The cabin in the woods

Chapter 17

Your family's holiday home is really impressive. A two-story house plus basement. Made of wood and stone on the outside, but equipped with a lot of high-tech inside, it offers all the amenities and the opportunity to host the ‘hottest celebration ever’. The property is also impressive. An approximately two hundred meter (650ft) long beach stretches along one side of the house by the lake and at the other end there is a boathouse, which in turn hugs the foothills of a pine forest. When you arrive, it's like a scene from Apocalypse Now when the soldiers storm out of the helicopters. The girls disappeared from your sight within seconds and spread over the property. You smile because you are the only one with the keys and start unloading the bags from the trunk.

"Heavens above, these brats. I'm not going to do that again,” echoes the voice of Maureen behind you.

"You are only a few years older than them, let them have fun." Your big sister is leaning against the car next to you and watching you unpacking with amusement. With her arms crossed, she says: “You are really the classic big brother. They could light the house on fire now and you would still protect them.” You have to laugh at that.

"Yes, you're probably right." You two look at each other and smile. But there seems to be a shadow on her face. Or are you just imagining it? "So what are you doing now? Go straight to the city?" Maureen laughs ironically.

"So do you really think I'm a bitch?" You look at her a little frightened. Surely she is now expecting a 'yes' from you.

"What? No. I just thought you wanted your silence before the birthday starts. Bad enough that you had to drive all the way."

"Well, maybe I'll go to town." You roll your eyes slightly and she laughs. And it's a good laugh. "But first I'll help you unload." So she tackles it and heaves two bags onto the parking place.

"Wow. Thank you."

"Not a thing little brother," she says lightly and makes her way to the house. You parked the car under some pine trees in an open area. The ground here is sandy and warm.

"Wait a minute," you call her, and Maureen turns around with two bags. You also puz up two and join her. "Now listen. Because of last night. I would like to apologize."

"No problem sweetheart. I know you. Your heart is just too big. I think it's a genetic defect.” Her voice sounds friendly and her smile looks genuine. So you nod her comment. "But there is also something I have to tell you." She strengthens herself, pushes her back and it is clear that she has to overcome herself to say the following. You may not know Maureen as well as your other sisters, but at least well enough to know that she is not as ice cold as she always pretend. Then she speaks with clearly lying indignation. "I'm not going to share a room with my little sisters." She snorts, also obviously played. “I was happy to help you drive, whether the brats thank me or not. But ‘who knows how long’ is too much for me to endure tier fuss.” She looks at you and something in her eyes hurts your soul. After taking a deep breath, she says, "I called Josh and we're renting a room in town."

"How can you afford that?" is the first question that comes to your mind and maybe not the most important one afterwards. Josh has been her 'steady' boyfriend over the past few months. With a few interruptions, but at least their relationship has lasted longer than most. Megan is always annoyed when Maureen talks about her adventures and you are worried. Millie always stays out of it because Maureen makes no secret of her sexual adventures.

"I borrowed something… from Dad." she winks at you but the embarrassing realization resonates, that after the time at the lake she will get in trouble, as usual.

"Are you sure?" You point to the house. "We'll always find a place for you." But at this, your older sister doesn't respond very well.

"Oh come on." A sigh of resignation escapes her mouth and she shrugs her shoulders. It's always the same reaction she gets when Millie and Megan get your affection and Maureen - because of the physical and psychological distance to the family - is renounced hers. "You already don't have enough rooms because your beloved sisters thought it would be cool to bring the whole damn town with you." She moans and rubs her forehead. "I don't blame them. Honestly. I just go into town and make my own 'happy time' with Josh.” She smiles embarrassed and, yes, a little tormented. You can only agree because everything she says is right.

"OK. But listen, if you need anything, I'll be there, okay?” She nods and you agree that Maureen should come for her sisters' birthdays. To yours only if she wants to.

The girls circle around you like a hornet swarm, screeching, chattering and laughing. You say a word of power and Millie, Emma and then Megan are the first to rush to the car and help with unloading.

"Holy shit!" it escapes Karen a little later.

"That is impressive," says Rachel appreciatively and Emma stands there with her mouth open.

After Maureen devastated the house, your father spent a lot of money to renovate it. You and your siblings have seen it, of course, but it hasn't been far with parties for the past few years.

You are all in the living area, which you enter immediately after walking through the front door and the small hallway. It is a large room that goes over both floors. At the head end there is a depression with a semi-circular sofa and a fireplace in front of it. Where there is no fluffy wool carpet, the high-gloss polished parquet shines out. The left facade is dominated by a huge glass pane in which a sliding door is inserted that leads out onto the veranda. From there you can see the lake and the forest beyond. To the right of the room is a bar with a mirror wall behind it and an assortment of wines and beers. Further up, a wooden staircase leads up the wall and beyond is the passage to the kitchen. Upstairs are three bedrooms and a giant bath. Then there is the attic where neither you nor Megan nor Millie have been. In the basement, the storage room for wine, a fitness center, a small disco and your father's party room are waiting to be explored. You still hear the voice of your producer: 'If you break even one thing down there or spend over a thousand dollars on ****, then God grant you mercy. Then no one can save you from my **** anymore.' It actually runs cold down your spine as you let your gaze wander over your guests.

"Uh, okay. Everyone listen!” You call and ten faces turn to you. “The bedrooms are upstairs. There are three. So we will... "

"First!" Megan roars and runs upstairs. You want to stop her, but then the Stampede starts moving again and you boldly duck to the side as the girls storm up the stairs. You follow them and stop in the hallway. You hear rumble from a room and when you stand in front of the door, Karen comes flying towards you. She literally falls into your arms and you look at each other in confusion. Before you can say anything, she turns around.

"But I wanted to…"

"No ‘buts’ here, Karen. Get out of here!” Your Wombat’s voice sounds behind her. "Ah Finn, perfect. Come quickly.” She grabs you with an iron grip and pulls you into the room.

"Wow..." you breathe as you both look around.

"No wonder Dad didn't want to give us anything this year for our birthdays" you say, letting your gaze wander around the room. It is the largest of the bedrooms. A wide wooden table stands by a huge window that looks out over the lake. Large white curtains hang on the side. To the right is a couch with a table in front of it, next to it a bookshelf. But the highlight is the gigantic bed that occupies almost the entire left side of the room and on which you could easily land a jumbo jet. You first shut your mouth so that you can swallow vigorously once. Megan notices your expression and takes you by the hand again. She pulls you to the bed, squeaks and jumps onto the mattress.

"God I will be able to sleep so well on this," she says dreamily and turns to her side. She supports her head with one hand and waves you over with the other. You hesitate for the simple reason that you would jump on your sister here and now, would you lie down with her now. The rest of the girls save you with the turmoil of dividing up the other rooms. Megan remains stubborn with her order to take up the most space for you and her and the argument that she is the only one here who has seen you naked makes you blush but works. So the friends nest in a room next to you and Millie and her gang across the hall. This is how the vacation can begin.

• Shall we begin? But what follows? The anticipating is killing me. Give this chapter a like and keep me alive.