RUN

SCENE FOURTEEN (MEG)

Apparition - Faction - Surrender

The sky above us grumbles, and dark clouds writhe, obscuring the moon. I can feel the ground beneath ripple as tendrils slither down from the velvety night. 

As we both look up, Hunter's lifeless form is lifted and consumed by the abyss. I hold onto Jessica as she whimpers and cries for her boyfriend. The wounds she's already suffered weaken her, and she clings to me helplessly, threatening to drag us both down.

"He's gone. He's gone, Jess!" I grip her face, forcing her to look at me, but she's spiraling into a panic attack. Her gaze is vacant, lips quivering as she collapses to her knees.

"I can't do it. I can't," she mumbles repeatedly. 

I know that I can't fight her battles for her; I have to find Tyler and escape.

"If this is a damn game, I surrender!" she screams from her knees, curled in on herself.

 RESOLUTION

I pivoted on my heels, ready to leave her behind; ready to let Jessica join her treacherous boyfriend wherever the entity's Hell awaited—it was her choice. 

Yet, as I readied myself to run, I found myself frozen. The ringing in my ears subsided, the pain numb against the heartache of loss. I couldn't bear to lose another—Jess was my only friend.

"Damn it..." I muttered through clenched teeth. 

Knowing that after this hell, nothing would ever be the same. The notion of surviving felt like a bitter victory, Hunter might never return, Tyler could be hanging on a hook bleeding out, and Jess might never cheer again with her injuries. It was a miracle she was still alive after all we'd been through. It was as if the forest itself wanted us to survive, preserving us in a sadistic trance.

"I don't want to make it out of here without you. If this is just a dream, we can meet Hunter on the other side of that damn door... but we have to open it first. Help me fix the gens." I paused, inhaling deeply as I locked eyes with her.

And she did.