Whispers in the Hollow

Reunion

The hum of the bustling city faded behind them as the group of friends piled into Jayden's beat-up SUV. It had been over a year since they'd all gathered together. College had separated them, with everyone moving to different corners of the country. But winter break finally brought them back to where it all began.

Jayden grinned at the rearview mirror, watching his friends settle in. "Man, we haven't done something like this in years," he said, eyes flicking to Maya, his best friend since middle school. She rolled her eyes but smiled back.

"It's only been a year," Maya replied, adjusting her oversized hoodie. "Don't make it sound like we're ancient."

From the back seat, Marcus laughed. "Feels like longer. College is no joke. I barely recognize you, Jay."

"You saying I've aged?" Jayden teased, mock-hurt.

"We all have," said Zara, seated next to Marcus. She leaned forward, poking Jayden's shoulder. "But enough of the nostalgia, what's this place we're headed to? You never said much about it."

Jayden smirked. "That's because it's a surprise."

Maya groaned. "Oh, come on. We don't do surprises, Jayden."

"You'll like it. Trust me," Jayden assured her, turning his attention back to the road.

Dani, sitting next to Maya, piped up. "As long as it's not some sketchy cabin in the woods, I'm good. I hate creepy places."

"You're gonna hate it then," Marcus joked, earning a nervous laugh from Dani.

"Seriously, Jayden, tell us where we're going," Zara pressed.

"It's just a cabin, okay? But it's a nice one. Up in the mountains. Real quiet. Good for a weekend to unwind." Jayden shrugged.

"A cabin?" Maya echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You took us to a cabin. Jay, you know how those horror movies go. A bunch of friends, isolated in the woods—"

"Oh no," Dani whispered, pulling her knees up to her chest. "I hate those movies."

"Relax," Jayden said, keeping his eyes on the winding road as the cityscape turned into dense forest. "It's just a cabin. And we're only there for three days. What's the worst that could happen?"

Marcus leaned forward, grinning. "Ever heard of the Hollow Ridge ghost?"

Everyone went silent.

"Not this again," Maya muttered, staring out the window.

"What's the Hollow Ridge ghost?" Dani asked, eyes wide.

Zara sighed. "It's an old urban legend. Marcus is just trying to freak you out."

"Not trying to freak anyone out," Marcus said, looking at Dani. "It's just... people have been disappearing up there for, like, a century. They say if you go up to Hollow Ridge, you'll see the ghost. And once you see her, it's game over."

Jayden chuckled. "Come on, dude. You're still on that?"

"I'm serious," Marcus continued, undeterred. "The story goes, there was this woman, back in the 1800s. She lived in a cabin all alone. They say she was a witch or something. The locals didn't like her, thought she was cursed. So, they burned her cabin down—with her still inside."

Dani gasped, her eyes wide. "That's horrible."

"Yeah," Marcus nodded. "Legend says her spirit still roams the woods, looking for revenge. If you see her, she'll haunt you until you go insane. People have disappeared—hikers, campers. No trace of them, just gone."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Marcus, no one's disappearing."

"But some say they've seen her," Marcus added, ignoring Maya's skepticism. "A woman in white. Pale as a ghost. Watching them from the trees."

"Marcus, you really have to stop watching those documentaries," Zara said, trying to lighten the mood.

Dani was not amused. "Wait, wait. We're going near Hollow Ridge, aren't we? Is that where the cabin is?"

Jayden didn't answer immediately, but after a pause, he said, "Well... yeah. But we'll be fine. It's just a legend."

"Just a legend?" Dani's voice rose an octave. "That doesn't mean it's not real! Urban legends start somewhere!"

"Dani, breathe," Maya said, gently patting her arm. "No ghosts, no witches. We'll just have some fun, chill out, and get back to college in one piece."

The rest of the ride was quieter after that, with Marcus occasionally glancing at Dani, as if trying to gauge how much he'd spooked her.

The road became narrower, and the trees grew denser as they ascended into the mountains. Soon, the sounds of the city were completely drowned by the wilderness, and all they could hear was the hum of the car's engine and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

Finally, the cabin came into view, nestled among the trees. It looked quaint but sturdy, with large windows that peered out into the forest.

"This is it," Jayden announced as he pulled the SUV to a stop.

Maya stepped out first, stretching her legs and taking in the crisp air. "Well, it's not as bad as I thought. Kind of cozy."

"Yeah," Marcus said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Until it gets dark."

"Shut up, Marcus," Maya shot back.

Dani stepped out cautiously, eyes scanning the treeline as if expecting to see something—or someone—lurking there. "I don't like this," she whispered.

Zara wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "It's gonna be fine. We'll have a few drinks, make a fire, and just chill. Don't let Marcus get in your head."

They carried their bags inside the cabin, which was surprisingly well-kept. The living room had a large stone fireplace, and a long couch sat in front of it. A few paintings of mountain landscapes adorned the walls, and a staircase led up to the bedrooms.

Jayden tossed his bag onto the couch and grinned. "See? Told you it wasn't so bad."

"Not bad at all," Zara agreed, looking around. "This'll be a nice getaway."

As they settled in, Marcus couldn't resist one last jab. "Just wait until midnight. That's when the real fun starts."

Dani glared at him. "Can you not?"

Jayden clapped his hands, trying to change the mood. "Alright, let's unpack and get some dinner going. No more ghost talk."

As the group dispersed to their rooms, the wind picked up outside, rattling the windows.

Maya, the last one downstairs, lingered by the fireplace. "You sure we're gonna be fine out here?"

Jayden looked at her and smiled. "Trust me, Maya. It's just a story. Nothing's gonna happen."

But as the wind howled outside, and shadows stretched across the cabin floor, Jayden wasn't entirely sure he believed his own words.