BODYS ; M. MUNROE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

★彡

A FAMILIAR coldness hit Cassandra as she descended into the basement. It was the same coldness she felt in the sanitarium, she felt better about being here though, she was surrounded by her friends — most of them anyway.

"Why wasn't Josh there?" Emily asked, perched on the shelf, behind her, pictures of Cassandra's friend group, the remnants of Josh's plan.

Chris stared at nothing, at first not registering he was being spoken to, it took Ashley nudging him gently for him to get out of his own head. "What?"

"Josh," Ashley repeated gently. "why wasn't he there?"

"I don't... I don't know, the rope was still there, he obviously broke out of it not long after Mike left him-" He took a moment to glare at Mike, who opened his mouth ready to apologise or defend himself, Cassandra wasn't sure, but he was cut off by Chris continuing to talk. "A little further on the right of the shed the footprints stopped, turned into a long line, like-like he was being dragged. I don't know where it could've taken it." He shook his head in disbelief.

Sam chewed on the nail of her thumb, she turned to look at away, choosing to instead stare at her shoes. "Jesus... What you think he's dead?"

Cassandra shook her head quickly, arms wrapped around herself. "No... No maybe it just... Maybe it doesn't eat straight away, like-like it takes its food to its home until it's hungry, right?" She shook her head, unable to comprehend what she'd just said, that she had referred to Josh as food.

"The mines," Emily began, sighing. "it's possible it's taken Josh there, I think that's where it lives." She turned around, not wanting to face her friends. Her eyes landed on something, catching her immediate attention. She let out a curious hum.

Mike stepped forward. "What is it? Em?"

Sam walked over too, the girls began prodding at things Cassandra couldn't see, her body wouldn't let her move, she was surprised she could still speak coherently. "It's stuff from that guys bag, there's a map too." Sam eventually said.

"There's a tunnel leading from the sanatorium to the lodge." Emily announced, tracing her finger over the line.

Mike nodded, sighing, he glanced back to Cassandra.  "Yeah, that's how we got back here. Place is fuckin' creepy." He took a step back, groaning with frustration.

Cassandra cleared her throat nervously, and began to shuffle on the spot to keep herself warm. "We need to go get him, maybe we could-"

"Maybe we could nothing, I am not going back out there with that-that demon running around! Thanks but no thanks, Cas." Emily scoffed, folding her arms.

Cassandra wanted to be mad, disappointed, but she couldn't be, after seeing one first hand, she could only imagine what Emily had gone through. Instead the girl nodded, sighing softly, she bit her lip. "Okay... Then I'll go."

"What?" Sam leaned forward, brows furrowed. "Cassie that's crazy."

"I know," She replied, almost chuckling. "it's batshit insane but... I let Josh down, I wasn't there for him enough when he needed me. I need to be there for him now."

Chris shook his head, wincing as he leaned on his right leg. "Cass you can't blame yourself for what's happened to Josh, I used to too, I thought I was a bad friend. We did the best we could, we're not doctors, or his parents. Don't blame yourself."

The girl nodded, which quickly turned into a head shake filled with tears. "I know, but... Thinking about him being alive down there? I couldn't forgive myself if we didn't do anything... But I understand if you guys can't."

"I'll come too." Mike said, stepping back from Sam and Emily.

Emily scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Shocker."

Mike squinted. "Really, Em? Now?"

"What are you guys talking about?" Cassandra asked softly, eyes darting between the two.

"Yeah actually, why not now? I'd feel a lot better talking about something other than our impending doom. So actually, yeah Michael, I do wanna talk about this now!" Emily walked forward to Mike, hands on her hips.

Sam shook her head. "Guys c'mon, this really isn't the time. Big picture," Hurrying over, she stood herself between the two, arms up in front of both of them. "please? Josh's life is on the line. We can save the preschool bullshit for later. Which there will be."

Emily narrowed her eyes at Mike, not once looking at Cassandra. Eventually, she loosened her hands on her sides and stepped back. "Fine. Whatever. You two go off and play heroes. We'll be the smart ones and stay here."

"Guys," Chris interrupted. "you know I would come if I could... But my leg, fuck I dunno it kills."

Cassandra nodded at him, half smiling. "It's okay Chris, I get it."

Sam looked to the two, arms tightly folded. "Are you guys sure about this?"

Mike looked down to Cassandra, then to Sam. He tapped the butt of his revolver in his belt, nodding confidently. "Yeah, we'll be back with the son of a bitch in no time."

"We'll be okay Sam, promise, we just need to stay together and keep focused on getting Josh back." Cassandra added.

"Fire." Emily said bluntly. "It doesn't like fire. So... Try and make one when you can I guess." She shrugged her shoulders, arms folded against her midsection, her eyes hadn't met either of the two yet but as they started to head out she looked over to them. "Come back alive, please."

The two nodded, both pulling out their respective weapons to ease the group.

yay emily no bitey this time ;3

i also changed it from mike
wanting the cable car key to
actually wanting JOSH back
because wtf that's still ur friend😭