Far Cry 5/Far Cry 6

(She hammers on the door hard hurting her hand in the process and glances back to see the smiling creep on the steps.).

Erica: What do you want?

Creature: To play.

Erica: Play, the hell you talking about? Ah I’m too tired for this shit.

(She hammers on the door again and just as she thinks this is it, this is how it ends, she was so close, the door flies open and a hand yanks her inside. She hears the door slam shut again and she stumbles into the station. Kenny stands there staring at her as does Father Khatri. Boyd walks in behind her, he looks stunned.).

Boyd: Where the hell have you been? What the-

(She leans against the wall and sinks to the floor. Boyd kneels down and looks her over. Her eyes drift closed and she struggles to open them again, she is so tired.).

Boyd: Water, get some water.

(Kenny comes over seconds later with a canteen filled with water. He brings it to Erica’s lips and tips some of the contents down her throat. She gulps greedily until the canteen is almost empty. She then sits there gasping.).

Erica: I...

(She can’t seem to speak. She doesn’t even know where to start.).

Boyd: Let’s get you cleaned up.

(He helps her to her feet and leads her into one of the cells. She sinks onto the bed and he leaves the room. He returns moments later with some black jeans, a belt and a white t-shirt.).

Boyd: You can wash up just there, change into these. They’ll be a little big but...They’ll have to do for now.

Erica: Do you have any food?

Boyd: No. Sorry. Have to wait until tomorrow I’m afraid.

Erica: Hm.

(Her eyes close again and she nearly falls sideways. She rights herself and sits there staring at the floor.).

Boyd: I’ll let you get cleaned up.

(He closes the door and leaves her alone. She slowly stands up and walks over to the sink. She puts her knife back in its sheath then removes it from her leg. She then removes her clothes and tosses them into the corner. She grabs the cloth and runs the water before picking up the soap. She washes herself as best as she can before using the grubby looking towel to dry herself over. She then pulls the jeans on which are too big so she loops the belt through them and tightens it up. She then pulls the t-shirt over her head. She looks at the mirror and realises you can see her breasts through it. She sighs and picks up her bra looking it over. It’s a little dirty and she dusts it off before removing the t-shirt and putting the bra on. She pulls the t-shirt back on then stands there scrubbing her nails, they still have dirt under them and she still feels filthy. She could use a nice hot bath and a cup of tea. Her hair is matted and full of dirt and she takes out her hair bands trying to wash it in the sink as best she can. It’s not great but it’ll have to do. The floor is cold without shoes and socks so she puts her dirty socks back on. She leaves her boots on the floor, her feet are killing her. She sinks onto the bed. There is a knock at the door.).

Boyd: You decent?

Erica: Yeah.

(The door opens and Boyd fills the doorway. She looks up at him. He hands her a cup and she takes it in shaking hands. It looks like tea and she sits there cradling it.).

Boyd: The hell were you doing out there?

Erica: I just...

(She takes a sip of tea, she feels dizzy, she just wants to sleep. Father Khatri appears next to Boyd.).

Khatri: Are you alright?

Erica: I’ve been better.

Khatri: You’ve been very lucky.

Erica: I don’t think it’s luck.

Khatri: Well what would you call it?

Erica: How long have I been gone?

Boyd: Since yesterday morning.

Erica: Um.

Khatri: It’s a miracle you made it back here.

Erica: No. It wasn’t. Those things could have had me. They should have. But...I don’t know. It’s like...They wanna fuck with you, you know?

Boyd: Yeah. They do that.

(She thinks of the grinning red head who likes to refer to himself by her husband’s name. The more she thinks about it the more it makes sense. Why else would they let her make it inside? Because she is still sure that if they had really wanted to they could have killed her tonight. She shouldn’t be alive right now.).

Erica: I think they wanted me alive, because they aren’t done fucking with me yet.

Khatri: Try not to think about it too much. Just get some rest. We can talk in the morning.

Boyd: Hm.

Erica: Thanks for opening the door. And for the tea.

Boyd: You’re welcome.

(Boyd leaves the room and Father Khatri follows him closing the door. She finishes the tea and puts the cup on the floor. She goes dizzy again and lies down on the bed closing her eyes. It takes her less than a minute to fall asleep.).

(Erica is sat on a hard wooden chair opposite Boyd at his desk. The sun is up and she can see people milling about outside through the blinds. Kenny bought her a tray of food which she wolfed down along with another cup of tea. Kenny is now stood with Father Khatri.).

Boyd: You feeling okay?

Erica: Better.

Boyd: Hm. Time to talk then.

Erica: About what?

Boyd: What do you mean about what? Where you’ve been! You had us out at nightfall looking for your ass!

Erica: I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have risked your lives like that. Not for me.

Boyd: No we shouldn’t. But we did.

Khatri: Boyd.

Boyd: No! Don’t Boyd me! I thought you were dead! I thought we were never gonna see you again.

Erica: I’m sorry.

Khatri: So what happened? Did you get lost?

Erica: No. Not exactly.

Boyd: What’s that mean, not exactly?

(Erica takes a deep breath then tells them everything. Finding the tunnels and going inside. Seeing those things sleeping down there. Being caught by one of them and dashing back outside. Finding the tree and stepping inside it only to find herself somewhere else. Stuck inside the wall of the tunnel network. How it took ages for her to dig her way out and finally emerging from the tunnels only to find that it was dark out. Making her way back to town and thinking that she’d never find it again. Seeing those things outside. How they seemed to taunt her.).

Erica: Then you opened the door.

(They stare at her in silence.).

Erica: I know it sounds crazy. How can a tree transport you somewhere else? It’s nuts but that’s what happened.

(Boyd is staring at her.).

Erica: I know I shouldn’t have...I was just looking for answers. There has to be-

Boyd: Are you out of your Goddamn fucking mind?!

Khatri: Boyd.

(Erica stares at Boyd. He looks furious.).

Erica: I...

Boyd: You go off into the woods alone and you come across a cave, tunnels, and you go down there? Do you have any idea how lucky you are to be alive right now?

Erica: Yes. Actually I do. I was stuck inside a wall for God knows how long so yeah...I get it.

Boyd: You can’t just go off looking for answers! You keep poking your head around this place something’s gonna come out and chop it off!

Erica: I get it. I do.

Boyd: No! No you don’t get it! I’m Sheriff, me! The safety of everybody here is my responsibility! Mine! We lose someone that’s on me! It’s my job to keep everyone safe! I thought you were smarter than this I thought you knew the score. But you go running off into the woods and damn near get yourself killed! The hell were you thinking?

Erica: I was thinking that unless I try to find answers I’m just gonna be stuck here forever wondering what the fuck is going on.

Boyd: I’ve tried to find answers. I have. I nearly didn’t make it. I got lucky. Like you. But luck runs out. You can’t just go off like that you understand? You don’t go into those woods again do I make myself clear?

Erica: Believe me I don’t want a rerun of the last two days.

Boyd: Well good. Good. Now I’m gonna make my rounds and let everyone know that you’re alive. Then we’re gonna have the choosing ceremony. You’re gonna decide where you wanna live. Wherever that is you are not to go wandering off again and you are gonna follow the rules. Okay?

Erica: Okay.

Boyd: Good.

(He gets up.).

Boyd: Kenny tells me that you are being difficult with sharing your stuff.

Erica: What stuff? I’ve hardly got anything.

Boyd: Everyone that comes here has their stuff inventoried. So we can share out our resources.

Erica: So you wanna take all my stuff. What the fuck am I supposed to wear?

Boyd: We have clothes. Don’t worry about that.

Erica: Well I want my clothes.

(She stands up.).

Erica: And nobody is taking my husband’s things.

Boyd: I understand how you’re feeling.

Erica: No you don’t.

(She goes into the cell and straps her hunting knife to her leg before donning Alex’s jacket. She walks back out into the room.).

Boyd: Where are you going?

(She takes the keys to the truck out of the pocket of her jacket.).

Erica: To my truck. Don’t worry. I’m not gonna take off. Promise.

Boyd: Kenny will go with you. Help you sort through your stuff.

(Erica sighs and storms out of the station. Kenny follows her over to the truck.).

Kenny: Hey. Hey.

Erica: What?

(She reaches the truck and looks at the smashed in back window. She sighs. She peers into the back and to her surprise she sees that her stuff is all still there. She unlocks the truck and climbs in the back sitting down cross legged. She opens her handbag and takes out her notebook and pen. She sits there writing all about her foray into the woods.).

Kenny: What are you doing?

Erica: Writing down what happened to me in the woods.

Kenny: Why?

Erica: Because it might be useful.

Kenny: How?

Erica: I don’t know. Isn’t it useful to take notes?

Kenny: I don’t know. I guess.

(He sits down with his legs dangling and eyes the knife strapped to her leg.).

Kenny: Why are you carrying that knife around?

Erica: It was my husband’s. He always had it on him when we went camping or hiking. It was a present he got from his dad before he passed away.

Kenny: You need to leave it with Boyd. He can keep it safe.

Erica: It’s safe with me.

Kenny: We can’t have people carrying knives around.

Erica: Don’t they have knives in the diner? What about in the houses?

Kenny: You know what I mean.

Erica: No. I don’t. Every kitchen has a knife in it. Anyone can carry one outside here. What difference does it make?

Kenny: Stop being difficult.

Erica: I’m not the one being difficult. You are.

(She goes back to writing. Kenny sighs.).

Erica: Just leave me alone.

Kenny: Can’t do that.

Erica: Ah so that’s it. Boyd sent you to spy on me.

Kenny: No. Not exactly.  

(They sit in silence for several minutes. She finally finishes writing and closes the notebook.).

Erica: Alright look, this is all I have okay?

(She opens her handbag and her holdall and shows him the contents. She then takes out a box and opens it. Inside is a man’s necklace with a ring hanging from it.).

Erica: I bought Alex this as a present. Along with this bracelet.

(She holds up a silver bracelet with the name Alex etched into the metal.).

Erica: He didn’t wear the bracelet much. I don’t think he liked wearing bracelets. The ring though, he always wore this chain, except the day he disappeared. For some reason he didn’t put it on that morning. He left it on the bedside table. I’ve told myself that he simply forgot it in his rush to get to work, we’d slept in that day, but I wonder...If he left it deliberately. Because he simply left me. I bought him the ring for his 21st. By the time he turned 30 it didn’t fit him anymore so he got a chain to wear it on. He kept saying he was going to get it resized but...

(She shrugs.).

Kenny: I’m sorry. How long were you married?

Erica: Thirteen years. We still are married.

Kenny: Right. Yeah. Sorry I didn’t mean.

Erica: Yeah.

(She shoves her notebook in her handbag and does her bags back up. She then gets out of the truck and looks up the street.).

Kenny: Come on then. We can take your bags to my mom. She keeps things inventoried over at the diner.

Erica: I’m not handing my husband’s things over to be sorted out and given to total strangers okay? And I need clothes to wear and something to wash with unless you want me to walk around grossing everyone else out coz I stink and I only have two sets of clothes with me now that my others are ruined so...Why am I giving up my stuff again? Bad enough I’m stuck in a strange place with like monsters coming out of the woods but you want to take away the few things I have? I don’t understand why you want me to give up my stuff and leave me with nothing. Is this about me taking off into the woods? Some sort of punishment?

Kenny: No. It’s just how we do things here.

Erica: So I’m stuck in some crazy place like fucking Narnia or something, I don’t know anyone, I almost died and now you want to take away my things? The stuff that is familiar to me? All I have left of my husband? I don’t get it.

Kenny: I’ve already told you it’s how we do things here.

Erica: So I refuse then what?

(Kenny sighs.).

Kenny: Stop being difficult.

Erica: Nope. Life’s hard get used to it.

(She slings her handbag over her shoulder then grabs her holdall. She goes round to the passenger door and opens it looking around. She bends down and feels around. She finds the bottle of vodka under the seat. She shoves it in her bag and closes the door back up.).

Erica: You can have the truck and all the camping gear. Think there’s some fuel cans in there too and a camping stove with some gas. Might come in handy.

(She tosses him the keys then walks off. Kenny sighs.).

(Kenny and Boyd are walking over to the patch of green where everyone is gathered. Boyd is relieved to see Erica standing there staring at the floor. All eyes are on her and she looks awkward.).

Boyd: Glad to see she hasn’t wandered off again.

Kenny: She’s still keeping hold of her bags.

Boyd: Hm. But she let you have the truck, fuel and all the camping gear?

Kenny: Yeah. There was some pretty decent stuff. Could come in useful especially the truck, got almost a full tank and there’s three jerry cans in the back all full of fuel.

Boyd: Good. Good. Gives us an extra vehicle and some more fuel. What stuff has she even got?

Kenny: Just a few clothes and a few things that belonged to her husband. She won’t part with them.

Boyd: Well...Understandable I guess. She still carrying the knife?

Kenny: Yeah. Said it was her husband’s. She doesn’t seem to wanna part with that either.

Boyd: I’ll talk to her. Maybe we can get her to compromise. Let’s see where she chooses to live first.

(They walk past the townspeople and stop in front of Erica.).

Boyd: Okay well today we welcome someone else to our family.

(He looks at Erica then indicates to a rock. Lying on top of the rock is a small stone and a flower.).

Boyd: So you need to decide where you’re gonna be staying. If you want to stay in the town you choose the stone. If you want to stay up at Colony house you pick the flower.

(There is a pause.).

Boyd: Time to choose.

(Erica is aware of everyone’s eyes on her. She stares down at the stone and the flower and thinks. Where does she want to live? Which would be better? She doesn’t know who she’s going to be living with either way and it’s unlikely that whichever she chooses she would be alone. She would prefer to be alone. She wonders where she would live and who with if she chose the town. Knowing her luck Boyd would have her move into the station with him so he could keep an eye on her. She isn’t sure she would like it up at Colony house. The smell of weed for one. She can’t stand it. And living with all those people all crammed in wherever they can fit. However it could be beneficial. She could continue to try and work out what is going on here. She would have plenty of people who she could ask questions, people who have been here longer than her. Fatima and Ellis seem nice too. She stands there staring at the flower thinking.).

Dale: Come on just pick already.

Donna: Shut up Dale.

(Erica steps forwards and after a final debate with herself she picks up the flower.).

Boyd: Alright. Colony house it is.

(Donna walks over.).

Donna: Welcome aboard.

Erica: Thanks.

Boyd: Alright the ceremony is over, we’ve not got much daylight left, time for the last few tasks of the day before we turn in.

(Everyone starts to leave and walk off in different directions.).

Donna: Alright if you’re gonna be living with us you need to lose that damn hunting knife. I ain’t having you wearing that around the house.

Boyd: Um.

(Erica looks down.).

Boyd: I’ll take it. Come on hand it over.

(Erica knew the knife would come up again. She knows she’s seen guys with shotguns up at Colony house. Kenny carries a gun and so does Boyd.).

Erica: You carry guns.

Boyd: Yes. But we can’t have everyone tooled up now can we? That’s how people get hurt. Now come on.

Erica: Alright. Just...Don’t get rid of it. Please.

Boyd: I won’t get rid of it. I’ll just keep it safe over at the station.

(Erica removes the knife from her thigh and looks down at it for a moment before she hands it to Boyd.).

Boyd: Thank you. Now you best get going and get settled into your new home.

Erica: Do I get to keep my things? I just want something normal in all this mess.

Boyd: Fine. But I expect you to share your things with the folks up at the house. Alright?

(Erica supposes it could be worse.).

Erica: Fine. But I really haven’t got much to share.

Donna: Well we share everything up at the house. Clothes, toiletries, food. We make do and we have a laugh. Come on let’s see if we can find you anywhere to sleep.

(Erica smiles.).

Erica: Okay.

(She says goodbye to Boyd and Kenny and follows Donna up the road to the large house on the hill. They walk in silence. Erica notices a few people are still milling about and some are carrying baskets and wheeling wheelbarrows.).

Donna: Nearly time to be getting inside people.

(They walk up the steps and Erica follows Donna inside. Donna looks around.).

Donna: Just about packed out to the rafters. I know it’s not ideal but you’ll get used to it.

(Erica doesn’t think so. Fatima appears and wraps her up in a hug.).

Fatima: So glad you chose to live with us.

Erica: I didn’t really know where to stay to be honest. I’d rather be on my own but...

Fatima: No. It helps to have people here. Trust me. You’ll soon fit in.

(Donna has disappeared. She returns frowning.).

Donna: Think we can squeeze you in upstairs.

Erica: Okay.

(She follows Donna upstairs and into a bedroom. There is a small bed on one side and the floor is taken up by blankets and cushions. There is a mattress in another corner. Fatima has followed them.).

Fatima: This is Stacey, Eliza’s and Max’s room. Trudy sometimes sleeps in here too.

Donna: And Kevin.

Fatima: Kevin’s usually in the corner in the lounge.

Donna: Well I’m sure you can squeeze in somewhere.

(Erica looks around and sighs.).

Fatima: What’s wrong?

Erica: What’s right? Stuck in this place with no answers and monsters and now I’m sharing a room with complete strangers.

Fatima: I know it’s all a lot at first and I also hear you’ve not had the best couple of days but...You’ll get used to it.

Erica: Right.

(She sits down on the bed and stares at the floor.).

Donna: Right well I’ll leave you to get settled in. My rooms just across the hall if you need anything.

Erica: Thanks.

(Donna leaves the room. Erica sits there wondering if she would have been better off staying in town. She sighs again.).

Fatima: You want me to stay?

Erica: No it’s okay. I just want to be left alone.

Fatima: Okay.

(Fatima leaves the room.).

(Erica is sat listening to Eliza and Max making out on the mattress in the corner. Stacey is sat smoking staring at her. Erica gets up and goes to the window. She finds it’s boarded up and sighs smacking the plank of wood hard.).

Stacey: Hey. What gives?

Erica: Can’t even look out the fucking window.

Stacey: Ain’t nothing out there you wanna look at hon.

(Erica sits back down. Just then Fatima walks in.).

Fatima: Hey Erica borrow you for a minute?

Erica: Um, okay.

(Erica gets up.).

Fatima: Bring your stuff.

(Erica grabs her bags and follows Fatima down the hall to the back of the house. Fatima opens the door in the corner and reveals a small bedroom. There is one bed and a dresser. There is also a desk and several lamps. Curtains cover the two windows.).

Fatima: What do you think?

Erica: Well the decor ain’t my style but other than that it’s great. Why?

Fatima: It’s yours.

Erica: What?

Fatima: It’s yours. Just yours.

Erica: I...How?

Fatima: It’s okay. Just moved some people around.

Erica: For me?

Fatima: Well that’s partly the reason. Though to be truthful Whitney doesn’t like staying in here. No boards on the windows, she says it doesn’t feel secure.

Erica: It is though right?

Fatima: Yes. As long as you don’t open any doors or windows and the talisman stays in place.

Erica: Right.

Fatima: So is it okay?

Erica: Yeah it’s great. Thank you. Thank you so much.

(Erica hugs her and Fatima smiles.).

Fatima: I’m glad I was able to help.

Erica: You did. Really.

(Erica puts her bags on the bed and looks around. She goes to the window pulling the curtain back. She can see the woods and not much else. The sun hasn’t quite set yet.).

Fatima: Well I’ll leave you to get settled in.

Erica: Thank you.

(Erica sits in the small bedroom staring at the wall. She sighs. She could do with a book or something. There is a knock at the door.).

Erica: Yeah.

(Fatima walks in holding some folded up clothes. She puts them on the bed.).

Fatima: Kenny dropped off your clothes from the station. We can get them washed for you. In the meantime I wanted to give you these.

Erica: You don’t have to give me your clothes. I’m okay I’ve still got a few items in my bag.

Fatima: That’s okay. We share here. It’s just how we do.

Erica: Well thanks.

(Fatima notices that the window next to the bed has no curtain covering it. It’s dark out now and she hurries over and quickly pulls the curtain.).

Erica: Oh I like looking out the window at the night sky. I usually sleep with the curtains open.

Fatima: Not here. Trust me.

(Erica frowns.).

Fatima: You wanna see those things at your window? Peering in at you?

Erica: They can get up here?

Fatima: Yes.

Erica: Hm. So they can climb.

Fatima: You need to keep the curtains closed of a night okay? Those things will try and trick you into letting them in. They could say all kinds of things. It’s best if you can’t see them. They don’t seem to bother too much if the curtains are closed. They still come around...Occasionally knock the door or a window but you have to just ignore them. Not offer them any response. Okay?

Erica: You’re really afraid of them aren’t you?

Fatima: With good reason. Aren’t you?

Erica: My husband used to say that being afraid of something only gave it more power over you. But I know what you mean. They’re not exactly the social type these things.

Fatima: No.

Erica: It’s okay. I get it. No opening the windows, keep the curtains closed. Thanks for the clothes.

Fatima: You’re welcome.

(Fatima goes to leave but stops in the doorway.).

Fatima: Look...Kenny told me about you talking to one of them. When you stayed overnight in the bar.

Erica: Yeah I did. I thought maybe I could learn something. Think it was a waste of time really.

Fatima: Those things...They have a way of getting into people’s heads.

Erica: So you think they can read minds?

Fatima: I don’t know. But I wouldn’t put it past them. Just use caution. Curtains closed, ignore them, no opening windows.

Erica: Got it.

Fatima: You’ll be fine. Goodnight.

Erica: Night.

(Fatima leaves closing the door behind her. Erica sits there staring around the room. She doesn’t really know what to do with herself. She would give anything to be back at home. The nice lake views, her kitchen, her books, Xbox. Alex making her dinner. Only there isn’t any Alex. Not anymore. He’s just gone. She gets up and looks at the clothes Fatima has given her. There is a jumper that she doesn’t think will fit her, it looks too small. There is also a pair of black jogging bottoms and a nice black top along with a cardigan and some pyjamas. She smiles. At least the people seem nice she guesses. That’s something. She goes to the dresser and opens the drawers. She finds a bible, some pens, two pairs of knickers that look like they are falling apart, some pocket tissues and a lot of dust. She sighs and closes the drawers again. She stuffs the clothes Fatima gave her in her holdall before sliding her bags under the bed. She then goes to the window and takes hold of the curtain. She hesitates a moment before opening the curtain and peering outside. It’s dark out now and she can’t see much. She looks up at the sky. There aren’t any stars and she can’t see the moon either.).

Erica: Full dark no stars.

(She suddenly wonders where she got that from then it comes to her. It’s a novel by Stephen King. She looks out the window again and thinks this is exactly the type of mad horror that he would conjure up. She sighs and goes to close the curtain again when movement catches her eye. She frowns peering into the tree line. She is sure she saw something white move between the trunks. She scans the trees but doesn’t see it again. She closes the curtain again and lies down on the bed staring at the ceiling. Maybe she could go and talk to people. Introduce herself. But she doesn’t really feel like doing that. She could just go to sleep but the house seems so loud. She can hear shoes clicking and tapping on wooden floors and voices. People are talking and laughing. She wonders how people can laugh in a place like this. She could at least try go to sleep but she’s afraid to close her eyes. She had a nightmare last night that she was trapped back in that hole again. She couldn’t breathe and she was choking up dirt. She woke up coughing and shaking. She sighs and gets up. She reaches under the bed and opens her handbag. She takes out the bottle of vodka and hides it under her jacket. She leaves the room closing the door behind her. She walks down the hall peering at the bedroom doors wondering which one belongs to Donna. She stands there looking around. Ellis comes up the stairs.).

Ellis: Hey. Settling in okay?

Erica: Yes. Thank you. Fatima has been very kind.

Ellis: She just likes to help.

Erica: Do you know where Donna is?

Ellis: In her room I think. Why?

Erica: I just wanted to speak to her. Which room is hers?

(He points at a door which is slightly ajar.).

Ellis: That one. Knock first though.

(He gives her a smile before walking off. Erica walks up to the door and knocks on it.).

Donna: Come in.

(She opens the door and closes it behind her. Donna is sat in an armchair.).

Donna: Everything alright?

Erica: Um...I was thinking about what you said. About everyone sharing everything here.

Donna: Yeah.

Erica: I just wondered if you wanted to share some of this.

(She takes out the bottle of vodka. Donna gives her a small smile then gets up. She retrieves two glasses and places them on a small table. She sits back down and indicates to the other chair. Erica moves it closer to the table and sits down opposite her. She pours them both a measure of vodka and Donna picks up her glass taking a sip. She grimaces.).

Donna: Like fucking paint stripper. Better than that piss water Tom brews up though.

(Erica smiles.).

Erica: It could use some lemonade.

Donna: Hm. So you alright?

Erica: I don’t know.

Donna: Boyd told me. About your little foray into the woods.

Erica: Oh.

Donna: Wanna talk about it?

Erica: There isn’t much to tell really. I got trapped, didn’t think I was going to get out, but I did.

Donna: Hm. Not much huh?

(Erica takes a sip of vodka.).

Erica: It was stupid of me to go out there. I wasn’t thinking.

Donna: You were. You were thinking of finding answers. I can’t say I blame yah. I’d give almost anything to know something about what the hell this place is and why we can’t leave. But...I don’t think going into those woods looking for answers is gonna turn anything up. Except maybe trouble. Not saying what you did was wrong.

(Donna shrugs and downs some more vodka.).

Donna: Ballsy I’ll give you that.

Erica: One part brave. Three parts fool.

Donna: Hm. Who told you that?

Erica: It’s from the movie, Eragon. Alex loved it. He’d read the books over and over again.

(She smiles and downs the vodka.).

Donna: I’m so sorry. It must be the hardest thing not knowing.

Erica: Yeah it is.

(Erica suddenly has tears in her eyes. Donna moves her chair closer.).

Donna: Hey.

(She drapes her arm around Erica’s.).

Erica: I just...How much more bad luck can one girl have? My husband disappears. I end up stuck in some crazy town that looks like it’s stuck in like the 50’s. Monsters are real. Fucking Wendigo’s living in the damn woods. I end up trapped inside a wall and almost die.

Donna: Hey, hey come on now. You didn’t. Okay? You didn’t. You got back. And we are gonna get through this together. We’ve got each other okay?

Erica: Thank you.

Donna: You seem like a tough cookie.

Erica: I don’t know about that.

Donna: I don’t know many women who carry hunting knives. Or that go out into the woods searching for answers in a crazy ass place like this. Or race off into the night looking for a missing child and confronting those things face to face. Is it true you shot one of ‘em with a damn flare gun?

Erica: Yeah. It didn’t do anything though. Guess that rules out the Wendigo theory.

Donna: Okay what the fuck is a Wendigo?

Erica: It’s a supernatural creature. It was once human, lives in caves in the woods, sleeps during the day, comes out at night to hunt, mimics human voices to lure hikers so it can feast on them. Can be kept at bay by symbols and likes to screech into the night.

Donna: Sounds like those things out there.

Erica: Yeah. Only in most of the lore it says that fire kills them so...

Donna: Where the fuck do you get all of this?

(Donna pours them out some more vodka.).

Erica: Mostly...Supernatural. It was a TV show.

Donna: Sounds familiar. Was that the one with two brothers hunting monsters?

Erica: Yeah. You ever watch it?

Donna: I caught bits of it occasionally. My sister loved that show.

(Donna looks into the distance for a moment. She takes a sip of vodka.).

Donna: Just a TV show though. This is real.

Erica: Well you know most of the lore and creatures they used on the show were actually taken from real myth and legend. I didn’t believe it all of course. None of it is real. Vampires, werewolves, whatever. But now...You have to wonder don’t you?

Donna: Hm. Last thing we need is a damn werewolf coming out of the trees.

Erica: Least we’d know how to kill it.

Donna: Haha. Silver bullets right?

Erica: Apparently so.

(Donna laughs and shakes her head. Erica downs the vodka and Donna does the same.).

Erica: I think that’s enough for me.

Donna: Hm. Little lightweight huh?

Erica: With straight vodka yeah. Doesn’t take long for it to go to your head.

Donna: That’s the point ain’t it?

Erica: I guess. I’ve been drinking a lot lately. Ever since Alex went missing.

Donna: Hm. No one can blame yah.

Erica: I hate not having any answers.

Donna: I can’t imagine. I know it’s not quite the same but...There are a lot of people here that are missing family. Family they ended up leaving behind out there you know? Family that have no idea their loved ones are alive and stuck in a town they can’t leave. The doc Kristi had a fiancée.

Erica: Oh.

Donna: I’m just saying. You ever want to talk or need support there’s plenty of folks around here that would understand.

(Erica thinks for a moment.).

Erica: Do you think...I know this is gonna sound mad.

Donna: I’ve dealt with mad since I got here. Lay it on me.

(Erica manages to smile.).

Erica: Do you think my husband ended up stuck here?

Donna: I don’t know. I know there isn’t anyone here called Alex. What does he look like?

Erica: Tall, slim, red hair. He liked plaid shirts. I used to joke he dressed like my grandpa.

(Erica is suddenly thinking about that grinning creep from outside. How he wears a plaid shirt, has red hair and kind of resembles her husband. No. He doesn’t look anything like him. It’s just a coincidence.).

Donna: Can’t say I know anyone fits that description.

Erica: Guess I’ll never know what happened to him now.

Donna: Hey.

(Donna rubs her shoulder.).

Donna: Why don’t you go and try and get some rest?

Erica: Yeah. Thank you.

Donna: Yeah.

(Erica gets up. She puts the lid back on the vodka and picks it up.).

Erica: Night.

Donna: Night sweetie.

(Erica leaves the room and goes back down the hall to her own room. She closes the door behind her and sits down on the bed. She opens the vodka and takes another sip. She then goes into her bag and takes out her iPad and headphones. She puts the headphones on and opens her music. She scrolls through songs trying to find something to listen to. She settles on Evanescence. She paces up and down the room swigging the vodka. She listens to seven songs before she removes the headphones and switches off the iPad to save the battery. She puts it back in her bag with the headphones and the vodka. She then rummages in her holdall and takes out clean underwear and her long white nightgown. She removes Boyd’s clothes and her jacket tossing them onto the floor. She changes her underwear and slips her nightgown on. Maybe she can have a proper bath tomorrow. She hopes they have hot water but she doubts it. She pulls back the duvet and peers down at the bedding. She hopes there aren’t any bed bugs. She wonders how clean the sheets are but supposes it will have to do. She then rummages in her bag before she pulls out a bottle of men’s aftershave. It was Alex’s favourite. She sprays some on the pillows then her wrists and the duvet. She returns the bottle to her bag then switches off the lights. She gets into bed and lies down. The house is still abuzz with noise and she wonders how people sleep in this place. She rolls onto her side smelling her husband on the pillow and she reaches out gripping it tight. She lets out a small sob and suddenly she is crying, she buries her face in the pillow inhaling the scent of her husband and wishing he was there next to her. She cries herself to sleep.).

(Erica dreams she is back home in her kitchen. Alex is there cooking for her. He flashes her a grin and walks over asking her if she’s okay. His arms are around her and she is gazing up at him. His face suddenly changes into the smiling creep and she yells at him to leave her alone. Then he is Alex again and he is frowning at her asking her why she’s yelling at him. There is a tapping sound coming from somewhere and Alex is putting plates and cutlery on the table and telling her to sit down as dinner’s almost ready. He tells her he’s got raspberry trifle for dessert because he knows she loves it. The tapping sound is getting louder. More persistent. TAP. TAP. TAP. She looks around the kitchen but doesn’t see anything. She asks Alex what the noise is but his response is simply what noise? She sits down at the table and Alex lights a candle starting to tell her all about a meeting he had at work. TAP. TAP. TAP. Erica looks around again frowning. Alex is dishing up the dinner and she sees he’s cooked spaghetti Bolognese. TAP. TAP. TAP. Alex smiles at her as he sits down still talking animatedly but she suddenly can’t hear what he’s saying because all she can hear is TAP. TAP. TAP. Then Alex has turned into the smiling creep again and he’s reaching across the table grinning at her with blood dripping from his lips and nails like razor blades. TAP. TAP. TAP. TAP.).

(Erica wakes up and lets out a sigh. The room is dark and she sits up rubbing her head. She has a headache. That’ll teach her for the vodka before bed. TAP. TAP. TAP. She turns towards the window. Something is tapping on the glass. She gets out of bed and leaves the room going down the hall to the bathroom. She can’t hear anyone else up and she quickly uses the loo then washes her hands before creeping back down the hall to her room. She closes the door and goes back over to the bed. TAP. TAP. TAP. She turns to the window then feels for the bedside lamp switching it on. She then reaches out and pulls the curtain back. The smiling creep is stood at the window grinning at her. His nose is almost touching the glass. She sighs.).

Erica: I should have known it would be you.

(He stares at her grinning and she is reminded again of Alex. He had such a big smile. Only his was full of warmth.).