The Blackwood Curse

Last Year

"Come on Maxie"
"No. I don't want a hangover"
My drunk boyfriend Josh teetered on the edge of his stool, liquor sloshing around in the bottle in his hand. He grinned idiotically and put an arm around me sloppily.
"You're real pretty," he slurred, "lemme kiss you"
"Josh, you're drunk!" I laughed, gently pushing him away.
"No...I'm HAPPY!" He yelled, and I had to catch him as he almost fell off the back of the chair. I took the bottle from him. He groaned in protest and then slumped over the counter, snoring. I put the bottle beside him and kissed his cheek lightly.
"Night, hon" I whispered softly before quietly retreating out of the room. I heard giggling nearby, so I went to investigate.
I poked my head around the door and saw everyone except Hannah, Beth, Josh and Chris gathered around like conspirators. The latter two because they were both passed out drunk.
"Hey Maxie, get over here" Jessica called in a stage whisper. I frowned in confusion and walked over.
"Don't you guys think this is a little bit cruel?" Sam asks, grimacing.
"She deserves it" Jessica smiled obnoxiously.
"What's going on?" I inquire curiously.
"Don't worry, Maxie, it's a dumb prank" Sam explained dismissively. I sighed internally. Same old story; Maxie is left out of the loop-an outsider.
"This isn't fair. It isn't her fault she has a huge crush on Mike"
"Wait, you're pranking Hannah because she likes Mike?"
The others exchanged a glance, sighed, and explained the plan to me. When they were done I gawped at them in anger and disbelief.
"What the fuck guys? That is so twisted! Why would you even think to do that?" I demanded furiously.
"Hey, Hannah has been putting the moves on Mike. I'm just looking out for my girl Em" Jess winked at Emily before skipping out jovially.
"Come on, Maxie. It'll be hilarious!" Mike tried to convince me. I crossed my arms.
"I don't consider humiliation 'hilarious'" I growled threateningly. Mike took a step back.
"Jeez. Grow a sense of humour. It's her fault for thinking I would go with her in the first place"
I clenched my fists tightly, my temper rising. How dare he say something like that about her! Sam took me by the arm.
"Come on. Let's go find Hannah" She whispered. I could hear Emily whining about Mike being 'her man' or whatever. Sam and I went upstairs and started searching the corridors for Hannah, intending to warn her about the prank.
"This is so horrible! Why would they do this to her? Sure, I would be pissed if someone made a move on Josh, but I wouldn't go full-on bitch! I swear I will break them if this upsets her"
"Sheesh, Maxie. I swear if you didn't hang out with us you would be a complete punk badass"
I felt myself relax at Sam's jibe.
"Yeah, probably"
We both heard a door opening quietly.
"Mike? Mike?" We could hear Hannah calling in a loud whisper. We gave each other panicked looks and rushed over to the bedroom. We knew we were too late when we heard laughing.
Hannah was holding her shirt over her chest, looking around despairingly at all of her 'friends'.
"Hannah, honey. It was just-" Sam attempted to soothe her, but she was barged out of the way by a weeping Hannah.
"-a stupid prank" Sam finishes, sighing. She turned on the others.
"You guys are jerks!" she yelled before running after Hannah, calling her name.
"I hope you're happy" I sneered in an scarily calm tone before following Sam. I saw Hannah run off into the darkness of the forest and started running after her, but Sam pulled me back.
"Sam!"
"Stay here. Josh would kill us all if we let both of you run off"
The others caught up to us, including Beth; Hannah's twin.
"What's going on? Where's my sister going?" She asked us.
"Ugh, it's fine. She just can't take a joke" Jess scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"It was just a prank, Han!" Emily called after her.
"Some prank" I spat.
"What did you do?" Beth demanded angrily.
"We were just messing around, Beth. It wasn't serious-" Mike started to explain.
"You JERKS!" Beth yelled at us all, turning to run. I broke out of Sam's grip and caught up to Beth, sprinting off into the dark forest. Beth is fast, but I'm faster. I stayed on her heel, going slightly slower than her. She knew these woods better than I did. We darted and crashed through the forest, making our way through trees and icy paths. Beth paused on a wooden platform, panting heavily. She saw me for the first time and glared angrily. I held up my hands in a peace-making gesture.
"Beth, come on. Do you really think I would do that to her?" I asked loudly over the howling gale.
Her expression softened and she shook her head. Both of them were like my own siblings. I would never do anything to hurt either of them. I peered over the ledge and jumped down. My feet stung upon impact, but I was otherwise okay. I got out of the way and Beth followed me. We started running again. The freezing snowflakes bit at my cheeks, making my skin sting. We came to a split path in the middle of the forest. I glanced behind me and realised that I was completely lost. Sam was right; We had better make it back or everyone is gonna have 'Death by Josh' engraved on their tombstones. I heard a sound to the right and ran towards it, hoping that it meant Hannah was close. We ran a few more meters when -to our dismay- we came to another split.
"Dammit Hannah where are you?" Beth muttered before spotting a trail of footprints. She followed them hastily, nearly slipping over in the snow. She jumped down another ledge and I followed closely. Beth pulled out her phone and activated her torch, illuminating the snow-topped woodland. We started walking slower, searching for clues of Hannah's whereabouts. A deer suddenly jumped across our path, startling both of us and making Beth scream. We both began to walk faster. I pulled my coat tighter around my shoulders, shivering from the cold.
"Hello? Hello?" Beth called, but no answer came. Beth's torch found a small wooden object lying in the snow. She knelt down and inspected it. It looked like a totem, decorated in faded black paint. Turning it over, she gasped and dropped it.
"What? What's wrong?" I placed a hand on her shoulder, concerned.
"N-Nothing" She stammered. She was obviously lying, but I decided to let it go. We had more important things to worry about.
I thought we were getting close when all of a sudden an orange ball of flame burst out from between the trees. It lasted for a few seconds, bathing the snow in a yellow light. When it ended, I could smell gas in the air. I stumbled back in shock, nearly bumping into Beth.
"The hell was that?" Beth whispered to me.
"I don't know" I replied, staring at the spot where it had appeared.
"We have to find Hannah before anything happens to her" Beth commanded determinedly, marching onwards. I went after her hesitantly, starting to get uneasy.
"Hannah!"
Beth and I ran over to her. She was crouched in the snow in nothing but her top and jeans. Beth took off her coat and offered it to Hannah.
"Oh my God, you must be freezing!" She exclaimed, wrapping it around her sister.
"I'm such an idiot! I'm so dumb!" Hannah sobbed. I bit my lip, staring at the ground. I felt guilty that I didn't do more to try and stop them.
"I'm so sorry, Hannah. I should have stopped them. I-"
I was cut off by an inhuman scream coming from the trees. We exchanged terrified glances.
"Guys?" Hannah choked fearfully. It came again. The twins started backing away, but I was rooted to the spot. Beth grabbed my arm and started running. We were all sprinting now. The trees passed in a blur as I ran a couple of meters ahead of both of them. We got to a bridge. I heard someone cry out behind me, and I turned to see that Hannah had tripped and fallen in her panic. I rushed over to help her up, and amid the fear none of us noticed Beth's phone slip out of her coat pocket. We skidded to a stop at the edge of a cliff. I watched in horror as a grotesque, inhuman creature emerged from the snow storm.
"No! Shit! Get back!" Beth commanded. As it drew closer I could see its long, razor-like teeth and bony body. It's pale skin was stretched over its bones as if it were a living skeleton. It's milky white eyes darted around as it crept closer and closer.
I heard Beth scream behind me. I whirled around to see that the twins had disappeared. I ran to the edge and saw both of them dangling by Beth's arm. I could see her grip gradually slipping. My heart stopped.
"Hang on! I'll get you!" I called to them, panicking. I knelt on the edge of the cliff and extended my hand to Beth. I was only an inch away when I was suddenly yanked back with great force. I screamed as I felt a blade-like thing slash deep into the skin on my chest. I started to hyperventilate, my pulse racing. I smelled something foul, like rotting flesh. I opened my eyes and shrieked again. The creature was right above me. It's face was warped and horrific, it's teeth jagged and filthy. Its cheeks were hollow, its eye sockets deep-set. What lips it had were severely chapped and slightly bloody. It's cheekbones stuck out, stretching the thin skin.  It scanned me with those awful, hungry, moon-like eyes.
Flame bursted above me, so close I could feel the searing heat. The creature screeched in pain and jumped away, running into the forest. I tried to move, but my chest exploded in agony. My vision swam and I felt so sick I nearly vomited. I looked down at the injury and felt my stomach wretch. I could see my collarbone.
I could see a figure dressed in black leaning over the cliff edge. A moment later, I heard Hannah and Beth scream as they fell.
"No!" I cried out desperately. The figure turned and saw me.
I heard my phone buzz next to me. The screen was a little cracked, but I could see who was calling. I weakly reached over and pressed answer, bringing it towards me. Every movement sent a wave of sickening nausea surging through me.
"Josh" I breathed weakly as the world faded away.

That is the last thing I can remember.