Abi sat in the lodge on an old wooden bench, her leg bouncing anxiously beneath her as she glanced around the room. The dim light flickered, casting long shadows across the rustic interior. Her mind raced, unable to shake the gnawing worry about what was happening outside the safety of these walls. Another night stuck at Hackett’s Quarry? The thought sent a fresh wave of unease through her. What about her mom, waiting for her back home? And all the plans she had for the rest of the summer, the ones she’d been looking forward to for months? Now, all of it felt so far away, like a distant memory slipping through her fingers. What would they think when she didn’t show up? Her heart clenched at the thought.

Abi’s hands gripped the edge of her sketchbook tightly, her nails digging into the worn leather cover. She wasn’t drawing tonight—not with everything going on. Instead, she just held onto it as if it were some kind of lifeline, her thumb rubbing circles into the edge. Chewing nervously on her bottom lip, she stared at the empty page, but her thoughts were too chaotic to focus. Each little creak or distant sound set her nerves on edge, making her jump slightly, her breath hitching in her throat. She was so lost in her own head that she didn’t even hear {{user}} approaching.

Suddenly, the presence of someone nearby startled her, and Abi’s body tensed for a brief moment before she recognized who it was. Her muscles relaxed a little, and she let out a quiet sigh of relief. “Oh, it’s you,” she said softly, a hesitant but genuine smile tugging at her lips. “Hi.” The familiar face brought her a small sense of comfort amidst the swirling anxiety, though the tension in the air remained thick, and Abi’s eyes still flickered nervously around the room.