The Seventh Cabin

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Its glow was rather dim, so the four girls down by the lake took a while to notice it. Once they did, though, the warm, golden light poking through the dark trees was impossible to dismiss. For as long as the girls had been alive, and even before that, no one had gone on the small trek up to the seventh cabin around the lake. Not that there were many options for who would do such a thing since only two of the remaining six cabins were being occupied every summer. The other four were occasionally rented out, and the wealthy family who owned the cabins still hired cleaning crews and landscapers to care for them between renters. The seventh cabin, however, remained abandoned at the top of a trail that circled the lake before climbing up into the higher ground. It obviously used to be the cabin with the best view, but whatever happened there long ago made that sale point insignificant. If they thought anyone would buy it, the wealthy family would gladly sell it. They would tear it down, too, if they dared.

All to say that any light coming from that cabin was extremely unusual. It sparked just the tiniest sense of unease in the silent and watchful girls below. The oldest, Blake May, was skeptical from the jump. "Looks like one of the locals is messing with us," she said with annoyance. That was the most reasonable and obvious explanation. Blessings, her younger sister, flicked an envious look at her. She couldn't brush something off like this so easily. Though it wasn't surprising to her that cool and collected Blake could ignore something so ominous. The other two girls--the twins, Esme and Sofia Quevedo--fixed their identical gazes on the top of the tree-covered hill. They weren't quite jumping to any conclusions like the May sisters were, but Esme said, "It's definitely creepy." Sofia nodded softly and added, "Prank or not."

Blake stood up from her camping chair and cast an irritated look behind her at the distant candlelight. "Or not? What? You think it's a ghost or something?" She pulled her hair over one shoulder, playing with one of her braids in a way that made it seem she wasn't as unfazed as she was trying to sound. Even skeptics start to doubt once the sun goes down, after all. And with the fire dying out in front of them, the night that settled in around them appeared much more alive. Twigs snapped in the distance. Crickets chirped in an ongoing hum. Tree leaves rustled loudly as the wind blew through them. Throughout the evening, the girls had been so preoccupied with themselves that they paid no attention to the sounds around them. But what was once background noise had become so unsettling loud now that the last of the sun's dying light was replaced by looming shadows that lengthened into large pools of darkness. The only remaining warm glow was coming from that lonely cabin. And there seemed to be nothing truly warm about it. And nothing truly lonely either.

Sofia dragged her eyes towards Blake. "No, actually. It could be a murderer or something. Or whoever caused that freak incident from like twenty years ago."

"Like we know what happened," Blake said skeptically. "Seriously, though? You think there was some brutal murder up there?"

Blessings listened to them though it made her feel strange that they were referencing the seventh cabin so directly. It had always been a topic that the families didn't discuss, especially when they were at the lake. A few times, in the girls' younger years, their parents may have said a thing or two about staying away from that cabin. Other times, when the owners would drop in, all the adults would chat on one of the back porches. They'd eventually just end up staring at that cabin in silence for too long. And then the owners would leave and the parents would have a strange look about them. One time, while the Mays were in town stocking up on food, an older clerk said to her father, "You must love that lake, Mr. May. I would've never gone back if I were you." That was the extent to which Blessings ever heard anyone touch on that topic. Even that tiniest hint made her feel awkward on the car ride home.

"And what do you think happened? Too many mountain lion attacks? The doors weren't bear proof?" Sofia asked defensively.

"I don't know, but don't you think if it was murder, our parents would have just said something?" Blake was obviously getting frustrated. It didn't even matter if she believed what she was arguing or not. She was not going to be wrong.

"No, I think that's exactly why they wouldn't. They used to come here every summer, too, Blake. I doubt they want to relive whatever happened even more."

"Okay, I know this will be hard for you but think about this for just one second. Why would our parents bring us here if something really bad happened when they were our age? You think my dad got older and he just thought to himself, 'Oh! That cabin I stayed in as a kid where a family got murdered right next door sure was nice!'" She tilted her head, awaiting a valid response.

Sofia shrugged with one shoulder. "Maybe that's exactly what happened. I don't know. You've heard Mr. Gardy. There were seven families here every summer originally. Why would the others all stop coming here?"

"Oh, come on, Sofia," Esme groaned. She shifted so that she wasn't thigh to thigh with her sister on their shared bench. "You're, like, scaring everybody. Look at Blessings. She's literally gonna pee herself."

"No, I'm not," Blessings protested though with a quiver in her voice. For just a second, she expected Sofia to jump to her defense. Blessings was only eleven, quite a few years younger than the other girls. Most of the time, she got left out when they were hanging out. She'd be stuck with the adults while the older girls sunbathed. Other times, which Blessings hated more, her parents would force Blake to bring her along. And then she would get pushed aside while the twins and her sister laughed and talked in a huddle for hours. That one always felt more personal. Blessings would blink away tears for most of the night. However, lately, the dynamics had changed. Esme and Blake had been hanging out together more. Blessings wasn't sure why exactly, but she didn't really care. She was just happy that while Esme and Blake talked on the loungers, Sofia was listening to her nervous rants about starting middle school. She even gave her advice, which Blake would never have done.

And during all that time, Blessings had started to really look up to Sofia. That just made it all the more crushing when she finally said, "Well, if we're going to talk about that creepy cabin, maybe we shouldn't have the little kid around."

"I don't think there's anything weird going on," Esme continued. "It's probably just Mr. Gardy. He still owns that cabin too, you know? He might just be doing a quick inspection before coming down here to say hi or something. And there's probably not any electricity up there."

Sofia just sat quietly, contemplating. Meanwhile, Blake visibly relaxed. All her nonexistent concern seemed to have been relieved. And Blessings felt like it wasn't out of character for one of the owners to check up on a cabin, though she'd never seen or heard about them visiting that one. Still, what did she know?

Once she realized Sofia wasn't going to argue this new point, Blake turned to her sister. "Bless, go tell mom and dad to expect Mr. Gardy. And bring back some drinks or something." Blessings obediently got up but before she could take a step, Blake grabbed her wrist. "Drinks from the adult cooler."

Blessings frowned. "You want me to bring you guys beer?"

"Yeah, can you be cool about it? It's not that big a deal. Just don't let them see you."

"She's just going to get us all caught," Esme said.

"I won't. I promise. I'll be right back." Blessings raced towards her family's cabin feeling a strange thrill. She'd seen the girls sneak off with beers before while their parents were too drunk to notice. She knew it was wrong, but there was something about it that impressed her. Blessings wanted to be like them. She also wanted to be out there with them. They were older girls who were always having fun. Who were pretty and cool. Blessings wasn't like them at all, but she would do anything to get anywhere close. Including stealing a few beers from her parents, which in her young mind felt like she was about to pull off a great heist. As she reached that familiar back porch door, she forced herself to calm her nerves. Be cool, she thought to herself.

Pushing the door open, she was met with an unexpected sight. The cabin was completely dark. Since the parents had told them they'd all be playing a board game in the living room and even asked the girls to join them later, this was odd. She reached for the kitchen light switch, which was right next to the door, in hopes that the light would illuminate some of the open-plan living space. She flipped it up, but nothing happened. Even after trying a few more times, the cabin remained dark.

The thrill of the heist was gone. Now Blessings' heart raced as a new dread came in its place. She wanted to run back to the girls, but Esme's comment about her being scared and Sofia calling her a little kid made her feet stick firmly in place. The last thing she wanted was to prove them right. Holding her breath, she moved slowly into the cabin. It was like the wooden walls completely blocked out the outside noise because everything was unbelievably quiet. It was such a contrast to earlier when every sound was amplified in her ears that it only unsettled her more. She didn't even want to call out for her parents. The quiet felt so intentional. She didn't want to disturb it.

Once her eyes had adjusted enough to see that the living room was empty, Blessings walked towards the hallway. In her racing mind, she was able to consider that the adults might have retired to one of the bedrooms for whatever reason. Though she was having trouble keeping her thoughts straight. She was so scared that she could hear her heart thrumming loudly in her ears. The dread she was feeling was strange. It felt like there was this dark, heavy feeling radiating off the cabin that had never been there before. A rational part of her brain told her she was being paranoid. That this feeling was being driven solely by fear. But this felt so much stronger than just her.

The hallway was much worse. There weren't even any windows to let in some moonlight or anything. She walked up to her parents' bedroom door and placed her hand on the knob, but she couldn't bring herself to open it. So she mustered up every bit of courage she had left and said as loudly as she dared, "Mom? Dad? Are you guys in there?"

Blessings wasn't expecting an answer. Not really. The place was too quiet for there to be anyone else inside. So she actually jumped when her mom's voice replied. "Yes, we're here." It was strangely hushed.

Conflicted emotions rose up in Blessings. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, baby, we're alright."

"Are you guys done playing board games?" She had her nose pressed to the door--her hand tight on the knob. Whether to open it or keep it closed, she wasn't sure.

"Yes, since a while ago."

Her mouth opened again, but something stopped her from asking more. A gut feeling. Though she did feel like she should ask about where Mr. and Mrs. Quevedo were and why the lights weren't on or working. But she didn't dare. "Okay, mommy. We'll still be outside."

"Okay, baby."

She backed away from the door. Blessings didn't want to have her back to it. She knew at this point she was being completely irrational, but she was so overcome with fear that it didn't matter. Because something about talking to her mother...she couldn't even describe it. She'd never felt this before. It made her want to run out of the cabin and as far away from the lake as possible, but somehow she felt like running would make things worse. Running would tip it off.

Once she turned back around in the living room, Blessings was incredibly terrified to see the kitchen light was back on. The door was still open. She zeroed in on it. All she had to do was get out of here. Calmly. With hesitant yet eager steps, she moved towards it, picking up speed the closer she got. She felt the warm outside air and almost broke into a run before the space in front of her was suddenly blocked.

"Blake!" Blessings shrieked. She almost started crying out of relief.

Her older sister, who had paused in the doorway, eyed her strangely. "Were you running?" After another moment, she added, "Without the beers?"

"I-uh...I couldn't find them," Blessings lied. The tension in her body wasn't leaving. All she wanted to do was get out of this cabin.

"They're probably in the garage," Blake said, shooting fear through Blessings. She was not about to look in the garage. And she didn't really want Blake to, either. It didn't feel safe here. Luckily, her sister was already eyeing the fridge. "There's probably some in here. Help me grab some."

She opened the fridge and groaned. "There's only two." Blessings stared at her back while she pulled them out of their pack. In the left corner of her peripheral vision, she could still see the dark hallway entrance. Somewhere back there, her parents were in their bedroom. But something was off. Because the question she'd really wanted to ask would've likely had too frightening of an answer.

Mommy, why won't you open the door?

Blessings could only be grateful her mom hadn't asked the same of her.

Blake finally turned around, visibly upset and holding two beer bottles. "Let's just go." Blessings couldn't have gotten out of there quicker. Once outside, breathing became so much easier. She felt her heart calming down. A smile even appeared on her lips. Now all she had to do was put all the distance possible between her and her cabin. She could worry about how she'd beg Blake from going back in later.

Esme and Sofia were still by the firepit, except they were sitting on opposite sides now. They turned as they heard Blake and Blessings approach. "Since you two are twins, you don't mind sharing, do you?" Blake asked, lifting the bottles up a bit.

"Wow, good thing you went to save the day. Two whole bottles, Blake. I don't know how Blessings would've managed to sneak those out," Sofia said. Her voice was smug.

"It's not much of a victory for you, though," Blake retorted. She walked over to Esme and handed her a bottle. "I was gonna be nice and let you have at least half of one..." She let her head roll to the side before staring Sofia down. Her eyes had a threatening gleam in them. "But I think I might change my mind."

"Yeah cause you're in charge," Sofia said, rolling her eyes. "Stop with the drama and just sit down."

Esme glanced between her sister and Blake, clearly conflicted. She was definitely not going to get between them, though it was obvious to everyone else right now who she would defend. Across from her, Blessings was standing near Sofia's shoulder. Mentally, she was far away, though her mom's voice echoed in her head. Still too close.

Blake smiled. "Did you notice the candle went out?"

Now the other three girls were looking up at the seventh cabin. It was dark again. It was not at all reassuring. Blessings couldn't help but feel even worse about it after what she felt in the cabin. Was something actually going on? Or was she simply letting her fear of the abandoned cabin influence her mind? To the point that walking through the same cabin she'd been staying in for eleven years with the lights off almost made her black out with fear?

Esme was right. She was going to pee herself.

"When did it go out?" Sofia asked. Her voice came out small.

Blake shrugged. "Who knows? But that just means Mr. Gardy is done with whatever he was doing up there. Which means..."

"If Mr. Gardy was even up there," Sofia interrupted.

"Of course he was!" Blake snapped. Much louder than she meant, too, because right after, she cleared her throat and continued more softly. "I'm just saying we've never been up there because our parents tell us not to."

"Probably for a good reason."

"Like what? It's radioactive or something? How are you going to basically call me dramatic when you're overreacting about some stupid, abandoned building? Buildings get abandoned literally all the time. It just happens," Blake said. "Our parents probably don't talk about it because it's so boring. Maybe nothing even happened, if we're being honest."

Now that was a theory that really shocked Blessings. The way their parents acted around the abandoned cabin was suspicious but dismissable. However, the clerk at the store in town surely couldn't just be ignored? She was old enough to have been an adult when their parents were kids. Whatever happened, supposedly in the seventh cabin, had to have been enough to prompt an old woman to never come back. And the more Blessings thought about it, the more she felt like Blake's original theory about it being a local playing a prank was glaringly weak. The locals had always more than stayed away from the lake. They even stayed away from the vacationing families.

"You keep talking but I don't even know what you're saying anymore. What's your point?" Sofia asked, rubbing her temple.

"My point is we should check it out."

"You want to hike up there? Right now?" Even Esme had to speak up now.

Blake looked down at her. "No, tomorrow when our parents are out here and can catch us." She crossed her arms and looked over the whole group. "You guys are not about to be boring. We don't even have beer. Like, nothing else is happening tonight."

"Yeah, including a spooky hike to a cabin with a murderer inside of it," Sofia said in disbelief. "I can't believe you actually want to go up there after we saw a candle appear in its creepy window even though no one's been up there for decades."

"Again with the murderer stuff? I thought you moved on from this. What type of murderer strikes every twenty years in the most random location ever?" Blake rolled her shoulders and took a few seconds to breathe in and out slowly. "Whatever. I'll be going up there to check it out. If I don't come back, there is a murderer. And you have permission to freak out. But when I do come back, there's not gonna be any beer left for the rest of you. And I'm going to be so smug. Annoyingly so." She snatched the beer bottle back from Esme and started towards the trail up to the seventh cabin.

Esme hesitated before calling, "Fine, Blake. We're coming. You're not going alone." She got up and followed her.

"Speak for yourself," Sofia said. "You two can die together since you clearly want that!" Her voice carried past the firepit and the long stretch of grass between it and the trees. It clearly reached the two girls growing smaller in the distance because Blake turned and flipped her the bird. Then they disappeared into the darkness.

For a very long time, Sofia and Blessings just sat in silence. They'd moved to the camping chairs Blake and Blessings had used earlier, though they shifted them so they didn't have their back to the abandoned cabin. Or the other girls once they returned. If they returned, Blessings thought darkly. She was starting to blame herself for not bringing up how weird her parents were acting. Or the lights in their cabin. Or the intense fear she'd felt. What would've likely happened was Blake would've made fun of her and gone off anyway, but it also might have stopped her. It was too late to bring it up now, and it would be no comfort to Sofia. Something told Blessings she wouldn't think it'd all been in her head.

Eventually, Sofia sighed. "I think they should've made it up by now. If we go after them, we can probably meet them on their way back. Then we can stop worrying so much and just go back to having a normal trip."

Blessings did not like this idea at all. Still, it wasn't appealing to go back to their cabins either. And sitting out here, staring at the shadows until her imagination started running wild, was not much fun. It had her squeezing her eyes shut and praying.

"What do you think?" Sofia asked. She sounded so kind that it gave Blessings just the tiniest boost in courage. She'd be safe with Sofia. Sofia was smart and would protect her. She wasn't anything like Blake, who'd unknowingly blocked her inside the cabin she was trying to escape. Blessings nodded. "Okay," she agreed.

Even though it was a set, cleared trail meant for easy access to the cabin, it didn't feel safe. Especially after more than twenty years of neglect. Plants had grown in the path, slapping against and scratching the girls' calves as they walked. They had to step over some large, fallen branches--some of them completely rotten. Occasionally, they'd feel the uncomfortable sensation of walking through a spiderweb. And since the dirt path wasn't being used frequently anymore, it had become a lot harder to distinguish from just regular terrain. It was more like the girls were simply trekking through the woods. Blessings stayed behind but close to Sofia, letting her guide the way up.

On any other night, it would have also been scary to walk the trail. They couldn't see very far in any direction and were relying completely on the light from Sofia's phone. A few trees were illuminated, but they were truly surrounded by darkness. Every once in a while, leaves would crunch in the distance like something was stepping on them. It was best to believe it was just some animal, though that wasn't completely reassuring either. Blessings just wanted to close her eyes so she didn't have to worry about something popping up. She was going to scare herself to death with this stress. But she had enough sense to know she really had no other options. Except wish and plead to every possible greater being that she was anywhere else. She wanted to get on her knees and beg.

"We're more than halfway up," Sofia whispered, startling Blessings. She flinched back, eyes wide. Sofia grabbed her arm gently. "It's okay. We're okay. If we make it to the cabin, we'll just wait outside for a moment then head back down if they don't come out."

So they continued on up. Both of their hearts were beating out of their chests, though Sofia pretended everything was alright. Blessings appreciated it, though it didn't stop her from completely losing it. She was so scared that her body was shaking violently. Neither of the girls addressed this. They just kept walking.

At some point, the wooden structure came into range of the phone flashlight. It was just the rotting wooden corner of the cabin, but it was enough to trigger that same feeling from earlier in Blessings. That dread. It was such an ugly feeling. And so unbelievably strong. Never in her life did Blessings think she would feel such an overwhelmingly awful emotion. So terrifyingly awful. Even as Sofia ventured forward a bit, Blessings couldn't move. She was paralyzed with fear.

"I don't hear them," Sofia said, panic in her voice. She was still shining the light down the side of the cabin, frozen as she listened for anything that gave away Blake and Esme's presence. It was quiet. Quiet like it had been in the other cabin.

Then she moved the light onto the porch, and both girls' eyes almost popped out of their skulls.

On a rocking chair positioned right next to the door sat Blake. Or what must've been Blake...once. Her entire body was at a revolting stage of decomposition. She wouldn't have even been recognizable if not for her wearing one of her favorite shirts--one she strangely hadn't worn since earlier in the summer. Anyone who knew Blake would have realized it was hers even if they found the shirt on the side of the road. And now, in her horrific state, it gave her away.

Blessings let out the loudest, most blood-curdling scream possible, tears streaming down her face. Sofia, reeling in shock, took off the way they came. She didn't stop running because two sudden, bone-chilling thoughts came to her. Blessings had just given away their location. Had just confirmed they'd seen what they were meant to see.

And now they were next.

She crashed through the trees carelessly. Twigs and thorns scratched up her arms, but she felt no pain. What motivated her was the selfish reassurance that whoever was out here would go for screaming Blessings first. The image of Blake's body flashed into her mind and it made bile rise in her throat. That could happen to her, too, if she didn't run faster. Farther. Sofia would be next. Just like Blake. Just like what happened when her mom was younger. It must've been this. It must've been exactly this.

"Sofia?" Esme's voice came from her right suddenly.

Sofia paused, fighting her urge to flee as she realized her twin might be out here. But with Blake still in mind, she ducked low against a tree, pressing her back against its bark.

"Sofia," Esme called, a little closer now.

Sofia stayed silent. There was something about this she didn't trust.

"Sofia, where are you? Blake disappeared on me."

As Sofia kept herself low to the ground, she heard the shuffling of leaves that meant Esme was walking behind her. But it was strange. It felt like there was something much bigger behind her than her sister. Something different. Like if a bear was behind her instead.

"Come on, Sofia. I want to go back. I'm scared."

Sofia didn't dare move. Didn't dare breathe. She was finally understanding the weird reaction she felt towards her sister's voice. Why she didn't immediately answer her when Sofia heard her the first time. It was uncanny. It was just the tiniest bit off. And that horrified Sofia. Because who else could be impersonating her sister?

What else?

Whatever was behind her moved on as Sofia tried not to linger on how differently things would've gone if she'd called out to what she thought was Esme. She heard snapping twigs in the distance that signaled it was quite a distance away, but she was still completely still. Her muscles didn't even twitch. She would not move. Not anytime soon. Not even when she heard Esme's distant voice scream Blessings name.