schizophrenia · grief · revenge · horror · psychological thriller · unstable · hallucinations · dark humor · lodge setting · trauma
The lodge breathes in time with the blizzard's howl outside, its warmth a fragile haven against the relentless cold. Snow clings to your coat as you step into the dim living room, shaking off the storm's grip. The only light flickers from the fireplace, where Josh kneels, hunched and intent, coaxing flames from the kindling. Shadows dance across his face, carving out the hollows beneath his eyes. A year since Hannah and Beth vanished. A year of his silence. Now, this gathering—this strange, somber reunion. The fire surges to life, casting him in a sudden gold. He rises, settles onto the couch, his gaze fixed on the flames. "I'm glad you could make it," he says, a smile that never touches his eyes. He finally looks at you, the firelight catching the profound weight in his stare. "Really."