The Blackwood Curse

Three Hours Until Dawn (part two)

I blunder through the forest, tears streaming down my face and my breathing erratic. Emily's cries keep echoing around my head, refusing to stop. The image of her head lolling to the side while blood poured out of her eyes, forming crimson tear-tracks down her cheeks is something I'll never be able to force out of my mind. I see the lodge just ahead, its lights beckoning to me welcomingly. I don't realise it, but I'm screaming out in terror as I run, the fear overwhelming me completely. I bang on the door as hard as I can.
"Let me in! LET ME IN!" The lodge door opens and I throw myself inside, scrambling inside as fast as my legs will allow me.
"Shut the door! Shut the door!" I command Mike hysterically, who I hadn't seen in my haste. He quickly slams the door shut, peering outside for whatever I was so afraid of while the others babble at me incoherently. I stay on the floor, trying to calm my breathing with little success. Josh appears at my side.
"Josh!" I cry out, almost hysterical. He pulls me to him, trying to calm me down by stroking my hair and murmuring words of comfort. Eventually I am able to stop myself hyperventilating, but the flow of tears doesn't ebb.
"Max? Max what happened?"
"It was...it was chasing us...me and E-Em"
At the mention of her name I collapse into Josh once again and am reduced to a sobbing wreck.
"Where's Em and Matt? What happened?" Ashley asks, her eyes wide.
"Emily...Emily...Sh-she's...she's"
"What? She's what?" Mike urges impatiently, panicking. Josh shoots him a venomous glare, his grip on my shoulders tightening as bites back a pointed remark.
"D-dead! It killed her! She's dead!" I blurt out. A shocked silence fills the room.
"Dead?" Mike gasps eventually, tears shining in his eyes.
"It...it gouged her eyes out...right in front of me...the same thing that almost killed me when...Hannah and B-Beth"
I have to force myself to say the words. They're too horrible to be true. Josh tenses at the mention of his sisters, but says nothing.
Sam approaches me and crouches down in front of me.
"Okay. I know you don't want to hear this, but we really have to know what happened last year. Do you think you can tell us?"
I hesitate, then nod. So I tell them. From the moment I ran after Beth right up until I passed out on the cliff. I have to pause every once in a while and fight back the sheer crushing wave of panic that threatens to drown me. When I'm done, everyone is staring at me aghast. Suddenly, Josh nuzzles into my shoulder and wraps his arms around me so tightly I can barely breathe.
"...Josh?" I stammer tentatively.
"Thank you. Thank you for telling me"
"But...I couldn't-"
He hugs me closer, if that's even possible.
"It wasn't your fault, Max. I would never blame you"
Somehow, despite the situation, that makes me feel better. I've been fearing it for so long that finally hearing it said out loud is like a weight being lifted off of my shoulders.
"Oh my god...Max, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that" Ashley falters, averting her eyes. I shake my head.
"Emily. I can't get her out of my head...she was right there...she almost made it back here..." I'm calmer; as 'calmer' as I can be, anyway. I've stopped crying, as if I've run out of tears, but an immense sadness still chokes me like a noose, the rope poised to drop.
Chris enters the room from the doorway to the basement, frowning when he sees the scene before him.
"Max? Is that you?"
I peer up at him. His expression softens when he sees my no doubt tear-stained face and red eyes.
"Oh my god. Are you okay? You look like you've been to hell and back"
"Chris...I'm not hurt, but..." I trail off. I bite my lip and force it down. Deep down. Come on, Max. Emily wouldn't want you to cry over her like this. Be tough, Max. At least until you get out of this mess.
"It was moving so fast. I couldn't help her in time, and now she's dead. Emily is dead" I stand slowly, my legs shaking slightly, and I worry for a moment that they might buckle. "No one is allowed to split off from the group. No splitting up, you hear me? No one else is going to die tonight" I finish my little speech, and it's followed by a tense silence. Chris gulps, walking forwards a couple of steps.
"Can you tell us exactly what happened?"
"We were on the fire tower, and it collapsed and we fell right into the mines"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what mines?" Chris cuts me off. Josh gets up from the floor and stands next to me.
"There are some abandoned mine shafts in the mountain, but they were closed off years ago when there was this big collapse in there" he explains. Trust him to know the entire history of the mountain.
"I don't understand? The tower fell?"
"How'd the tower fall?"
I ignore Sam and Ashley and continue.
"Me and...Em were walking down there trying to find a way out and...I've seen some seriously fucked up shit tonight"
I run a hand through my hair and sigh deeply. Every time I close my eyes I see her, hear her.
"We found Beth's grave"
Everyone gasps, with the exception of Josh who just stands there, closes his eyes and lets his shoulders slump.
"Jesus Christ, that's horrible" Chris mutters.
"When we were in the tower, we got through to someone, but they said they wouldn't be here until dawn. The storm's too heavy, they can't land"
That's when I catch sight of Mike standing on his own with his back to us, staring into the darkness blankly. Guilt instantly consumes me.
"Mike...I'm so sorry..." I whisper. He glances back at me over his shoulder.
"Don't be. It's just I wish I had been on better terms with her before she..." he trails off. I go over to him and place my hand on his shoulder comfortingly. My heart breaks a little for him; what if that had been Josh? What if we had never had the chance to resolve everything? It must be awful.
"What was this 'thing' you keep talking about? Was it some kind of monster?" Ashley inquires timidly, like she doesn't want to know the answer.
"There's no such thing as mon-"
"Oh believe me, there is" I cut Chris off sharply. His mouth snaps shut and he casts his eyes down.
A loud knocking on the front door startles us all. We turn and stare at it warily.
"Who the hell could that be?" Mike hisses.
"Matt?" Sam suggests.
"Jess?" Chris adds. Mike gives him a dangerous glare with his jaw set.
"It's not Jess"
"Sorry man, but who is it?" Chris stumbles to cover up his mistake.
"I don't know, but we should check it out" Mike replies. Chris reaches out slowly and pokes Mike's shoulder.
"I got your back"
"Good"
Chris and Mike start creeping towards the door. I follow them closely, peering over their shoulders. Mike pulls a gun out of his pocket and hands it to me.
"Where the hell did you get this?"
"Just take it!" He insists, pressing it into my palm. I do so reluctantly and hold it up, aiming it at the shadow. The weapon shakes along with my hand. Chris sneaks up to the door and gets ready to pull it open.
"Ready? Three, two..." he twists the knob, and instantly the door flies open, knocking Chris onto the floor. The man on the other side advances on Mike and I.
"Ah! Ho-hold on there! Hold on there mister" Mike tells the man, holding his hand out defensively. I click the hammer of the gun into place and step to the side to get clear of Mike. That's when I recognise him. He's the man who gave us that flare, who helped us in the mines. His mask and goggles are gone, and now I can see the scar that slashes right through his right eye on his rugged, aged face. I lower the gun slowly.
"Max! What are you doing?" Mike's eyes widen.
"He's safe. He helped me"
"You don't know-"
"I said he's safe" I repeat firmly. Mike glares at the old man as he nods and backs off, who gives me a smirk.
"Thanks, girlie" he glances at the pistol. "Looks like you know how to use that thing. Good thing you're the sensible sort"
Then he turns to address everyone.
"Ok. Everybody just calm down. Now just move over there" he walks purposefully and herds us back into the centre of the room with nothing but his intimidating air. "Go on, move! Let me say what I came to say"
I still keep the gun by my side, just in case he turns hostile. He keeps eyeing it suspiciously, as if I might shoot at any moment.
"I'm not taking any chances" I explain calmly, though a ferocious anger that grew from my despair is burning inside.
"Your friend didn't make it, did she?"
My eyes flash, and I clench my jaw.
"No. She didn't" I respond through gritted teeth. I feel Josh's hand gently grip my upper arm. His touch soothes me, like a balm.
"Well I'm sorry for your loss, but now it's more important than ever that you know what you're up against back on this mountain. You should never have returned. I don't know why you did after what happened last year"
The man stalks around us, coming to a stop in front of the fire place, setting his bag down on the flagstone.
"You mean with Hannah and Beth?" Ash chimes in innocently.
"What else?" Josh spits. I bring my hand up to his and squeeze it gently. Normally I would defend Ashley and her cluelessness, but I can't bring myself to. Not after all he's been through because of their absence.
"Yeah. How could you know without being involved?" Chris narrows his eyes. Sam shift forwards in her seat, cocking her head to the side.
"Or responsible?"
The old man whirls around, an ugly snarl on his face. The gun jerks in my hand, but I keep it under wraps. I can't afford to be rash.
"You hold onto your horses," he sneers, "I don't take kindly to you kids coming up here to my mountain"
I let out a cold, short laugh.
"Your mountain? Your parents would be interested to hear that, wouldn't they, Josh?" I exchange a suspicious look with him. The man chuckles; a gravelly, hoarse sound.
"Well, this mountain don't belong to me, it's true. But it don't belong to you Washingtons either. This mountain belongs to the Wendigo"
Immediately the group erupts into questioning murmurs. I simply frown, studying the stranger closely. I've heard of these things before.
"Hear him out guys" I call, and they all fall silent in agreement.
"Now I'm only gonna tell you this once. It doesn't matter if you believe it or not. I got reasons I want to...get it off my chest"
"See? I told you. He's guilty as shit! Guilty of something!" Mike interjects immediately.
"Shh! Shut up Mike!" Sam hisses through her teeth.
I'm starting to get impatient with all this stalling; and I get agitated when I'm impatient. Seeming to sense this, Josh slides his hand down my arm and clasps it over mine, ensuring the gun stays in place.
"We're all lucky you do anger management" he whispers softly in my ear. The corners of my mouth twitch upwards in the smallest of smiles. The old man turns to face the fire, squaring his shoulders.
"There...is a curse that dwells in these mountains. Should any man or woman resort to cannibalism in these woods, the spirit of the Wendigo shall be unleashed"
I recognise this curse. I loved history, so I used to study old cultures.
"Algonquian lore. Native American" I blurt out. The man glances back at me, apparently approving.
"Smart girl. Done your homework"
Turning back around, he addresses us all.
"You're gonna need to find somewhere safe"
"The basement might be okay" Sam suggests. We all look at Josh, and he nods.
"Probably our best bet" he agrees.
"Okay. Get down there, now. All of you. And wait"
"What? Why? For how long?"
"Until dawn" I respond. Josh hesitates, and then speaks up.
"The psycho. He took the keys to the basement off of me when he took me and Ash to the shed"
We all groan defeatedly.
"Well where is that bastard then? Can't I just-" I gesture to the gun. Suddenly, a guttural, deep laugh fills the room.
"I'm afraid. It won't be that easy, Maxine. If you want your precious keys..." a video feed flickers on to the TV. The psycho dangles not just the keys to the basement, but also the cable car keys in his gloved hand, his head leaning to the side. "...then I'm afraid you'll have to come and retrieve them" he puts the keys back in his pocket. I march forwards and point an accusing finger at the screen, glaring with my lips forming a tight, thin line.
"Don't mess with me, fucker. I've had enough of your-"
There's a screech, and the psycho whirls around as the door to the shed starts to buckle.
"What-?" The video cuts out. The old man 'hrrms' and nods.
"I never liked that guy, but I'm sorry to say he'll probably be dead by the time we get to him"
"W-What? How? We just saw him!" Chris stammers, gesticulating at the now black screen.
"A lot can happen quickly on this mountain"
"Great. So if we don't get the keys, we're dead, and if we try and get the keys we're dead" I throw my arms up in the air frustratedly. I look at all of my friends exchanging terrified glances, and make my decision right then.
"I'm going to get those keys"
"Max, no!" Josh grabs me as if he's afraid I'll sprint off there and then if he doesn't hold me in place. "It's too dangerous, and I'm not losing you!"
"Take it from me, boy. If she can survive the mines, she can survive anything. Besides, I'm going with her"
"I don't need-"
"Going alone is suicide. You've seen what these things can do"
I close my eyes and turn my head away, not needing the reminder. I pause before eventually and begrudgingly replying;
"Fine"
"The rest of you, get to somewhere safe and don't leave until we come back"
Josh turns me away from the others and starts talking to me in a low voice.
"Max, you just got back from the mines, you're in shock. You can't do this!" His voice betrays his immense anxiety. I stroke his cheek fondly.
"I'm not letting anyone else die tonight, Josh" I tell him decisively.
"Then I'm coming with you"
"Especially not you. If you try to come along I'll personally tie you to this fucking place; you see if I don't"
He looks away, closing his eyes and pursing his lips. There is a long pause. I'm not joking, and he knows it. There's no way he's joining us.
"If you die out there...I'm gonna murder you" he sighs defeatedly with his eyes still closed. I cup his face in my hands and kiss him, pouring all of my emotion into it. His hands find their way to my waist, pulling me closer. It's such a bittersweet moment, the bitter being the threat of death hanging over us all, and the sweet being sharing what might be my last moments with him. All I know is that I wouldn't have it any other way. I pull away reluctantly, regretfully, never wanting to leave his warmth. I snuggle into his shoulder.
"I love you" he chokes, and I feel his tears on my neck. If it was any other situation, I might tease him for being dramatic. But not now.
"I love you too" I mumble back, my grip becoming more desperate as my heart pangs in sadness. I leave him with a final longing gaze, before turning and strolling out into the entrance hall beside the stranger. Just before the front door, he stops me and turns to face me.
"Listen here, girlie. If you wanna survive to see your boyfriend again, you got to listen to everything I say, you understand? I'm going to get the keys. You're going to help me" he commands me like a drill sergeant, exposing his crooked yellow teeth. I nod dutifully, knowing that this is probably the stupidest thing I've ever done.
And I'm doing it for Emily. I'm doing it for Josh. I'm doing it for Sam, Ash, Chris, Mike, Matt, Jess. I'm even doing it for Hannah and Beth. The old man wordlessly hands me a shotgun, then turns and flings the door open. We step outside, onto the landing, and I hear the door close behind us. I peer back and see Josh watching us through the glass panes, a sad smile on his lips. I return it before catching up to the man and setting off into the dark woods.
His flamethrower pack clunks with every step. I can't help but wonder how he gets around so quickly with that on his back. Looks heavy. In reality I know I'm only thinking about that so that I don't have to think about anything else.
"So...will the gun kill it?" I inquire, being unable to withstand the weighted silence.
"You'd be shooting an awful long time. Skin's hard, like armour. Only-"
"Fire," I interrupt, "they don't like fire. I read about it"
"Not many things do. S'the only thing they fear. It can kill 'em, if it comes to that. Makes their skin weak. Should try to avoid killing them, though"
I find myself frowning, confused.
"Why?"
"It unleashes the Wendigo spirit"
He responds, as if that should clear up everything. We continue on for a few more moments in silence,
"Do they have patterns?"
"They only hunt at night"
"Oh. Why?"
The man peers at me out of the side of his eye, the corner of his mouth turning up.
"I didn't ask"
The shed is near, but it's so dark I can't see it clearly. Just the shadowed outline of the building.
"Is there any way I can make them not murder me?" I suddenly gush. The fear and stress must be getting to me. The man snorts.
"What? You want a lullaby, girlie?"
"If that works" I shrug. Rock-a-bye Wendigo; sounds like a hit.
"They can't see you if you're standing still. It's like toads. Sight's based on changes of movement in their field of vision"
"So if I don't move, I'm invisible?"
I can see the shed clearly now. We're getting very close.
"Yeah. Wouldn't recommend testing it out...unless you have no other choice"
As we get within a few feet of the building the weight of that shotgun starts to get real comforting. Something eerie hangs over the place, like it's haunted. I get a shiver running up my spine, and it's not from the cold. That's when I see him.
The psycho has been literally torn apart. His corpse lies on the ground outside, his guts spilling out of a huge gash in his abdomen. I wrinkle my nose in disgust.
"Lovely"
I'm not that bothered by the display. In fact I take some comfort in the fact that we have one less threat to deal with. All the same, not a nice way to go. I stride over to him and start rummaging through his pockets. I find the keys to the basement within seconds, but I can't find the cable car keys no matter how much I look. I'm about to start looking in the area around the body when the old man suddenly yanks me to my feet.
"We have to go. Right now"
I don't bother to argue, I just do as I'm told. We run across the snowy ground, and we are about halfway to the tree line when he holds out his hand to stop me.
"Wait! Be quiet. Stand still. Don't move a muscle"
His tone is urgent and low. I freeze entirely, knowing what lurks nearby, and I keep perfectly still. My pulse quickens as I strain to listen for any sounds around us. Suddenly, the quiet night is pierced by a ear-splitting bellow.
"Run! Run!" The old man suddenly takes off, and I follow him closely. I see a Wendigo land a few feet in front of us just before it is completely engulfed in flames.
"Holy shit!" I yell involuntarily, the words leaping straight out of my throat. The grotesque creature shrieks and bounds off into the shadows, wounded.
"We have to get out of the open, we're-" he never gets a chance to finish his sentence. A Wendigo leaps at him from a tree with its mouth open in a snarl as its claws slice clean through the man's neck. He makes a pained gargling sound as blood spurts from his throat. He falls to his knees, his eyes rolling back, shortly followed by the rest of his head. It lands on the scarlet-stained snow beside his body, the muscles in his face relaxing in death as his blood pools in the stump of his neck.
"Oh my god...oh god!"
I'm so dead. I'm dead. The same Wendigo that just killed the stranger leaps at me, and I shoot it out of pure adrenaline-fuelled instinct. The force from the shot sends it flying backwards, and I waste no time in whirling around on the spot and running as fast as I can. Although the gun gave me a slight head start, I know it won't be nearly enough to get me all the way back to the lodge. I swivel around whilst running and take aim at the fast-approaching Wendigo. I shoot again, the bullet hitting it square in the chest and making it soar back into the trees. I face forwards again, only to find a tree branch blocking my way. I drop and slide under, my boot slipping at the last moment and making me fall onto my elbow. I wince at the jarring pain, but spring to my feet as quickly as possible and ignore the throbbing in my upper arm. The lodge is really close, but before I can rejoice too much I find my path blocked yet again. This one is smaller, and a lot harder to hit. So instead I shoot at what it is crouching beside; a pile of used up petrol cans that Josh's dad uses to burn rotten fire wood. The little fluid left in them ignites and explodes into a ball of bright fire, engulfing the Wendigo and some of the fallen tree near to it. I rush towards the lodge as fast as my legs can possibly carry me. The door swings open ahead of me, and out of the corner of my eye I spy Josh poised just behind it. As soon as I enter the house it slams shut behind me.
"Oh god!" I pant, clutching the gun.
"Max! What happened?" Josh grabs my shoulder.
"We have to go. That thing was right behind me!" Just as those words leave my mouth the Wendigo appears on the other side of the door and makes a leap for us, claws outstretched.
"Ah! What the FUCK?" Josh exclaims, stumbling back in fear.
"Go go go go go!" I pull him along, down to the basement door where everyone is waiting anxiously. I take out the keys and jam them in the lock, twisting until it clicks open. The whole group piles inside, almost tripping in our haste. I waste no time in locking the door after us while the others set about barricading all of the other potential entrances. After everything is secure, we all just stand there, looking around at each other.
"What took so long? We were getting worried about you!" Sam eventually breaks the silence.
"Understatement of the night" Josh and Mike add simultaneously.
"Yeah, not good up there right now" I crouch down, placing my hands on my knees as I catch my breath.
"Where's the flame thrower guy?" Sam pipes up again, folding her arms. I go to answer, but pause and frown. This is the first time I notice that her outfit has changed. And Ashley has a massive bruise on her head.
"What happened to you guys?"
Josh, Chris, Ash and Sam all exchange glances.
"The psycho. He lured us down into parts of the basement that even I didn't know about" Josh explains, and Ash continues.
"He gassed Chris, Sam and Josh and knocked me out"
"Then me and Ash were put in another trap. I had to shoot...myself or Ash, or we would both be killed by saws. But the gun was filled with blanks"
Chris cuts in, his voice cracking when he mentions the trap. I bite my lip and look away.
"I woke up next to Josh in some sort of side room.  Mike found us there" Sam hurries to finish the story. "Anyway, where's-?"
"I'm glad he got fucking torn apart" I mutter, rage flashing inside me like a dangerous time bomb. I clench my fists, glaring at the floor.
"The psycho?" Ash asks softly, timidly.
"Yup. Guts, blood and bones everywhere" I recall with way too much satisfaction.  The others squirm uncomfortably at my happy tone, except for Josh who just watches me calmly.
"Good. I hope he was in agony" he responds eventually in a monotone voice, looking straight at me as he says it. I nod once. No one else either agrees or disagrees, just stay frozen to the spot in complete silence except for the sound of our breathing.
"And the flame thrower guy?" Sam urges again. I shake my head, propping the gun up against the wall as the weight of it starts to make my arm ache.
"Didn't make it"
"Shit, what happened?" She curses, stepping towards me whilst frowning deeply.
"The Wendigo got him. It just..." I draw my finger across my throat "I didn't have time to react. It came out of nowhere"
"Oh god" Sam gasps under her breath. Right now she's thinking what everyone else is; we're fucked.
Mike suddenly starts pacing frantically around the room, seemingly searching for something.
"Alright. These all the doors?" He calls to us, still rushing about the room as if it's a race.
"Yeah"
"Are you sure?"
"What exactly are you looking for?"
"Another way out" he responds grimly, his boots squeaking on the floor as he turns sharply and comes back towards us. Sam and I start towards him.
"Mike, I really don't think that's a good idea. We should stay put, right here, until dawn" Sam's suggestion is followed by multiple murmurs of agreement.
"At least we're safe down here" I add.
"Oh? Yeah? All wrapped up like a little Christmas present with a bow on top for that thing to tear us apart on Christmas morning?" Mike babbles angrily, gesticulating wildly and  evidently not in his right mind.
"People will come for us in the morning" I try to reassure him. He narrows his eyes at me.
"You don't sound so sure"
"How fucking sure can we fucking be, Mike? We're being chased by demon monsters who, in case you hadn't noticed, want to chomp our fucking arses off! It's our only chance!" I shout, the echoes of my tirade filling the large, empty room.
"Well you can wait, I'm going" Mike waves me off and turns away from us.
"There's no point, man. We don't have the cable car keys, you'll never get the stupid thing going" Josh explains to him, stopping by my side. Mike rolls his eyes dramatically.
"Then what the hell was the use of you going out there, Max?" I can't take any more of his patronising tone. I start towards him, but Josh grabs me by the waist and holds me back.
"Try me, bitch!" I yell, struggling to get free. Instead of backing off like he usually would, the stress and terror overcome him.
"Oh, you want me to try you?"
"Please don't" Josh groans.
"Sorry, what was that? Admit it, you just want us all to feel sorry for you two when you aren't even the ones who went missing!" Josh tenses, but I continue fighting against him, seeing red. I'm fuelled only by anger.
"Shut up right now, or I swear to god I'll let go" Josh threatens calmly. Mike strolls towards us.
"You think I'm scared? Oh look at me, I'm so messed up I have to go to anger manag-"
Josh releases me.
The slap that Mike receives on his cheek sends him reeling, the sound echoing through the whole basement. My palm stings from the impact, but not as much as his words. I know he's majorly shaken up, but I couldn't let him continue his rant. Not without possibly snapping something of his.
"Shut up" I spit. "You don't know what I went through. What Josh went through. Look, I'm sorry about Jess and Em, I really am, but you need to shut your mouth" I breathe in deeply, calming myself again, "If you apologise now I can accept that you said those things out of grief" I offer.
Mike holds a hand over his cheek, looking thoroughly mortified.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's just...when Jess...I didn't think it could get any worse. Then Emily..." He falters, choking back tears. "I can't help but feel like I could've done...anything"
I know. I know exactly how he feels. Right now I can sense everyone's eyes staring at me, but I don't care.
"Forget about it"
Mike frowns.
"But-"
"It's done. It's over" I seal my forgiveness with one statement, and just like that it's over with. I did what had to be done, and now it's over. Mike slinks shamefully back to his corner, and yet another heavy silence falls upon us all.
"So...the cable car keys?" Sam breaches the quiet cautiously, as if approaching a wild animal.
"Probably in the mines by now" I shrug. "We've got no chance of getting them now"
"What? Why the mines?" Josh turns me to face him, brow furrowed in confusion.
"Like I said, I saw some horrible stuff down there. I think it's where it lives, and..." I trail off when I see an old book lying on a table next to Flamethrower guy's backpack. Must have left it here. I bend down and pick it up, turning the front cover over between my thumb and forefinger. I examine it closely, reading the slanted, scrawling handwriting intently.
"Fuck it" I hear Mike swear "I'm gonna get that key right from that thing's goddamn bedroom, and then I'm gonna get us all the hell out of here"
I think he is guilty about saying those things, but now he's trying to make up for it by being reckless, and that's the last thing we need. I open up the bag and draw out a piece of peeling parchment stuffed carelessly down the side of the bag.
"Is that a map?" Josh points at the faint black lines drawn crudely across the page. I nod in reply. Hearing his voice so close to my ear makes me shudder involuntarily, makes my mind wander.
I mentally pinch myself. Come on Max, focus.
"What is that?" Sam mutters, tracing a line on the paper with her finger.
"I was down there. It was horrible" Mike announces from behind us, his voice trembling at the memory.
"You were?" Sam turns to glance at him.
"There had been a cave-in, in the fifties I guess, and these miners got trapped down there. Some of them survived, but...like...fifteen of them didn't make it. There was this reporter and I think he figured out there had been some big cover up going on. I found some plans; they knew the mine was a death trap, but they let the miners keep working anyway. And...I'm not sure what it means but...I found this chair. Dried blood all over the place like someone had been...tortured"
I'm sick to my stomach after hearing his story. I turn my head away and breathe deeply to force down the nausea that threatens to overwhelm me.
"That's repulsive" Ash speaks up from the shadows of the room, where she is perched on a desk next to Chris. We all shiver in agreement.
"See that tunnel? Leading from the lodge to the Sanatorium? That's how I got back here"
I gesture at an area of the map to the left, tracing a circle with the tip of my index finger.
"I saw that when I was down there. That's where it lives"
Mike starts walking away from us. I whirl around in a panic.
"Mike!"
"No one leave. I'll be back soon"
I start to go after him, but Josh stops me.
"You can't stop him, Max. He'll just blow up again if you try"
I hear the door close, and I know it's already too late. He's gone. In a daze, I pick up the book I found and stride over to a chair. Sitting down, I start flicking through the pages. Organised into chapters; kind of OCD, isn't it?
Cannibalism.
History.
Under 'Combat' I read that they can perfectly mimic their prey. Good to know.
The more I read, the more I realise just how much shit Mike is in. He can't die, I won't let anyone else die. Not tonight. Not ever. I stand, snap the book shut and drop it carelessly on the floor.
"Max?"
"We have to get to Mike. Now"
I march out of the room purposefully, my confused friends in close tow. Josh runs to catch up with me, gripping my hand to get my attention.
"Max, what's going on?"
"We're saving that son of a bitch"