didn't trust, and I had to be subtle, or suspicion would cast its deadly shade on me.

When I made it down that morning, everyone had already gathered—apart from Lily, who was sleeping in. Delilah and Lottie were together again, gossiping about various soaps and celebrities as Abe sat quietly beside them with eyebags even bigger than mine.

The secret was taking a toll.

Maybe I could pin it on him.

'Do you watch Corrie, Jake?' Lottie asked as I struggled to pour a bowl of cereal with shuddering hands.

'Never.'

How do I normally act? I've forgotten.

'Me and my Mum love it,' Delilah added and I found myself smiling at her, noting she was in the same flea-bitten jumper as yesterday. She didn't smile back.

'Oh, you have to try it.'

The pair shared a look.

'We can put it on tonight,' Delilah tried. 'There's a TV somewhere here, right?'

'Don't you remember?' David raised an eyebrow from across the room. "Get back to nature"?' he quoted the tagline from The Lodge's web page, putting on a stupid voice.

Lottie frowned.

'I can stream it on my phone,' said Delilah. 'I'll come by later.'

At that moment, our eyes met across the toast and she made it clear this wasn't about Corrie. Delilah wanted to talk to me, alone, and I wasn't about to say no to that.

'Sure,' I said begrudgingly with a slight glance at Delilah, showing the joke.

'Oh, you're so moody!' Lottie slapped my hand.

'I said yes, didn't I?'

The kitchen door opened and my stomach dropped, somehow thinking Harriet would bumble through, chef's hat shining in the sun as she turned to me and said,

'It's him—he's the killer.'

But she didn't. Instead, we were greeted by Darren and Anais, faces cloudy as they came to the head of the table.

'Morning, everyone.' Darren didn't wait for a response this time as he leaned on the back of an empty chair. 'I'm sorry to tell you this but Harriet's ill, so we'll have to make do with just the basics today.'

Maybe it was the impact of Darren's sombre expression, but it was clear my fellow guests weren't concerned about the food. Neither was I—my brain brimmed with questions.

Had they found her? Or was she still lying in the bushes, alone? I watched Darren's eyes—did he know?

Either way, it worked in my favour. More time.

David, who up until now had been quietly placed at the edge of the room and forcing Caleb to eat cornflakes, spoke up,

'She's ill? Is she alright?'

'Yes, yes, fine. She didn't come in this morning, so we're assuming it's a bug.'

Anais nodded in agreement and I noted how quiet he seemed. He stood still, shoulders back as he gazed over us. He wasn't shy—but something scared him.

Did they know?

Lottie placed her arms on the table. 'We'll be alright on sandwiches, won't we?' She had a certain, politician-like charisma that made us dutifully nod along with her.

Maybe I should have hidden Harriet better, I considered. Somewhere no one would find her.

After some final words of consolation, Darren and Anais went to leave, but David stopped them with a powerful clearing of his throat.

'Sorry,' he said, 'just wanted to ask if you've got signal here? Only I tried to make a call this morning and it didn't go through.'

My mind flicked to David's other phone call. The one with the woman.

'Oh, me too!' Lottie remembered. 'I couldn't talk to my sister.'

Darren paused. 'The signal?' He pulled out his phone. 'That's strange. Is everyone having this problem?'

A sea of shiny phones emerged at the table and I looked at the top of the screen. Nothing. Not even a bar.

Perfect.

Darren murmured something technical—I can't remember exactly what—and dragged Anais with him to the kitchen and once they were gone, we found ourselves discussing Harriet.

'Do you think she's really ill?'

'Of course she is. Not everything is a conspiracy,' said Abe, but Delilah was more receptive, twirling her beautiful hair between her fingers and pouting as she thought.

'It is a bit strange not to call it in. Do you reckon she's gone out for the day?'

Her eyes flicked to me and my stomach fluttered.

'I'm sure she's fine,' I said. 'Probably just a cold.'

There was a beat of silence as Lottie put her hands together. 'Anyway, I thought we could go for a wander around town—try and get our bearings.'

I had a feeling she wouldn't find anyone in town.

'Sounds good,' I said, and Delilah agreed.

David stayed quiet. When Lottie prodded him, he snapped awake.

'Oh, maybe. I'm not sure what we're up to yet.'

Dark clouds were under his eyes and his hair stuck up like lightning.

'After that, we could go further out—to Cille Bharra maybe?'

It was a church on the other side of the island. Abe caught my face.

'You all have your own things you want to see too, I'm sure,' he said.

'No.' I shuffled in my chair. 'That would be nice.'

At that point, I remembered Lily was still cooped up in her room, so told them I'd be back soon and slid from my chair, leaving before Delilah could chase me with her phone, shouting promises of Corrie.