The Lodge

2

The rain pattered against the windows of Auchdarblair Lodge. The power now off left the guests in a state of unease. They stood together in the dark dining room, their faces illuminated only by the faint glow of the wan moonlight. They had been enjoying a weekend getaway at the remote lodge, but now they were in the middle of nowhere, with no electricity and no way to contact the outside world.

They sat in silence, the darkness seemed to press in on them, suffocating and overwhelming. The once cosy and inviting lodge now felt eerie and foreboding. They could hear wind outside, but it was the silence within that was most unsettling. The sound of their own breathing seemed unbearably loud in the quiet.

Suddenly, a thump echoed through the lodge, making the girls jump in fear. It sounded like something heavy had fallen in one of the nearby rooms. They exchanged nervous glances for everyone that should be in the lodge was contained within that dining room. Just then, the power flickered back on, but it only lasted for a few seconds before plunging them back into darkness.

Heartbeats quickened as they heard heavy, ghostly footsteps approaching through the lodge. They were getting closer and closer, and the girls could feel the presence of someone or something nearing. Nicole grabbed onto Alice's hand, who remained seated at the table, her knuckles turning white with fear. They remained still, their eyes wide with terror as they realised they were not imagining the heavy footsteps that stepped ever closer.

The girls' eyes widened as they watched the doorknob slowly turn. Their vision was fixed on the door, waiting for it to open and reveal what was on the other side. The room was dimly lit, the trees blowing outside cast shadows on the walls, adding to the suspense. Their hearts all raced as they strained their eyes to see what lay beyond the door. The silence was deafening, the only sound was the pounding of their hearts. They could almost feel the presence on the other side, but they couldn't see it. The anticipation was tense, almost unbearable.

As the door slowly creaked open, they held their breath, unsure of what they would see. Their eyes widened in terror as a figure stepped into the room, their face shrouded in darkness. The air was thick with tension as the towering and robust frame stood before them, casting a shadow over the girls. The figure exuded a commanding presence, intimidating with its sheer height and stocky build. The girls were dwarfed by this foreboding figure, feeling small in its presence. Their eyes were drawn upwards, taking in every detail of the imposing silhouette before them. It was like a dark cloud had descended, enveloping them in its formidable aura.

Nicole's hand shook as she held onto Alice's, the only source of comfort in the midst of this terrifying situation. The other girls huddled together, their minds racing with fear and confusion, the whole situation feeling surreal.

They held their breath, uncertain of what the figure's intentions were. They were completely at the mercy of this mysterious stranger, and the fear was almost suffocating. They could feel it's eyes on them, even in the darkness. It was as if it was studying them, taking in every detail. As the figure slowly stepped forward, the girls could see a glint of something in its hand.

They were frozen in fear, not knowing what to do. They didn't want to anger or provoke the figure in any way. The glint was a shimmer of metal, and the realisation hit them all at once. It was a knife. The figure took slow, deliberate steps towards them, its heavy footsteps echoing through the room. They could feel their hearts pounding in their chests, their breaths coming out in short gasps. The figure stopped directly behind Alice, the knife glinting in the faint light. It seemed to be studying them, its eyes, hidden in the darkness, flicking from one girl to the other.

Nicole could feel her hand trembling uncontrollably, and she was sure the others were feeling the same fear. They were completely at the mercy of this stranger, and they had no idea what was going to happen next. The tension in the room was almost insufferable, and the girls could feel a sense of dread washing over them.

Standing behind Alice it loomed like a shadow, she could feel the hairs standing up on the back of her neck and she didn't dare turn around to face the stranger. "Is this some kind of joke?" she cautiously whispered to her friends, hoping one of them would take responsibility, hoping it was some kind of set up.

In one swift and brutal motion, the figure viciously sliced the glimmering blade across Alice's throat, the metallic clang resounding through the air. The attack was premeditated, precise, and oozing with malice. A searing agony shot through her body, causing her hands to instinctively fly to her neck, only to feel the warm flow of blood from the gaping wound. "What have you done?" Alice moaned, her voice strained and choked with terror. Panic surged through her veins, causing her muscles to tense up in terror. "What is happening?" she pleaded, her voice growing weaker with each passing moment.

The figure stood over her, their details obscured by the darkness, their intentions unclear. Alice's mind raced with fear and confusion, her senses overwhelmed by the warmth of blood pulsating from her jugular, the sound of her own ragged breaths, and the sight of her life slipping away before her eyes. She struggled to hold on to consciousness, she couldn't help but wonder who this figure was and why they had done this to her.

The figure stepped as calmly away through the door as they had entered, its movements agonizingly slow and calculated. The sound of its footsteps echoed through the hallway, heavy and foreboding, each step a haunting reminder of its presence. The air was thick with fear and despair as the figure lumbered down the hardwood floor, its weight causing the ground to creak and groan in protest. As it disappeared into the darkness of Auchdarblair, a scent of decay tainted followed, tainting the air.

Nicole rushed to Alice placing her hands on her shoulders. "Oh my god, Alice?!"

Alice gargled, her bloody hands reaching up for something to hold. Nicole took hold of her. "Run" Alice croaked, a groan of desperation seeped from her bloody lips. Alice blinked her blue eyes up at the ceiling and felt the crushing pain that was ripping through her body, she let out on final sighing breath before falling still and slumping forward in the chair.