May 2024
Six young people were walking along the ocean shore, skirting a hill covered in dense forest, atop which loomed an abandoned hotel. None of them could remember how they had ended up on this island, or what exactly had happened during the party—their last memories of it were slowly fading.
With each passing minute, the sense that this place harbored something sinister grew stronger. Its atmosphere was heavy, dark, and unsettling. It felt like the beginning of a horror story—and they were the victims.
Strange sounds coming from the forest made these young, usually brave people—accustomed to comfort and control—feel a chill they'd never known before.
Mason walked at the front with his younger brother, Noah. Both were glancing up toward the hill. Behind them, Betty rubbed her arms, teeth chattering. Her sleeveless top and short skirt turned out to be completely impractical in the cool, damp air.
The rest followed from behind: Jennifer clung tightly to Jake, as if his presence could somehow keep her safe. Will walked beside them, staring at the ocean, unable to grasp how any of this was possible.
"What if this is another dimension?" Will suddenly said. They stopped and looked at him, surprised. "You've heard of the Bermuda Triangle, right? Maybe we got high, took a yacht, and... died? And now we're stuck here?"
"More likely we're still high and having the same hallucinations," Mason replied irritably. "If you're going to start throwing out conspiracy theories, save it. Your articles on the college site already ruined enough lives."
He looked at Noah, who gave him a sad smile. The scandal that had wrecked his reputation still stung. Mason had tried to help him, to pull him out of that dark hole, but the shadow of it had never really left.
"How many times do I have to say I had nothing to do with it?" Jake snapped, brushing Jennifer off. "Noah's always been like a brother to me. I'd never hurt him. She's the one who wrote that piece," he added, nodding at Jennifer.
Noah closed his eyes. It was clear the memory still weighed heavily on him.
"But someone told her to. For revenge," he added quietly, glancing over his shoulder at Betty.
The redhead girl paled, swallowing hard.
"My heart was broken... I used the story to get back at him," she admitted.
"You're just like Jennifer. Fake friends," Mason said coldly. "You claimed to love him, yet you hurt him without hesitation."
Betty lowered her head. At that moment, she didn't look like the confident influencer, she usually was.
"If I could turn back time..."
"Forget it," Noah cut her off. "You started this mess. Don't pretend to be innocent. We all have something to answer for."
Mason fell silent. He was right—they had all done wrong. He was no different. A monster, just like the rest of them.
Will, still gazing at the ocean, suddenly shouted:
"Hey! Someone's lying there!"
They all ran toward the shoreline. Nancy lay unconscious in the sand. Noah knelt beside her and touched her cold face.
"She's breathing, but she's freezing," he said.
Betty froze at the sight of her friend in such a state. Their relationship had been strained ever since a fight over the man, but seeing Nancy unconscious shook her to the core.
Mason tried to wake her, but when nothing worked, he lifted her into his arms.
"We need to warm her up. We're going to the hotel. There's no other option."
Everyone turned to look at the hill. Worry was clear in their eyes. But they knew Mason was right.
***
Will took over carrying Nancy halfway up the hill, walking with Mason at the front. The forest grew thicker, the air heavier. They had the eerie feeling they were being watched.
Jake, walking in the rear, noticed movement in the bushes. He thought it was birds, but then he saw glowing red eyes between the trees. Paralyzed, he couldn't move.
"You're not innocent, Jake. You're a monster too," a voice whispered.
He collapsed to the ground, pale as a ghost. That's when the others noticed something was wrong.
"Jake?! Are you okay?" Jennifer dropped to her knees beside him.
"Don't you see the eyes? Don't you hear the voice?" he gasped.
"There's nothing there," she answered, fear creeping into her voice.
Will came closer.
"He's hallucinating. Must be the drugs."
"Can you stand?" Jennifer offered him her hand.
She helped him walk, watching his face closely. Jake whispered:
"It said I caused the tragedy."
"It's just guilt, Jake. Calm down. I'm here with you," she said, stroking his hand.
In front of the hotel, everyone except Mason stopped. The building looked like it belonged in a horror film. Dark, old, and oppressive.
"If you see or hear anything, don't panic. The drugs could still be in our systems. If it's still like this tomorrow, then we'll worry," Mason said.
"Is this place haunted?" Betty asked, pale.
"Worse than Lost."
Will be the first to go in, carrying Nancy. The others followed. Only Betty stayed behind.
"A psychopathic killer is worse than ghosts!" Mason shouted.
She shivered, looked around, then ran inside.
"I can handle ghosts. I won't survive a psycho."
The inside of the hotel felt like it was from another era: dust, cobwebs, the smell of mildew. Mason led them to the room where he had woken up.
He shook out the blankets, sending dust flying into the air.
"Seriously, bro?" Noah coughed. "Open a window."
Mason tried, but the handle broke off.
"Too much gym," he joked.
Will laid Nancy on the bed. Mason and Noah wrapped her in blankets. The smell was awful, but warmth was all that mattered now.
"Wonder why this hotel's abandoned," Jake mused.
"Probably went bankrupt. Who would invest in an island like this?" Will replied. "Unless it was Mason's dad."
"My dad doesn't invest in hotels. He'd rather give it to Noah's mom."
"True," the blond boy agreed.
Betty stood by the door, shivering. In the corner, she spotted a giant spider.
She turned pale.
"I don't even know what's worse here anymore."
Suddenly, a door slammed at the end of the hallway. Betty screamed, staring at the others in terror.
Were they really alone here?