บท 1: 1. The Reunion
"Can you believe it's been ten years?" Cara's voice broke through the soft hum of the car engine as she glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, adjusting her lipstick. "Feels like a lifetime ago."
"Yeah, time flies," Jake replied, his eyes focused on the winding road ahead. The dense forest on either side seemed to swallow the car, the trees towering like ancient guardians. The early evening light filtered through the leaves, casting eerie shadows across the gravel path.
"Why'd you decide to organize this, anyway?" Cara asked, leaning back in her seat. "I mean, a cabin in the middle of nowhere? It's so… cliché."
Jake chuckled, glancing at her. "I thought it'd be fun. You know, to get the gang back together, relive the old days. Plus, it was Ben's idea, not mine."
"Ben, huh? Still the same old dreamer," Cara mused, her tone softening as she thought about their friend who had always been the glue that held their group together.
The cabin appeared suddenly, as if it had materialized from the misty depths of the forest. It was a large, rustic structure, with wooden beams that seemed weathered by time and elements. The sight of it sent a shiver down Cara's spine. She couldn't tell if it was excitement or something else.
"Here we are," Jake announced, pulling the car into the small clearing in front of the cabin. The gravel crunched under the tires as they came to a stop.
As they stepped out of the car, the cool air wrapped around them, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. Cara took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in her stomach.
The front door creaked open, and a tall figure stepped out onto the porch. "About time you guys showed up!" Ben's voice boomed across the clearing, a wide grin on his face.
"Ben!" Cara exclaimed, her previous reservations melting away as she rushed to hug him. "It's so good to see you!"
"You too, Cara," Ben replied, wrapping her in a bear hug. He looked over her shoulder at Jake. "And you, man. Long time no see."
Jake nodded, smiling as he approached. "Yeah, it's been a while."
"Come on inside," Ben said, releasing Cara and gesturing toward the door. "Everyone's already here."
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was warm, almost nostalgic. The large stone fireplace crackled with a welcoming fire, casting a golden glow over the wooden furniture and cozy rugs. The others were scattered around the room, drinks in hand, laughter filling the space.
Lena, the quiet but sharp-witted one of the group, was sitting on the couch, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders as she spoke animatedly with Sam, who was perched on the armrest, his signature mischievous grin plastered on his face.
Cara's eyes widened in surprise as she spotted the last person she expected to see. "Mia? You made it?"
Mia looked up from her drink, her expression softening into a smile. "Yeah, I thought it was time to catch up with everyone."
Jake glanced around, noting the absence of one more face. "Where's Nathan?"
"Running late, as usual," Ben replied with a shrug. "Said he'd be here by dinner."
The group settled in, the evening progressing with drinks and stories, the years apart slowly melting away as they reminisced about their college days. It was almost as if no time had passed at all.
But as the night wore on, a strange tension began to settle over them. Conversations grew quieter, glances more frequent. The cabin, once filled with warmth and laughter, now seemed to echo with something else—a sense of unease, as though the forest outside was pressing in on them, waiting.
Cara couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It was in the way Lena's laughter seemed forced, or the way Mia kept glancing at the door as if expecting someone—or something. Even Ben, who had always been the life of the party, seemed distracted, his gaze lingering on the shadows flickering across the walls.
"Alright, I think it's time we called it a night," Ben finally said, breaking the silence that had settled over the room. "It's been a long day."
The group nodded in agreement, the sense of relief almost palpable as they rose to head to their rooms.
As Cara settled into bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The whispers of the forest outside seemed to grow louder, a haunting melody that wrapped around her, pulling her into a restless sleep.
And in the quiet, as the fire in the hearth died down, a shadow moved outside the cabin, slipping through the trees, unseen by the world.
But not for long.
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