Chapter 1
“How much longer do we have?” asked Octavian, fidgeting in the back seat. “I’m about to suffocate between these two! Robert, can you move your knees? I feel like I’m stuck in a sardine can. Thanks!”
“Maybe it’s partly your fault,” Dan shot back. “I don’t have much space either and you don’t see me complaining, so just hang in there, buddy,” he said, smacking him lightly on the back of the head.
“Fuck you!” Octavian snapped, shoving Dan’s head against the window hard enough to make a faint thud. Dan groaned but let it go. He’d known Octavian for over seven years and understood not to push his luck. The last time he crossed the line, he ended up with a fistful of hair.
We’ve been driving for two hours now, and my friends haven’t stopped bickering. Honestly, their childish antics are amusing, but there are times I feel like banging my head against a wall. I roll my eyes and glance at Robert. He’s sitting with his head propped on his hand, staring absentmindedly at the passing scenery.
“There’s the cabin, guys!” Maria shouted, turning left onto a rocky road.
“Finally!” Andreea exclaimed, stirring her fourth packet of sugar into her coffee. “I was about to start laying eggs on this seat.”
A sudden stop jerked us all forward, causing Andreea to spill her hot coffee all over herself, cursing under her breath.
“Look, a marmot!” Maria pointed at the small creature, which had stopped in its tracks, staring back at the six idiots in front of it. It gave a strange flick of its tail before scurrying off.
“Damn you and your marmot, Maria! I’ve stained my latex pants!” Andreea grumbled, furiously opening the glove compartment to grab some wet wipes.
“Sorry!” Maria said, raising her hands defensively. “I didn’t want to run it over.”
“Yes, Maria, you should’ve run it over. It’s just a marmot...”
“And you’re just an idiot who can’t hold a cup of coffee,” Octavian shot back, flicking her on the forehead.
“Mind your own business before I throw the rest of this coffee in your face!” Andreea snapped, glaring at him with a look that could kill.
The rest of us burst into laughter and we set off again. Within minutes, we reached our destination. We all got out of the car. I took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air. The temperature was below freezing, but the breathtaking scenery made me forget all about the cold. We’d been planning this trip for two years to have the cabin all to ourselves and I hoped these next three days would be a blast.
A few snowflakes started falling and the wind was picking up. I headed to the back of the SUV where the others were grabbing their bags. I noticed Robert staring intently at a small red spot in the snow.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been quiet the whole ride.”
He flinched, looking at me in confusion.
“Huh? Oh, yeah... I’m fine,” he smiled and opened his suitcase. “I was just thinking about what we’ll do while we’re here.”
“We’ve got plenty planned, Robert! Trust me, we’re going to have a blast. The place is perfect, and we’ve got a few surprises lined up that you’ll definitely love,” I said, smiling as I walked toward the others, who were already chatting with the cabin owner.
“If only they knew what’s really waiting for them...” he whispered sadly, casting one last glance at the bloodstained snow before we all headed inside.
