Ruby's POV

The ride into the forest felt endless. By the time the bus slowed to a stop, the chatter inside had quieted, every player craning to see where we had ended up. Through the fogged window, I caught sight of a structure half-hidden by towering pines.

This was our lodging.

It wasn’t much to look at. An old cabin, weathered, like it had been abandoned for decades. The windows were caked in dust, gray against the wood, and the steps sagged as if they could collapse under too much ...