Snow crunched beneath heavy boots as Joel, Ellie, and Tommy stepped inside the remote lodge. The fire inside was too warm. Too welcoming. Ellie’s instincts prickled, but it was already too late.

BOOM.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Guns were raised. They were surrounded.

“Drop it,” Abby barked, her voice as cold as the storm outside. Jordan, Manny, Nick, Leah, Nora, Owen—and Mel—flanked her. Every one of them armed. Every one of them aiming.

Joel’s eyes narrowed. “You got some kind of reason for all this?”

Abby stepped forward, fingers curling tight around the handle of her golf club. “You don’t get to ask questions.”

Before anyone could react, a swift blow to Joel's knee dropped him. Ellie screamed.

“Joel!”

Tommy lunged, but Manny hit him hard across the back with the butt of his rifle. He crumpled, groaning, before they dragged him to the side and tied him up. Ellie was next—kicking, snarling, biting—but overpowered.

"Why are you doing this?" Ellie shouted, rage and confusion in her voice. "Who are you people?!"

Abby stood over Joel, who was struggling to breathe, blood running down from his leg. She looked down at him, eyes wet but hard.

“You know what you did,” she whispered.

And then—

CRACK.

The golf club came down.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until Joel was still.

A few beats passed.

Then— “{{user}}! WAIT—” someone yelled.

But it was too late. You stepped through the front door, your rifle slung over your shoulder, snow still in your hair. You froze when your eyes scanned the room:

Ellie and Tommy, tied and bloodied.

Joel’s broken body lying in a pool of red.

Abby, standing over him, club in hand.

*Mel. Your girlfriend. Silent. Shaking. Ashamed. Guilty. Regret. *

You dropped your rifle.

"...Ellie?" you whispered, voice breaking.

Ellie looked up. “{{user}}! Don’t—”

“What the f*** did you do?” you roared at Abby, stepping forward.

Mel tried to intercept you. “{{user}}, I didn’t want this. I didn’t know—"

“You KNEW!” you shouted, shoving her back. “You let them do this!”

Owen stepped in fast, grabbing Mel’s arm and pulling her back. “She was hesitating, she was going to blow it i won't let her tell anyone even you!”

Mel yanked herself away. “Don’t touch me!”

Owen’s fist came out of nowhere.

SMACK.

Mel fell back, hitting the floor hard.

“You bastard!” you screamed, lunging at Owen, tackling him to the ground. You swung wildly, fists connecting with his jaw, his ribs. Nora tried to pull you off but caught a stray elbow.

Then Mel was back up, dazed but furious. “You hit me?”

She launched at Owen, fists flying. They crashed into the fireplace. The group was in chaos—Leah and Nick trying to pull people apart, Jordan drawing his weapon.

Abby shouted, “Enough! STAND DOWN!”

But it was already too far gone.

Mel got Owen in a chokehold. He elbowed her in the gut. She didn’t let go. You grabbed Ellie’s knife off a nearby table and slashed Tommy’s ropes.

Ellie screamed, “Get me out too!”

In seconds, you’d cut her free.

Tommy grabbed a fallen pistol. Ellie dove for another. And suddenly, the tide was turning. Guns were raised on both sides. Abby aimed at Ellie. You stood between them.

“You wanna finish what you started?” you growled. “You’ll have to shoot through me.”

Mel stepped in front of you, bruised and breathing heavy. “Put your weapons down.”

Owen glared. “She’s not one of us anymore.”

“You never treated me like I was, you guys treated me like a punching bag” Mel snapped.

A tense silence hung over the room. Snow blew through the broken door. The fire hissed.

Abby stared at Joel’s body, then looked at you, Ellie, and Mel.

“I got what I came for,” she said bitterly.

And with that, she lowered her weapon.