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Ready or Not

The flirtatious teasing between Josh and Sam makes Sam believe that when things get serious, Josh is just being weird and flirting with her in a very strange way.

So, she decides to join his sick game of prey and predator.

I hung over the white wooden fence, and I could hear Chris’s footsteps fading away, even with the soft snow beneath his feet. My eyes had to adjust to the brightness of the winter-white scenery, with snow-covered pines.

I glanced over my shoulder when the familiar sound of his male laughter echoed into my ears. That sound was comforting. I hadn’t heard his laugh in so long, and it felt as though the tension in my body eased the moment I heard it.

He had been withdrawn into a shell since what happened the year before, and only now had he started to recover. The last time I had seen him so well was when his sisters were still with us.

I followed Chris’s steps, throwing a brief glance at Matt and raising my hand in a greeting. He smiled faintly. The atmosphere was uncomfortable between all of us, except for Chris and Josh. Their friendship had always been so easy that, even in such a tense situation, they continued to joke around.

Josh glanced at me sideways, smiling crookedly, amused, but with a seductive shadow, like a twisted gleam of ulterior motives. I felt something tense run down my spine and returned the smile, amused. I watched him turn his attention back to Chris as they walked toward the front porch. He looked good in that vest, incredibly attractive, and it seemed like he was watching me from afar while talking to Chris.

My boot sank into the snow, and I stopped in front of the porch steps, smiling at Ashley. We didn’t speak, not at first; there was nothing to say. It was a good silence, but at the same time, uncomfortable.

“So, did you talk to Chris?” I tried to start a conversation, watching her compress her lips, and she averted her eyes, looking nervous. She nodded.

“I did…” she said, as a thin layer of smoke escaped her mouth due to the cold. I nodded in silence.

“And how is he?”

“Fine…” she replied, hugging herself in an attempt to warm up “Why?”

“Nothing” I shrugged and turned my face toward Matt, who had stopped by the railing, casting a brief glance at Ashley. He seemed upset about something, and I watched Ashley open her mouth to say something but say nothing, her gaze lowered and her shoulders slumped.

The silence settled over the place, with only the sharp, distant sound of the strong wind. I looked toward the entrance to the forest, the clearing lit by the moon.

“Where is my sister going?”

“It was just a joke, Beth, nothing serious!”

The memory overwhelmed my mind, and I closed my eyes, seeing Beth run toward the forest and never return. The memory had haunted me ever since, and I wondered for a long time what I should have done to stop what happened, watching everything crumble and being unable to protect them, protect Josh. I felt powerless.

I watched Ashley get up and lean against the railing a few steps above, bending her knees several times in anxious little hops. Josh was talking to Chris while staring at the door.

“Hey Josh, hurry up, we're freezing!” Ashley exclaimed in frustration, swaying from side to side while blowing between her gloves, cupping her hands.

“I know, Ash, sorry. It's just that my fingers feel like they’re going to freeze!” I heard him argue, and I smiled inwardly, leaning over the wooden railing at the entrance of the cabin. He huffed, frustrated.

“Do you want me to warm up your fingers so you can unlock that door?” I asked, looking at him innocently while tilting my head to the side in an attempt to tease him.

I had never heard such a loud silence, and I thought maybe I had crossed a line. It was common for us to flirt playfully, but he had lost his sisters.

Ashley turned her face toward me, closer to Chris and Josh, a few steps below the top of the stairs. It was as if she stopped blowing between her hands to stare at me in shock, a reaction that was shared with Matt — standing beside me — and Chris.

Josh didn’t move, standing still as if staring at the lock without reacting, but then relief washed over my chest when he slightly turned his head to look at me over his shoulder, and a shadow of amusement crossed his face.

“It’s a tempting offer, Sammy, but I need more than warm fingers to unlock this door” he then turned his body completely and looked at Chris “like a lighter and some spray…”

The mood changed when a spark of realization crossed Chris’s face, and he smiled excitedly.

“Just like we do with the little soldiers!’ he exclaimed, and Josh nodded, laughing.

“Go ahead, cochise!” he extended his hand as if pointing the way, and Chris obeyed, quickly descending the steps.

Josh followed him, looking at me amused as he descended the steps in quick strides. He laughed softly in my direction and then followed Chris’s steps, walking around the cabin. I felt slightly relieved that things were okay, it was as if the atmosphere between us was as light as the one between him and Chris.

It was strange to be back, but it wasn’t strange to be with him, hearing his jokes and flirting playfully, because that’s all the possibility of us being together was — just a simple joke, a healthy playful banter.

Sometimes I wished he could take the first step. Actually, I wished that constantly, and it was torture, seeing him and not being able to touch him, especially since he had lost his sisters. He wouldn’t want anything with me under these circumstances, and I wasn’t crazy enough to risk it. We just played around, and it was good, despite the uncertainty.

I wasn’t necessarily friends with Ashley. She was nice, but I was closer to her than I was to Jess. I kind of avoid girls like Jessica Riley, those queen bees who are super mean. Not that Jess was a bad person, I know she felt guilty about what happened with Hannah and Beth, but she generally liked to be the center of attention, and as I said, I avoid girls like that.

I climbed the stairs and stopped in front of the door, observing the small bit of the cabin’s entrance hall that the little window in the door allowed me to see. Then, I exchanged a brief glance with Ashley. However, when I turned my face back toward the door, I felt her gaze still burning on me.

“What’s up?” I asked without looking at her, and I saw her quickly turn her face forward out of the corner of my eye.

“Hm… Nothing!” she said, and I looked at her. She licked her lips, rolling her eyes in her line of sight. “It’s just that… Are you two together?”

“Who’s "you two"?” I asked, pretending to be confused, and she narrowed her eyes at me. She knew I understood who she was talking about.

“You and Josh” She rolled her eyes, smiling mischievously, and I looked away toward the door. I think Matt was listening.

“We’re not” I said. It wasn’t a lie, but I omitted the fact that I wanted to be with him.

“But you want to?’ she lowered her voice, speaking slowly while looking at me with malice, and I huffed a laugh.

“Shut up.’

“Oh my god! You like him!” she exclaimed, jumping up excitedly, and I glanced quickly at Matt, who rolled his eyes. I felt my face heat up.

“Can you keep it down? He might hear!”

“Seriously! He knows very well!” She exclaimed, and I looked at her, confused, with a silent question. “He totally checked you out!”

I laughed quietly.

I hadn’t noticed that, he probably just found it funny, but Ashley’s excitement gave me a spark of hope. My heart skipped a beat when a scream echoed from inside the cabin, near the door.

I recognized the voice and rolled my eyes.

“Hey, Chris. Very funny” I huffed, peeking through the door window and seeing him hiding.

“Oh, how did you know it was me?” he exclaimed, laughing.

“Shouldn’t you be trying to figure out how to open that lock?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, and I saw him nod.

“On it!”

It seemed like the longer the minutes passed, the colder it got, and I think Ash shared the same opinion when I saw her shiver. For a moment, I even thought she might be having a seizure. I laughed inwardly at the thought, and suddenly, a flash of orange light turned on, and I could see Chris’s goofy face more clearly.

The door opened, and my heart skipped a beat when a small, furry figure shoved past me and Ash, running by. Chris let out a scream, and I couldn’t hold back my laughter, bursting into loud giggles.

“Shit! That thing scared the hell out of me!” Chris exclaimed, seeming to try to hide how much he had pissed his pants.

“What was it? Are you okay?” Ashley asked, laughing.

“It was, like, a bear, a tiger, I don’t know…” he shrugged, and I laughed loudly, leaning on my knees and looking at him provocatively.

“Oww, it was just a cute little wolverine cub!” I exclaimed, laughing, and Chris looked at me confused.

“Cub?”

“Relax, champ, it’ll be an adult soon.” Josh suddenly appeared by my side, and I laughed.

I followed Ashley’s steps into the cabin and felt Josh’s gaze on the back of my neck, turning to smile at him.

“Home sweet home!” Chris exclaimed excitedly, and Matt frowned, dropping the backpacks onto the carpet.

“Sweet isn’t the word I’d use…” Matt commented, walking slowly as he seemed to analyze the place.

I did the same, everything seemed to be in the same place as the last time I was here, only darker. I could see the spectral shadows of the trees crossing the windows and dancing on the walls. Ashley sat on the third step of the stairs leading to the second floor, and I sat next to her, hugging my own body. It felt colder inside than outside.

When Emily and Jess started fighting over Mike, I rolled my eyes and exchanged a frustrated glance with Ash. I didn’t see the point in it, and even less the sense. Didn’t they have the decency to just hold it together for a weekend to support their friend during the tough time he was going through?

“I’m going to take a shower!” I announced, but it was as if I was telling Josh more than the others. It was for him that I was here.

I threw my backpack near the bathroom sink and leaned over to turn on the bathtub faucet. I needed a hot shower, and then I could deal with Chris’s jokes and Emily’s complaints about the weather. She had so many opinions about so many things and made sure to express them.

“Sammy!” I heard Josh’s voice from a distance, but loud, indicating he was downstairs. I stretched my neck toward the door to respond.

“What?” I shouted back, watching the bathtub fill up.

“Do you want to help me light the fireplace?” He replied loudly.

I stayed quiet, watching the water rise in the bathtub, and considered draining it to help him. However, my shoulders were tense and sore, and I needed some time to myself before that long weekend with my friends.

“Well… I was about to take a shower!”

“Oh… Do you need help with that?” He asked, and I laughed softly, rolling my eyes.

“Hardy Har!”

I heard his distant laugh, and the silence settled over the bathroom again. I sighed.

That’s what I loved about our friendship. He made me laugh and blush at the same time, and it was so natural that I seemed to forget the world around us. Josh always had that effect on me.

As the water kept filling the bathtub, I turned off the faucet and tested the water temperature with my fingertips. I sighed in frustration. It was freezing.

‘Alright Josh, let’s see if you can get some hot water in your big fancy cabin!” I exclaimed, but he didn’t hear me. I crossed the dark hallway toward the stairs. I could hear Ashley’s muffled laugh.

I avoided looking at the family portraits of Josh on the wall. It was morbid, and the twins seemed to be staring back at me. I shuddered at the thought.

A sharp, prolonged sound hit my ears, and my body reacted with a spasm, making my heart nearly leap out of my chest. I turned my neck and stared into the dim hallway, faintly illuminated by the moonlight coming through the bathroom window. I furrowed my brow, the sound seemed like a wind howl, full of sadness and desperation.

“Wow…” I murmured, rolling my eyes around the hallway “what was that?”

I quickened my pace and reached the banister, giving me a full view of Josh, Chris, and Ashley downstairs in front of the fireplace, talking.

“I’ve got an idea for you two crazy people…” I heard Josh’s voice, amused.

“What?” Ashley was the first to respond.

“I’m sure we have a Ouija board somewhere around here…” he said, lowering his voice as if trying to sound scary, and I smiled faintly.

I quickened my pace, heading down the stairs while watching them argue. I rolled my eyes, ready to interrupt the conversation, or whatever it was.

“Hey Josh, I think not having hot water is kind of a problem, don’t you think?” I teased, amused, as I walked toward him. He looked at me, smiling.

“Yeah. So, you just need to turn on the heater, it’s in the basement!” He pointed and turned his body to face Ash and Chris. “I want you two to try to find the Ouija board.”

“Chris, let’s find it!” Ashley jumped up excitedly and walked quickly toward the library. “It’ll be like a treasure hunt!”

Chris seemed embarrassed to get up, staring at Josh and me as he passed between us with short, contained steps. If it weren’t so dark in here, despite the light from the fireplace, I would’ve been sure Chris was blushing.

Josh chuckled softly.

“Ready for a little walk?” He asked, moving toward the basement.

I followed his steps down to the basement, which was dimly lit, with only a weak lightbulb flickering on the ceiling. Everything was neatly arranged, and I noticed the large, tightly shut door to the cinema room. The memories of my teenage years with the three Washington siblings flooded my mind again, and I felt a tightness in my chest, along with something heavy in my stomach and a lump in my throat.

“Did you see that I gave Chris and Ashley a joint mission?” He laughed mischievously, grabbing the flashlight from the shelf.” I think they need some time alone…

“They’re cute together” I complimented, smiling. “I just wish things would heat up already.”

He laughed, turning on the flashlight and pointing the beam of light down the corridor ahead.

“Look… They needed, like, something to bring them together, you know?” He spoke quickly, gesturing with enthusiasm. “A kind of traumatic situation for them to throw themselves into each other’s arms. At this rate, they’ll end up in the geriatrics ward before Chris takes any action.”

And they’re not the only ones. I thought, watching him walk away, crossing the dark corridor toward the basement.

I stared at his back for a moment, and for a second, I understood Ashley. I mean, it was so obvious that she liked Chris, and his lack of action was clearly frustrating. I got it. Maybe more than I wanted to admit.

The light from his flashlight flickered on the walls, and the shadows seemed to dance around him, almost like a reflection of the restlessness growing inside me. He looked at me over his shoulder and slightly turned his body.

“You wanna know, Sam…”

“Yes, Josh?” I asked, smiling slightly and narrowing my eyes, playful, but in truth, I was just trying to hide the curiosity growing inside me.

“I just wanted to say… that…” he hesitated, then stopped for a moment, spinning the flashlight in his hands, the beam of light flickering on the floor as if reflecting his thoughts.

“What?”

“It meant a lot to me that everyone came back this year, and, you know… you came, Sam” he said, his voice carrying something I couldn’t fully identify.

I smiled faintly, feeling the weight of sincerity in his words.

“Josh… We’ll support you” I reassured him, smiling warmly. “Seriously. Whatever you need. Anytime. We’ll get through this… Together.”

He lowered his gaze, and his eyes disappeared from view for a second. There was some strange gleam in them, it seemed… Excitement.

“I just want us to have fun, you know?” he said, a bit quieter, and then he headed down the stairs. He seemed to change suddenly, as if there were two of him inside.

I descended the stairs carefully, adjusting my eyes to the darkness of the basement. The air there was heavier, filled with the smell of mildew and something metallic, as if the space itself held secrets it didn’t want to reveal.

He walked ahead, his footsteps echoing on the concrete floor, while I hesitated at each step, feeling the cold creep up my legs.

“Not exactly the most inviting place, huh?” I murmured, trying to break the oppressive silence, but my voice sounded low, almost muffled by the surroundings.

He didn’t answer immediately, just turned to me with that half-enigmatic smile, the kind that would usually make me blush, but this time, it made me shiver.

“The basement always holds the best things” he said, walking down the well-lit hallway, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort. “And the biggest secrets.”

I crossed my arms, trying to shake off the chill running down my spine.

“I hope that’s just a metaphor, because if you tell me there are bodies hidden down here, I swear I’ll go back to the cabin right now.”

He laughed, but the sound didn’t carry enough humor to calm me. Instead, he leaned in front of the heater, and I looked around, observing the cluttered room with old boxes stacked up, rusty shelves, and a table covered by a white sheet.

“Relax” he said, not looking at me “I’ll protect you.”

I smiled, feeling a bit foolish.

“Get me hot water, and I’ll be fine…” I smiled widely, trying to push away the bad feeling the basement gave me, as if the mere thought of comfort could alleviate the weight of the darkness around us.

He didn’t respond immediately, but the sound of his footsteps echoing on the concrete floor made me realize he was moving away to fiddle with the heater.

“I mean, I didn’t want you to come down here alone…” he said in a low tone, shining the flashlight on the machine. “You get it?”

I nodded, trying to keep the tone light, but the unease was growing.

“Well, it’s definitely creepy down here” I shivered, the cold in the room intensifying as the silence dragged on. He straightened up, walking while analyzing the machine, his eyes focused on the rusted buttons and displays.

“That’s right” he said, his voice now deeper. “It’s not a place to be alone…”

I watched him for a moment, feeling a strange mix of relief and discomfort. It was as if his words tried to dissipate the tension, but the atmosphere itself continued to press in, growing heavier with each passing second.

“And you think it’s safe down here?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended, while I scanned the place with my eyes, walking toward the heater entrance.

He didn’t answer immediately, just focused more on the heater, as if trying to give a more practical than emotional response. The silence between us stretched on, but something told me he knew exactly what I was thinking.

I tried to break the tension when I grabbed the baseball bat, swinging it back and forth with a playful smile.

“Must be pretty hard to play baseball with all this snow.” I joked, walking up to him while mimicking swings, and he chuckled, taking it from my hand and staring at me.

“It wasn’t in the winter, smartass” he replied, grinning. “We came here in the summer, the whole family. Mom, Dad… my sisters…” he stopped, his voice tight and his eyes sad. I pressed my lips together and looked down, nervously picking at the cuticle of my finger. “It was… quite a competition on that grass. I don’t know… Can’t go back. New reality, huh Sam?”

Idiot, I cursed myself internally.

My eyes watered slightly, and I bit my lip. I realized I had ruined everything; he stayed silent while turning on the heater, focused. He looked handsome like that.

The heater let out a roar, and the lights flickered on. He laughed loudly, victorious, and raised his hand for a high five. I returned the gesture, slapping my palm against his.

The sound of something falling echoed through the basement, and I spun around, my heart racing.

“What was that?” I asked, my voice louder than I intended, as I looked around, anxious.

“Could be a lot of things, and… none of them are good” he said softly, trying to sound scary.

I quickly turned to him, irritated, the shock still making me feel a twinge of nervousness.

“Hey, stop it!” I complained, crossing my arms, but unable to hide the slight tension in my voice.

He laughed loudly, the sound echoing off the walls of the basement.

“I’m just playing Josh with you!” he joked, shrugging, and I frowned, pretending to laugh exaggeratedly, mocking him. “You really got scared!” he added, with that mischievous smile that always made everything feel lighter, even when the atmosphere around us stayed heavy.

Suddenly, I looked over his shoulder as if I had seen something, and my expression shifted to one of terror.

“Josh… there’s something behind you.”

My voice sounded tense, and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously but didn’t move, a shadow of amusement crossing his face.

“Oh, really…” he mocked.

I was terrible at this, and I couldn’t hold back the laughter, bursting out in a loud laugh as I stared at him.

“Gotcha! You were about to look!”

“I wasn’t.” He shrugged, laughing, trying to keep his composure, but his eyes were gleaming with amusement.

“Yes, you were!” I retorted, still laughing, feeling the victory of the moment.

“Honey, you’re going to have to do a lot more than that to scare me…” he said, with a mischievous smile, leaning slightly forward.

I stared at him, feeling the adrenaline still running through my veins, and without thinking too much, I spoke in a more serious tone, but with a hint of mischief.

“Oh, really? Then I’ll have to try something more... convincing.”

He raised an eyebrow, as if the challenge had caught his attention, but he didn’t seem entirely convinced.

“I bet I can make you piss yourself” he said, grinning, but there was something intense in his eyes that made my smile falter for a moment.

I stared at him, trying to keep my composure, but his challenging tone had an energy I couldn’t ignore. The atmosphere in the basement, already charged with tension, seemed to intensify.

“Oh, really?” I challenged, my tone lower now, feeling the adrenaline surge back. “You’ll have to try a lot harder than that.”

He took a step toward me, the smile still there, but with something darker behind it. The space between us shrank, and I could feel the change in the air. I watched him sweep his eyes over my face and almost took a step back.

“I bet I can make you piss yourself” he said with a grin, but there was something intense in his eyes that made my smile falter for a moment.

I stared at him, trying to keep my composure, but his challenging tone had an energy I couldn’t ignore. The atmosphere in the basement, already heavy with tension, seemed to intensify.

“Oh, really?” I challenged, my voice lower now, feeling the adrenaline kick in again. “You’ll have to try a lot harder than that.”

He took a step toward me, the smile still there, but with something darker behind it. The space between us closed, and I could feel the change in the air. I watched him sweep his eyes over my face, and I almost took a step back.

“It’s going to be fun watching you scared” he said, his voice now deeper, closer, and for a moment, all I could hear was the sound of my breath and his, mingling with the echo of the basement.

Suddenly, a loud sound echoed down the hallway behind us, something like metal or iron banging against the walls. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly turned my face to look at Josh, trying to catch any reaction from him.

“Okay, you heard that, right?” I asked, following him with my eyes as he slowly walked toward the noise. “Josh?”

He didn’t answer, staring in the direction the noise had come from. I walked up to him, gathering the fear I was feeling and walking in front of him.

“I’m going to check it out.”

“What? Why?” He asked, frowning, and I chuckled softly.

“Are you scared? Want me to protect you?” I teased, but he didn’t laugh like usual, just stared at me seriously, with that dark expression I hated when it appeared.

I ignored it, heading toward the noise, and heard his footsteps following me. Suddenly, a hooded figure jumped into my line of sight, waving its arms and shouting, wearing a hockey mask.

I screamed, running right after Josh toward the stairs. I skipped two steps at a time, slamming my body against the door at the top, pushing it open as if my life depended on it.

“Why are these doors locked?!” I shouted, frustrated.

“So weirdos don’t get in!” He replied, startled.

The figure stopped three steps below, waving its arms. I looked at him, a mix of confusion and fear on my face. “Hey!”

“What?” I exclaimed, confused.

“Hey!” he repeated, then threw the mask away, lowering the hood. “Boom! You fell for the monk’s trick!”

“What?” I exclaimed, irritated, while Josh laughed hysterically, and I stared at Chris. “Why did you do that?”

“There’s so much cool stuff from old movies here!” He justified, laughing. “Should I have passed up the opportunity?”

“You… are you serious?” I exclaimed, irritated, switching my gaze between him and Josh. “You were in on this?”

I shoved Josh’s shoulder, and he laughed loudly, raising his hands in surrender.

“No, but I sure wish I had been, that was awesome” he laughed loudly and slapped Chris’s hand, as if celebrating the fact that I almost had a heart attack.

I followed Chris and Josh’s steps toward the ground floor while they both mocked me. I huffed in frustration, trying to hold back my laugh.

“You were so scared!” Josh mocked, laughing.

“I wasn’t scared!”

“Holy shit, you pissed yourself!”

“Is this how you wanted to see me scared?” I teased, rolling my eyes. “Because if that’s the case, you failed… badly.”

He let out a low laugh, and I saw Chris approaching Ashley, making jokes. Josh stared at me with an amused look, moistening his lips before trying to change his expression to something more serious, attempting to look sinister. But in the end, all he did was make me smile.

“I’ve got something scarier planned for you, kitten” he said, and maybe I was crazy for trying to find a second meaning in that, but his words made my nipples stiffen slightly. I smiled seductively.

“It’ll have to be a real horror movie scene” I teased, and he stared at me again with that dark expression that always appeared out of nowhere.

“It will be” he assured, his voice lowering. I shivered slightly.

“Well, running from you will just be… delaying the inevitable!” I joked, and a gleam of malice crossed his face. He laughed.

“Delaying the inevitable, huh?” he laughed, the amusement in his voice mixing with something deeper. “I’m going to have to work hard to scare you, Sammy.”

I chuckled softly.

“Here’s your ticket to the world of spirits!” Chris raised the board, and Josh shifted his gaze toward him.

“No, you know what! I’ve had enough scares for one night!” I said loudly, stepping back toward the stairs. “I’m seeing a hot shower in my crystal ball! Have fun!”

I climbed two steps slowly, feeling Josh, Chris, and Ashley’s gazes on my back, before looking back, facing them with amusement.

“Oh, and watch out for this Josh guy” I whispered “he’s a conspirator…”

He laughed.

The candlelight beside me, pressed against the bathtub tile, flickered gently in the dark, casting dancing shadows on the bathroom walls. The music in my earbuds isolated any external noise. I felt a sense of inner peace, my eyes closed, my body swaying with the rhythm of the music, the hot water and steam relaxing every part of me.

My mind wandered far away, to a world where everything had gone right and Hannah and Beth had returned safely to the cabin that night. I clearly remember the nights we stayed up watching movies and eating sweets, and all the times Beth encouraged me to take a chance and ask her older brother out once and for all. I never had the courage, obviously.

I never had the courage for many things.

Like, for example, stopping a prank that would humiliate my best friend. I knew she was about to be the target of something cruel, but for some reason, I just stood there, watching.

Suddenly, any lively rhythm the music had was nothing but a distant memory of that night. The music became suffocating, as if each note was a reminder of something I didn’t do.

A short, weak breeze hit my back, and the candle went out. I yanked the earbuds out, stretching my neck to peek behind me, finding nothing but an empty bathroom and a closed door.

“What are you doing out there?” I exclaimed toward the door, still submerged in the hot water of the bathtub.

No one answered.

I felt a restlessness cross my chest and wondered if I should check what it was. I shivered slightly, the chill running down my spine as the sensation intensified.

“I’m going to have to work hard to scare you, Sammy.”

Josh’s voice echoed in my mind, and I smiled, amused, rolling my eyes. I stood up, wrapping the towel around my body.

“Okay, Josh, very funny!” I walked toward the shelf, scanning it with my eyes in search of my clothes, and sighed in frustration as I grabbed a single sock. “Ha, ha, ha, very funny, you pervert!”

I sighed once more, frustrated, and left the bathroom, walking quickly toward the stairs.

“You’re getting Christmas socks for this!” I shouted, hoping he would hear me, wherever he was.

I stopped for a moment and stared at the red balloons tied to the railing, with white arrows pointing the way. My heart skipped a beat in anticipation.

Okay, this is a weird way to flirt. I thought, but Josh was never really normal.

I found the dark room lit only by the crackling fireplace, its orange light painting the couch. I looked around, searching for him. However, the silence and darkness brought a strange feeling to my chest. I looked around, feeling the environment close in around me.

“Alright! This is going too far, okay? That was really funny, ha, ha, ha, look at Samantha walking around in a towel!” I mocked, my voice echoing through the room, but the response I expected didn’t come. The darkness seemed denser now, as if it were swallowing me.

The silence grew heavier, and the feeling of being watched intensified.

“Okay, that’s enough now, alright?” I lowered my voice, scared, and followed the path toward the stairs leading to the theater room. As soon as I turned the corner of the stairs, I saw the bright light from the theater room. I stopped in front of the door as I got closer, next to the shelf, and grabbed the flashlight, turning it on.

I took a step forward, observing the empty theater room, but stopped when I heard the creak of the wooden floor and suddenly turned my body around, pointing the flashlight toward the noise. My body froze, and I stood paralyzed as I stared at the figure of a worn white mask staring back at me, the yellow teeth gleaming in my direction.

“What the hell is this?” I shouted, scared, running into the theater room.

“Shit” I heard a metallic, distorted voice curse, and I heard heavy footsteps coming toward me, the boots pounding the floor. I grabbed the porcelain vase and threw it in his direction, running toward a second door in that room.

That place felt like a real maze, all of its doors leading to the same direction. As soon as I entered one of the guest rooms and crawled over the bed, exiting through another door, I came face to face with the basement entrance. I didn’t hesitate and hurried down the stairs, looking back to check if he was behind me.

I crawled into the corners, hiding behind the ledge of the shelves that separated the hallway from the rest of the basement. I crouched down, covering the light from the flashlight with my palm, trying to control my breathing. The silence was oppressive, but my heart pounded, as if the echo of my fear was filling the space around me. With every step, I wondered if I was doing the right thing, but there was no turning back. The basement seemed to swallow me, and I was determined to find out what he was planning, even if it meant getting even more lost in that maze of darkness.

I felt like I was being sniffed out, hearing him walk through the halls, hunting me, as if he could smell my fear and hear even the faintest of my breaths.

“Here, little mouse, little mouse, little mouse…” he called, humming, his metallic, distorted voice scraping my eardrums.

I shuddered, shrinking further into the darkness as I listened to his movements. The sound of footsteps echoed off the basement walls, each one closer than the last. My heart was pounding out of rhythm, and I forced myself not to make a sound, not to move, not to breathe. Every time I spared my lungs and breathed, it felt like a thunderclap in the oppressive silence. I didn’t know if he hadn’t seen me yet or was just having fun pretending he hadn’t.

The flashlight flickered slightly, and I pressed my palm against the lens, trying to control the trembling. The feeling of being watched intensified with every passing second, and all I could think about was how to escape this place before it was too late and…

I couldn’t finish my thought. My heart stopped, and I looked toward him, my back to where I was.

“Why hide, Sam?’ He asked darkly “why delay the inevitable?”

“Running from you will just… delay the inevitable!”

The memory was fresh in my mind, and I rolled my eyes, feeling the excitement course through my body. Definitely a strange way to flirt.

I laughed mischievously.

If he wants to play, then I’ll feed his twisted game.

I quickly stood up and circled around some boxes, quickening my steps to delay him. He let out a heavy breath when he saw me, staring at me darkly through the mask.

“You’ll need a lot more than that to catch me, Mr. Killer” I said, in a seductive tone, and I heard him make a surprised noise. “I’m an athlete, remember?”

His breathing remained heavy, and he stood still, watching me. It was cold, but I felt warm. My chest rose and fell, while a thin layer of sweat began to form on my chest, tracing a path of heat through the cold air.

“Want to play tag?” I asked innocently, but he didn’t respond, just breathing heavily with every word I said. “Too childish?”

He tilted his head to the side, seeming to stare at me more intensely, and the possibility that it wasn’t Josh crossed my mind. Coincidences happen, right?

“So, killer and defenseless victim, huh?” I risked, walking slowly until I was face to face with him, but still keeping a few inches of distance.

When his breathing intensified even more, I could hear the metallic, distorted tone of a possible voice modulator behind the mask. I stared at him innocently.

“Oh, please, Mr. Killer, don’t kill me! I want to be in the sequel!” I exclaimed theatrically, and I heard a dry laugh escape from the mask.

“I might catch you…” he finally spoke, and despite the distorted, robotic voice, I felt a familiarity.

“Or maybe I won’t…” I lowered my voice, biting my lips slightly.

“I’ll give you a 3-second head start” he said quietly, his deep voice sounding like a warning.

I let out an excited smile and took a step back, keeping my distance. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins, but a part of me was enjoying this twisted game. It was as if we were in a world of our own, where danger and desire mixed in a dance of colors.

“One, two…” I began to count, my voice low and playful, as my feet moved slowly, searching for an escape. I didn’t even care about the cold concrete against my bare feet anymore.

The sound of his footsteps approaching again made my heart race, but at the same time, something inside me was on fire, a need for more. I wanted more of this game, more of this tension between us.

The idea of being hunted, of being the victim, made me feel alive in a way I never imagined. I stopped next to the small vineyard and stared at the wooden door, noticing it had no handle. His footsteps quickened; he was getting closer.

I couldn’t be caught so easily.

“Three!” I shouted, running toward him, pushing his body. My agile and light body moved quickly, and I looked back immediately to see his body collide with the wall as I shoved him.

Like a gazelle trying to escape the predator, I ran as fast as I could, up the stairs to get out of the basement. I heard the metallic, distorted laugh echoing through the basement, a loud laugh.

He was behind me, his heavy footsteps echoing through the basement, but I didn’t look back. The cold wind from the hallway cut into my skin, and I felt the pressure of fear, but also the pleasure in every second that passed. He was closer now, much closer, and I could feel the tension growing in the air.

It was when I turned the corner of the stairs and saw the door in front of me, an exit that seemed both so near and so far at the same time. I reached out and pushed the door, turning the handle with such force that I understood why he was laughing. I was surrounded.

I ran down the stairs, feeling the cold air of the basement enveloping my body as I tried to get away from him, but it wasn’t enough. He grabbed me as soon as I reached the last step, his fingers gripping my hair, making me groan in pain and surprise. The tug was strong enough to make me stop, the feeling of being controlled by him sending a wave of adrenaline through my veins.

He slammed me against the wall with force, and the impact made my body tremble. I felt the cold of the bricks against my back, contrasting with the heat of his body pressed against mine. The air felt thicker, and my breath quickened, interrupted by the shock and the closeness of his imposing presence.

I felt his heavy breath, muffled by the mask, but still so close. It was as if the air he exhaled mixed with mine, creating a palpable tension between us. The mask, that one obstacle between us, seemed to be the only thing that kept us apart at that moment.

I had never been so close to him. I had never wanted to be so close to anyone as I wanted to be close to Josh. The heat of his body against mine, the strength with which he held me, all of it made me lose any sense of reason. He was a storm, and I was completely adrift, not knowing if I wanted to be saved or sink deeper.

The seconds dragged on as desire and fear intertwined, and I found myself more vulnerable than I had ever imagined, both physically and emotionally.

He pressed a syringe against my neck, the cold tip of the needle touching my skin, but not piercing it. Suddenly, I realized there was something more than just a game. My body shuddered, and I sighed lightly, scared, but at the same time, curious. What did he want from me?

He seemed to hesitate for several seconds, as if battling something within himself. The tension in the air became palpable, and I didn’t know how to react. Finally, with a frustrated sigh, he threw the syringe away, doing the same with the mask, which fell to the floor with a muffled sound.

He looked down at me, his dark eyes filled with a mix of emotions that were hard to decipher. He seemed broken, yet at the same time frustrated.

“Are you playing with me, Sammy?” he asked, his voice low, hoarse, filled with something that sounded like an accusation. I felt a twinge in my groin and held his gaze.

“Maybe” I whispered, my voice almost a challenge.

Before I could think of anything, he closed his fist around my hair, now loose, but this time, he pulled it down, pressing his lips against my chin.

“Then let’s play for real.”

The distance between us ended and he attacked my lips, hungry, as if we were trying to consume everything that we had repressed until that moment. I reciprocate, tying my arms around his neck. He stuck between my legs, pressing me more and more against the wall and his body at the same time and I nodded with proximity.

His body moved against mine, seeking relief in every friction. A shiver ran through my skin when he tore my towel and threw it away, exposing me to the cold and heat of his touch at the same time. His hands explored every curve of my body, before sliding down to my lips and caress my clitoris, moistening me even more, although I had been wet for some time. I writhed and he laughed, intensifying the movement, only to see me wriggle more and more.

“Josh…” I moaned loud and he covered one of my breasts with his mouth, my body trembled under his.

Perhaps, on another occasion, I would have laughed at his clothes, made some sarcastic comment to provoke him. However, at that moment, I only managed to tear off the fabric that covered him, revealing his bare chest. He was not the muscular type, one who seems to have spent hours in the gym, but there was something irresistibly strong about him. His body had a natural firmness, as if it was shaped by genuine effort, by life, not vanity. Attractive in a raw way, without effort. My gaze went through every detail, and for a moment I lost myself in the texture of her skin, in the heat that emanated, as if all the tension between us was about to explode.

He suddenly held me firmly, surprising me. In a single movement, he put me on the floor, turned my body and pressed my face against the cold wall. Put my hands on the wall when he pulled my ass slightly back.

I watched him spit on his own fingers, and my chest stopped for a second with the sensation imminent, my stomach turned and he stroked the entrance, threatening to shove. I groaned frustrated and he laughed low, as if he was enjoying the torture that was providing me.

Suddenly he slipped a finger into me, starting a slow and provocative movement, as if he was savoring every reaction of mine, enjoying the torture it provided. His eyes were fixed on me, watching every contortion of my body, every breath that escaped from my lips. The intensity of his gaze made me feel even more vulnerable, completely at his mercy. It didn’t take long for him to add a second finger, and an involuntary groan escaped me, revealing how surrendered I was. It was disconcerting the power he had over me, how two fingers could completely dominate me.

“I imagined exactly this scene when we came to turn on the heater earlier…” he whispered against my ear, his voice hoarse and low, laden with desire. His fingers continued the movement. “But I’m glad I didn’t do it at that time…”

My hands clung to the wall, seeking support, while a louder groan escaped me. My body was on fire, every touch of it pulled me into an abyss I didn’t want to avoid.

“Why nothing ever made me as hard as I was chasing you” he completed, gasping against my ear and I closed my eyes, moaning insidiously at the statement.

I felt a void as he pulled his fingers away from me, letting out a frustrated sigh. His warmth was a need repressed for years, since we were only friends, and finally that night my cowardice went down the drain, giving way to the girl who was pressed against the stained and cold wall of the basement by a man who 10 minutes ago chased me with a mask.

The emptiness gave way to an overwhelming fullness as it slowly slid into me, while holding my waist firmly. My body struggled to fit her size. I bit my lip, trying not to attract the attention of our friends. Wherever they are.

I heard him make a guttural moan when he intensified his movements, and, without being able to avoid, a sneaky groan. Feeling their stings more and more intense fill me completely. My body was swinging as his movements and a burning rose up my buttock when I felt that he had slapped me, I moaned in response and he seemed to like it when he repeated the gesture, even stronger.

“Stronger!” I asked loud and he obeyed, fucking me harder and harder.

The combination of things he does with me makes me burn. The tapas, the hair pull, the tightness in the waist and how hard he fucks me. I see myself reaching my limit and enjoyment, but he does not stop, desperately seeking his own climax in stacks that make my legs weaken and let slip a "I love you", that I did not expect answers, this made him stop for a few seconds, Breathing out of balance.

In one move, he turns me over, and wraps his arm around my knee bend, lifting it up there and sliding into me again. I let out a loud moan, hearing him whisper against my ear how beautiful I was.

He came and it was as if I was completely broken. He kissed me again, his lips meeting mine in an urgent and panting gesture. The pressure of his mouth on mine was like an insatiable hunger, a desperate desire that manifested in every movement, as if he wanted to lose himself in me.

He then separated the kiss and looked at me with that dark expression I hated so much.

“I need to take care of our friends now…” he whispered into my ear and my eyes weighed when I felt a sting in the neck.

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