Frozen Secrets, Burning Lies

Under a bruised, starless sky, rain lashed against the towering mountains, their jagged peaks cutting into the night like teeth. The wind screamed through the trees, its icy fingers prying at the windows of the lonely cabin. Inside, Anna stood by the fire, watching shadows writhe on the walls. It wasn’t the warmth of the flames she felt—it was the cold dread that had settled in her bones.

Jack chuckled from the couch, his laugh a hollow echo in the quiet room. "Of all the places we could've chosen for our anniversary, we pick *this*." He poured two glasses of wine, but his hands were shaking, betraying the unease that clung to them both. The trip was meant to rekindle their flame—a romantic escape into the wilderness—but the air between them was heavy with secrets.

The fire flickered, casting a faint glow on Jack’s face. His usual charm was dulled, his smile brittle as he leaned in, brushing his lips against Anna’s neck. "Don’t worry, babe," he whispered, though his voice held a strange edge. "We’ll laugh about this one day."

Just then, a loud, bone-chilling thud shattered the moment. Anna’s breath caught in her throat. The sound wasn’t distant—it was just outside, like something massive was scraping at the cabin’s very walls. 

Jack straightened, his playful smile fading as he grabbed the fireplace poker, his knuckles turning white around the handle. “Probably an animal,” he said, though his voice had lost all its bravado. “I’ll check it out.”

He moved to the door, hesitating for just a moment. The storm roared as he stepped into the night, swallowed by the rain and the cold. The door creaked shut behind him, leaving Anna in oppressive silence. She waited, her pulse thundering in her ears, eyes glued to the clock as seconds dragged into agonizing minutes.

Then, a scream. A blood-curdling, soul-wrenching scream.

Anna's heart lurched. She flung the door open, stepping into the storm. The rain assaulted her skin, soaking her instantly. “Jack?” she cried, her voice breaking against the howling wind. 

A figure emerged from the shadows, staggering toward her. It was Jack. His clothes clung to him, drenched and torn, but there was something wrong—his face was pale, eyes hollowed out by darkness. In his trembling hand, he clutched something—her necklace, dripping with blood. 

He met her gaze, his voice low and trembling with something sinister.

“Funny how you thought I didn’t know,” he rasped, his eyes burning with a rage she had never seen before. “About you...and *him*.”

Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place—Jack hadn’t gone outside alone. He wasn’t the only one out there in the rain.