Chapter 1

The sun was just beginning to creep over the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of orange as Jack drove is his SUV down the winding road lined with tall trees on both sides. In the passenger seat, Fred fiddled with the radio, trying to find a station that would fit everyone’s taste while Jimmy, sitting in the back, scrolled lazily through his phone. Ryan sat beside him, his gaze fixed on the scenery outside, but his mind elsewhere.

It was supposed to be a weekend of relaxation, a golf trip at the prestigious Green Pines Resort. They had been planning this for months, eager for a break from their mundane routines. It had almost become an annual event, something they talked about all year. Jack would always send a screenshot of a vacation timer counting down the days. 125 days, 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 15 seconds. Always a weekend of good times, drinks, and a little friendly competition on the course. But there was something in the air that morning—something that none of them could quite put a finger on.

“You’re quiet today,” Jack said, glancing at Ryan in the rearview mirror.

Ryan, usually the life of the group, looked up and shrugged. “Just thinking.”

“About what?” Fred asked, half-turning from his seat.

Ryan hesitated, his fingers drumming on his knee. “Nothing really. Just… stuff.” He gave a half-smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Stuff,” Jimmy echoed with a laugh. “Good talk, man. Real deep.”

Fred chimed in “I’m sure he is just missing his Beta Fish”

Ryan chuckled, but it felt forced. Jack noted the tension, but he didn’t push it. They all had their issues, things they didn’t like to talk about. And a few had secrets that they really never shared. They’d known each other since high school—Ryan was always the dreamer, the one with a foot out the door of their small town. He had ambitions beyond their ordinary lives. But the last few months, something had shifted. Ryan had become distant, preoccupied.

“Green Pines is only about an hour away,” Jack said, changing the subject. “We should be there before lunch. Plenty of time to hit the course before the sun gets too hot.”

“Perfect,” Fred said. “I’ve been working on my swing.”

“Your swing needs more than work, Fred,” Jimmy teased, causing the group to laugh. Even Ryan smiled this time, though it didn’t linger long.

“Care to put some money on that Jimmy?”

“Sure how about a nickel a hole.” Jimmy clapped back, getting another smile out of Ryan.

As they drove deeper into the countryside, the cell service faded, and the road grew narrower, flanked by dense woods on either side. The isolation was palpable. Miles passed without any sign of life, only the occasional rusted mailbox or forgotten farmhouse.

“This place is out in the middle of nowhere,” Jimmy said, looking out the window.

“Exactly,” Jack replied. “That’s the point. Peace, quiet, no distractions.”

“No Wi-Fi either,” Fred grumbled, holding up his phone. “We’re officially off the grid, gentlemen.”

“I’m sure your girlfriend is real happy about that Jack” Jimmy said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, about that. Jenny and I aren’t seeing each other any more. It’s a long story but we can talk about that later”

Ryan looked out at the endless rows of trees, his fingers tightening around the armrest. “It’s a good place to disappear.”

The statement hung in the air, heavy and unsettling.

Fred snorted. “Disappear? What, like get lost in the woods?”

Ryan didn’t respond. Fred thought about pushing the topic a little more but the weekend was supposed to be fun so he decided to let it go. Ryan had a temper sometimes and Fred didn’t want him to blow up before they even reached the resort.

The resort finally appeared, nestled in a valley surrounded by towering pines. It was an impressive sight—green lawns stretching as far as the eye could see, neatly manicured greens that shimmered in the sunlight, and a sprawling lodge that overlooked the first hole.

“Wow,” Fred said, genuinely impressed. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”

“I can’t believe we haven’t come here before” Jimmy said. “I blame it on you Jack, you are the one who always plans this trip.”

“I can fire myself and give the keys to you if you would like Jimmy.”

“Nah, I’m good. I take it back.” That got a laugh out of everyone.

They parked and unloaded their gear, checking in at the front desk and collecting their room keys. As they made their way to their rooms, Ryan lagged behind, glancing around as if he were searching for something—or someone. Jack noticed again but said nothing.

They settled into their rooms, changed into their golfing attire, and met up at the pro shop. It seemed to be pretty quiet for such a nice resort on a weekend, but no one was complaining. Having the golf course to yourself makes the golf more relaxing. The afternoon passed quickly, filled with laughter, competitive banter, and the occasional errant shot. And Fred showed off his new improved golf swing, but it didn’t seem to help. But through it all, Ryan seemed more detached, more distracted.

After the round, they headed back to the lodge for dinner. The food was great, the drinks even better. Yet Ryan’s mood hadn’t lifted.

As the night wore on, Jack found Ryan alone at the bar, nursing a drink.

“What’s going on, man?” Jack asked, sliding onto the stool next to him.

Ryan sighed, staring into his glass. “I didn’t want to come on this trip.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “Could’ve fooled me. You were the one pushing for this back in July.”

“I thought it’d help. Clear my head or something,” Ryan muttered, rubbing his temple. “It has been a long year with all of the stress so I thought this might be what I needed. But now I feel like it was a mistake.”

“Come on, it’s just nerves or something. We all needed this, you especially. Getting out of that relationship was the best thing you ever did. That relationship was going to kill you if you stayed in it.”

Ryan glanced at Jack, his eyes filled with something Jack couldn’t quite place. Fear? Regret? “You don’t get it,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t be here.”

Jack was about to press him further, but Jimmy and Fred wandered over, drinks in hand, cutting off the conversation.

“Come on, boys, let’s call it a night,” Fred said. “Big day tomorrow. Gotta show you guys how a pro handles the course.”

They all laughed, though Ryan’s chuckle was more of an afterthought. He downed the last of his drink, stood, and followed them back to the rooms.

By morning, Ryan was gone.

Jack woke to a chill in the air, an odd silence hanging over the resort. The sun was rising, casting long shadows across the lodge. Dew was sparkling on the greens and you could feel the beginning warmth of the sun, but there was no sign of Ryan.

His bed was neatly made, his golf bag propped up by the door, but Ryan had vanished.

At first, Jack thought Ryan might have gone for an early walk, or perhaps he was clearing his head after their strange conversation the night before. But as the minutes stretched on, an uneasy feeling crept over him. And he couldn’t help but think about the last year and all of the strange things that Ryan had talked about.

He knocked on Fred’s door. “Hey, have you seen Ryan?”

Fred yawned, scratching his head. “Not since last night. Maybe he’s at breakfast?”

But he wasn’t.

By nine o’clock the tension in the group was increasing. They were teeing off in about thirty minutes and they were starting to worry. They searched the lodge again, and the surrounding areas around the clubhouse before going back inside. They decided to ask the staff if anyone had seen him since last night.

But no one had.

It was as if he had simply disappeared.