Maya’s POV
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5Ch6RxCZs
LOVE ISLAND RESORT UP AHEAD-Open since 2013.
The old billboard flickered as we sped down the isolated highway.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkMOYb3rF8
“Chase, I need to pee,” Emma groaned for the third time now.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2Res49ZtA
“I need to stretch my legs” Ty grumbled trying to stretch but hit his head on the cupboard above him. “Ow.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQziqXINn8B
“We passed a gas station twenty minutes ago, You could've just stopped.” Lila snapped.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF66vcn9oip
“Please,” Emma muttered weakly. “My bladder is about to explode.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFekRmWGyEp
“Guys, chill,” Chase said, his eyes locked on the road. “We’re almost there. You can all pee when we get to the resort.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mP3VkAhHN
“Chaseeee, it’s been hours,” I cried out, leaning against the window, watching the trees blur.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuAHO4DSv5
“Babe, we’ve been sitting for three hours,” Riley added, rubbing her neck. “Pull over before my spine dies.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMMW4X79Tz
“Okay, okay,” Chase finally gave in. “ I'll stop at the next convenience store.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3geROqy3WM
As if on cue, Emma pointed out the window.
“There!!!” She yelled pointing towards a dimly lit convenience store sign.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4bEiQpGyc
Chase sighed pulling into the parking lot beside an old, rusting pickup truck.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2rIt2RQJR
“Alright,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelts. “Tyler, Maya…you two come with me.” He announced as we stepped down.
“Everyone else do whatever you wanna, go pee or stretch, whatever..”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBMLNTVPXO
Emma bolted toward the restroom before he even finished.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pEVjXyNzJ
Inside, the store looked…old. It wasn't dirty though, just stuck old. The air smelled of canned goods and dust. A tiny bell clinked as the door closed behind us.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoqm8mXGhQ
Tyler headed straight for the snacks line,
Chase grabbed packs of water bottles. They left the actual important shopping to me, which was a good idea otherwise we’d end up with only chips and energy drinks.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGN0eJXhfC
I scanned the shelves, picking out vital things enough to survive a few days at the cottage; canned beans, instant noodles, tuna, soda, canned meat, lighters, flashlights, batteries.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdlusisz0j
After loading my arms, I met the boys at the counter, where an elderly woman stood watching us with an expression I couldn't read.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtEdqO3EWB
She scanned our items slowly. “Where are you kids headed?” She asked without looking up.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Dt2RH2FP4
“Blackwater Lake,” Chase answered. “Love Island Resort.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmASZDpJPSB
The woman froze mid-scan finally looking up. “You kids shouldn’t be up there.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXecB2SegjJ
“Why not?” Tyler laughed. “We’re just staying for spring break.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMVanPD0F5
She pointed towards a board behind the counter. We followed her fingers to a row of faded Missing people posters.
U swallowed when I saw the recent ones, a smiling couple…
Missing since April 2022.
Last seen at Blackwater Lake.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mZuVSrifr
“That place isn’t for visitors,” the woman continued. “People go up there and don’t come back.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5IoPY4XKo
Chase rolled his eyes. “Ma’am, it’s just ghost stories. We’re not scared of that made up bullshit. We’re here to prove the rumors wrong.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPyXwFWuet
“Maybe ghosts aren’t what you should be worried about.” she whispered.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKgN3PXKcd
Those words stuck with me. I quietly pulled out my phone and took a picture of the poster for the investigation.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tiK5pnX4Q
Chase paid, we gathered the bags and headed out.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFH4hFSEzZ
------
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQP17bvICr
“What took you guys so long?” Jay asked the moment we climbed back into the RV, dragging me towards him.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmsBQcUWfF
“Some creepy old lady” Chase muttered, taking his seat at the front..
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRpTrLtFeG
“Yeah, she warned us about Love Island.” Ty added
“And she had like, twenty missing people posters. Show em, Maya.” He said, tapping my shoulder.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHZHKsDu7W
I opened my camera roll and turned the screen toward the group. For the first time, the RV went silent.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj6sm0ocpR
“Guys, you sure we should still…..go?” Emma whispered shakily.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI93hL5EGY
“Seriously, babe?” Logan sighed. “Don’t tell me you’re buying these ghost stories. Missing people disappear for all kinds of reasons. None of them are supernatural.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH8JRKO9cs
“Then explain the missing people, explain that. Ghost aren't real but what happened to those people. They didn't just vanish into thin air, something happened to them.” Jay reasoned.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZJnHJt2SA
“Whatever happened, we’re gonna find out,” Chase said confidently. “We’re eight people. What’s gonna happen?”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl3Y5fRoWw
“I agree with Chase and Logan. Besides we're already halfway there, and most importantly, already got the RV” Riley said.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeZf9FJ506
Jay exhaled in defeat. “Fine.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9X8zB5jUs
Meanwhile, the woman’s words kept echoing in my mind.
Maybe ghosts aren’t what you should be worried about…
“ What did she mean by that?”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhHFQP97wm
“Good, can I concentrate on my driving now?”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzi0YgXD3k
“Yeah, yeah. Go”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMOFfLElkP
--------
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRiA1R3emG
The road narrowed the deeper we drove. Trees thickened on both sides, blocking the sunlight.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5crrvWilk
“Great, perfect timing,” Chase muttered.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ3B0aEHM7
“What’s wrong?” I asked, lifting my head from Jay’s shoulder.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQomFhDsmUb
“The GPS.” Chase tapped the mounted tablet. “It froze.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZjLFTKjjX
He hit the screen. The map flickered, recalculated twice, then died completely.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Chase groaned at the dead screen.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqCnUtjugh
“Just keep driving down this path,” Lila said calmly. “There’s literally no other road.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EgEeQoRMv
We kept moving until the forest swallowed the road.
“Look,” I whispered.
An old wooden sign stood crooked at the side of the road.
WELCOME TO BLACKWATER COUNTY
Population: ???
The number below had been scratched out.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaSZZhrbw2
Below it was another sign:
LOVE ISLAND RESORT →
But the words were also crossed out with black spray paint.
We stared at each prolly wondering if coming here was a mistake.
“Probably someone mad about their customer service” Ty joked…..no, tried to joke because no one laughed.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTjPVCWRSY
Chase kept driving until we reached a small dirt clearing marked:
PARKING AREA – LAKE ACCESS ONLY
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfF9O6rKuO
He turned off the engine. From here a narrow path led into the forest.
“This is it,” he said. “The RV stays here.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOMOV4N3i6
“Oooooh this is gonna be good.” Riley squealed, hopping down the RV.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxJg0GH2zX
“Here, Lemme help you.” Jay said, extending his hand to me. “Careful.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc9dynWLg7
“Thanks.” I took hold of them and jumped down.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapoYilxrAK
The forest was really slient. No rustling, no birds chirping, no insects noises, Just our foot crunching on dried leaves. The air was colder than it should be, since it was already spring.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe2XYxgyn3
“Okay,” Logan said, adjusting his backpack. “Let’s move.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaupQYlkGq
After a few minutes, the forest opened , revealing the lake.
Blackwater Lake spread out before us, fog curling over its surface. The water reflected the pale sky like a mirror. It was…. beautiful. We could sight the cottage, a short distance away. A small boat rocked gently at the dock in front of us.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT4a5rt1Qx
“Wow…” Emma whispered.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOsPGYM6Ik
“Welcome to Love Island resort…” Chase said with a grin, spreading his arms. “Where romance goes to die, apparently.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbInZuxVW5a
“Not funny,” Emma glared at him.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSkF5CMFUw
“It’s beautiful,” Riley said, immediately lifting her phone for pictures.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gnS8RrbKZ
“ Who else isn't getting a signal?” Lila aaked, walking around the dock, trying to get a signal.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeDy5N4BcI
“ Me neither” Emma said.
“Am not getting any signal too, I need to call my mom. She'd be worried.” I said nervously.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqtwYorYWo
“ It's probably because of the lake, am sure it would be better up at the cottage.” Logan reassured.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KBVXhO38u
“Okay,” I said, refocusing. “Some people need to stay here and take multiple trips from here to the cottage, to get our stuffs while the rest would go open and clean up the cottage..”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjgKa6ORVT
“That makes sense,” Lila agreed.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWzpHJTVKu
“Uh…Emma, Tyler, and I would stay here. Maya, Lila, Chase, and Logan take care of the cottage.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYM8f85rTF
“Deal,” we all said in unison.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZKQcDVWDL
---
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNsKlAgQHk
I don’t know what I expected when we finally reached the old cottage, but it definitely wasn’t this.
The place looked like it hadn’t been touched in years. Trees crowded around it, their branches scraping along the roof with every gust of wind. Ivy crawled up the stone walls, and the wooden porch creaked under our steps.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIIV6ybSB4
Lila stood beside me, hugging her arms.
“Are we sure this is the right place?” she whispered.
Chase, who was carrying two huge boxes of supplies, kicked the door lightly.
“Yep. This is what's left of the famous Patterson Cottage” he muttered.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xePrSgzQp
The door swung open, releasing a wave of dust and the faint smell of old wood. We slowly stepped in, looking around.
The living room was dark, the only light coming from the windows. White sheets covered the furniture like ghost silhouettes and cobwebs hung in the corners.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngDB2k5gb8
Lila coughed. “Yeah… this place needs serious help.”
“Understatement,” Chase said, dropping his boxes with a thud. “Where do we even start?”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc0EuUxoc9
I moved toward the covered couch, brushed off a few cobwebs, and tugged the sheet away. Dust rose in a cloud, making me sneeze. Underneath, the couch was surprisingly intact old-fashioned floral print but clean once you wiped off the grime.
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” I said. “Just dusty.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6K1vKTSJZ
Logan walked into the kitchen. “The lights work too” he called out as the bulbs flickered on.
“But the fridge is empty and smells like something died in it… great.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL67kDbUA5
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡods4PWWYbe
“Let’s unload the things we've got here before the guys bring more.” I said. “We’ll clean as we go.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTYrBxmvM8
Lila nodded and carried the bag of groceries into the kitchen. She started unloading cans onto the counter.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cOeZwG84o
Chase started sweeping the living room, stirring up even more dust. “Hope I don't see a spider here, I hate those.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2sJA4m5Ud
I walked toward the fireplace. Someone had left old firewood stacked neatly beside it. I traced my hand along the mantel. There were carvings there, maybe names or initials. Memories from whoever stayed here befor
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46lbFT3T0o
e us.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwumW6YzEKf
Lila opened the curtains. Sunlight spilled in, revealing the true colors of the place.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciOuw4b68j
“It’s actually kinda cute,” she whispered.
“Give us a few hours,” I said. “We’ll make it better.”
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPskOjcJona
and then Add to home screen.