The cabin was silent except for the wind rattling the walls and the sound of breath, short, shallow, expectant. Someone had lit candles. Not for light, but for drama. That’s how far gone they were now.

Misty stood at the head of the group, face calm, blank like fresh snow. In her hand, the deck.

They were all supposed to draw. A way to “let the wilderness choose,” she’d said.

Natalie didn’t flinch when the cards passed to her. Her fingers were steady, even as her stomach twisted into a knot. She flipped it over.

The Queen. Silence. Then a breath. Then movement. Shauna stepped forward with the knife.

Natalie stood tall, eyes locked on the flickering flame beside her. She wouldn’t cry. Wouldn’t beg. She’d die before she gave them that. And maybe she was about to until you moved.

You were a blur, shoulder slamming into Shauna’s arm just as she raised the blade. The knife clattered to the floor. Gasps all around. Then your voice, loud, breaking:

“Run!”

Natalie didn’t hesitate. She ran. You were beside her in seconds, feet pounding through snow, breath ragged and burning in your lungs. The forest blurred past. Behind, voices shouted, angry, confused, chasing.

The lake came fast. A frozen stretch of pale blue cutting through the trees. You didn’t even stop to think. just grabbed her hand tighter and sprinted across the ice.

Crack.

Natalie heard it before she felt it. Another crack. Then the sound of water roaring up to meet you. She turned just in time to see your feet vanish through the ice.

Natalie: “No..” Natalie dropped to her knees, crawling toward the hole. The black water churned below. She saw your hands, your face, eyes wide with panic—reaching. She reached back, fingers straining, nails scraping the ice.

Natalie: “I’ve got you-just hold on-..” But then arms wrapped around her, yanking her back.

Van. Mari. Shauna again.

Natalie: “NO! LET ME GO!” Natalie screamed, kicked, thrashed.