Despite Jaden and Lynette’s objections, Bethany goes to Montana with Larry, and they are shocked to see her.

  

THE WIND THAT WARNED THEM ✦✦✦

The moment Bethany’s boots hit the Montana ground, the wind howled low and sharp—like a warning whispered too late.
Larry felt it in his chest.

Something had already gone wrong.

---

━━━ 1. THE ULTIMATUM ━━━

Larry was halfway through zipping his duffel bag when Bethany appeared in the doorway, eyes blazing.

“Larry… I’m going with you to Montana.” 😤

He turned sharply. “No. Absolutely not. There’s nothing for you there.”

Bethany stepped closer. “Funny. You don’t get to decide that.” 😡

Larry exhaled hard. “Bethany, Lynette warned me. If you go… you might not come back in one piece.”

She didn’t blink.
“Then you’d better make sure I do.” 🔥

---

━━━ 2. WARNINGS IGNORED ━━━

Back home, the objections came fast.

“She can’t come,” Jaden said firmly. “She’ll make everything worse.”

Lynette nodded. “This is dangerous. Montana is not the place for stubborn pride.”

Bethany zipped her suitcase shut. 💨
“I’m not fragile. And I’m not staying behind.”

Larry rubbed his temples. “You’re impossible.” 😅

She smirked. “And yet… you still haven’t stopped me.”

---

━━━ 3. UNWELCOME SURPRISE ━━━

Montana stretched endlessly before them—mountains, silence, and skies that felt too big.

Bethany grinned. “Worth it already.” 🌄

Then—

“Bethany?!” Jaden blurted, eyes wide. 😲

Lynette spun around. “You were NOT supposed to be here!” 😳

Bethany crossed her arms. “You said I couldn’t come. Guess you were wrong.” 😏

Larry shrugged. “I warned her.”

“Liar,” Bethany replied sweetly.

---

━━━ 4. WHEN LAUGHTER FADES ━━━

As they drove deeper into the mountains, the jokes disappeared.

Jaden broke the silence. “Do you hear that?”

Larry frowned. “Hear what?”

Bethany leaned forward. “Exactly. Nothing.”

Lynette whispered, “This road isn’t on the map.”

Larry slowed the car. “Then why does it feel like we’re expected?”

No one answered.

---

━━━ 5. THE LODGE IN THE TREES ━━━

They stopped near an abandoned lodge. Shadows stretched too long as the sun sank.

Bethany’s voice dropped. “Larry… someone’s watching us.”

A twig snapped.

Jaden checked his phone. “No signal.”

Lynette hissed, “I told you this was a mistake.”

Larry stepped forward. “Bethany, stay close.”

Then—a voice from the darkness, calm and amused:

“So… you finally brought her.”

Bethany’s smirk vanished. She grabbed Larry’s sleeve.

“Larry,” she whispered, “I don’t think they ever meant for you to come alone.”

The lodge lights flickered on—
one by one.

And something moved behind the windows.