i'm bigger than my body,
i'm colder than the home
SAMANTHA GIDDINGS

Lila Stuart could remember the day her father died. It often played in her mind like a vivid, painful film. She was ten years old, nervously excited to perform in her ballet recital—a performance she'd been rehearsing for months. Her pink tutu had been carefully ironed, and her ballet slippers were tied just right. The car ride felt special, just her and her dad. He had always been her biggest cheerleader, always there with a reassuring smile or some encouraging words.

Her mother, caught up with work, had promised to arrive a little late, but Lila wasn't too worried. As long as her dad was there, everything felt right. They talked and laughed in the car, going over last-minute details about the recital. He promised to take her to her favorite pizza restaurant, something they'd done after every performance since she was five. It was their little tradition. The sky outside was beginning to darken, though it wasn't night yet.

Then, out of nowhere, the blaring of a horn shattered the peace. Lila barely had time to register what was happening before the car lurched violently. Tires screeched, metal crunched, and her father's protective arm reached across the seat, pulling her closer.

The next few moments were a blur of flashing lights, distant voices, and an overwhelming sense of fear. She remembered being pulled from the wreckage, her ballet costume torn, her tutu stained with her father's blood. Her face was stained with tears. But no matter how much she cried out for her dad, he didn't answer.

That night, Lila's world changed forever. The recital came and went without her, but that was the least of her worries. In the days that followed, she would cling to the memory of his laughter during that final car ride.

A few years later, Lila's mom remarried, and she gained a new stepbrother. Along with a new family came with changes she wasn't quite ready for. Michael Munroe, her stepbrother, was everything people seemed to love—just not her. He was pompous, arrogant, and just plain annoying most of the time.

Michael was perfect in the eyes of everyone else. He was the class valedictorian, had an athlete's body, and was practically every girl's dream. People adored him. Lila, however, found it hard to be around him. His constant success and charm only made her feel more out of place, especially with her mom always praising him like he was the perfect son.

But Lila saw another side of Michael. He always had a way of making her feel smaller without being obvious, slipping in comments that made her doubt herself. While everyone else admired him, Lila felt overshadowed, as if her own place in the family was fading away.

Michael wasn't thrilled when Lila's mother insisted she tag along with him to Josh's cabin that weekend. He had planned for it to be a fun, a carefree getaway with his friends, and the last thing he wanted was his annoying stepsister cramping his style.

Lila wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea either, but her mother had been insistent, saying it would be a "good bonding time" for the two of them. Having Lila around would only make things awkward.

As they packed up the car, Michael barely spoke to her, already making it clear that she was an unwelcome addition to his weekend plans. Lila could feel the tension between them, but she tried to ignore it, hoping to just get through the trip without causing any drama.

She didn't know Michael's friends very well, but she did know Josh. He had been around the house a few times, and unlike the others, he actually seemed to take a liking to her. Josh was kind, with an easygoing attitude that made her feel comfortable, even when Michael acted like she didn't exist.

There were moments when Josh would strike up a conversation with her or give her a warm smile, making her feel seen. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Lila to not dread the idea of spending the weekend at his cabin. At least with Josh there, she figured, the trip might not be as unbearable as she feared.

What Lila thought would be a cool weekend quickly turned into a nightmare. She had planned to stay on the sidelines, avoiding whatever antics Michael and his friends were getting into. But things took a turn when Mike's girlfriend, Emily, insisted that Lila take part in a prank they had planned for one of their friends, Hannah. That's when Hannah ran out, her sister running deep into the forrest after her.

Minutes passed, then an hour, and the sisters still hadn't returned. The once lively cabin now felt eerily quiet. Lila's mind raced with worry, her thoughts bouncing between the guilt of what had just happened and the growing fear for the sisters' safety. They were just supposed to "teach Hannah a lesson", not drive her and Beth away like this.

After that trip, Lila was consumed by an overwhelming amount of guilt. The image of Hannah's tear-streaked face haunted her, and every time she closed her eyes, she could see the sisters running into the dark woods, their figures fading away. She felt responsible for what had happened, for being convinced to take part in the prank that spiraled out of control.

Back at home, the weight of her emotions pressed down on her like a heavy blanket. She replayed the events over and over in her mind, trying to find a way to change what had happened. If only she had spoken up more forcefully, if only she had refused to join in, maybe things would have turned out differently. But it was too late now.

Lila's relationship with Michael grew strained as well. She could sense that he, too, was bothered by the incident, but they never spoke about it. Instead, they tiptoed around each other, avoiding the topic like it was a landmine. Lila felt more isolated than ever, her guilt creating an invisible wall between her and her new family.

The memory of her father's death was still fresh in her mind, and now it felt like a shadow that followed her everywhere. The combination of those feelings—guilt for Hannah and fear of what she might lose again—made it hard to find joy in anything. Lila began to question everything about herself, wondering if she would ever be able to escape the darkness that seemed to linger just out of sight.

Weirdly enough, this loss brought Josh and Lila closer than ever. In the days following the trip, Josh reached out to her in a way that surprised her. He texted her to check in, asking if she was okay and expressing concern about what had happened with Hannah and Beth. His kindness felt like a warm light in the shadow of her guilt.

They began talking more, first over texts and then in person. Josh was patient and understanding, never pushing her to share more than she was comfortable with. He listened when she needed to vent about her feelings, offering a safe space for her to express the turmoil she was experiencing. Slowly, Lila started to feel like she wasn't alone in her pain.

Josh would invite her to hang out, suggesting simple things like grabbing coffee or going for walks. It felt comforting to be around someone who didn't judge her, someone who genuinely cared. During those moments together, Lila found herself laughing again, even if just for a brief moment. Josh reminded her that not everyone in her life was wrapped up in perfection or drama; he was real and grounded.

As their bond deepened, Lila felt a flicker of hope. Josh's presence was a reminder that healing was possible, even after such a devastating experience. They began to share stories about their lives, and in those conversations, Lila found solace. She realized that while she couldn't change the past, she could still forge new connections and find a way to move forward.

Another person Lila found herself attached to was Samantha Giddings. As Hannah's best friend, Samantha was reeling from the fallout of the prank and the sudden loss of her closest companion. Lila could see the pain in Samantha's eyes, the way her smile had faded, replaced by a deep sadness that settled over her like a heavy cloud.

Lila knew how alone Samantha must've felt, especially since they had been so close. With Hannah gone, it was clear that Samantha needed someone to talk to, someone who understood the weight of loss, even if it was different from her own. The two girls just clicked. It was like they were made for one another.

The day of Hannah and Beth's passing arrived, a somber reminder of the loss that had shaken their group. Lila felt the weight of it heavy on her heart, but she also sensed a shift in the air. Josh decided to invite everyone back to the cabin, wanting to honor the sisters in a way that felt fitting.

His invitation was heartfelt, emphasizing the importance of coming together to remember Hannah and Beth, but also to celebrate the good times they had shared. Lila hesitated at first, unsure of how she would feel being back at the cabin where everything had gone so wrong. But Josh's sincerity, combined with her growing bond with Samantha, made her reconsider. Perhaps this gathering could be a step toward healing.

Little did she know the nightmare that would ensue that night. The trauma, fear, and loss would soon engulf her once again. She never thought she'd have to encounter what she did on that mountain....

LILA STAURT
played by brittany o'grady

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INCLUDING:

hayden panettiere as samantha giddings
rami malek as josh washington
brett dalton as michael munroe
nichole sakura as emily davis
noah fleiss as chris hartley
jordan fisher as matt taylor
galadriel stineman as ashley brown
meaghan martin as jessica riley
ella lentini as hannah & beth washington

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˗ˏˋ AUTHOR'S NOTES 'ˎ˗
AHHH I'M ACTUALLY SO
EXCITED TO START THIS
FANFIC!! i've been so hyper
fixated on until dawn, i can't
wait to start writing. i have
so many ideas on how
i want this to go!!

i had a difficult choosing
one love interest because i'm
insanely bisexual. but
ultimately i decided on
josh and sam because
they're my faves :,)

DEDICATIONS TO MY FAVES <333
ryloths quanxiis sunIoves