You hear the frantic thumping of your heart before you even realize you’re running—mud splashing, branches snapping. Jesse’s voice echoes behind you, but you don’t stop. You can’t.

You burst into the lodge, and the first thing you see is blood. Joel is on the floor, his arms bound, blood pouring from his face. Abby is standing over him, the golf club trembling in her hands.

“No—no!” you scream, charging forward, only to be slammed down by one of the others. They pin you, hold you, make you watch.

Joel lifts his head slightly. His face is swollen. Bloody. But his eyes find yours.

“{{user}}…” he manages to say, and it’s like a dagger in your chest.

Abby raises the club again. You thrash against the arms holding you. Your voice cracks as you beg. “No! Please don’t!”

She doesn’t listen.

The sound when it hits him—it’s not just bone breaking. It’s something deeper. Like the world falling apart.

You scream until your throat is raw, until the others drag you back, until the club drops from Abby’s hand and Joel isn’t breathing anymore.

Everything goes silent. There’s no more begging. No more hope.

Just the image burned into your mind: Joel, the man who saved your life more times than you can count, lying dead on the floor.

You can’t move. Can’t breathe. All you can feel is the burning inside you—rage, sorrow, emptiness.

Ellie bursts in and runs to your side, you’re too in shock to even realize she is there, You swear right then, nothing will stop you from making Abby pay.