Prelude [Chapter 0]: Surface Layer

March 10, 2026, 3:47 PM — Sierra Nevada, California, USA.

The day had been quiet. After the light drizzle earlier that day, clouds still covered the sky, but the rain had stopped.

A car sped along a narrow road surrounded by snow-covered pine trees, its radio blasting at full volume.

— Hey, Val! Can't you turn that down a little?! — A female voice cut through the car, barely audible over the sound of classic rock guitars.

— Huh? Gabi, I can't hear you! — replied a boy with greenish eyes, brown hair, and a simple orange beanie. With both hands on the steering wheel, he didn't even take his eyes off the road.

— I said, can you turn the music down a bit?! — the girl repeated, raising her voice even louder. Her dark hair had a purple streak, and her expression made it clear just how much the noise was bothering her.

Val shot a quick glance at the girl beside him.

— You want me to turn it down?

— Yes!

— And what do I get in return? — he asked with a teasing smile.

Gabi rolled her eyes and brought a hand to her forehead, her already limited patience wearing thin.

— The guarantee that I won't slap you across the face?

Val swallowed hard.

— Okay! Your wish is my command, madam!

He turned the radio knob, lowering the volume until the music fell silent.

— Oh, thank God! I couldn't stand that music blasting anymore — Gabi grumbled.

In the back seat, a girl with curly hair and glasses gazed at the snow-covered mountains beyond the pine trees lining the road. With her cane resting against the seat, she muttered impatiently:

— Are we ever going to get there?

— Relax. We're almost there! — Val replied.

Without waiting, he pressed down harder on the accelerator.

— You're not lost, are you, Val? — Gabi glanced sideways at him. — You already dragged us all the way out here to this campground out of nowhere. The last thing I need is for you to get us lost, too.

— Me? Lost? As if. — He smiled confidently. — But relax, I guarantee it'll be fun getting everyone together and celebrating our college break out here.

— Speaking of everyone... — Gabi turned toward the back seat. — When are the others coming again, Ellen?

— In three days.

— What?! Not until three days from now?!

— Yeah. Elian has a part-time job, and Miguel had a few things to take care of. He said he'd bring the rest of the group when he got here. As for Percy and Selever... well, they're Percy and Selever. Who knows what's going on in their heads?

— Yeah, that makes sense.

Val glanced at his passengers through the rearview mirror before returning his attention to the road.

— But it's all good. I rented the campground until the 14th, so they'll still have plenty of time to enjoy themselves, too. — He smiled. — Anyway... we're here!

At that, Gabi and Ellen looked through the windshield.

The row of pine trees finally came to an end, revealing an opening surrounded by vegetation. Just ahead, a large sign displayed the name of the place: Valéria Campground.

Beneath it, an open metal gate provided access to the road leading into the property.

Without delay, they drove inside. After following the tree-lined path, they passed the climbing course on their left and the large sports court on their right, eventually reaching the main cabin at the center of the campground.

— Holy crap... THIS PLACE IS HUGE! — Ellen's eyes sparkled as she took in the sprawling grounds through the window.

Val slowed the car, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

— Told you guys you wouldn't regret coming!

— Yeah, but there's really no signal out here... — Gabi sighed, holding up her phone in the hope of getting at least one bar.

Ellen stepped out of the car, leaning on her cane as she marveled at the scenery around her.

— This is amazing! — She turned from side to side. — You said there's a lake, right? Can we go there? Oh, but there's also the zip line and the lookout point! So... where should we go first?!

— Easy, easy! We just got here. — Val laughed, opening the trunk. — We've got plenty of time to enjoy everything.

Gabi got out shortly afterward, still holding her phone. She checked the screen one last time before slipping it into her pocket and turning to Val.

— If I die out here, it's your fault.

— Wow, someone's pessimistic, huh? — The boy tossed one of the backpacks toward her. — Try enjoying life a little, Gabi.

— I'm trying. But you don't make it easy when you bring us to the middle of nowhere with no signal.

Ellen chuckled and stepped forward to grab her own backpack. She then made her way toward her friend, moving with some difficulty as she leaned on her cane, before linking arms with her.

— Come on, let's enjoy ourselves! It'll be fun.

Gabi sighed.

— Yeah, you're right. We've already come all this way, anyway. Might as well try to have some fun.

And so they did. Between exploring the campground, attempting to play basketball, and taking memorable pictures at the lookout point, the afternoon flew by. Before they knew it, the sun was already beginning to sink toward the horizon.

The three followed the trail behind the sports court until the trees suddenly parted.

As they reached the lake, the sun was sinking behind the pine trees, casting a pale orange glow over the thin layer of ice covering the water.

Ellen stopped along the trail that followed the shoreline, the tip of her cane sinking into the snow.

— Guys, wait a second... I'm sinking in too deep.

But Val was already far ahead. At the wooden dock, he'd spotted an overturned canoe with an oar resting beside it. Without a second thought, he took off running.

— Last one there has to row! — he shouted without looking back.

— Val! — Gabi called after him.

— Too late, madam! Keep moving at that pace, and you'll be the one rowing!

Gabi huffed and, instead of following him, stopped beside Ellen. She waited quietly, watching her friend struggle to pull her cane out of the snow.

— You can go ahead — Ellen murmured with an awkward smile. — I'll take my time, but I'll get there eventually. I don't want to hold you back just because you feel sorry for me.

— Shut up. — Gabi linked her arm with Ellen's, holding on firmly. — I'm not staying with you out of pity. I just don't feel like chasing after that idiot.

Ellen let out a quiet laugh, seeing right through her friend's blatant lie.

— All right, then.

Back at the dock, Val finally turned around and noticed the two girls standing in the distance, making no effort to catch up. He hesitated for a moment, glanced at the canoe, then turned back with a groan, kicking at the snow with every step.

— Fine, fine. I'll come get you. — Once he reached them, he held out his free arm toward Ellen. — Just so we're clear, I was going to wait for you at the dock anyway, okay?

— You only come back when you realize nobody's following you — Gabi remarked, turning her face away.

— That's so unfair! I'm a gentleman!

— A gentleman who abandons two princesses?

The two continued bickering while Ellen walked more comfortably between them.

Near the shoreline, something caught her attention. There were large, deep footprints in the snow, with clearly defined claws at their tips. They formed a trail leading straight toward the trees.

— Guys... look at this.

Val glanced down and shrugged.

— Probably some hunter's dog or something.

— Those are way too big to belong to a dog... — Gabi muttered.

— You really do have an overactive imagination. Just relax. — Val was already pulling his phone out of his pocket. — Come on, let's take a picture before we lose the light! Besides, I still need to drop off that battery for the radio tower at the lakeside cabin.

Gabi raised an eyebrow.

— Then why don't you take it back to the radio tower? Weren't you only borrowing it to turn on the heater?

— Yeah. But it's getting late, and I don't feel like going all the way over there.

Gabi sighed but took her place without complaining. Ellen settled between them while Val stretched out his arm to frame the shot.

— Smile! One, two, three!

The flash went off in the fading light, briefly illuminating their three faces, flushed from the cold. In the background, the lake reflected the last colors of the sunset.

March 10, 2026, 9:13 PM

The sun had completely disappeared below the horizon by the time the three left the lake and headed toward the sleeping quarters, a row of six cabins situated behind the main administration building.

— Today was so much fun! But there are still so many places I want to explore. — Ellen stretched as she walked beside the other two, leaning on her cane.

— The only place I want to go right now is bed... — Gabi grumbled, letting out a yawn.

— Oh, come on! You're not fooling anyone, Gabi. We know you had fun. — Val teased.

— Yeah, I'll admit it wasn't as bad as I expected.

Ellen leaned slightly against her friend's arm and let out a small groan.

— But I still wanted to try the climbing course...

— Yeah, well, that's what happens when someone leaves the master key locked inside the sports court...

— H-Hey! I've already told you it was an accident! — He placed both hands behind his head, looking away. — But if you really want to go, we can grab the spare key from the basement of the main cabin tomorrow.

— Yay!

— Changing the subject, where are you sleeping, Val? — Gabi asked, noticing the cabins up ahead.

— You put your stuff in cabin four, right? — He flashed a mischievous grin. — Guess I'll be sleeping there, too, then.

— Not a chance. — She cut him off, making no attempt to hide her irritation. — Ellen and I are staying there. Find another cabin.

— Wow, you're no fu—

Before he could finish, a sudden noise shattered the peaceful night.

BANG!

The gunshot echoed across the campground, coming from somewhere beyond the trees.

All three fell silent immediately, turning toward the source of the sound. For a brief moment, everything went quiet.

Then...

BANG! BANG!

Two more shots rang out in quick succession.

Val took a step forward, keeping his eyes fixed on the woods.

— What the hell was th—

— Shut up, Val! — Gabi whispered, clamping a hand over his mouth.

— Mmmmmph! — He grumbled, trying to pull away.

She only let go once she noticed he'd stopped struggling.

— Those sounds... were they gunshots? — Ellen asked. Her face was pale, and despite the fear evident in her eyes, she was trying to remain calm.

Before anyone could answer, another sound pierced the air.

A loud, drawn-out howl, terrifyingly close.

Moments later, noises came from the same direction as the gunshots, as though something or someone was moving through the bushes.

The three quickly crouched down, huddling together beside one of the cabins.

— Shit! It's way too dark! I can't see a damn thing... — Val muttered, peeking around one side of the building.

Suddenly, three massive wolves emerged from the woods. Their sturdy bodies, covered in black fur, stood out against the white snow. Sniffing the ground, they slowly made their way across the campground.

Gabi's eyes widened.

— Holy shit! Wolves?! You never said there were wolves around here!

— Because there weren't supposed to be any! — Val put both hands on his head, feeling cold sweat trickle down his forehead. — First gunshots, now wolves... Why is this happening?!

He carefully raised his head and looked toward the main cabin.

— That's it! Let's grab the car and get the hell out of here!

— The car?! You expect us to run all the way to the main cabin with those things roaming around?! — Gabi discreetly pointed toward the wolves.

— I-I'm trying to think of something, for fuck's sake! — Val snapped, visibly nervous.

Ellen, who had been silently following their argument, lowered her gaze to her leg. She tightened her grip on the handle of her cane before turning toward her friends.

— Go. I'll distract them so you two can get away. I mean, I can't run anyway...

— What?! That's out of the question, Ellen! — Gabi turned toward her, outraged. — We can think of something else! R-Right, Val?

— What kind of something else? — he asked impatiently.

— I-I don't know! But anything's better than that! We could try hiding or something!

— They're wolves, Gabi! Do you really think hiding is going to help?! — Val grabbed her wrist firmly, stopping her from moving any closer to their friend. — Ellen's right! She can't run anyway! We might as well at least get the two of us ou—

SMACK!

Before he could finish, Gabi slapped him hard across the face, making him stagger slightly.

— I can't believe you... You're actually suggesting we leave Ellen here alone?! — Gabi burst out, her voice trembling and her eyes filling with tears as she struggled to hold them back. — First of all, you're the one who brought us to this place! And now you want to abandon her here?!

She lowered her arm, still unable to believe what she'd just heard.

— I've always known you were selfish, Val... but I never thought you'd sink this low.

Val clenched his fists. With his left hand, he discreetly touched the spot where she'd struck him, shooting her a resentful glare.

— If that's what you want, then stay here and die with her. — He stood up and turned his back on the two girls. — I... I'm going to survive.

— Val, wait... — Ellen reached out, trying to grab his hand.

But he brushed her away without even looking back.

— Stay here and die, then!

Without wasting another second, he took off toward the main cabin.

The moment they noticed the movement, all three wolves raised their heads. For a brief instant, they remained motionless, watching their prey running desperately through the snow.

Then they sprang into pursuit.

Gabi pulled Ellen close and wrapped her arms around her, keeping them crouched in a corner near the sleeping quarters. Her eyes followed Val's distant silhouette until it vanished into the darkness.

— Jerk... — she whispered through her tears.

She took a deep breath and stood up, helping Ellen to her feet.

— Let's take advantage of the fact that the wolves went after him and hide in the sleeping cabins.

— B-But, Gabi... if you'd just agreed...

— As if I'd ever leave you behind like that. — Gabi gave her a firm look, though her voice was still trembling. — You're my friend, after all.

Ellen lowered her head for a moment, pressing her lips together. Despite her terror, she managed a small smile and nodded.

Not far away, the sound of an engine starting cut through the campground, followed by a sudden burst of acceleration that gradually faded into the trees.

Gabi closed her eyes, still struggling to process what had happened.

— He actually left... — She turned back to Ellen. — Come on. The wolves could come back at any moment. We need to hurry.

She held out her hand.

But Ellen didn't take it.

Instead, her entire body trembled violently, her eyes wide and fixed on something behind Gabi. She seemed to have lost the ability to speak, managing only to slowly raise her arm and point over her friend's shoulder.

— G-Gabi... B-Behind you...

Gabi furrowed her brow.

— What? Behind me?

Noticing the sheer terror on Ellen's face, Gabi slowly turned around.

Standing just a few steps away was an imposing figure, at least six feet three inches tall. Its face was completely hidden behind a mask, and both hands gripped a shotgun tightly.

In that instant, even her breathing stopped. Her heart was pounding so violently that it felt impossible to keep up with its rhythm.

The figure took a step forward. That was enough to shatter the silence.

— AAAAAAAAAH!

The girls' screams echoed across the campground, tearing through the night as the final sound to break the silence of that remote place.

EXTRA SCENE:

March 10, 2026, 11:42 PM

The road connecting Valéria Campground to the first main highway in Sierra Nevada was deserted.

It cut through the passage between two mountains like a dark ribbon, supported by concrete pillars that disappeared into the night. On either side, the terrain dropped nearly sixty-five feet to an area covered in a thick blanket of snow, deep enough to swallow even human selfishness whole.

The asphalt was wide and straight, seemingly safe enough for any vehicle traveling along it. But accidents don't always happen where the danger is most obvious.

Far below, overturned among the trees, half-buried in the snow and almost invisible to anyone passing along the road, lay a car. The flames that had consumed it were now dying out, reduced to glowing embers and a faint trail of smoke rising in dark wisps.

It was the same car that, just hours earlier, had passed through the campground gates carrying three young people who had simply wanted to enjoy their vacation.

Its bodywork was twisted, and pieces of the vehicle lay scattered in every direction. On the bloodstained snow, the blood had already begun to darken, slowly freezing around the edges.

Yet there was no one in the driver's seat.

Only the radio, lost among the wreckage, continued to crackle softly, letting the riff of a classic rock guitar slip through.

And so, to the sound of that final melody, the first night at Valéria Campground came to an end.