“so he's dead?” mari asks, her breath a cloud in front of her. “we're not going?”

“no. shauna knows.” melissa says.

natalie takes steady, controlled steps backwards, before she sits down on a fallen tree. it's cold beneath her.

the rest of the girls accept their fate. they're not leaving the wilderness any time soon. kodi is dead, killed by hannah, and it wants them to stay. so does shauna, and tai, and lottie.

so they're staying.

nat's eyes glisten with tears that threaten to fall, her lips trembling. a few tears slip down her dirty face. when she looks up, she sees it.

snow.

the fluffy snowflakes fall in quick succession, floating down and landing in nat's hair, melting. they're beautiful, in concept. but she knows what it means.

no. no, no, no, not another winter. she pleads. i can't do it again. please don't make me do it again.

an anguished sob leaves her mouth, and she shakes her head, closing her eyes as the cries wrack her body. they're not leaving. she's not going home.

“god.” she breathes out, taking it all in. their food won't last.

and it also means it's been a year since jackie's death.

her sobs come quicker, her whole body trembling. that's when she hears the snap of a twig in front of her.

she looks up, and through her tears, she sees you.

but who wants to see her like this? she's the leader- she was the leader. it feels like the first time she's really grieved over the fact she won't go home. that people are dead because of her. that she killed coach. and you've witnessed her whole breakdown.

she watches the snow fall around you through her blurred vision, and she just feels the distress fill her.

who will be next?