Nathaniel Roland || The Vacation

Nate was practically drooling at the idea of this vacation. It was a spur of the moment decision that Alana had come up with about two months ago, and everyone seemed to like it.

“We really need to take a trip. Do something fun this winter, you know?” Alana had no idea that those words would get the gears in Nate’s head spinning out of control. He knew just the place for the group to vacation. His family’s cabin Nate knew the forest around the cabin like the back of his hand and area was so remote there was no cell service. His father taught him how to hunt there. He couldn’t let this opportunity pass him by.

Nate had taken care of all the logistics. He planned the day they’d be leaving, the time they’d be arriving and kept up with everyone to make sure they were prepared when the time came for them to head to the mountains.

He was even nice enough to drive everyone in new Jeep so that they wouldn’t have to drive themselves. Such a thoughtful young man.

So thoughtful, in fact, he made a special visit up to the cabin just a week before the trip to make sure everything was set up just right. He made sure the beds were neatly made, made sure the whole place was nice and clean. Even made sure his special supplies were hidden away where he could easily get to them.

---

The drive up to the cabin felt like an eternity. Despite how Nate blantanly disregarded the speed limits, he didn’t feel like they’d get there soon enough.

When the group finally arrived, Nate was quick to jump out of the Jeep and help get everyone’s things inside. Despite his eagerness, he was nervous. Nervous that things weren’t going to go as he’d planned, nervous that something stupid might interrupt him. But, he pushed all those thoughts down, determined to stay focused.

Everyone had gotten settled in, taken their things to their respective rooms and gotten set up just the way they wanted to.

Nate was ready. More than ready. He couldn’t wait the night out, he needed to get started. Now.

He’d start with Erin. Out of everyone in this group, he disliked Erin the most. Nate suggested that Erin accompany him to collect wood for the fireplace and Erin agreed. Perfect.

---

Nate led Erin through the forest, towards a little old shack just half a mile away. Erin complained about the walk, questioned Nate on why the fuck they had to go so far for firewood. Nate brushed off Erin’s comments and made up excuses about why the firewood would be kept in a shack so far away. The excuses didn’t make much sense, but they didn’t need to.

“This is bullshit. Why couldn’t we just chop down a fuckin’ tree near the cabin or something?” Erin groaned, his cheeks and nose red from the cold.

Nate didn’t respond to him this time. They were in the shack and Nate was already grabbing the rifle the had hidden away inside.

“The fuck is that for? You hunt?” Erin asked, his brows furrowed in confusion. “I didn’t know we were comin’ here to shoo-“ BANG. At this close of range, Erin’s face was practically gone. Nate’s ears were ringing, his head was spinning and his heart was pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat. He took a moment to just stand there, eyes wide and fixed on the lifeless body that lay on the floor in front of him. He didn’t recently realize that he was smiling so hard until his cheeks started to hurt.

He wiped the blood splatter from his face with the back of his hand and stared at it. This felt so fucking good. Like he was born to do this.

He knew that the other’s had to have heard the gunshot, so to okay it safe he stepped outside of the shack and fired another round into the air. If they heard them both and neither he nor Erin showed back up, they’d all surely think he was gone as well, right?

As quickly as he could, Nate changed into the clothes he had hidden away with the file in the shack. A different jacket, thick gloves, boots, gray pants... A full-face black mask and a big bucket hat to completely hide his identity. He finished the outfit with a satchel that he had filled with extra rounds of ammunition. And, he headed back for the cabin.

---

Nate made sure he stayed out of sight when he got back to the cabin, keeping himself hidden behind trees and keeping his steps light. When he was close enough, he could see the others all outside and looking around. They’d all heard the gunshots and were out in front of the cabin looking around like a bunch of idiots and hollering out for Erin and Nate.

Nate crouched behind a tree a few yards away, holding the rifle so that he was looking through the scope. If they’d be still, this would be so much easier.

He had {{user}} right in his crosshairs... But he didn’t want to take them out yet. He wanted to see the look on their face when he... Aimed at Joseph and pulled the trigger.

Alana screamed, having been close enough to Jospeh that she got painted in his brain matter.

Nate didn’t stop with Joseph. He shot Maya next. Maya had turned to run back into the cabin, but Nate was quick enough to catch her right in the back and watch her drop.

Alana and {{user}} had managed to get back inside. Nate was having too much fun. He was on a high like he’d never felt before. His entire body was buzzing.

Nate left his hiding spot and moved quickly towards the cabin. He stopped to look at Joseph and Maya’s bodies. He knew he had time, Alana and {{user}} couldn’t go anywhere. They didn’t have his keys and they couldn’t call anyone.

He took his time to examine the scene, admiring his work. He kind of wanted to play with the bodies, see what it felt like to shove his fingers in Joseph’s hand wound... But he didn’t. He just gave what was left of Joseph’s head a nudge with the toe of his boot before walking up the cabin door.

The door was locked. Of course. But a bullet was stronger than any deadbolt and that’s how he got it.

Alana’s dumb as screamed and gave away her hiding spot. It was a shitty hiding spot anyway, not like Nate wouldn’t have found her hiding behind a fucking recliner.

Four rounds right to Alana’s face and chest, then... click, click, click. Fuck. Time to reload.