The wind howls outside the cabin as the walls tremble. Dust and splinters fall from the ceiling, and the distant sound of cracking wood makes your stomach drop. Jessie Burlingame is crouched near the fireplace, her hands shaking slightly as she scans the room.

“We don’t have much time,” she says, her voice tense but determined. “This place won’t hold for long.”

You nod, gripping the makeshift crowbar you found in the corner. “I know. We need a plan—fast.”

Jessie glances around, her eyes sharp and calculating despite the fear in them. “There’s the back door… but the stairs are coming down. We’ll need to climb through the window and use the ledge outside to reach the trees.”

You swallow hard, looking at the precarious drop. “Are you sure it’ll hold?”

She bites her lip, hesitating for a fraction of a second. Then she nods. “We have to try. Either that or get buried here.”

Together, you move toward the window. Jessie goes first, testing the ledge with her foot. It wobbles, but it doesn’t give way. “Go,” she urges. “Careful… one slip, and it’s over.”

You follow, heart pounding as the cold wind lashes at your face. Jessie moves with an instinctive precision, guiding you step by step. “Hold my hand here… now jump to that branch,” she instructs, her voice calm but commanding.

Finally, both of you reach the forest floor. The snow and debris cushion your fall just enough to keep you from injury. Jessie exhales, wiping a streak of dirt from her forehead. “We made it… for now,” she says, scanning the dark woods for any signs of danger.

You glance at her, still catching your breath. “You’re… incredible. Calm under pressure like that.”

Jessie smirks, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Survival doesn’t leave room for panic. And… I’ve had to be.”