Untildawn the sequel

chapter one: shadows

The frigid wind howled through the dense pines, carrying with it a sense of foreboding that seemed to permeate the very air. The small group of friends trudged through the thick snow, their breaths forming small clouds in front of them as they navigated the treacherous terrain. They had returned to the mountain, to the place where their nightmares had begun, but this time it wasn't for a weekend getaway.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Sam?" Mike asked, his voice barely audible over the wind.

Sam, leading the group with determined strides, turned to face him. Her eyes held a mix of determination and fear, but she refused to let it show. "We have to find him, Mike. We owe it to him... and to ourselves."

Josh had been missing for months, ever since that horrific night when they had fought for their lives against creatures they had thought only existed in myths. And Sam couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, some way, Josh was still out there.

As they trudged deeper into the forest, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the snow-covered ground. The group fell into an uneasy silence, each lost in their own thoughts and fears.

It was Emily who broke the silence, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "Do you really think he's still alive, Sam? After all this time?"

Sam paused, her gaze flickering to the darkened woods around them. "I don't know, Em. But we have to try. We can't just leave him out here, alone."

They pressed on, their footsteps crunching in the snow as they made their way towards the entrance to the mines. The air grew colder, and a sense of unease settled over them like a heavy blanket.

Finally, they reached the entrance—a yawning black maw set into the side of the mountain, its depths hidden in shadow. Sam hesitated for a moment, steeling herself for what lay ahead, before taking a deep breath and plunging into the darkness.

The tunnels were cold and damp, the walls slick with moisture as they wound their way deeper into the earth. The only sound was the echoing drip of water and the occasional scurry of some unseen creature.

As they delved deeper into the mines, the darkness seemed to close in around them, pressing down on their chests like a weight. Emily shivered, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she clung to Matt's arm.

"We shouldn't be here," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps.

Matt glanced at her, his brow furrowed with concern. "I know, Em. But we have to find him. We can't just leave him here."

They pressed on, their resolve the only thing keeping them going as they navigated the maze-like tunnels. And then, just as they were beginning to lose hope, they heard it—the faint sound of someone crying out in pain.

"Did you hear that?" Ashley asked, her eyes wide with fear.

They listened intently, their hearts pounding in their chests as they strained to hear the sound again. And then, there it was—a low, guttural moan that seemed to echo through the tunnels.

Without hesitation, they followed the sound, their footsteps quickening as they raced towards the source. And then, suddenly, they rounded a corner and came face to face with him—Josh.

He was huddled in a corner, his body twisted and contorted in pain as he thrashed against some unseen force. His eyes were wild and unfocused, his skin pale and clammy as he muttered incomprehensible words under his breath.

"Josh?" Sam whispered, her voice barely a whisper as she approached him slowly.

But as she drew closer, she saw that something was terribly wrong. His skin was mottled and gray, his features distorted and twisted into a grotesque parody of his former self.