Finally, I’m all done, everything is neatly tidied up and I’m ready to go to the field. Trent quickly checked his pockets, patting them down for everything he was taking with him: his keys, both to his apartment and his car, his wallet, and his little phone. He approached the exit door, his one way out, and was invigorated with sudden, vicious confidence. No adrenaline, no odd dread or hard feelings. No more of this torment.

Trent slammed the door open, embracing the chilled winter air with a gleeful smile, and opened his arms wide. He laughed for a moment, running outside, almost excited to the point that he thought he might play in the snow. I am so close to being free. It’s almost over. Almost. Trent, distracted by his newfound boldness, chose to continue on with his journey, not even bothering to check on his car.

Being outside was calming in a way for Trent, but the silence was unsettling. While it made sense, as winter was often a quiet season, there was hardly any wind, so aside from his lonesome footsteps crunching in the snow, he heard nothing. Oh god, is this even worth it? The courage that once fueled him to hurry up after the strange incident while washing the dishes seemed to have dissipated into thin air. With each step, he could feel his anxiety grow heavier and worsen. Trent knew the path to the field quite well, but he began doubting his memory. Wait- Did I miss a turn?

There was still an unnerving quiet in the forest, and it made Trent wonder if something was lying in wait. He kept a sharp eye over his shoulder for the wolf monster, but nothing was there. It’s like this pale death has stricken the woodland, and I’m the one walking through the corpses, avoiding getting ill myself.

At about halfway to the field, Trent’s dread morphed into the thought that he had forgotten something, or did not do something back at the cabin. Dammit, I… I forgot to do something! He nearly turned around to go back and see if he could remember what it was.

I cleaned up everything, I know I did, what could I have forgotten to check?

Trent tried to stop himself from panicking and reassured himself that if he had forgotten about it, then it likely wasn’t as important as he was assuming This method successfully helped him refocus himself on the objective ahead again: Contacting Sharon and safely returning to the cabin.

What if Sharon doesn’t get here for at least a few days? Should I call Charles instead? No, he would just make fun of me.

What if I have to stay here another night, or more? Will I have nightmares again?

If Sharon drives nonstop she’ll get here really late in the evening or at least tomorrow morning.

But, what if Sharon doesn’t believe me?

Trent pushed himself to continue walking despite the doubts in his head and the flaws in his plan made themselves more aware as time passed on. The cabin isn’t so bad… If I stay in my room, at least, I’ll be safe. God, I just want to see Sharon again and go home and wake up from this living nightmare.

But what if it’s the cabin that’s the problem?

What if I become like Cahoon and Alana?

What if it eats away at me, slowly?

Will I die there?

Trent ripped himself away from his thoughts, noticing that the trees were beginning to grow thinner and he could see where the field began at the edge of the trees. For a moment, he smiled, and then he began laughing to himself. I’ve only been here, what- two days and I want to leave already? As he began to approach the threshold, he locked his eyes onto a distant rock, the same rock where Sharon had set up her camera. Maybe I should head back.

Trent stood next to a tree, unable to cross the invisible barrier that divided the field and the woods. Every fiber of his being was begging him to not push forward, to just stay here, and keep away from that damned rock. Before his breathing could spike, Trent shut his eyes and forced his thoughts somewhere else, anywhere else, and his mind dredged up a conversation he had with Charles a long time ago.

“Trent!”

“Oh! Hey Charles. Sorry, just got off the phone with Sharon.”

“It’s all good. You know, you talk about her- and to her -a lot. You ever gonna, you know, ask her out?”

“Nah we’re- she’s- I mean she is really nice but- well I wouldn’t- she’s just my childhood friend. I don’t think I should be asking her for a commitment when she can definitely do better than me. And she’s, y’know, busy with her own stuff. Really, it’s just a coincidence that I managed to see her again after-”

“Look, Trent, you’re my friend, and as your friend, I’ve gotta be honest with you. I don’t think ‘just friends,’ means you invite people to come look at houses super far from civilization-”

“Hey, she called me and asked me to-”

“Let me finish. Maybe you’re right, and you would know her better than me, but I dunno. When Elaine started asking me for my opinions on her writing- something she never shared with anyone- I started to think that, ‘Wait a minute, maybe she likes me as a bit more than just her chill guy friend.’ So what’d I do? I went out on a limb and asked her out.”

“Yeah, but you two are a match made in heaven. And you’ve been married for a good while-”

“Marriage is another thing. But, listen, I know you Trent. You get anxious and you look at everything in a way that makes the world feel a helluva lot bigger and scarier than it is- and that’s alright, I’m here to help you out with that- but just, hear me out: take that risk and ask her. At least if she says no, you’ll know for sure.”

“I’ll- look I’ll think about it. I’m busy with- work, you know-”

And then, I never did think about it. Until now.

Trent’s eyes shot open, and he was still standing at the brink of the forest, where the empty, snow-covered field laid before him.

I won’t know for sure if I’ll live and get to go home, or die out here, or in that cabin, but at the very least, I can increase my odds of survival right now, by moving forward- and talking to Sharon.

Trent boldly took one step forward. And then another, and then one more, and then he found himself giggling like a child. Oh my god, I was scared of NOTHING! There’s no one out here- hell, I bet there aren’t even any animals here. Trent proudly marched over to the center of the field, carefully monitoring the itty bitty bars of service on his phone, and he then climbed onto the rock, raising his phone heavenward in an attempt to get a better connection. Before he could even begin to make out the teeny tiny number of bars, he caught sight of the mountain range in front of him.

It’s prettier than I remember. That view almost makes this hell vacation worth it. This, this is what I came here for. Relaxing for a moment, Trent took in the view and let himself breathe slowly. While doing so, he heard footsteps approaching from behind him, and he jerkily swiveled his body around, and found himself staring at an old man. The man in the cardinal mask? The old man was half-hunched onto a wooden cane, and his bird mask obscured most of his face, save for the gentle, wrinkled smile he wore.

“Are you admiring those mountains?” the old man asked Trent, shifting around on his cane as if he was a bit unbalanced. No. Something isn’t right. Trent anxiously nodded, feeling a pit of dread begin to form in his stomach. Something’s wrong. But what?

“Good,” The old man chuckled, “It despairs me to see you leaving them so soon.” Wait, fuck I need to-

Before Trent could think of what to do, he barely noticed the old man aiming to slam his cane into Trent. Trent felt an awful, sharp pain as the object smashed itself into his skull, and he slipped and lost his balance, falling off the rock and slipping into unconsciousness as he crashed into the ground.