The Analysis and the Plan

The sun dipped below the horizon as we approached the secluded cabin I'd scouted in a previous loop. Hidden deep within the thick woods, it was the kind of place no one would think to look for us—if they even knew we were here at all. The cabin was small, unassuming, built from aged wood with moss creeping up its sides. I could already see the thick shadows stretching across its exterior as the day gave way to night. The atmosphere was silent, thick with the unease of what we had just faced.

"Quiet," I muttered, my voice no louder than the wind brushing against the leaves. I signaled for the others to wait as I approached the cabin door, testing it gently to see if anything had been disturbed. The hinges groaned slightly, a protest against the sudden use after years of neglect, but the door swung inward. I slipped inside, my eyes narrowing as I scanned the room—no threats, no signs of movement.