I'm Sorry

8. Suspiscion

Ashley charged into the main room where everyone was talking.
"You!" She said angrily, pointing a shaky finger towards Beth. She wasn't able to hold in the tears in her eyes.
"It's your fault!" Ashley tried to wipe the tears from her face.
"What?" asked Beth, a "confused" expression covering her face.
"Chris is dead because of you!"
As soon as Ashley said that, all faces turned to Beth. But those faces weren't quick enough to see the small smile on Beth's face after Ashley's declaration. Luckily for Ashley, Beth couldn't muster a sad or scared expression.
"Beth," asked Sam, "is this true?"
Beth slowly shook her head.
"Beth," asked Mike.
"Are you lying to us?"
Beth didn't move. She truly felt no guilt, but she wasn't a very good actress.

Ashley burst out sobbing after Mike's question. Beth couldn't even pretend to be sad after she had basically killed Chris! She thought Beth had forgiven her. She had thought wrong.

Sam stared at Beth for a second. She had wanted to be her friend, but after what Ashley said, she wasn't quite sure that was a smart move. Sam went over to calm down her now sobbing friend.

Emily simply walked right to Ashley. She stopped one second next to Beth.
"If what Ashley said is true," she paused for a moment.
"then I should've left you there in that damn cave,"
Emily wrapped her arms around Ashley, who gladly welcomed the embrace.

Mike stood there, looking at Beth. She had been so nice only a few hours ago. He slowly shook his head. And to think, he felt bad that his girl had to live through hell. Now, she deserved to live through it forever. Mike made his way to Ashley.

All of the friends turned to face Beth.
"What is this?" she asked , putting her fake confused expression back on.
"A standoff? I didn't do anything! Except for make out with Chris...."
Everyone knew basically what had happened after that. Except for how Chris died, but Ashley didn't think she would share that anytime soon.
Beth put her hands behind her back.
"Besides," she whispered. "He was just a nerd, wasn't he?"
Ashley cried even more. Mike sighed. Sam's eyes became sad. Emily decided to fight back.
"Her boyfriend is dead! Whether or not it's because of you, the least you can do is show some sympathy for her! You of all people should know how that feels."

Beth was silent.

Sam and Emily guided Ashley to the other room, because maybe if she wasn't around Beth, she would calm down a bit.

Ashley stopped crying a bit when she saw what room she was in. This was where Chris had sacrificed himself for her.
"Let me tell you what happened, after both of us were outside," whispered Ashley.
The other girls listened in.
"He chased me outside into the woods, and told me he promised not to let anything hurt me again. Then we heard the... the Wendigo.. behind us. We were going to make it, we really were, but then it grabbed me and I fell and twisted my ankle. Chris picked me up and carried me back to the lodge," Ashley smiled at this memory. Her smile faded as she continued talking.
"When we were on that deck, it-it knocked him over. He told me that... that..."
"What did he tell you?" whispered Emily encouragingly.
"He told me he loved me. Then, he let go of me and the Wendigo dragged him into the forest, and I came inside."
Ashley looked out through the door. She saw a green coat out at the border of the forest.
"Chris?"
"Ashley, don't go out there, okay?" said Sam.
Ashley pulled away from the two girls and headed outside. Sam was going to follow her, but Emily stopped her and shook her head.

"Chris!" she called, running out towards the woods.

She stopped when she got to the coat.
"Chris?"
His breathing was fast. He turned to face her.
"Ashley, what are you doing here? You have to go back to the lodge!"
"I can't, Chris!"
"Yes you can, Ashley! Go! I can't let anything happen to you!"
Ashley didn't move. Chris sighed, and took off his coat.
"Here," he whispered. "something to remember me by,"
Ashley took the coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Please go, Ash, please."
Ashley turned and started to walk away. She turned back for a half of a second to see Chris stop breathing.

Ashley knew how dangerous it was to stand outside, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She just smiled sadly towards Chris and tightened her grip on the coat. That's when she heard pounding on the glass door into the lodge. Ashley turned to see Sam and Emily frantically motioning towards a Wendigo standing almost directly in front of the door.

Ashley sighed. No adrenaline kicked in. She had lost her determination(ha ha undertale anyone). She didn't move a muscle. The Wendigo moved closer to her and shrieked. Surprised, Ashley's foot fell forward and fell on an extremely conscientious stick, breaking it. Ashley closed her eyes, knowing what was coming.

Then she heard a scream.
"HEY!" It came from the direction of the lodge.
Ashley opened her eyes to see Sam standing outside the lodge, waving her arms around wildly.
"No no no no no," Ashley muttered, too inaudible for anyone to hear.
"Nobody else can die because of me..."
But Ashley couldn't move. Her heart was pounding out of her chest, urging Sam not to make any stupid moves.
The Wendigo ran up to Sam, lifting her by her head. Ashley knew this was her only chance at escape. She ran towards the door, tears rolling down her cheeks. Ashley rushed through the door. Emily shut it behind her.

Ashley turned around just in time to see the Wendigo lodge its big claw right in Sam's stomach. It pulled it out and dropped a dead Sam on the ground.

Ashley's thought process froze. Her brain couldn't process this new information. Sam was... dead? And it was Ashley's fault? She had been the one to make Sam go out there. There were two people, two friends, two children, two... Lovers? Dead. Because of Ashley. Guilt ate at her.

Emily stared outside at Sam's body until it was dragged away by the Wendigo. Ashley must feel horrible. Emily turned to face her friend. She was staring blankly in no specific direction.
"Ashley," said Emily.
"It is not your fault-"
"Yes it is! How can you possibly tell me that that wasn't my fault?"
Emily pondered this for a moment.
"It's just not, okay? Beth led your boyfriend to his death, and you saw him! Of course you'd want to see him one last time!"
Ashley smiled a bit.
"thank you."
"For what?"
"For believing me."
"How could I not?"