Chapter 5
The navigation chimes, signaling we're nearing the turn—fifteen miles up the winding mountain road to Frosthaven Falls. The single main street on the map twists like a child's erratic scribble, looping and curving in every direction. I grip the seat, silently praying I don't get carsick.
"Maybe we should stop for some snacks," Phoebe suggests, almost as if she's reading my mind, sensing my growing unease.
"I agree," I reply, though I'm unsure if food right now is the best idea for my nervous stomach.
We're slightly behind schedule, but at least civilization should be opening up right about now.
"There's a Trader Joe's in the shopping center up ahead, the same one Romee stopped at before she went up the mountain.
This was on my itinerary. Let me adjust the address for you. "
"Oh my God, that's right! You're a genius, Mara." Sabrina's compliments are rare, and I graciously accept her kind words. "We're literally following in Romee's footsteps. This is so cool."
"I still can't believe what happened to her," Phoebe says, eyes on the navigation system. "And I can't believe Frosthaven Falls decided to plead the fifth on everything."
I keep scrolling through my phone, landing on yet another article dissecting the town's eerie history. "I wonder if it'll be packed with visiting families."
"I sure hope we're the only ones who came up with this idea. You know, visiting on the one-year anniversary."
"God, I hope so," Sabrina says. "I want to be the only one documenting this. It's perfect for the podcast—not just switching from interviews to a documentary format, but the whole package. Our audience will eat it up. Maybe you two could even make a cameo?"
"Absolutely not," I say before she can finish.
Sabrina has always been the face of the podcast. My hand or the back of my head might have made a few appearances on her posts, but that's as far as I go.
Social media is brutal, and I'm not as eye-catching like Sabrina.
I'm rather plain looking, and I blend into the background.
The last thing I need is strangers on the internet ripping me apart because I like to wear vintage clothes.
Sabrina's massive following is intimidating, and I prefer to stay where I belong—behind the scenes, running the show from the shadows.
"Thanks again for ditching the family and joining me. Like you had a choice."
"Like we had a choice," Phoebe says simultaneously, causing the three of us to burst into laughter. These silly, carefree moments remind me of our past.
After Phoebe parks the car, Sabrina and I step out and are immediately hit by the frigid air. We both gasp at the sudden drop in temperature.
"Holy shit!" I zip up my all-weather jacket to my chin, watching my breath cloud in front of me as the harsh wind claws through the fabric, straight to my bones.
"Jesus!" Sabrina yelps. "I didn't expect it to be this cold."
"Can you two grab some stuff while I make a call?" Phoebe says while shoving her hands in her pockets.
"You good?" I ask her, watching as Sabrina dashes toward the store in search of warmth.
"Yeah, go on without me."
"All right, text me a list of anything you want me to grab."
When I catch up with Sabrina, she's already got quite a few items in the cart that require prep in an actual kitchen.
"You do realize the motel room doesn't have an oven, right?" I point to the various items we won't be able to cook.
"You're serious? What kind of room did you book us?"
"The only one they had left. Two queen beds, a microwave, and maybe a mini fridge."
"No one offered their rental house?" Sabrina pouts.
"Need I remind you that you came up with this plan a month before Christmas? We're lucky the three of us aren't crammed into a king-sized bed or stuck in that very cabin like Romee. Anyone who had an Airbnb deleted their listing. We have to make do with what we have."