LOCKED SHADOWS

CHAPTER 005

FIRST NIGHT IN THE LODGE

The car crunched to a stop on the gravel driveway, and for a long moment, no one spoke. The building loomed ahead, half-shrouded in creeping vines and shadow despite the fading daylight. Its tall windows reflected the last slivers of sun like watchful eyes, and the silence surrounding it felt unnatural too still, too deliberate.

Daisy sat frozen in the back seat, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag until her knuckles turned white. Something about the lodge unsettled her in a way words couldn’t explain. It wasn’t simply old or isolated it felt alive. Watching. Waiting.

Lucia leaned forward between the seats, her voice carrying a forced cheer. Well… here we are. Home for the weekend.

Dave opened his door with a grunt, his heavy boots thudding against the gravel. Looks fine to me, he said. Bigger than I expected.

Alex was already halfway out, enthusiasm undimmed. Wait until you see the inside. Moses told me it’s even better than the photos.

Daisy swallowed hard and climbed out slowly. Her gaze flicked toward the gate where the old guard had let them in. He stood still by his post, expression unreadable, eyes following them. When Daisy met his gaze, a chill ran down her spine. She turned quickly away.

The group carried their bags up the wide stone steps to the front entrance. Alex pushed open the heavy double doors, and they groaned loudly as though protesting the intrusion. Inside, the lodge opened into a vast foyer with a high ceiling. Chandeliers hung dusty and dim, and a sweeping staircase curled upward into shadow. The air smelled faintly of polish and something older like damp wood that had been left too long without sunlight.

See? Alex said, spreading his arms. Not bad at all.

Lucia tilted her head, scanning the grand but lifeless hall. It’s… dramatic.

Dave dropped his bag onto the floor with a thud. I call the biggest room.

Excuse me? Lucia snapped. We should pick fairly.

Before Daisy could respond, movement stirred from deeper within the lodge. Footsteps. Voices. A group emerged into the foyer, and Daisy’s breath caught others were already here.

At the front was a tall boy with broad shoulders and an easy grin. Well, well, he said. So you’re the famous Alex and friends. Moses, at your service.

Alex brightened immediately. Moses! Finally. Guys, this is the one I told you about. He’s the reason we got this place.”

Beside Moses stood a slim girl with bright eyes and a calm, collected expression. She raised her hand in greeting. I’m Rebecca. Welcome. We just got here not too long ago ourselves.

Next to her was another girl, stylish, her braids swinging as she shifted her weight with a confident smirk. Sugar, she said with a wink. Yes, that’s really my name.

A wiry young man with restless energy gave a small nod. Derek, he said simply, his eyes darting about the hall as though he were sizing it up.

And then came Hannah slender, soft spoken, her presence gentler than the others. She adjusted the strap of her bag nervously and smiled shyly at Daisy. Hi, she said, her voice almost delicate. I’m Hannah.

The tension in the foyer eased slightly as introductions were exchanged. Alex clapped Moses on the back as though they were old friends, while Lucia gave Sugar a once over and raised an eyebrow. Daisy managed a polite smile at Rebecca, who returned it warmly, then at Hannah, who seemed just as uncertain as she felt.

Looks like the gang’s complete now, Moses said, gesturing to the grand hall. This weekend is going to be unforgettable.

Unforgettable how? Lucia asked under her breath, but no one seemed to notice.

Together they explored the lodge, their footsteps echoing across the marble floor. Moses took the lead confidently, pointing out the lounge, the dining hall, and the kitchen. The newcomers had already claimed a few of the upstairs rooms, but there were plenty to go around. The place was bigger than it first appeared, each corridor stretching longer than seemed natural.

This lodge used to be a retreat center, Rebecca explained as they walked. Moses and I know some of its history. But don’t worry, it’s safe.

Her voice was steady, yet Daisy caught something in her tone, a slight hesitation that didn’t match the words. She filed the thought away but said nothing.

By the time everyone settled into their chosen rooms, dusk had deepened into night. They regrouped in the lounge, bags unpacked, snacks spread out on the low table between them. The flickering light from the lamps painted their faces in warm tones, though the shadows lurking in the corners seemed to grow thicker.

Alex raised his drink again. To new friends and a weekend to remember!

Cheers! Sugar said, lifting her glass dramatically. Derek chuckled, already fiddling with a deck of cards he’d brought. Rebecca simply smiled, her calm presence a quiet anchor. Hannah sat quietly at the corner of the couch, watching everyone with wide eyes, as though unsure how to fit in.

For a while, laughter filled the room as they played cards and swapped stories. Daisy tried to relax, joining in when she could, though her eyes kept flicking toward the dark windows and the empty doorways beyond. Something about the lodge still felt wrong. Even surrounded by voices, the silence beneath it all pressed close.

Eventually, yawns spread through the group, and they began drifting off to their rooms. Daisy lingered a moment longer, staring at the flickering lamp. She thought she heard a faint creak upstairs, but when she looked, the hall was empty.

In her room, she tried to write, but the words wouldn’t come. She closed the laptop and crawled into bed, only for sleep to bring no rest. The faceless man returned in her dreams, dagger gleaming as he stepped closer, closer

She woke with a gasp, drenched in sweat. The lodge was silent, but her heart knew the truth: they weren’t alone in this place. And the night had only just begun.