As the group settled into the cozy lodge, the warmth and familiarity of their surroundings began to thaw out the awkwardness that had settled over them when Matt's absence was mentioned. Emma couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, though. Matt was always the punctual one, the one who showed up early and waited for everyone else. His absence was unlike him.
"Maybe he's running late," Tom suggested, checking his phone for what felt like the hundredth time. "You know Matt, always fashionably late."
Rachel shook her head. "No, he's been weird lately. We had a fight a few days ago, and I haven't heard from him since."
Emma's ears perked up at the mention of a fight. She had always been close to Rachel, and the tension between her and Matt was palpable. "What happened?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
Rachel hesitated, glancing around the room as if unsure if she should share. "It's just... we've been growing apart, I guess. We used to be so close, but lately, it's like we're just existing in the same space."
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the wind howling outside, and the lights flickering once again. Alex, their host, got up to check the generator, leaving the group to their thoughts.
As the night wore on, the group caught up on old times, sharing stories and laughter. But beneath the surface, old wounds and unresolved tensions simmered. Jack and Tom got into a heated debate about politics, while Emma and Rachel huddled together, whispering about Matt and his disappearance.
The cookies and hot cocoa were a welcome distraction, but as the hours ticked by, the group's anxiety about Matt's absence grew. They tried calling him, but his phone went straight to voicemail.
As the storm raged on outside, the lodge's warmth and coziness began to feel suffocating. Emma couldn't shake off the feeling that they were all in this together, trapped by the snow and their own secrets.
"I'm getting worried," Emma said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Matt's never been this late without letting us know."
Rachel nodded in agreement. "I know, it's not like him. I'm starting to get really concerned."
Just as they were starting to settle in for the night, a loud crash echoed from outside. The group rushed to the windows, peering into the darkness. That's when they saw it: a figure, stumbling through the snow, towards the lodge.
"Matt?" Emma called out, hope and concern mingling in her voice.
But as the figure drew closer, they realized it wasn't Matt. It was someone else, someone they didn't recognize.
The figure stumbled and fell, struggling to get back up. The group watched in shock as the figure finally reached the door and pounded on it, demanding to be let in.
"Who is that?" Tom asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
"I don't know," Alex replied, "but we need to let them in. They're clearly in distress."
As Alex opened the door, the figure stumbled inside, shaking the snow off their coat. The group gasped in unison as they saw the figure's face, bruised and battered.
"Please," the figure begged, "you have to help me. They're after me."
The group's eyes widened in shock as they realized that their peaceful reunion had just turned into something much more sinister.
*The Mysterious Stranger*
As the group tried to make sense of the stranger's words, they couldn't help but wonder who this person was and what they wanted. Was it a coincidence that they showed up at the lodge, or was there something more sinister at play?
The stranger's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for someone or something. "I need to use your phone," they said, their voice shaking. "I need to call for help."
Alex nodded, handing the stranger their phone. As the stranger dialed, the group waited with bated breath, wondering what would happen next.