The Night of Sacrifice
By Jake Forster
Sara liked the outdoors. The slight breeze was cool and refreshing. This cabin was definitely the idea her brother Tim had ever come up with. A weekend away from the busy life of Houston, Texas, before she went to a fancy art school in Maine, Tim accepted his scholarship at TMU, Tim's girlfriend Hannah went to a top-notch beauty college in Alabama, Hannah's cousin Luke moved to NYC to become a comedy writer, and their friend Gregory went to MIT. She knew that Gregory was the one she would miss the most, because since they were twelve years old, she had liked him for more than a friend, and never told him. Tomorrow night, the last night all five of them might ever be such good friends, she wanted to lose her virginity to Gregory.
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a branch snapping. Gregory was inside reading the latest Stephen King, and no doubt analysing every page, picturing an essay in his mind. That was what she liked about him. He was tall, strong and handsome, but he was the smartest man she knew. Then Tim and Hannah were in their room, no doubt making love. But where was Luke? She got an answer rather abruptly. Luke jumped out at her, screaming "BOO!" Sara screamed and almost had a heart attack. "Luke, you little..."
He laughed, and soon she began laughing with him. That was a gift of his, and it would come in handy with his ideal profession. All of a sudden, Tim and Hannah came bursting through the door. "Jesus Christ, guys, you're all gunna wanna see this!" Tim shouted to them in excitement and anticipation. Sara and Luke followed the two through the door and into the lounge, where Gregory was presiding over the basement door, which was now open. Tim was still red with excitement. "Shit, man, you ain't gunna believe this shit! Me and Hannah came in here and Greg's reading his shit, and then all of a sudden the basement door opens on its own!"
Sara was surprised at Tim. He was only a football player after all and definitely no Stephen Hawking. But still, he seemed to be acting, well, a bit dumber than normal. It was strange. "We goin' down, then?" Hannah said. Sara gulped, and Gregory noticed. "Hey, come on, Sara. I hate going down into a dark basement in a creepy cabin in the middle of the forest as much as the next guy. So, you know, you don't have to go down if you don't want to." Sara was more embarrassed than she'd ever been in her entire life. There was no way she was staying back now. "Uh, no, I'm fine. Let's go."