---𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 (𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵: 𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍)

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐱

⸻Emily and Matt hurried through the path, their breaths visible in the frigid air. The unfamiliar screech that echoed through the woods sent a shiver down their spines, and their hearts raced with fear.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh, Matt, what was that?" Emily's voice trembled with a mixture of panic and anger.

"I don't know. Let's keep going," Matt replied, his tone urgent but steady.

Emily glanced around nervously. "I swear if this is a prank, they are so going to get it."

Matt didn't respond, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what they had just seen. The image of the pig's head impaled on a stick, with the ominous note reading "Welcome Back," was seared into his memory. The simplicity of the message only made it more chilling.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't something Josh or Chris would do. It was too grotesque, too sinister. The idea that someone else might be on the mountain with them gnawed at his thoughts. Sure, the mountain was vast and isolated, but Josh had assured them that no one ever come here since the Washington family had owned it. Matt wished he had that kind of money, the kind that could buy an entire mountain.

"If I had known this, I would've stayed in the lodge," Emily muttered, her voice tinged with regret and fear.

"Oh, you think?" Matt thought to himself, resisting the urge to snap back. He knew better than to bicker with Emily, who had a knack for turning arguments into full-blown fights. He bit his tongue and kept his thoughts to himself.

"We'll be there soon," he reassured her, though he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince her or himself.

As they pushed forward, Matt couldn't help but hope that nothing was amiss at the lodge. He prayed that everyone, including Mike and Jessica who were off at the guest cabin, was safe and sound. The sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air, and every crunch of snow underfoot seemed to echo with the promise of more horrors to come.

The darkness of the woods closed in around them, and the path seemed to stretch on forever. Matt's thoughts were a whirlwind of fear and determination. They had to get to the lodge. They had to warn the others.

⸻Kida's breath came in shallow gasps, her body pressed tightly by the cold, unyielding earth. Darkness enveloped her, and the air was thick with the scent of damp soil. She tried to move, but the weight of the dirt above her held her fast.

Suddenly, a crackling sound filled the confined space, followed by the mechanical click of a tape recorder coming to life.

"Welcome, Kida," the psycho's distorted voice began, dripping with theatrical flair.

"Our stage is set, the curtain has risen, and you, my dear, are the star of this harrowing act."

Kida's heart pounded in her chest, her fists clenching with a mix of fear and anger.

"WHO ARE YOU?" she demanded a response but it was ignored by the continuation of the psycho's voice.

"Imagine the audience, watching as you struggle for breath, for survival. How riveting it must be for them," the voice continued, each word laced with sadistic amusement. "But this isn't just any performance. No, this is a re-enactment tribute to the night you couldn't save your friends, Hannah and Beth."

Kida's eyes widened in consternation. How did this fucker know about her and her friends? Was he responsible for the twins going missing?

Her world started crashing down as the sound of saw blades whirring to life echoed through the small speaker, followed by desperate screams. Kida felt her eyes streaming with tears. That sounds like Chris and Ashley!