Parker Matthews , Alani Beckham | 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟲
somewhere in the wilderness

"One, two, one two three four!" Mari shouted as This Is How We Do It by Montell Jordan blasted through the room. The girls invented dance moves as they went along. "And Javi!"

The girls stepped back, giving Javi the floor. He moved to the music, and they cheered him on before jumping back in just as the radio suddenly cut out.

"Goddamn it," Van groaned, grabbing the radio and hitting it. "Has hitting something ever worked?"

"Maybe try blowing on it?" Mari suggested.

Van blew on the portable radio, but before she could try turning it back on, a creaking noise came from upstairs. Everyone froze, their heads snapping upward. Parker clutched Mari's arm tightly.

"What the fuck was that?" Isa asked, her voice low.

"You heard it too?" Lottie murmured, her tone uneasy.

Mari glanced at Parker and squeezed her hand for reassurance. Parker had been quieter than usual, and Mari couldn't figure out how to make her feel better.

"It was probably just a branch," Taissa said confidently.

"Inside on the floor?" Alani countered. "What if it's... him?"

"The dead guy?" Shauna asked, eyes widening.

"Uh, yeah?" Alani replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Natalie smirked. "You know what it probably was? The dead guy's missing fingers trying to find their way home."

"Do you really have to encourage them?" Taissa asked, shaking her head.

"You have to admit, it didn't sound like it was on the roof," Akilah pointed out.

Jackie let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. Then it was a rat or a raccoon or something—"

"Shh," Parker interrupted.

Taissa rolled her eyes, throwing her head back as the room fell silent.

"Listen," Parker whispered.

Alani threw her hands in the air. "Well, I don't hear it now."

"All right," Ben cut in, clapping his hands. "You know what I think it was? I think it was the ghost deciding it was time to get some sleep. And we should probably do the same."

The girls groaned but set up their beds. Parker and Mari slipped under their shared blanket, lying face to face. Parker smiled softly at her girlfriend.

"What?" Mari chuckled, brushing a strand of hair out of Parker's face.

"Nothing," Parker replied, her grin growing wider.

"You're such a dork, you know that?" Mari said, laughing as her own smile widened.

"You know what you both are?" Alani called from across the room. "Annoying. Shut the fuck up!"

The couple tried to stifle their laughter, but failing miserably only made it harder to stop. Their muffled giggles echoed through the cabin, somehow even funnier now that they were annoying Alani.

———

"You know," Taissa says, bringing the axe down on a log with a clean swing, "you and Mari are cute."

"I know," Parker replies, tossing the chopped wood onto a growing pile. "I came out to Lottie at our party. She wasn't surprised. Apparently, Mari and I aren't 'discreet.'"

Taissa laughs, wiping sweat from her forehead. "She's right. The whole team knows."

Parker freezes mid motion, her brow furrowing. "You guys talk about us?!"

Taissa smirks. "Nobody says anything outright. We just know."

Jackie walks out of the cabin, heading toward breakfast when Mari steps in front of her, shoving a bucket into her arms. Alani watches the exchange from a distance, pausing as she hangs clothes with Laura Lee. She abandons the laundry and catches up to Jackie, who's trudging toward the lake with a groan.

"What the hell is Mari's problem?" Jackie mutters.

Alani shrugs casually. "Hormones, probably. We're all synced up."

Jackie throws her head back dramatically. "I know, it fucking sucks."

"You know," Alani says, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, "I hear that kissing helps relieve pain."

Jackie laughs, raising an eyebrow. "Are you just saying that because you want to kiss me?"

"Nope, it's true. Wanna test it?"

Jackie hesitates for only a moment before nodding. Alani leans in and kisses her softly.

"Oh," Jackie says after a beat, her tone playful. "You weren't lying."

"I told y—"

Alani doesn't get to finish. Jackie presses her lips to hers again, cutting her off. Alani smiles into the kiss and pulls Jackie closer by the waist, the motion causing Jackie to drop the bucket.

Laughing, Alani pulls back slightly. "You should probably go get the water."

Jackie pouts, which only makes Alani laugh harder. "I might be in pain later," Jackie teases with a grin.

Alani grins back. "I might be in pain too."

The two girls walk hand in hand, their fingers intertwined, toward the lake. When they reach the shore, Jackie crouches to fill the bucket, but her movements falter when they spot Lottie waist-deep in the water.

Jackie and Alani exchange a confused glance before Alani speaks up. "Uh, Lottie? What are you doing?"

"Aren't you cold?" Jackie chimes in, concern flickering across her face.

Lottie turns slightly, her expression unreadable. "I thought it'd be warmer."

"Want to walk back with us?" Alani offers gently.

But Lottie shakes her head. "I'll be there in a minute."

The pair exchange another glance before walking back toward the cabin, leaving Lottie behind. As they make their way through the woods, Alani notices Jackie struggling with the bucket but doesn't say anything, simply chuckling to herself. Eventually, they arrive back at the cabin.

"Parker," Alani calls out, catching the girl as she tosses aside a piece of wood and dusts off her hands. "Is Lottie okay?"

Parker's brow furrows. "What do you mean?"

"She's just... being kind of weird."

"Where is she?" Parker asks, her tone instantly sharper.

"At the lake."

Without another word, Parker bolts into the woods. Alani watches her disappear, shaking her head at the urgency but shrugging it off. She returns to help Laura Lee with the laundry, letting it go.

When Parker reaches the lake, she sees Lottie, still waist deep in the water, staring at the horizon. Sighing, she steps into the freezing lake, joining her sister.

"It doesn't want us to leave," Lottie says suddenly, her voice low and distant.

Parker's eyebrows knit together. "What?"

Lottie finally turns to look at her sister but doesn't explain. Instead, she begins walking back toward the shore, leaving Parker standing in the water, confusion and worry etched on her face.

Parker jogs after her, catching up as Lottie reaches dry land. "Are you okay?"

Lottie glances at her sister, her expression blank.

"Right," Parker sighs, "you're not. But neither am I. You're not alone, Lottie. You can talk to me."

A faint smile crosses Lottie's lips. "I know," she says softly, but the smile fades as quickly as it came. "I keep seeing things, and I don't know what's real or not."

"We'll get through this," Parker says, placing a reassuring hand on her sister's shoulder. "We'll be okay."

They reached the cabin, and while Lottie went inside to change, Parker settled on the porch with Wren.

The younger Matthews let out a deep sigh, catching Wren's attention.

"What's with the dramatic sigh?" Wren asked, turning to face her.

"I don't know how much longer I can do this," Parker admitted, her voice heavy. "The only thing keeping me from going insane is Mari."

Wren gave her a knowing smile. "You two seem close."

Parker nodded, her expression softening. "Sometimes I wonder if we'd have even spoken if Lottie hadn't made the team."

"I'm sure you would've," Wren replied with a quiet chuckle.

"Do you know?" Parker asked suddenly, her tone shifting, a nervous edge creeping in. "I know you know."

Wren nodded, understanding immediately. "I do, and I think it's awesome you're together. You and Mari were literally made for each other. I see the way you look at her, we all do."

Before Parker could respond, a scream came from inside the cabin. Mari bolted outside.

"Get it off!"

Parker and Shauna rushed to her side, their hands moving quickly over her as they searched for whatever had caused the scream.

"What is it?" Parker asked, her voice steady but urgent.

"I don't know!" Mari exclaimed, her voice shaking. "I was standing under the trapdoor, and something crawled down my shirt!"

"It's okay," Parker said soothingly, placing a reassuring hand on Mari's shoulder. "There's nothing there."

"Must have been the ghost," Taissa teased, a sly grin forming on her face.

Wren snorted beside her, but Natalie elbowed her sister sharply, trying to stifle her own grin.

"You guys!" Jackie suddenly exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "I just had a brainstorm. We should have a séance."

Taissa laughed, shaking her head. "That's a terrible idea. Also, we're not in middle school."

"But remember how fun this shit used to be?" Jackie pressed, her excitement unwavering. "Besides, maybe if we laugh about this, it'll help."

"The occult is no laughing matter," Laura Lee interjected, her voice stern. She glanced toward Isa for support, but Isa avoided her gaze, offering no help.

"It's not the occult, Laura Lee. It's a game," Jackie explained. She turned to Alani. "Come on, Alani, tell them. It'll be fun."

Everyone's eyes shifted to Alani, who blinked in surprise at being brought into the conversation. Her gaze flicked between Jackie and the rest of the group before settling on Jackie, who raised her brows in a silent plea.

"Uh, yeah," Alani finally said with a shrug. "Why the hell not? Let's talk to the dead cabin guy."

The rest of the group reluctantly mumbled their agreement, and Jackie beamed. It was the first real victory she'd had since the crash.

"So, it's settled," Jackie declared. "Tonight, the attic. We make contact."

With that decided, the girls returned to their chores. Jackie, however, made her way over to Alani, who was now sitting on a log by the fire, caught up in a conversation with Melissa. Without a word, Jackie pulled her away from Melissa. She grabbed Alani's wrist and led her away from the others.

"Where are we going?" Alani asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

Once they were far enough away, Jackie pinned Alani against a tree, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "I think I'm in pain again."

Alani grinned back. "Oh, are you now?"

Their smiles melted into a kiss as they leaned into each other. Alani's hands slid down to Jackie's waist, pulling her closer until there wasn't any space left between them.

Alani pulled back just enough to catch her breath, her smile radiant. "You are so special to me, Jackie Taylor. When we get out of here, I'm taking you on a date. I don't know where, but it's gonna be awesome."

Jackie chuckled softly, her voice warm. "I have to break up with Jeff first."

Alani laughed, shaking her head. She'd completely forgotten about his existence for a moment. "Right. And then I can take you on our awesome date."

———

"Oh keeper of this wild and hidden place, we anoint ourselves with blood and earth," Jackie intoned, her voice steady as she drew an X of deer blood and dirt on Shauna's forehead.

Meanwhile, Isa climbed the ladder to the attic, catching Mari off guard as she joined her and Parker.

"Thought you'd be downstairs with Laura Lee and Javi," Mari remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Isa shook her head, settling in beside her best friend. Across from her, Natalie watched silently, concern flickering in her eyes as she observed Isa and the apparent shift in her faith.

Jackie held the bowl out to Travis, who hesitated, eyeing it warily. Jackie let out an exasperated sigh. "It's just dirt and deer blood. Classic witch recipe, relax."

Travis reluctantly took the bowl, smearing an X on his forehead before passing it along. Jackie raised her hands dramatically, and Misty quickly followed her lead, mimicking the gesture.

Parker sat stiffly, letting out a shaky breath as she tried to calm herself. Something about this ritual didn't sit right with her, but she decided to just go with it.

"Oh spirit, we offer our sister as your instrument. Come to us and speak your peace," Jackie called out solemnly.

Shauna, blindfolded and gripping a rope tied to a knife was the instrument of the spirit.

"It is I, Jacques," Shauna announced, her voice overly deep and theatrical, earning a round of laughter from the group.

Jackie cleared her throat, trying to restore the mood. "Jacques."

Shauna nodded. "Ask your questions. The pendulum will answer them."

Van grinned. "Okay, dear dead hunter guy, did O.J. do it?"

The room erupted in laughter, and even Parker managed a faint smile, though Jackie's expression remained unimpressed.

"Come on, guys, real questions," Jackie urged, trying to regain control of the séance.

"The veil is thin between our two planes," Shauna intoned dramatically, still in character. "Ask what is in your heart."

"I'll go," Mari offered, closing her eyes. "Is Principal Berzonsky screwing Ms. DeWine?"

Shauna moved the rope in exaggerated circles before replying, "It is certain."

The girls burst into laughter, the mood growing lighter.

"Hunter guy," Akilah chimed in, smirking, "if we hadn't crashed, would we have won Nationals?"

Shauna tilted her head, the rope swinging lazily in her hand, earning groans and boos from the group.

The questions grew dumber as the game went on, filling the attic with laughter. After about five questions, Javi appeared, climbing up the ladder to quietly sit beside Isa. Taissa followed soon after, pulling up a chair in the corner to watch.

"Dear spirit," Misty begins, her voice trembling with a mix of excitement and nerves, "I need to know the truth. Does the person I like like me back?"

The knife swings in a way that indicates a positive answer, prompting cheers and laughter to erupt around the circle.

"Next question?" Jackie asks, scanning the group.

Javi raises his hand. "Are we going to die out here?"

The room falls silent. The laughter vanishes, replaced by a heavy, suffocating tension. For the first time since the crash, they're forced to confront the severity of their situation. Days had stretched into weeks, and though Isa and Natalie were managing to bring in food, winter was approaching, and the group's survival felt uncertain.

The knife begins to move, drawing slow, deliberate circles.

"An eight?" Van guesses, squinting at the motion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's not an eight. It's an infinity," Mari corrects.

Parker's gaze shifts to Lottie, who's sitting by the window, staring blankly into the dark. Without thinking, Parker reaches for Mari's hand and squeezes it tightly. Her breath grows uneven, and a familiar, unwelcome sensation begins to creep in. As if triggered by the rising tension, the window slams open, and Lottie suddenly screams.

The candles flicker out. Misty jumps to her feet, rushing to close the window.

"Lottie?" Wren calls, her voice edged with panic, but Lottie's screams only grow louder.

"It wants, it wants..." Lottie says, her words fractured.

"Misty, what do we do?" Van asks.

"Lottie, I swear to god, if you're messing with us!" Mari shouts, but there's a tremor in her tone, betraying her unease.

"I think she's, like, possessed!" Akilah exclaims, her wide eyes darting between Lottie and the others.

Across the room, Parker backs away from the group, pulling her knees to her chest. Her eyes dart wildly as she tries to steady herself, but the rising tension only feeds her spiraling thoughts. Mari notices and moves closer, but Parker recoils, shrinking further into herself.

"Parker?" Mari says gently, her voice softening. "It's me. Mari."

But Parker turns her head away, squeezing her eyes shut and muttering something under her breath in French.

"Hungry," Lottie rasps, her voice distorted and raw.

"What's hungry?" Van asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lottie's gaze snaps to Shauna, and she begins to laugh. "It's in you already," she says cryptically before Lottie begins speaking in French.

"Is that... French?" Van asks, glancing around nervously.

Natalie furrows her brow. "Since when does Lottie speak French?" She turns to Parker, her voice urgent. "Parker, what do we do?"

Parker jolts, clutching her head as if trying to block everything out. "Go away!" she yells, her voice breaking. "Stop touching me!"

Natalie frowns at the younger girl but decides to not say anything.

Mari keeps her focus on Parker, deliberately ignoring Lottie as she inches closer to her girlfriend. "Nobody is touching you," Mari says softly, her tone steady. "You're safe. Whatever you're seeing—it's not real."

But Parker presses herself further into the wall, her body trembling. Her head remains turned away, her eyes squeezed shut as she struggles to differentiate between what's real and what isn't. After a moment, she opens her eyes, and instantly regrets it.

Across the room, Parker sees Alani, her mouth blown off, brain matter exposed, and her clothes drenched in blood. She stifles a scream, her gaze darting to Natalie. Natalie looks unnaturally pale and gaunt, as though she's been dead for years. Horrified, Parker shuts her eyes again and begins muttering under her breath, trying to drown out the chaos in her mind.

"Jackie wasn't—wasn't she in your class?" Shauna says, her question aimed at Lottie but laced with unease.

"Yeah, but she sucks at French!" Jackie shouts.

"What is she saying?" Isa asks, panic creeping into her voice.

"I don't know! I suck at French too!" Jackie snaps back.

"Well, damn it, Jackie, try not to!" Van yells.

Jackie stammers, attempting to translate, "Uh, he—he, uh, it—it wants something? Blood! It wants blood."

Lottie suddenly stands and moves to the window, her movements slow and deliberate. "Blood is flowing here," she says, pressing her hands against the glass.

"Here where?" Van asks,

"Do you really have to be encouraging her, Van?" Taissa snaps.

"Here or out there?" Natalie asks, rising to her feet.

"You must spill blood, or else," Lottie declares, her voice eerily calm.

Then, without warning, Lottie smashes her head against the window. The glass rattles, and everyone freezes in shock. Wren reacts first, rushing forward to pull Lottie away from the window. She grips Lottie by the shoulders, forcing her to look at her.

Meanwhile, Parker is still huddled in the corner, her eyes shut tight. To her, the room is darker, twisted. Half the team looks like walking corpses, and the whispers in her head grow louder, more insistent.

"Laura Lee," the voices hiss, "She's next."

Parker's eyes snap open, landing on Laura Lee, who is climbing up the ladder with a Bible in her hands. But Parker doesn't see Laura Lee as she is, she sees a severely burned version of her.

"The power of Christ compels you! Begone, Satan!" Laura Lee shouts, holding the Bible out as she approaches Lottie. "The power of Christ compels you!"

Lottie continues to scream, and without hesitation, Laura Lee chucks the Bible at her.

"Ow," Lottie mutters, her voice suddenly normal. "What the hell, Laura Lee?"

"Seriously?" Mari says, her voice laced with disbelief. "What the motherfuck just happened?"

Lottie looks around, dazed. The other girls are staring at her with wide eyes, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear. Then her gaze shifts to Parker, still curled up in the corner, trembling.

"Is she o—" Van begins, but Parker cuts her off, her voice raw and broken.

"Shut up! Shut up and get out of my head!" Parker screams, her hands clutching her head. "Just shut the fuck up!"

The room falls silent, except for Parker's ragged breathing. They all exchange uneasy glances. Everyone except Van and Lottie, who both remain frozen, their attention fixed on Parker with concern.

Mari turns on the group, her voice sharp and commanding. "What are you staring at? Get the hell out of here! Now!"

The girls hesitate, exchanging reluctant glances, but eventually begin climbing down the ladder one by one. Lottie lingers, her feet planted, but Van grabs her arm and drags her away.

"Parker, look at me. Can you do that?" Mari asks gently. Slowly, Parker lifts her head, her tear streaked face meeting Mari's calm gaze.

"It's just me, okay?" Mari reassures her.

Parker hesitates, her voice trembling. "How do I know you're real?"

Mari holds out her hand, steady and unwavering. "Touch my hand."

Parker reaches out, her fingers brushing against Mari's. The moment she grips Mari's hand, the tension in her shoulders releases, and the realization settles in, her girlfriend is real and right in front of her.

Mari smiles softly and sits down beside Parker, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. Parker leans her head against Mari's shoulder, finding comfort in the steady rhythm of Mari's breathing.

Parker sighs, the weight of everything pressing down on her. She knows Lottie's episode likely triggered her own, and the thought frustrates her. She doesn't want to keep having episodes. She wants her meds. She wants to be home, even if it means returning to parents who barely notice her existence.

"I want my mom," Parker says softly, the words surprising even herself. She had never thought she'd feel this way, but now the longing is undeniable.

"I know," Mari sighs, her voice tinged with understanding. "I do too."

They stay in the attic a little longer, Mari holding Parker close, giving her the time and space to steady herself. Eventually, they make their way down the ladder.

Lottie is the only one who turns to look at them when they walk in. Her brows knit together in worry, and her gaze lingers on her younger sister. Parker catches sight of the fresh bandage on Lottie's forehead, a reminder that the window incident wasn't some hallucination, it was real.

But neither sister says a word. Parker doesn't acknowledge Lottie, doesn't meet her eyes. Instead, she walks past her and lies down on the floor next to Mari, curling up beside her.

She closes her eyes, trying to push the séance, the voices, and the chaos out of her mind. All she wants is to forget. She focuses on Mari's presence beside her and wills herself to drift off to sleep.