Mari’s bare feet pounded through the snow, each step a stab of pain. Her soaked nightgown clung to her skin, useless against the howling wind. Every breath came sharp and panicked, visible in frantic clouds. Blood trickled down her thigh from a fall, leaving red drops in the snow.

She didn’t know where she was—just that she wasn’t near the others. That mattered more.

She’d stripped off her coat, boots, and pants on purpose, scattering them through the woods like breadcrumbs in reverse. A trick. A delay. A chance.

The Queen card still burned in her mind. The way it landed—face-up, waiting. Her scream had come before she realized it, and then they all turned. Not all. Shauna. The others only followed once the line was crossed.

Mari ran because it wasn’t a game anymore. It was real. And Shauna’s eyes—those weren’t Shauna’s eyes. They belonged to something else.

Every snapped branch behind her made her flinch. Her ankle throbbed. Her lungs burned. But she couldn’t stop. Natalie needed time. Time to reach the ridge. Time to use the radio.

Mari stumbled, crashing into the snow with a whimper. She clawed her way up, trembling.

Footsteps. Fast. Behind her.

She spun. “No—NO!” she screamed. “Please! You don’t have to—Shauna, please!”

She didn’t see the figure until it was too late.

A blur. A thud. The air slammed from her lungs as someone tackled her into the snow. She thrashed, kicked, sobbing as strong arms held her down.

“Let me go!” she cried. “Shauna—no, please—”

The figure said nothing. Just held her, steady and silent.

Her hand found a leather mask. She ripped it off.

And froze.

It wasn’t Shauna.

It was you.