𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 | 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐰𝐧 ✅

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄

𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐏 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑      𝐅 𝐈 𝐕 𝐄
ʙᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ

     THE BASEMENT of Washington Lodge was tense, former friends seated uncomfortably away from each other as the anxiety of the night loomed over them. Ashley and Chris were throwing judgmental glares at Shiloh and Josh, who were sitting on the ground against a wall on the other side of the room.

     Emily and Sam were talking near the map, the ravenette throwing nasty looks toward her ex-boyfriend and Ashley.

     Shiloh sighed, resting her head on Josh's shoulder with a tiredness looming over her. He smiled to himself, laying his head on hers, as he took her hand in his. Her free hand fiddled with his bracelets, a habit she could never seem to kick; her mind was foggy from the exhaustion, from the pain—allowing Chris' words from earlier to seep back into her mind.

     "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, her voice a low whisper as it reached his ears. "I could've helped..."

     Josh shrugged lightly, his pale eyes locking onto their intertwined hands. He knew what she was talking about, and he was irritated with his blond friend for pointing it out. "I didn't think you could... I don't know. They helped with the depression, but—"

     "Not the hallucinations." She finished with a small nod. She understood—Shiloh had been friends with the Washingtons long before Mike had. She was there when Josh had been hospitalized, when he'd gotten out, when his sisters found out the truth about their strong older brother. "We'll find someone to help, okay? When we get out of here."

     The man nodded with a small smile, placing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "You help. You keep me grounded."

     "Well," she chuckled softly. "Someone has to."

     Mike took a deep breath from across the basement, arms crossed as he walked over to the duo. The sound of his boots caught their attention, both parties tensing up at his presence before Shiloh broke the silence. "What do you want?"

     The brunette's head hung low, eyes on the concrete floor beneath them. "To apologize... to both of you."

     His sister hummed, her interest peaked and her exhaustion hiding beneath her anger. "Go on."

    Mike brought his brown eyes to hers, first. She deserved an apology from him, slightly more so than Josh; he needed to apologize to the eldest Washington, as well, but Shiloh was his sister—his twin—and he'd failed her three times now.

     "First..." He sighed, eyes glancing between the two, "About last year. Shy, you were right. I should've stopped the prank, and I don't know why I didn't. I'm sorry that my dumbass decision got you," he looked to Josh, "and the girls, hurt. I wish I could take it back. I'm sorry."

     Josh nodded, repulsion still tainting his veins as he looked at his former friend. An apology wouldn't bring his sisters back, it wouldn't undo the damage that had been done, but it was an appreciated start.

     Shiloh looked at her brother expectantly, as if knowing what else he was going to apologize for. "And for the whole Jess thing and, y'know, probably rebreaking my rib... We're cool, bro. But you know things'll never go back to normal, right?"

     "Yeah. I-I know."

     Her gaze turned to Josh, whose eyes swirled with pain and confliction. She knew he'd never be able to forgive or forget what they'd done—but after tonight? Well, the group was still going to have quite a sick bond connecting them... if they made it out, anyways.