The stranger's hands shook as they held the phone, their eyes darting around the room. After a few moments, they spoke into the receiver, their voice low and urgent.
"Hello? Yes, it's me. I'm at the lodge... No, I didn't plan it, I was forced to... Okay, I'll wait."
The stranger hung up, their eyes locked on the group.
"Who was that?" Alex asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
The stranger hesitated before responding, "Someone who can help me. But we need to be careful. They're watching."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the stranger's fear.
"What's going on?" Emma asked gently. "What happened to you?"
The stranger took a deep breath before beginning their story.
"I was driving through the mountains, trying to get away from the city. I had been feeling uneasy for days, like someone was following me. At first, I thought it was just paranoia, but then I started noticing strange things. My car would be locked when I was sure I had left it unlocked, and I would find strange messages on my phone."
The group listened intently, their faces filled with concern.
"I tried to brush it off, but the feeling only got stronger. Then, my car broke down on the side of the road, and I had to walk. That's when I saw them. People in black, watching me from the trees. I ran, but they chased me. I stumbled upon this lodge, hoping to find help."
The stranger's eyes welled up with tears as they continued.
"I've been running for days, trying to get away from them. But they always seem to find me. I'm scared, and I don't know what to do."
The group listened in stunned silence, their hearts going out to the stranger.
"Who are these people?" Tom asked, his voice firm.
The stranger's eyes darted around the room again. "I don't know, but they're dangerous. They've been following me for weeks, and I think they want to hurt me."
As the stranger finished speaking, the lights flickered once more, and the wind howled outside. The group felt a chill run down their spines.
Suddenly, the phone rang, shrill and loud. The stranger's eyes widened in fear.
"Don't answer it," they whispered.
But Alex, curious, picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
A pause.
"Who is this?"
Another pause.
Alex's face turned pale. "Okay, we'll be careful."
He hung up, his eyes locked on the group.
"What is it?" Emma asked, her voice trembling.
Alex's voice was barely above a whisper. "They know we're here. And they're coming for us."
The group's hearts sank as they realized their nightmare had just begun. Trapped in the lodge, with unknown dangers lurking outside, they had to rely on each other to survive.
"We need to come up with a plan," Jack said, his voice determined. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to find us."
The group nodded in agreement, their minds racing with ideas.
As they began to brainstorm, the stranger's eyes locked onto something outside the window. Their face turned white, and they whispered, "It's them. They're here."
The group's hearts skipped a beat as they turned to look out the window. What would they see? Would they be able to survive the night?
What would you like to happen next?