Until Dawn Remake: "Between Life And Death"

Chapter 6

Y/N POV:

I held the shotgun close as we moved toward the exit, my breath steady but tense. The Stranger handed his shotgun to Chris. "This is the end," he said. "You point this at the things you want to kill."

Chris let out a small scoff. "I know how to use a shotgun, man."

The Stranger shot him a hard look. "No, you don't."

Chris frowned. "And what makes you the expert?"

A faint smile played on the Stranger's face. "Trust me. I know." Without waiting for a response, he pushed open the door, ready to leave.

From behind, Ashley's voice cut through the air. "Hey." Chris turned toward her, and she stepped forward, placing a soft kiss on his lips. "Come back safe," she whispered.

Chris felt a surge of determination. "I will. I'll see you soon." He nodded firmly, stepping outside into the cold. "So," he asked, following the Stranger down the stairs, "you're the expert on these... things. What do I need to know?"

"Just stay sharp and follow my lead," the Stranger replied as he descended the steps.

I clutched my shotgun tighter, anxiety creeping in. "How many shots to take one of them down?" I asked, thinking of the Wendigos out there waiting.

"You'll be shooting for a while," the Stranger answered.

My heart sank. "You're saying this won't kill them?"

"It'll slow them down," he said with a shrug.

Chris chimed in. "Then how do we kill them?"

The Stranger kept walking, his boots crunching in the snow. "They're afraid of fire. Fire can kill them. Their skin's like armor—thick—unless you burn it off first."

The pathway to the shed came into view, and dread settled in as we approached. Inside, where Josh had been sitting, the spot was empty, the ground smeared with blood. My heart sank. Chris's frustration flared, but I bent down, inspecting the fresh blood. It hadn't been long.

I glanced over and noticed the Stranger's sharp focus on the outside, his eyes scanning the treeline. A chill crept down my spine as I realized: the Wendigo was out there, hunting us, waiting. The theory was confirmed by a bloodcurdling shriek that echoed through the night. My grip tightened on the shotgun as I took a step forward.

"We need to go. Now," the Stranger commanded, his voice low but urgent. He knew things were about to spiral.

But I couldn't let it go. "What about Josh? I can't leave him out here," I argued, my voice trembling with the weight of losing yet another family member.

The Stranger turned, stepping close to me, his voice grim and steady. "Listen to me. First, the Wendigo will paralyze you. Then it'll strip the skin off your entire body, piece by piece. And it'll keep you alive, aware, while it feasts on your organs. One piece at a time." His words cut through the cold air like a blade.

Chris nodded, resigned. "So, back to the lodge, then."

The Stranger took a deep breath, eyes narrowing. "Let's go. Now. It's still close." Without another word, he headed out of the shed, the urgency in his steps pulling us along behind him.

I followed closely, keeping my senses sharp, when the Stranger suddenly whispered, "Wait. Don't move." His voice was barely audible, but it carried a weight of urgency.

Chris and I froze, every muscle tense. At the Stranger's signal, we cautiously started moving again, but something spooked him. Instinct kicked in, and I took off running. That's when the Wendigo appeared, moving faster than I could react. The Stranger tried blasting it with his flamethrower, but the creature nimbly dodged out of the way.