The following morning, the news about the cabin explosion had made state news headlines, with the group once again being questioned by police. The six friends, along with Anna, told them that they had been stuck in the cabin when it filled with smoke and gas before it exploded. The university was equally stunned to find some of its students stuck inside the cabin before the explosion, and was going to help pay for therapy for all that were inside beforehand. As the group of seven gathered in the park, they were all confronted head-on by their own mortality. In that regard, Anna seemed unfazed by it all.

            As they mingled, Dominic posed a question to the others saying, ‘Who could have done that with us inside?’ Anna answered, ‘Someone who clearly hates you. They would’ve done anything, but they decided on that.’ ‘Someone like you?’ Dominic asked her accusingly. ‘What?!? I would not want to kill you,’ she said. The fireworks had officially begun against Dominic and Anna, who were now at each other’s throats over the events of the previous night.

            Jonah butted in, ‘Calm down, you two. We can’t go making assumptions like that, Dom.’ Jennifer added, ‘He’s right. Plus, if Anna has also been getting messages from Z, we can’t exactly go on making those types of assumptions. The two friends were right, assumptions can’t be made so suddenly. Dominic had to walk away because he was still pissed off with Anna. Noemi followed Dominic underneath a gazebo nearby. ‘Dude, you can’t just go putting our private assumptions out in the open like that! It’s not cool,’ she said. ‘I know, but it’s- Anna’s been rubbing me the wrong way ever since Em’s funeral. I don’t want to end up like my parents!’ he cried out. Noemi consoled Dominic as he began sobbing. ‘I know how you’re feeling, bud. I’m still scared about last night. I didn’t want to face the reality that we’re all gonna die some day,’ said Noemi. She added, ‘I get that you’re still traumatized from seeing your parents pretty much die in front of your eyes. I would be too, but I only had to hear about mine dying through a phone call.’ Dominic was still traumatized from that day that occurred over a month and half earlier, and had figuratively put that day into a box and didn’t want to think about it given everything going on with the messages and dealings with Z.

            Willa came over and asked, ‘What’s wrong, Dom?’ Noemi replied, ‘He’s still traumatized from the day our parents died. He’s bottled up his feelings about all the Z stuff up only for it to explode now.’ ‘Poor thing. I know how hard that must be,’ said Willa. The three friends hugged each other, and began to walk back to the rest of the group. ‘Anna?’ asked Dominic. He continued, ‘I’m sorry about blowing up at you. I’m still dealing with a lot since the day my parents died, and I snapped. I shouldn’t have done that. Can you forgive me?’ Anna, still in a state of shock, accepted the apology, saying ‘I forgive you. Don’t snap at me like that again.’ He replied, ‘I won’t. Can’t unleash the beast inside.’

            As the friends regained peace, albeit temporarily, the conversation turned to one of confusion, as Anna then said, ‘I think someone was there at the cabin with us, as I didn’t touch anything when we were there. I only felt my way to the front door when the cabin started filling with smoke.’ Max then asked, ‘So you think that there’s someone outside of our group with alterior motives?’ ‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘Carston’s still doing some shady nighttime shit. It wouldn’t surprise me if its him,’ said Noemi. Suddenly, Carston and Veronica showed up, walking together. Veronica noticed the group and ran up to hug Jennifer and Willa. ‘Oh my god, I’m so glad you’re okay! I heard about the cabin from my neighbors,’ said Veronica. Willa said, ‘Vee, thank you for showing up. We really appreciate it after the past like 12 hours or so.’ Veronica replied, ‘I’d rather bury the hatchet here and now, and I’d just wanna let you both do you. I might still be crusing on you, Jen, but I’d rather you be happy with Willa more than anyone else.’ Jennifer, now blushing, said, ‘Veronica, I’m more than glad that you’ve gotten somewhat comfortable with our relationship. You’re still a good friend, despite all the relationship shenanigans.’

            Carston, also concerned, went right up to Anna and said, ‘Thank God, you’re alright.’ He started feeling her up in front of the others, until Anna pushed him away. ‘Stop groping me in front of our friends. It’s very inappropriate,’ she said. The others were very uncomfortable with Carston being around them after Noemi’s earlier statement about his recent late-night behavior. ‘Carston, I mean this with love and respect, but please fuck off. We almost died last night, and I can’t deal with you getting all sexy with our friend IN PUBLIC!’ said Noemi.

            Carston, now saddened, walked away from the group. As they contiuned to reel from the events of the previous night, Max made a suggestion, saying, ‘I think we need some time in the barn today, after all, it’s our favorite place to talk about shit.’ ‘I agree, plus we can order food, and just try to relax,’ said Veronica, who was very happy about Max’s suggestion of venue change. The group agreed, and decided on some burgers as their food of choice for the next meeting in the barn.

            As they walked over to the barn, Troy, Noemi’s brother, was waiting for them; both out of worry over his older sister nearly dying, but also out of worry about the others too. Troy asked, ‘Where were you? I tried calling you.’ Noemi said, ‘My phone was on silent, and we were in the park after being at the police station. I’m sorry I worried you.’ 

            Now at the barn, Anna was visibly uncomfortable by the situation that erupted at the park. ‘I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t know he was going to do that to me,’ she said. The others were understanding of how she was feeling in that moment. ‘The way he just did it without warning is a red flag in a boyfriend,’ said Dominic. Jonah asked, ‘Anyways, still on the subject of Carston, who here thinks he’s potentially working with or is Z?’ The others all raised their hands without a moment to think about the question. He then said, ‘Okay, that answers my question.’ The group was now reeling from the idea that one of their friends was now helping the person who had been tormenting them all these weeks.

            Anna pulled Dominic aside to chat privately in the bedroom. She sat down on the bed, as he closed the door, and she started sobbing. ‘I can’t believe he would do that to me in front of you guys, and now I have to be on high alert because he could be the one sending you guys all these messages!’ said Anna. ‘I get how upset you are, and it’s completely understandable. I would be feeling the same way if someone did that to me in public too,’ replied Dominic. The two now had a mutual understanding of being assaulted in a sexual sense in public. ‘Anna, I know how you feel, because I was raped in a public bathroom about a year ago. I’m still traumatized by it. Jonah’s been keeping an eye on me ever since because he’s still having to deal with my PTSD from it. It’s not a pleasant thing to think about, but having watched Carston grope you like that immediately took me back to that night,’ said Dominic. ‘I’m so sorry you had to go through that,’ replied Anna.

            The two left the bedroom, both crying now, and ready to rejoin their friends and have food. As soon as they left the bedroom, a symphony of phones chimed at the same time. Everyone grabbed their phones and looked at the message which was hauntingly familiar to them all.

As you slowly figure out the game, I know what secrets still lurk around you all. Beware of the person who’s closest to you.

            The group all stared at each other with helpless looks of fear. Jennifer and Willa held each other tight as they read the message. ‘What the fuck?’ exclaimed Max. He added, ‘Carston’s got it coming now.’ His words reverberated amongst the group as the burgers were delivered at the barn’s front door. The group would never feel the same about Carston after the day’s events.