The Unwanted Guest

Chapter 8 - Watching TV

After the whole van fiasco, we all tried to settle back into the vibe of the trip, but it was hard to shake the unease. The sun had dipped lower, and the cabin was now bathed in that soft, golden light just before dusk.

The laughter and conversations were quieter, like everyone was trying too hard to pretend everything was still okay.

I wandered off by myself, stepping out onto the porch to clear my head. The air was cool, but not cold, and I could hear the distant sounds of birds settling into the trees for the night. I pulled out my phone, hoping to distract myself.

Maybe I could message someone—anyone—but as I stared at the screen, I realized I had no bars.

Zero.

The Wi-Fi signal was non-existent too.

I frowned, scrolling through the settings like it would somehow change things. Nothing.

How are we this far off the grid?

Malik had said there was Wi-Fi... even if it was just low.

I couldn't shake the thought. Something felt off, but I couldn't put my finger on what exactly it was.

Out of habit, I walked a few steps around the porch, raising my phone like a satellite, hoping for even the slightest signal. Nothing but the mocking silence of my phone screen. I was starting to get frustrated when Lucia's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Hey! Stop trying to call civilization, girl. We're supposed to be unplugged!" She walked up beside me, her smile easy as always, though there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "I know it's weird, but honestly? It's kinda freeing. No phone buzzing, no social media."

"Yeah, well," I muttered, dropping my arm, "I'd at least like to know we can call for help if we need to."

She smirked, nudging me with her shoulder.

"We'll be fine. The guys will figure out how to get the van working. Besides, who needs service when I've got the best offline games downloaded?" She wiggled her phone in front of me like it was a treasure. "Trust me, these'll distract you for hours."

I laughed despite myself, the tension easing a little.

"Fine, what do you got?"

Lucia grinned, pulling up a game I hadn't seen before, some quirky puzzle adventure that looked ridiculous and fun all at once. "Come on, let's sit down and I'll show you."

We settled back on the porch steps, huddling together as she walked me through the rules. Soon enough, we were both fully invested, laughing at each other's failures and making up stories about the goofy characters on screen.

The atmosphere felt lighter again, like we were back to the carefree trip we'd originally planned. For a while, it was easy to forget about the van, the lack of service, and the growing feeling in my gut that something was off.

By the time the sun had fully set, a deep navy sky hung overhead, and the guys were calling us back inside. We followed, still chuckling over the game, and joined everyone in the living room. It felt cozy—like a perfect evening. Drinks were passed around again, and someone started up the music, the low hum of conversation filling the room.

I felt a bit more relaxed, surrounded by friends, and tried to convince myself that everything was fine.

Night pressed in around the cabin, dark and quiet, with only the sounds of crickets chirping outside. We were all talking, the usual random topics floating around—plans for the next day, funny stories from the past—but I couldn't help glancing out the window every now and then.