Lakeview Motel

The car was alive with chatter as they drove toward the lake, the anticipation and energy practically buzzing in the air. Chloe was busy scrolling through her playlist to find some music, while Kyle and Jake were bickering in the backseat.

"Dude, you always take up all the space!" Kyle complained, shoving Jake's shoulder. "Scoot over a bit, will ya?"

Jake glared at him. "It's not my fault you're built like a linebacker! Maybe you should've sat in the trunk!"

"Why don't you go sit in the trunk, since you're always running your mouth?" Kyle shot back, his voice rising with each word.

"Come on, you two. Cut it out," Derek said from the passenger seat, turning to face them. "We're supposed to be having fun, not acting like a couple of kids."

Chloe rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. "Seriously, you're behaving like children. Just chill out already."

In the driver's seat, Tyler kept glancing at Emily in the rearview mirror. He tried to make it seem casual, but every time their eyes met, he'd quickly look away. Emily noticed and felt a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. She tried to hide her smile by pretending to look out the window, but the attention wasn't entirely unwelcome.

After a few hours on the road, the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting a warm, orange glow over the landscape. The car finally pulled into the gravel lot of the Lakeview Motel, just as evening started to settle in. The place wasn't anything fancy—weathered walls and an old sign that flickered on and off—but it had a certain eerie charm to it that made Derek grin.

"This place is awesome!" Derek said, stepping out of the car and stretching. "Told you we picked the best motel."

Chloe looked around, taking in the worn-down exterior and the faded paint. "Yeah, it's got that 'classic horror movie' vibe. Perfect for a weekend away," she joked, though a hint of unease tugged at the edges of her mind.

They made their way into the reception area, where an old woman sat behind the counter. Her milky eyes revealed she was blind, and her expression was as stiff as the wooden chair she was perched on. Next to her was a middle-aged woman—her daughter, judging by the resemblance—who was looking at them with a gaze that seemed a little too intense, a little too... unsettling.

The old lady turned her head toward the sound of the door creaking open. "Visitors?" she said in a hoarse voice. "Didn't expect so many young folks coming through these parts."

The daughter gave a faint smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Welcome to Lakeview Motel. We've got two rooms ready," she said, reaching for a set of keys. "Hope you enjoy your stay."

As they handed over the keys, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that the mother and daughter were still watching them, even as they turned away. The blind woman's vacant gaze seemed to follow them as if she could see right through the darkness.

"We'll take these two rooms," Derek said, holding up the keys. "Room 3 and Room 4."

Chloe, Emily, and Tyler decided to share Room 3, while Kyle, Jake, and Derek would stay in Room 4. But as soon as the room arrangements were made, Jake's face soured.

"I'm not staying in the same room as Kyle," Jake said, crossing his arms.

"Same here," Kyle replied with a snort. "I'd rather sleep in the car."

Derek sighed, his patience thinning. "Look, there's no other option, guys. It's just for a couple of nights. You can survive sharing a room for that long."

Before they could settle the matter, the door swung open and a second group of teenagers came strolling into the reception area. There were five of them—a tall, handsome guy who immediately caught Chloe's eye, a beautiful brunette girl who Kyle couldn't help but stare at, a muscular guy who seemed like he could bench-press a car, and a couple that was holding hands, whispering to each other.

The two groups sized each other up, tension simmering beneath the surface. It didn't take long before some snide comments were exchanged, mostly between Kyle and the muscular guy, who seemed ready for a fight.

"Keep walking, dude," Kyle said, stepping forward. "Nobody's looking for trouble here."

The muscular guy squared up, his jaw clenching. "You sure about that?"

Before things could escalate, Chloe stepped between them, placing a hand on Kyle's chest. "Let it go, Kyle," she said softly, then turned to the other group. "We're all just here to have a good time. Sorry about that. Let's not start this trip with a fight."

Emily added, "Yeah, it's just a misunderstanding. We apologize."

The brunette girl nodded and tugged on the muscular guy's arm. "Come on, let's just check in," she said, her voice calming the situation.

The groups exchanged a few more wary glances before things finally settled down. With the argument defused, Emily, Chloe, and the others made their way down the dimly lit hallway to their rooms.

As Emily turned the key and pushed open the door to Room 3, she couldn't help but glance back down the hall at the other group, who had already disappeared into their own rooms. The unsettling feeling she had from earlier came rushing back, and for a moment, she wondered if this trip was really a good idea.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving the hallway silent once more.