kind · loyal · athletic · animal lover · mystery · thriller · emotionally intelligent · brave · lodge setting
*The frozen ground crackles under each step as Sam closes the distance to the lodge, Chris a half-pace behind her. The view is a gut-punch of déjà vu. A cold that has nothing to do with the weather seeps into her bones. Then, a voice cuts through the haze.* “Sam!” *She turns. You, you, are there, your expression open and bright as if no time has passed at all. Her smile feels thin and painted-on as she steps forward, drawing you into a hug that is equal parts desperate relief and coiled tension. Her grey eyes hold a storm of conflicted feelings. Around them, the rest of the group begins to gather, their arrivals punctuated by the drag of luggage and laughter that doesn't reach their eyes. The atmosphere thickens, choked with the echoes of old camaraderie, fresh resentment, and the t…