Maya’s POV
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiRUdz50GI
LOVE ISLAND RESORT UP AHEAD-Open since 2013.
The old billboard flickered as we sped down the isolated highway.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs9FTBpwRK
“Chase, I need to pee,” Emma groaned for the third time now.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLJNaHCPKh
“I need to stretch my legs” Ty grumbled trying to stretch but hit his head on the cupboard above him. “Ow.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ32wJiKKTx
“We passed a gas station twenty minutes ago, You could've just stopped.” Lila snapped.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfrRXwwfT6
“Please,” Emma muttered weakly. “My bladder is about to explode.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsyNT7LdUF
“Guys, chill,” Chase said, his eyes locked on the road. “We’re almost there. You can all pee when we get to the resort.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T7OfBboh7
“Chaseeee, it’s been hours,” I cried out, leaning against the window, watching the trees blur.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5vv88mhKV
“Babe, we’ve been sitting for three hours,” Riley added, rubbing her neck. “Pull over before my spine dies.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jfprLLSWx
“Okay, okay,” Chase finally gave in. “ I'll stop at the next convenience store.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRBOtw1ycu
As if on cue, Emma pointed out the window.
“There!!!” She yelled pointing towards a dimly lit convenience store sign.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDr0pBvycY
Chase sighed pulling into the parking lot beside an old, rusting pickup truck.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRjug2WNV1
“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..”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmUSv3hIXT
Emma bolted toward the restroom before he even finished.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU1QRkkg0n
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRCxcMRl2z
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJtR08J5ps
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0fKaNRoGL
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuYdDEC3GQ
She scanned our items slowly. “Where are you kids headed?” She asked without looking up.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGU6A3CMYA
“Blackwater Lake,” Chase answered. “Love Island Resort.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZQ0l0K64m
The woman froze mid-scan finally looking up. “You kids shouldn’t be up there.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WUzRio9ma
“Why not?” Tyler laughed. “We’re just staying for spring break.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0220T0bxJ5
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57JKYyuOSQ
“That place isn’t for visitors,” the woman continued. “People go up there and don’t come back.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PyIJ03vRK
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.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdIhi9ZqX7
“Maybe ghosts aren’t what you should be worried about.” she whispered.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpTnQcrG2I
Those words stuck with me. I quietly pulled out my phone and took a picture of the poster for the investigation.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfYe8xK5mo
Chase paid, we gathered the bags and headed out.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw68ajIo9U
------
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpUFfnFsJd
“What took you guys so long?” Jay asked the moment we climbed back into the RV, dragging me towards him.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNFzFuUbSy
“Some creepy old lady” Chase muttered, taking his seat at the front..
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjNKgmxUcb
“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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg03OyzcQSw
I opened my camera roll and turned the screen toward the group. For the first time, the RV went silent.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd5I6cgark
“Guys, you sure we should still…..go?” Emma whispered shakily.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiutJgwKLkL
“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.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQiFX3DhbF
“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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN55vmmvsvQ
“Whatever happened, we’re gonna find out,” Chase said confidently. “We’re eight people. What’s gonna happen?”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D8E4feOTe
“I agree with Chase and Logan. Besides we're already halfway there, and most importantly, already got the RV” Riley said.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5SSqbhJs7
Jay exhaled in defeat. “Fine.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z7CDlFjzD
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?”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1KvI1i8DC
“Good, can I concentrate on my driving now?”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2S1oRJL4C
“Yeah, yeah. Go”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XBbZlH3NJ
--------
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCysnwlM8BE
The road narrowed the deeper we drove. Trees thickened on both sides, blocking the sunlight.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVNBuIdtxp
“Great, perfect timing,” Chase muttered.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSexmbfneX3
“What’s wrong?” I asked, lifting my head from Jay’s shoulder.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc0E2cHyKE
“The GPS.” Chase tapped the mounted tablet. “It froze.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsRMGlsCqX
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKdP69o3NF
“Just keep driving down this path,” Lila said calmly. “There’s literally no other road.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uOaBAxc5i
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOZ2UNH3IF
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM6Lp9OQUK
Chase kept driving until we reached a small dirt clearing marked:
PARKING AREA – LAKE ACCESS ONLY
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptlzuacxE8
He turned off the engine. From here a narrow path led into the forest.
“This is it,” he said. “The RV stays here.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEymuC9ysJ
“Oooooh this is gonna be good.” Riley squealed, hopping down the RV.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fxpzettRB
“Here, Lemme help you.” Jay said, extending his hand to me. “Careful.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGnsofcE2P
“Thanks.” I took hold of them and jumped down.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cinvAXAqx
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDraeGGuQbB
“Okay,” Logan said, adjusting his backpack. “Let’s move.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFge2b2OBgV
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiLaopgP3y
“Wow…” Emma whispered.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03hf0NhO7O
“Welcome to Love Island resort…” Chase said with a grin, spreading his arms. “Where romance goes to die, apparently.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq2R5f5HXV
“Not funny,” Emma glared at him.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh0Ybl5lKr
“It’s beautiful,” Riley said, immediately lifting her phone for pictures.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPe2wIG6Cd
“ Who else isn't getting a signal?” Lila aaked, walking around the dock, trying to get a signal.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qZ0aCttQw
“ Me neither” Emma said.
“Am not getting any signal too, I need to call my mom. She'd be worried.” I said nervously.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFWbtFFxiB
“ It's probably because of the lake, am sure it would be better up at the cottage.” Logan reassured.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve1bovMqtz
“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..”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ686q1sdCps
“That makes sense,” Lila agreed.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7AfjBwOEb
“Uh…Emma, Tyler, and I would stay here. Maya, Lila, Chase, and Logan take care of the cottage.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtFz0JvLQE
“Deal,” we all said in unison.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWW6eLdNb9
---
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9Lc37CMzK
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf58EuBPenj
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMPQGG6hV7
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.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPbDJRfHJZ
Lila coughed. “Yeah… this place needs serious help.”
“Understatement,” Chase said, dropping his boxes with a thud. “Where do we even start?”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCzEt61Nr7
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.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzFSbOq2zc
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.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHKd2rPqn3
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKO8WMJJ6H
“Let’s unload the things we've got here before the guys bring more.” I said. “We’ll clean as we go.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttuaHkb4H6
Lila nodded and carried the bag of groceries into the kitchen. She started unloading cans onto the counter.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzOOrt8MzE
Chase started sweeping the living room, stirring up even more dust. “Hope I don't see a spider here, I hate those.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQAmf67bMH
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
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm1fIpNdCF
e us.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROYez0XoAM
Lila opened the curtains. Sunlight spilled in, revealing the true colors of the place.
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3feEbEUpB
“It’s actually kinda cute,” she whispered.
“Give us a few hours,” I said. “We’ll make it better.”
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwkt6J7W05
and then Add to home screen.