Cameron Keen never expected her life to become entangled in the horrors of Blackwood Mountain.
Drawn back by a past she can't escape, she soon finds herself face to face with her old friend Josh Washington, a man haunted not just by grief, but...
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WENDIGO.
"Don't worry, dude, I've got your back." Chris muttered under his breath to Mike as they approached the door.
Mike nodded, his fingers tightening around the grip of his gun, the barrel pointed unwaveringly toward the door. Whatever was on the other side, he was ready to fire the second it became a threat.
Cameron moved quietly away from Ashley, her eyes searching the room until they landed on Josh, who had remained unnervingly still.
He wasn't where she expected him to be earlier, and for a brief, terrifying moment, she thought he'd slipped away. The memory of that panic still had her rattled as she made her way toward him.
She slid in beside him, her shoulder brushing against his arm.
"Did you want to make a dramatic entrance or something?" She whispered under her breath, hoping he didn't hear the nerves in her voice.
Josh didn't respond immediately, only a slight tilt of his head acknowledging her presence. His attention remained on the door, like everyone else's.
But there was a glimmer in his eye, a flicker of amusement that made her heart skip in annoyance. He finally leaned a little closer, just enough for his voice to reach her.
"Sorry." He murmured. "Did I scare you?"
Cameron could hear the teasing smile beneath his words. She exhaled sharply, glancing up at him, her gaze locking on the bruise forming on his cheek from where Chris had landed his punch.
"I thought you took off! Never do that to me again." She admitted.
Josh's gaze flicked to hers briefly, the smallest hint of something softer flashing across his features before he turned his focus back to the door. "Got it."
His casual response left her uncertain if he really understood, but it wasn't the time to push.
Cameron sighed, her mind racing. She couldn't afford to let her guard down with him again. No more assuming he was just behind her—she'd have to stay vigilant from then on.
Her eyes shifted to Mike and Chris, who were now locked in a tense exchange. Mike's voice was raised, his frustration rising as he urged Chris to open the door. The hesitation on Chris's face only seemed to make things worse.
And then she felt it—a warmth against her hand. She glanced down, startled as Josh's fingers slid into hers.
His touch was careful, his fingers brushing lightly against her skin in a gesture that felt so out of place amidst the chaos. She looked up at him, searching his face, but he didn't look back. His gaze remained fixed on the door, as if what he'd just done was a natural, unconscious act.
