After That Night: Until Dawn Fanfiction

Chapter Six

Chris

I call Matt, figuring that Sam will tell Jess and Mike and that Matt will tell Emily the news.

Ashely walks up behind me. "Are you ready to go?"

"No, but let's do it," I say, grabbing my phone and getting up from the kitchen table.

Ashley and I get there only a second before Sam, Mike, and Jess do. We all get out of our cars and walk up to the house without greeting each other.

Mrs. Washington answers the door and we enter the house, sitting down on the couches with Mr. Washington as we wait for Matt and Emily.

When they arrive, they join us on the couch and Mrs. Washington finally speaks. "Would anyone like some water?"

Sam raises her hand. "I would, please."

Mrs. Washington nods and disappears into the kitchen. Mr. Washington clears his throat.He looks pale. The bags under his eyelids have grown since we last saw him, as has his facial hair. I can tell he hasn't had the heart to shave in a while, or exercise for that matter. But if I lost all my kids, I wouldn't have much motivation for anything either.

"Kids... well... er... you guys aren't really kids anymore, are ya?" Mr. Washington says. "Especially after that... experience. An experience like that ages you. Well, Melinda and I have been talking and..."

Mrs. Washington appears from the kitchen with Sam's water and hands it to her. "We're moving," she finishes.

Sam almost chokes on her water. "No! You can't!" she objects, standing up. "You can't leave! We still need a memorial service for Hannah, Beth, and Josh, and..." Sam sits back down. "And you're all I have left of them."

Sam puts her head in her hands. I rest my hand on her knee in an effort to console her. I know how she feels.

Mrs. Washington gives her a sad smile. Her tired eyes brimming with tears. "I know, sweetie, but after today, we won't be."

Sam looks up. "What?"

"We want you guys to have their things, especially you, Sam, and you, Chris," Mrs. Washington informs us, looking from Sam to me.

"But what about you? Don't you want some of it?" I ask.

Mrs. Washington shakes her head. "Being here is too hard. Having their stuff is too hard. We need a clean slate. We've had movers take the stuff out of the house and all the remaining things from the rubble of the cabin. All of it. We sold the cabin and the mountain to a research team pairing with the government. Beth, Hannah, and Josh's stuff have been sorted out and put in boxes. We want you guys to go through them and decide who should get what. We've put their stuff from this house and the mountain in the boxes. It's pretty much all there."

"And don't worry about the memorial service," Mr. Washington assures us. "We are going to have it this weekend. Melinda and I will be ready to move right after."

"Do you need any help with moving or the memorial service?" I inquire.

Mr. Washington shakes his head. "No, thank you, sport. I just want you guys to take the boxes for now. We'll call if we need anything else."

"Information for the memorial service will be sent to you all in the mail," Mrs. Washington says.

We all nod, standing up from the couches. Sam hands her empty cup to Mrs. Washington, giving her a quick hug. She pulls away, but Mrs. Washington pulls her into another one. I watch as Mrs. Washington whispers, "He loved you, Sam. He did." To my surprise, Sam is taken aback by this.