“Hey, are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, let me just grab my keys. Everything is in the car, right?”

“Yes, I put everything in there, don’t worry.”

We jumped in the car and started driving off.

“This weekend is going to be so fun! OMG! A cabin all to ourselves! We can finally have a girls night without the boys.” 

“Oh yeah, that reminds me, did you tell David where we were staying?”

“No, I didn’t. Did you tell Tony?” 

“Nope, I didn’t want them to spy on us, you know how they are. They are crazy…”

“Yeah, you’re right, let’s just not focus on them. This is our weekend; we’re going to have so much fun!” 

I looked down at the GPS and we still had an hour and a half left. 

“I think I’m going to take a little nap, okay Jessica.”

“Girl, you said you’d stay up with me but whatever.” 

I fell asleep only to wake to Jessica slamming on the breaks, jolting me forward. 

“What happened?” 

“Something ran in front of the road and I think I hit it. I have to pull over and check.”

“You think? How do you not know? Was it an animal?—wait, you want to check?” 

“No, I-I don’t know. It kinda looked like a person, but there’s no way. This road is empty, it’s dark and freezing out.” 

“Maybe it was just a bear. Let’s go.”

“No, Hannah I need to check.”

Jessica got out and walked around the whole car. 

She opened the door and said, “There’s nothing there but a big dent in the front, so I know I hit something. It must’ve been an animal and it ran away.” 

“Okay. Let’s just go. I don’t like sitting here like this when we’re almost to the cabin.”

I couldn’t fall back asleep now; I was too scared Jessica would hit something else.

As we pulled into the Airbnb Jessica exclaimed, “Oh my god this place is gorgeous!”

“Okay, let’s grab everything and go inside; it’s freezing out here.”

“Yes, let’s go!” 

I unlocked the door with the code that I was sent, but it didn’t work. I tried it two more times before I called the owner who of course wouldn’t answer. Shivers ran up my spine as the cold seized me. 

I was so upset that we had to stand around and wait, so we left to find a new hotel. The nearest one was called Ann’s Motel. It sounded promising, so we went. 

“This is cute-ishhh not creepy at all…” 

“Yeah, yeah, let’s just see if they have rooms and we’ll call the Airbnb tomorrow.”

“Hi, do you guys have any rooms available tonight? Yes. Do we want one or two?” 

“Ummm…can we get two, please? Is that okay?” 

“Yeah, but if you can’t find me tomorrow it’s on youuu.” 

“Oh, shut up,” I said jokingly even though I was nervous we both wouldn’t be here tomorrow. This place was small and creepy. I got the chills as soon as I walked in. 

“Okay, thanks, let’s go to our room. Text me as soon as you wake up and we will leave.”

“Okay, I will, goodnight.”

***

I woke up and checked the time on my phone and it was eight o’clock. I had missed calls and messages from Jessica at two—three in the morning. The messages read:

Hey are u knocking on my door??? 

If it’s u can u stop! 

Hannah, wake up! 

Someone is banging on my door. 

Missed call. Hannah. Another missed call. 

I rushed over to her room and banged on the door with no answer. I ran to the front office to ask them to let me into her room and he said he didn’t know who I was talking about; that I had come in all by myself. I know I didn’t. I have proof that she was here. 

I ran to my room and panicked. I couldn’t even leave because she drove and her car wasn’t in the front; the only thing I could do was call 911. 

I dialed the number, but I couldn’t hear anyone. 

“Hello? 911 anyone there? Hello! I need help!”

I heard a low “Hello” come out from the phone.

“Hello, I need help! I’m stranded and I have no idea what to do. I’m staying at Ann’s Motel. Please help!”

“Okay, we’ll send someone out to help you two girls.”

“What? I never said anything about another girl.”

I freaked out. I didn’t say anything about another girl. 

They know I’m trapped here. 

I heard a knock on the door, but I didn’t answer.

“Hello, ma’am. I have someone out here for you and some people who really want to meet you.” 

I looked through the peephole and saw Jessica. She seemed fine, so I opened the door and walked out.

 “Hannah!! OMG! Hi! It’s so good to see you. You’re going to love it here. This is the perfect place for us and we don’t have to worry about anything anymore. They’ll take care of us. I want you to meet some really nice people. This is Dale and Rick and—”

“Wait, Dale, like the Airbnb manager? This was all planned! Jessica, you need to realize this isn’t normal; this isn’t okay.”         

“I knew you would say that, so I’m sorry we have to do this. They’re just going to take you somewhere for a little, but after the room, it’s all better. You’ll be happy just like me and we can live here and be free. It’ll all be okay. 

“Don’t worry.”