It All Started With A GAME || ongoing 18++ ||

Chapter Three: Caleb Monroe

There's something about a cabin in the middle of nowhere that makes everything feel more real. All the small stuff we usually ignore suddenly matters out here—the crunch of leaves underfoot, the way the air feels cooler, even the faint sounds that fill the silence. The lack of city noise somehow amplifies everything else, making it feel like anything could happen.

I threw my backpack onto one of the bunks, glancing around. The cabin was cozy in that rustic, half-creepy way. Old wooden beams crisscrossed the ceiling, a fireplace filled one corner, and a few dusty, faded paintings hung on the walls. It looked like a place that hadn't seen people in years, except for the neatly stacked logs by the fire, as if it had been waiting just for us.

Blake wandered in, his usual grin plastered across his face. "This place has... character," he said, eyeing the surroundings with something between amusement and skepticism.

"Yeah," I replied, smirking. "It's got that 'cabin in a horror movie' vibe. We're basically setting ourselves up to get murdered."

He laughed. "Nah, we'd make it interesting. Ryder would trip over something dramatic, Mason would do his best to save him, and Lila... well, she'd just start yelling at the killer for ruining her weekend plans."

As if on cue, Lila stomped in, hands on her hips. "Excuse me? I would not yell at a killer! I'd fight them."

"Oh, please." Mason rolled his eyes as he followed her into the cabin, dropping his bag on the floor. "You'd be the one standing on a chair, screaming at everyone to stay calm while freaking out yourself."

Lila gasped, pretending to be offended, but couldn't hide her grin. "You underestimate me, Mason. I'm a lot tougher than you think."

He chuckled, then flopped down on the couch next to her, clearly settling in. Ryder and Isabella entered behind them, carrying in the last of the bags. Isabella took her usual place by the window, looking out with that quiet, observing gaze of hers, while Ryder headed straight for the fireplace, a lighter in his hand, ready to get it going.

"Let's make this place feel less like a haunted house and more like... somewhere we actually want to sleep," he muttered, clicking the lighter a few times before the fire caught.

As the flames started to crackle, a cozy warmth spread through the room, chasing away the chill of the evening. We all gathered around, a comfortable silence settling as we took it all in. It was weirdly nice being here, away from everything and everyone else.

"So," Blake said, leaning forward, "now that we're all settled in, what's the plan? Are we gonna sit here in silence, or do we actually know how to have fun?"

"Oh, don't act like we're boring," Lila shot back, rolling her eyes. "We're just, you know... soaking it in."

"Right," Mason chimed in, smirking. "Because you're all about 'soaking in nature,' huh, Lila?"

She threw a pillow at him, which he dodged with a laugh. "Fine, then. You want fun? How about we play a game?" she challenged, eyebrows raised.

Blake immediately perked up. "Oh, I'm in. Just so you all know, though, I play to win."

"You play dirty," Ryder muttered, settling onto one of the armchairs, smirking. "So what's it gonna be, Lila? Truth or dare? Never have I ever?"

She shrugged, grinning. "How about... secrets? We go around, and everyone has to share one thing no one else knows. Could be something embarrassing, something deep, whatever you're willing to share."

The room went quiet for a moment, everyone exchanging glances. Sharing secrets wasn't exactly something we'd planned for this weekend, but maybe that was part of the appeal. We weren't just friends; we were close enough that something like this didn't feel completely out of place. Plus, if anyone started spilling their guts, I knew Blake would make it a little lighter with one of his jokes.