The Lodge

5

They walked along the track leading out of Auchdarblair Lodge, the night air cool against their faces, they couldn't help but feel a sense of relief beginning to lift off of their shoulders. What had meant to have been a joyous weekend was now a nightmare. They made their way along the gravel track, eager to reach the town and summon help, alerting the authorities to the horrors which had happened at the lodge.

The crisp air surrounded them, the sound of their footsteps crunching on the fallen leaves and churning the gravel filling the silence of the night. Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by a loud gunshot that echoed from the direction of the lodge startling all of them.

Ellie let out a blood-curdling scream as she fell to the ground, clutching her lower leg which now oozed red with her warm blood.

"Get into the woods, now!" Harriet shouted, pulling Olivia towards the cover of the nearby pine trees. "We have to get out of here!"

Ellie, who remained on the ground in pain and panic, pleaded for Faith to stay with her. "Please, Faith, don't leave me," she begged, tears streaming down her face. Ellie was seated in the open on the gravel road clutching her wounded leg wincing in pain.

Faith's heart broke at the sight of her friend's agony. Without hesitation, she rushed over to Ellie and looped her arms under Ellie's armpits, wrapping a lock around her chest she pulled Ellie into the cover of the trees. Ellie ignored the burning pain in her leg. "I think I've been shot" she groaned holding her wounded leg.

"Can you walk?" Faith urgently asked Ellie, her voice laced with concern and determination. She tried to gently guide Ellie onto her feet, her touch warm and comforting. Ellie winced, the sharp pain shooting through her lower leg like a fiery inferno. Her face contorted in agony, her green eyes, which were framed by her glasses, brimming with tears. She shook her head, her voice barely a whisper, "No, I don't think I can" she sorrowfully spoke. Ellie could feel her heart racing in her chest and an overwhelming sense of dread.

Faith's heart sank at the sight of her friend's pain. Ellie was such an adorable soul who cared so much for others, now seemed fragile and vulnerable. She couldn't bear to see her like this. She knew she had to be strong for both of them. With a determined glint in her eye, Faith's voice took on a fierce edge. "You can do this, Ellie. I believe in you." She reached out and took Ellie's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

She looked up at Faith, her eyes wide with gratitude. She saw the determination in her friend's eyes, and suddenly she felt a surge of determination herself. "I'll try" she said, almost as if reassuring herself.

Together, they took a deep breath and slowly, cautiously, Ellie began to put weight on her injured leg. The pain was still there, but with Faith's support, it seemed more bearable. They took each step carefully, their eyes locked on one another, not daring to glance anywhere else for the fear of what they may find. They managed to hobble further into the forest.

"Where's Harriet and Olivia?" Ellie asked, her voice trembling with fear and confusion. The forest was eerily quiet, with only the sound of their own heavy breathing and the rustling of leaves under their feet.

"I think they've left us," Faith replied, her tone filled with unease. She suddenly paused, her eyes scanning the surrounding trees. Ellie felt her racing heart rattling her chest as she waited for Faith to continue.

They heard slow, deliberate footsteps approaching them along the gravel track. The hairs on the back of Ellie's neck stood up as she turned to look in the direction of the sound. She could see nothing but the dense trees and shadows. "Shush," Faith whispered urgently, grabbing Ellie's arm and pulling her down into the undergrowth.

They held their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests as they waited for the unknown person to reveal themselves. The air was thick with tension, their skin prickling with fear. Finally, they saw it. The same looming dark figure that had been haunting them all night, the same figure who had entered the dining room and killed Alice.

He held a rifle up in the air, his eyes scanning the treeline with deadly precision. Every step he took along the gravel track echoed in their ears, each pause making their hearts skip a beat. As he came closer, their senses were overwhelmed; they wanted to scream out in terror, each of them wishing they would wake up from this terror.

The bracing scent of pine and damp earth filled their nostrils, the sound of their own heartbeats drowning out any other noise as they held their breath. They could feel the damp ground against their backs, their bodies trembling.

It was the figure himself that truly captivated them. He was a mystery, his face hidden in the shadows of the night, his movements calculated and deliberate. A steady movement from Faith, who was growing uncomfortable on the ground, shattered the tense silence. A twig snapped under her, and their hiding spot was now known.

The figure turned towards them, his eyes locked into the darkness of the forest. They were frozen in place, unsure if they truly had been caught or if he was simply passing by. In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The girls and the figure were locked in a silent battle of wills. The intensity of the situation was palpable, the air thick with uncertainty and danger.

He slowly lowered the rifle and pointed it at where they were. "Run!" Faith screamed feeling fear seize her as she jumped to her feet grabbing at Ellie. A deafening gunshot rang out before Ellie could even make it to her feet. She groaned.

"Faith, please, don't leave me!" Ellie's voice cracked with desperation as she reached out for her friend who had already scurried into the darkness of the trees. "Faith! No!"

Faith's heart was racing with terror and she couldn't stay, couldn't face the danger any longer. She could hear Ellie's cries echoing in her mind, pleading for her to stay. "I don't want to die" she heard Ellie wail in the distance.

"Faith, come back!" Ellie's voice was now a mix of fear and anger, and Faith could feel the weight of her words in her chest. But she couldn't turn back, couldn't face the fear that threatened to consume her.

As she ran, tears streaming down her face, Faith couldn't help but wonder if she was making the right choice. But in that moment, all she could do was listen to her own instincts and hope that they would lead her to safety.

Faith's body ached as she ran, she strained to hear Ellie's distant cries for help. Before she could even process the fear and dread that filled her, a third and final gunshot rang out, silencing them.

The night suddenly resumed it's eery stillness, the only sound the ragged gasps of Faith's breath as she stumbled to a halt, her body trembling with shock. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Ellie, her friend, was gone. Faith was left alone, surrounded by the darkness of the forest. She collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she mourned the loss of another dear friend.