The Blackwood Curse

Epilogue

"Okay, can you tell us why you were on the mountain last night?"
"We were invited back by Josh. It was the anniversary of the death of his sisters. It was...closure, I guess"
"Were you aware that the events that followed were going to take place?"
"No. If I had, Jess and Emily wouldn't be dead"
"How did you come to be aware of their deaths?"
"Mike saw Jess die and...I was with Emily when she was killed"
"A few of your friends mentioned a 'psycho'. Was it this 'psycho' that killed her?"
"No. No it wasn't. It was one of those...those things"
"A monster?"
"More than a monster"
"Are you sure?"
"I watched it gouge her eyes out. Yes. I'm sure"
"The body of the psycho was found"
"No shit. I found it"
"I see"
"Is everyone alright?"
"...sorry?"
"My friends! Are they okay?"
"One of them was taken in for psychiatric help. He is recovering quickly"
"Josh"
"How did you know?"
"I'm his girlfriend"
"I see"
"Can I see him?"
"After this interview is finished"
"And when will that be?"
"Two more questions"
"Fine"
"There was a man. Your friends said they originally thought he was stalking them"
"Yes. He helped us. He saved our lives. Then...he didn't make it"
"Okay, and how did he die?"
"It got him. It got all of them. It took my friends from me"
"And what is it?"
"You wouldn't believe me. Go to the mines. See for yourself. I'm done here"

The steel doors open ahead of me. A sorry sight greets me when they do. All of my friends sat in a waiting room. Slumped in their chairs, staring at nothing. Dirty, haunted, hollow. They don't acknowledge me, they just stay stock still. Two empty seats that Emily and Jess should be sitting in. And another one for Josh.
A set of doors on the other side of the room open to reveal him. His gaze is firmly directed toward the floor. His usually tan skin is chalky and pale, hazel eyes bloodshot and shadowed.
"Josh!" I cry, unable to hold it back. His head snaps up, along with some of the others. A grin breaks out across his face, and he rushes forwards, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
"Oh my god you're okay thank god I thought you weren't going to make it" His words trip over his tongue as he speaks, making it all come out in a nonsensical babble. I nestle my face into his collar and bring my hands up to his back, closing my eyes and sighing deeply. The others gather around us in a circle. We break apart, and I look around the group.
"You guys alright?"
"As alright as we can be" Matt replies solemnly, the others nodding in agreement. A mournful silence fills the space between us.
"Hey, it's going to be okay guys" Mike addresses all of us, and we exchange sad smiles.
"Yeah. Eventually. We'll get through this"
"Together?"
"Sure"