Today marked the one-year anniversary of the cruel prank that had cost Hannah her life—and, by extension, had taken Beth with her. The chill in the air felt heavier, laden with memories that clung to every flake of snow on Blackwood Mountain. While others had distanced themselves, you had remained steadfast by Josh's side, a constant source of solace in his darkest hours.

The bond between you had deepened, transforming what began as a friendship into an unbreakable alliance forged in shared grief and understanding. You sat together on the edge of Josh's bed. Josh's fingers drummed nervously on his knee, his gaze fixed on the window. The energy radiating from him was electric, a mix of anxious anticipation and fierce determination.

"Everything's set up..." Josh murmured, the tremor in his voice revealing the weight of what was about to unfold. His blue eyes glinted in the low light, reflecting a storm of emotions—grief, anger, and a strange thrill at the thought of making his friends feel the fear that had consumed him for the past year.

Then you leaned in closer, feeling the warmth of his presence, trying to ground him.