“The Vacation”

It was snowing in the high lands. Perfect, pure white snow was quietly floating down and giving the ground a soft blanket to cover it. Reese’s head lifted up as she wanted to catch one snowflake with her tongue let it melt and she would feel the energizing effect of cold winter air.

Carefully she stuck her tongue out and smiled when the first snowflake landed down.

“How much further?” her friend, Yasmine asked from her with a giggle. She watched how Yassie threw her hair behind her back with her hand.

Their gazes met and a smile spread on both.

“Just like 20 more minutes walking. Our cabin is nearby,” Reese laughed and grinned.

“Come on losers! You heard her!”

The boys were keeping the back. Vincent huffed; his warm breath was making a cloud in front of him. Again Yassie was enthusiastically running in front of everyone. However he was just able to smile to his girlfriend with the most amazing honey blonde hair and friendly olive green eyes.

“You sure don’t like the cold, do you?” Alfonzo chuckled. He hopped his back bag better on him from the straps and glanced at Vincent.

“Says the one wearing a furry coat around their winter coats collar,” Vincent teased and smiled deviously.

Alfonzo rolled his eye and took his knitted hat off from his head, letting his fingers brush through his brown hair before putting the hat back on.

“He was just asking because you because you and Angela are from a warm country,” Shawn laughed when he pulled Vincent on top of a small hill. Vicente smiled back to Shawn’s friendly smile.

“I know but--,” Vincent groaned until they heard a loud exited squeal from ahead.

“Angela,” all the guys laughed in unison. They knew that voice could only belong to Yasmine’s sister with brown hair and orange highlights. She was leading everyone with her boyfriend Cedric and they seem to be having a snow fight at the moment.

Shawn ran to take part in the snow fight; it made Reese gasp when the boy with wind wisped dark hair and eyes run to have some fun again. She didn’t have time to warn him of the slippery slope heading down. Now she just had to watch when he threw him to his butt, letting him slide down the hill.

Now everyone else run down too. They could see the cabin waiting for them for the perfect getaway weekend for the friends. After having a hard semester this would be a fun change.

“It sure took you guys some time to arrive,” a feisty black haired girl stated when she slammed the cabin door open.

“Clary-Chan!” Alfonzo cheered and run to hug his childhood best friend. Clarisse got out of school one day before everyone else and went ahead for some private time before her friends would arrive.

She had done some hunting and stocked up with firewood before her friends arrive. She let Angela in so she could mix some hot chocolate for everyone.

In the evening everyone was warming up around the fire place, chatting and laughing. Shawn stared into his mug with the white, soft marshmallows floating around on the surface. His mind was set on the idea of how to pop out the question to Reese without her laughing him away. Taking her for a date has been in his mind for from the first day when they shared seats in English class.

“So I was facing this super hard math problem--,” Alfonzo explained.

“Not about school!” everyone groaned and laughed.

Cedric sat with his back against the wall and Angela half lying on his lap. Reese was near the fire place with her hands tucked inside her sweaters sleeves.

“I’m sleepy,” Vincent yawned dramatically.

“So am I!” Yassie cheered and stood up. They wished good night for everyone and left to upstairs where four bedrooms.

“I guess you two share a room?” Clarisse tease and Vince and Yassie glanced at each other and then nodded their heads.

“We took the one on the right,” Angela giggled.

“I can sleep on couch,” Shawn shrugged.

“Well I’m sharing a room with Fonz, I mean he knows that I would kill him if he touches me,” Clarisse chuckled and made Alfonzo gulp out loudly.

“So I get the one extra room?” Reese asked and everyone nodded their heads.

Shawn and Reese were the last ones who stayed up awake. They both were staring at the flames that had now worn off, tuning the wood into glowing red coal. He knew that now he could ask her about going out when they’re back at home.

He opened up his mouth in order to blabber something out.

“Shawn,” Reese whispered and her mug to the desk. It was untouched.

“Y-yeah?” he whispered.

The minute pointer moved in the clock and both could hear the click clearly. They had been silent for a minute after Shawn's comment.

“It looks like you have something to say?” Reese said quietly and let her feet drop down from the couch.

Shawn thanked in his mind that it was too dark for her to notice his blushing.

“I was wondering…if. If,” he mumbled and squeezed the handle of the mug he was holding.

“If?” Reese insisted.

“If you could go out with me later, in…romantic way,” he finally manage to say. His gaze dropped down and he held his breath, getting ready for rejection.

“Of course,” Reese laughed and got up.

She walked over to him and lifted his face up; her lips touched the joker’s forehead. Now he was deep red from embarrassment, his heart war ready to burst.

“Good night Tabby,” Reese whispered sweetly and headed upstairs.

Once the confusion was away Shawn got himself a place on the couch where he crawled under a blanket.

Everyone was sleeping inside the warm and cozy cabin. Even Shawn fell asleep with a smile on his face he finally had the courage to do what he had wanted for so long.

Clarisse woke up in the sound of something snapping behind the window. She pushed herself to sit quickly and pulled her frizzy hair out of her face. She saw some branches hitting against the window and she let herself lay down again.

“Someone scared?” she heard a tired chuckle coming from the floor in front of her.

“Shut up Fonz!” she groaned and threw the pillow from her other side at him.

Alfonzo complained to her and she just wished him good night again.

However neither of them had any idea of something that was climbing on the outer walls. How it touched the glass when it went towards the next bedroom.

Vincent moved restlessly in his sleep which made Yasmine to wake up. She pouted and tried to push Vincent awake but it was no use. She slipped out from the covers and wrapped morning robe around her. She tucked her toes into fluffy and comfortable pink slippers when she decided to go to the bathroom in the hallway.

She left quietly from the bedroom, tiptoeing her way so no one would wake up because of her. She heard the small talking and snoozing coming from Angela’s and Cedric’s bedroom. She giggled a bit and covered her mouth to get her laughter muffled.

“Thumbs up for you Angela because you deal so greatly with Cid’s sleeping sounds,” she whispered and sneaked her way to the bathroom.

Vincent turned around his sleep, barely opening his other eye to notice that Yassie had left. He exhaled and hugged the pillow, letting his eyes closed again. “She’ll be back soon,” he yawned and let his mind go back to rest.

He didn’t hear the sound of the window being opened from the outside. Vince just pulled the blanket better on him when he felt a cold breeze entering the room but didn't bother to look.

In the dark something moved, slowly but carefully closer to the wooden bed where Vincent sleeping. It grabbed the pillow from next to him, lifting it up and waiting. Then the moment came when Vincent rolled to lie on his back.

The pillow was strongly pushed against his face. His eye flashed open but he saw nothing but darkness, the fabric itchiest his eye and he tried to gasp for air. His hands were waving in the air, trying to get the object out of his face. However the pressure was now on his chest as something heavy was pressing him down.

Vincent began to yell but his shouts were muffled into the pillow which was taking his life little by little. His head began throbbing when lack of oxygen was getting into him. His movement was fading away until it was gone.

The pillow lifted from Vincent’s face. The killer stood there, grinning while watching the eyes of Vincent, still terrified in after death. The drool and blood coming from his mouth when he had bitten his own tongue.

Yassie got out from the bathroom and went back to the bedroom. She didn’t notice the window which was closing up when she opened up the door. Quickly she got under the warm covers, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend and giving a kiss on his cheek.

“Vince… are you awake?” she whispered and began her seducing act. Then she frowned, usually he reacts in some way.

She turned the lights on and she let out a scream. Scream so loud that it alerted everyone else, they ran to the bedroom where she was screaming lungs out.

“What the hell!” Alfonzo shouted as he runs to check on Vince but he found no pulse. “He’s dead.” He gulped.

“Let’s call to police,” Angela whispered. Alfonzo ran past her and other to make the call.

Reese was hushing Yassie who was crying violently against her chest. Her friend’s tears were never ending.

Everyone was in shock. Their fun time together had ended up bitterly by someone dying. Dying without a reason at all.

“Shawn, Ced,” Alfonzo panted out at the door.

Clary’s eyes were looking at the small puddles of water on the floor, lading from window to bed. The guys left the bedroom from Alfonzo’s request.

“Are the police coming?” Cedric insisted to know.

Alfonzo shook his head. “No, the phone line is down… and there’s no reception in mobile phones in this area,” he mumbled.

“So someone has to go out for help?” Cedric wanted to know.

“I’ll go,” Shawn told quickly.

“No, I think that Angela and I need to go, we’ve been at the cabin more often than anyone else. It’s hard to make your way in the dark.” Cedric patted Shawn’s back and he nodded shortly.

It didn’t take much time for Angela and Cedric to be ready. Angela gave her sister a hug before she leave Reese’s bedroom where Yassie was now silently laying down on the bed in shock.

The snow was still falling down in big flakes as Angela and Cedric began then one hour long walk. Going out into snowstorm is never a good idea but now they had no choice.

“He was there and then he was gone.” Yasmine sobbed and quieted down again.

Reese’s hand was gently stroking Yasmine’s head and she was humming a lullaby to her heartbroken friend.

The door was knocked and Clarisse came in with Shawn. Reese walked with her face being blank as paper.

“How is she holding up?” Clarisse asked

“Suffering. I just wonder how a young guy would get a heart attack and die all of a sudden,” Reese sighed.

Clarisse frowned while remembering the odd water puddles. Her mind of a hunter was waking up.

Alfonzo heard the front door opening and he stood up from the couch. “Oh! You came back already,” he said in surprise while walking towards the door.

His mind was shocked when he saw how a string was lifted up. He managed to turn around and then he felt the string tighten around his neck. His yelled was stopped by the thin line pressing on his neck. His weight hit against the opponent of his when he was pulled pack.

He was desperate to get air, trying to get the hands to free himself from the deadly grip. Slowly he was dragged out from the building, without his friends realizing what was going on downstairs.

Alfonzo felt how the cord was biting through his flesh as his mind was getting blank. His body twitched on the ground while he stared into the eyes of his killed. He felt scared on the moment of his death. His body was quickly covered with snow, and then it was stage as if he had left the cabin. His bag was gone and front door left open.

“The bath is ready,” Shawn peeked form the door at Reese’s bedroom.

“Did you heard that Yassie? Shawn made you a warm cozy bath,” Reese said soothing tone.

Reese and Clarisse helped her into the bath. There was a drift coming from downstairs which the girls decided to check. Shawn was left to guard outside the bathroom just in case something happens.

Once Clarisse and Reese got downstairs they saw the front door open and no sign of Alfonso.

“Fonz! Where are you?” Clary shouted from the steps without knowing that her best friend was close to them. Lying under his snowy grave.

Yassie closed her eyes when warm water was rinsing her skin. Her mind wandered off from the place. She didn’t hear someone entering the bathroom as her ears were under the water, only her nose was above the surface.

Something pushed her head felt beneath the surface, her eyes flashed open under the water as she screamed. Her feet were slipping on the porcelain bath tub as she tried to get up, her lungs caught water and it hurt. She gagged couple times and then the last trace of air left her.

Then she was let go, her body floated under the water as her killer took a razor blade.

Her hands were lifted out from the water to hang over the sides. Her murderer slit her wrist open and felt sick satisfaction to see her blood dripping out from her.

“Shawn! What is that sound?” Reese shouted and woke Sean form his dream. He had been resting his back against the wall.

The girls shut the door and had heard how water was dripping.

“OH GOD! The floor is flooded!” Shawn shouted and rushed inside the bathroom.

Then he paused. Yassie was floating in the water, dead and seemingly done suicide.

“Don’t go in there,” Shawn gasped and grabbed to Reese’s waist, pulling her close.

“NO!” Reese screamed and began to cry.

“That’s it, I’m seeing where Alfonzo went,” Clarisse whispered and ran downstairs. She never thought that a lovely person like Yassie would do such a thing.

Clarisse’s feet were making traces to snow as she run down the stairs. Then she fell as her feet hit to something. Terror swiped through her when she saw a pair of feet sticking out from the snow.

She began digging and was left breathless when she found out who it was. She was muffling her crying with her hands as she stared at the corpse of her friend, Alfonzo. Her eyes were nailed into the pattern of his neck, like he was strangled to death.

“SHAWN! REESE! We need to go!” she screamed.

She was still kneeling in the snow when Shawn and Reese came to the front door. His arms were over Reese’s shoulders in protective manner.

“H-he was killed. I think were not alone… even Vince; there was water in the bathroom. M-maybe someone came in from window. What if Yassie didn’t kill herself?” Clarisse whispered in shock.

Shawn glanced at the both girls and took his jacket. “Alright, you two go inside and lock the door. I’ll run out for some help,” Shawn explained and run off to the night.

The girls sat down on the couch. Both of them were silent after the things that had happened.

Cedric heard a shout which made him alerted. It sounded like Shawn. Quickly he fastened his steps and he ran out from the forest back to the cabin.

He noticed Alfonzo’s body on the ground and he went quickly to knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Clary’s harsh voice asked.

“Ced. What the hell is going on in here?” Cedric groaned.

The girls let him in.

“Where’s Angela?” Reese asked.

“She hurt her ankle in the storm. I came to get something to tie it with.” Cedric panted out.

“What is that blood in your sleeve?” Clarisse pointed and pulled Reese a bit back.

“I cut myself into a branch. I heard Shawn screaming in the woods. Alfonso’s dead?” Cedric asked in panic.

“Yassie is dead too,” Reese said and relaxed a bit.

“We better get going to Angela then. Get your bags,” Cedric ordered.

The girls got ready and closed the cabin door after them. They left a note to Shawn that they left and so should him too. They began wandering into the woods.

They were walking in the pitch black forest. Only sounds they heard were their shoes squeaking in the snow.

“Reese! Clary!” Shawn shouted somewhere.

“I’m going to get him,” Cedric panted out and ran off.

“I hope he finds him,” Reese whispered and embraced herself.

“Sure he will,” Clarisse smiled faintly. Then she heard something. “Wait a moment,” she said and took her crossbow from her back.

She began to tiptoe silently towards the sound.

She didn’t see the dander coming from behind. She just felt someone grabbing her shoulders and then how a cold blade was going on her heck and then cutting it open. Her blood was bursting out to the snow, coloring it red. Then her body was dropped down which Reese heard.

“Clary!” Reese shouted and ran to the direction where she went. Discovering her dead was too much.

“ANGELA! SHAWN! CEDRIC!” Reese screaming on the top of her lungs.

No one replied and she began walking again.

Another scream came in the forest, just a little bit ahead. Reese’s pounding inside her chest. IT was Angela’s voice.

She began to run only to find her friends body. She had been stabbed many times, her ankle was carefully wrapped and her heating blanket was next to her in the snow.

“No, not you too,” Reese cried and kneeled next to her.

“Reese! I finally found you!” Shawn panted out.

Reese stood up quickly, staring at Shawn. His dark blue jacket was covered in blood stains when she pointed her flashlight at him.

“What have you done?” Reese’s voice shivered.

“Cedric. He turned crazy on me and tried to kill me couple times but I overrun him. Got his knife,” he said and threw the knife in front of Reese.

“But why…” Reese sobbed into her hands.

“I wish I knew… we should go to the car and get help,” Shawn gulped and looked over his shoulder.

Shawn’s arms were around her when they headed their way to the car. The snowing had ended by the time they saw their car parked in the side of the road.

He turned the bloody key inside the lock and the car started. Reese had sat deep in her thoughts inside the car for the whole time. The night had been like a nightmare. Sean had cleared up the windows of the car by the time and got in.

“Were safe now,” he whispered while they were driving on the road.

“I guess,” Reese sniffed and wiped her eyes.

Shawn put on some music and chuckled a bit.

“What’s so funny?” Reese asked.

“Were together now. On our first date,” Shawn replied.

“This is not the time for jokes,” Reese snapped and decided to look out from the window.

“Now we can be together forever,” Shawn’s cold voice whispered and Reese’s eye widened.

The locks of the car closed and Reese stared at Shawn whose eyes were mad.

“W-what do you mean?” she gulped when her hand went to the handle of the car.

“It was so easy… to get rid of nuisances. First Vicente, he was pathetic,” Shawn laughed.

“What?” Reese said in misbelieve. Tears run down on her cheeks.

Shawn laughed again. “killing the trusting Alfonso when putting the bath ready. Then making sad Yasmine to kill herself. Getting you guys separated and killing of brave Clary,” Shawn grinned.

Reese began to open up the handle but then she screamed. He had speed up the car as it reached a cliff.

“Stop this car! Stop if you care for me!” Reese yelled but it was for nothing.

Shawn drove the car down from the cliff. It splashed through the icy surface of a lake and began to sink down. The doors were budging in and she tried to open up her safety belt.

Shawn was grinning on the driver’s seat.

“Cid was a tough one to fight. I stabbed Angel in front of him and killing him after he chase me… it took some effort but you… you were so easy to fool my love,” Shawn smiled deviously as he took her hand.

“Please stop this, we were friends,” Reese cried.

“Being friend zoned for so long… it drives people mad you know….but now, now we will be together forever,” he laughed.

Reese watched in horror how he smashed the font window. Cold water mass came inside the car, filling it up. Her belt was jammed and she left the knife to where they left off with the car.

The water reached to her jaw when Shawn forced her to face him. He smashed his lips against hers when the car was fully filled with water. At first she felt afraid; her insides were hurting when cold water filled up her lungs. And soon she felt nothing, her body relaxed after few twitches.

Next morning the car was pulled out from the lake. It was claimed to be an accident that took a couples life.

THE END