Until Dawn One Shots

Matt X Jess - So Much More

I am so sorry. I have no excuse. I cannot promise consistent uploads or anything. Many many apologies. See you in another year or so lol. Maybe not, maybe more, I really can't tell you. Enjoy!

- 😘💙

No one was at all prepared for what happened that night on the mountain, least of all Jess. She didn't expect to get pulled through a window and dragged through the snow in her underwear. She didn't expect to fall for God knows how many feet down a mine shift, all cut up and bleeding out. And she certainly didn't expect Matthew Taylor of all people to be the one to find her and get her out of the mines to safety. She didn't expect Matthew Taylor to be the reason she survived until dawn.

Don't get her wrong; she'd always liked Matt. He was a real sweetheart, a big softie, and he'd pretty much do anything for his friends. He'd apparently do even more for his girlfriend according to the way he'd spoken to Jess at the lodge. And while Jess didn't exactly appreciate being spoken to that way, she was impressed by the way he stood up for Emily no questions asked. It had made her wonder for a moment if Mike would've done the same in front of everyone, or if he was enjoying watching the two girls go at each other over him.

She didn't blame Michael for not being able to save her, she didn't think anyone could have saved her in that moment, but every time she saw him, she couldn't help but want to cry with the unfairness of it all. Her whole future had changed in the course of five minutes. Everything she had loved about herself, her beauty, her confidence, her charisma, was gone and she didn't see any way of bringing it back.

Jess drifted in and out of consciousness for the remainder of that night. She vaguely remembered shivering out in the cold on the edge of the mountain. She vaguely remembered Matt taking off his sweater and pulling it over her. She vaguely remembered Matt carrying her back through the mines and to the lodge. She vaguely remembered him carrying her past the burning lodge to the clearing where the rest of their friends stood around, all dishevelled in the snow. She vaguely remembered being reunited with Mike, Matt placing her gently into his arms, and feeling a pang of panic when she looked up into Mike's relieved face. She vaguely remembered getting moved onto the helicopter, and Mike holding her hand tight as the paramedics treated her as best they could. She vaguely remembered the interview with the police, her voice cracking as she tried to speak. She vaguely remembered getting wheeled down to hospital corridor, watching her friends stop to talk to the police waiting for them. Only Matt watched her leave, and he gave her a reassuring smile. The only thing she remembered clearly, so clearly it was etched into her mind forever, was looking into the glass window of her ward, and being horrified at what stared back at her. The horrific disfigured mess of a face that stared back at her. The Wendigo that stared back at her.

When Jess next remembered being awake, she awoke in her ward, feeling numb. When she looked around her room, she saw Ashley and Matt sitting by her bed, Ashley reading a book and Matt watching people out the window. When Jess let out a loud exhale, lifting her hand to run it over her face, he turned his head to face her, and smiled at her.

"Hey Jessie,"

Ashley looked up from her book excitedly and put it aside to come sit on the edge of Jess's bed, picking up her hand and squeezing it tightly.

"Hey Jess, how you feeling?"

Jess opened her mouth to respond, but only a hoarse croak came out.

"Do you want some water?" Ashley asked, and Jess nodded slowly, her throat feeling scratchy and dry. Matt helped her to sit up in the bed, and Ashley brought over a glass of water. Jess went to reach for it but instead Ashley brought the glass to her lips.