EllieBean714

His face brightened at her declaration. Just before he went to respond, a rotten thing came up behind him, held him in a restrictive embrace, and bit his shoulder. Being used to this, however Leon managed to escape within a matter of seconds with only a bare grunt revealing there was ever any trouble.

Wifey laughed at the sound "You okay? What was that?"

Leon replied with a short groan as he gently rubbed his new bite and stretched his shoulder in circular motions "Eh, zombie grabbed me from the back. I'm fine."

"Whoof, thats not fair. I'm the only one allowed to take you from behind."

The gentleman stuttered for a few seconds "Jesus, lady-"

"Shush, you like my strap on. Don't lie to yourself."

"I love it, Missy. Don't misunderstand me." He playfully chastised.

"Oh, yes Sir. Sorry for the presumption." Y/N yawned "What are you up to, by the way? I called a couple hours ago and you didn't answer, made me sad."

Leon could hear her sweet pout through the phone and it tugged on his heart strings, before answering, he brought down a clambering zombie quickly with his hatchet so he wouldn't be interrupted "Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart. I went and got myself caught for a bit."

"Oh no, hon, you okay? Oh, give me a sec." On the other end of the line, wifey carefully maneuvered the baby into position for burping, and began to rub and pat her back "What happened?"

"Uh, was tied up. Interrogated, though calling it that feels like an insult to the art of interrogation."

"Why's that? They weren't as good as me?"

He snorted "No, darlin. No ones better than you when I'm in restraints."

"I'm surprised nobody with nefarious intentions has tried to exploit your weakness for being interrogated by hot ladies in leather."

"Well, its you I like. You get all tough and sexy and add a certain je ne sais quoi no one else can compete with." Leon stopped for a moment to open a warped closet door with his hatchet, his gentle grunts elicit moans from the gorgeous lady on the other line.

"Ooh, that's what I like to hear. So basically I've ruined interrogations for you? That's sad."

"Not just those, chokin', slappin, hair pullin', all the good stuff. Nobody else can do it right."

"Well its a delicate artform." Y/N babbled something affectionately at the baby girl after she finally burped "Once you've had a professional, it's so easy to spot the fakes."

"Sure is." He murmured with an unstoppable smile "I adore you."

"You better." Wifey yawned "Alright, I'm gonna try put the little Mango to bed. Call you later."

"Alright, sweetheart. Sleep well for me."

"Hmph, well since you asked so nicely I might have to."

"You do, direct orders from-"

Y/N let out a faux gasp "Oh, you're ordering me?"

"No ma'am, my apologies."

"Sounds about right. Watch yourself, you're on thin ice, Mister."

"I'll make up for it, promise."

"Good boy. Now you go have a fun day at work. Love you, shmookie wookie pookie bear!!" She'd hung up the phone while Leon was laughing so he couldn't say it back to her directly, but he found himself repeating it over and over like a mantra.

I love you, I love you, I love you both so much.

~~

Earlier in the morning, it had become apparent that in order for Leon to stop the bad guys and rescue the damsel, he would have to return to Raccoon City. While he played it cool and unfazed with Sherry, he couldn't stop his hands from shaking as he drove. Before setting of, he'd informed his woman that he'd be later than expected home, and informed her of where he was going. Hours later, she called when he was halfway through the drive there "Heya, Sweetpea. Good morning. How're you feelin'?"

"Uh..." Leon cleared his throat "Not great."

"Didn't think so, I'm sorry hon." The other line rustled a little as Y/N sat up in bed "You wanna talk about it?"

"I'm just..." he let out a deep exhale "I'm tryna be tough, you know? Just- I don't want anybody to worry about me."

"Well, I married you, I signed up for worrying." There were gentle thuds indicating she was heading towards either the bathroom or baby's room "And you can be soft with me. I like hearing how you feel."

"Bad. It's bad." Leon blurted out with a tiny tiny voice crack, almost a whimper "I-I'm not usually scared, I don't get scared, but I'm really fuckin scared."

"Aw, Lee... "

"I just wanna go home."

The thudding stopped "You will. I promise, you'll come home. I'll have a nice warm dinner waiting, you can hang out with a super cool baby, a wicked hot wife, everything will be fine."

While she spoke, Leon's eyes fell onto his blackened veins covering his hands. He hadn't held his baby since they first showed up, even through gloves, he worried for her. Her weak immune system, her thin skin, who knows what he's done already just being her dad. The best thing was to stay away. Admire from afar. His last thought before bringing his eyes back to the road, I'm not making it home.

No reason to worry wifey with that pessimism though, there's always a chance, right? No need to stress her out anymore than he normally did. "Sounds great, Beautiful." He choked back a sudden onset of guilt and grief "Can't wait." Just keep it calm, don't let her see you break.

On the other end of the line, she assured him that everything would be fine, then a moment later entered the baby's room and greeted her with a heart warming "Good morning, pretty girl!" before picking her up and beginning their routine while still on call, that was the best part of these interruptions to his day. Just sitting back and listening to Y/N exist, talking to the baby, telling stories he didn't have to engage with, even just breathing had him utterly charmed. "Oh my goodness, she's so beautiful!!" Y/N squealed over the sound of a rattling baby toy "I'm sending you pictures, pleaseeeee look once you stop driving. She's so cute."

"Alright, alright, boss lady."

"I'm not bein' bossy! It's for morale, I'm actually providing an important service. I deserve a purple heart."

"Oh you definitely do. I've never met a better soldier."

"I know that's right- Oh, dang it, Mom's calling, I'll talk to you later, Handsome! Love you!" Were her last words before the call ended. Again, as always, she never let Leon have the last word. He was alright with that, he was alright with anything she did.

The pictures were to die for, Y/N was absolutely bang on the money with that one. Those chubby cheeks, her thin hair in her mothers color, her fathers icy eyes, that sweet little onesie with yellow flowers, it was all too much and Leon had to put his phone away now or he'd find himself driving straight home in half a second.

~~

It wasn't too bad at first, pretty average day of work all things considered. Although just when things were starting to get dull, wifey called again to reiterate everything she talked about with her mom. Thirty minutes later, she called again to ask for help with a crossword puzzle. Then it was ranting about a book she just finished rereading, then the baby was crying too much and she needed encouragement that she wasn't a bad mom, then it was sharing the office gossip she had missed out on since being on maternity leave. And Leonard Scott Kennedy treasured every bit of it.

Tell me about the bad books and what your co-worker said and the kids songs that are making you lose your mind, tell me again. Tell me how bad your head hurts and how much you miss other adults and that you love me.

Tell me you love me again.

Again.

Again.

Again.

"Hello my handsome, kind hearted, smart, strong, funny, brave, beautiful man." Her voice sung out alongside a chorus of running water and popping bubbles.

"Heya, my perfect, amazingly talented and intelligent wife," He hummed, joining her choir "Is that the dishes or a bath?"

"I'm giving your sweet baby girl a bath and she loves the bubbles!!" And on cue, the little squeal of joy and her mothers giggling filled his ears and his heart with love so painful the only way to supress it was to keep shooting and block out the rest of their mini conversation. "Sorry," Y/N chucked after a minute or two, and he was pleased to hear her normal voice and feel that miserable longing slowly dissipate "She loves bath time though. You gotta try this when you get back."

She was killing him. She was so hopeful, so excited... "Can't wait..." Leon huffed after clearing his throat to leave no sign of the anguish clouding his every move, every thought, every-

"Oh, by the way," This woman always tore him from the darkness of his own mind, and he was so grateful she did "do you want chicken korma or butter chicken for dinner tonight?"

"Let me guess, there's chicken in the fridge that will go bad tomorrow?"

"Yes sir. Fantastic guess. Your reward is a homecooked meal. What do you want?"

Leon cleared his throat. It didn't matter. He wasn't getting home, but still, he had to play along. "Korma. You're amazing at making it."

"Yes, I am." Y/N giggled "And for you, Madame? Mango puree?" the response was an excited squeal.

"She got enough?" He had to keep it casual "Want me to pick up more when I'm heading home-" His voice cracked on the last word, he grabbed the last part necessary to detonate the wall to the centre of the city.

"Uh... I'll check after the bath. Should be okay though."

"Alright, honey. Just let me know. I should probably hop off soon, I'm about to blow up a wall."

"Oh boy. And the most exciting thing that happened during my work days was when Hillary was horrible to that trans kid and the rest of us collectively shunned her for a month. Now that was thrilling." Leon let out a pleased hum, he'd heard this story before, but he loved hearing her stories over and over. "Oh!! Did I tell you what she said after her daughters wedding??"

Yes. "No. What happened?"

"Okay, okay, okay, so she takes the wedding day off, whatever cool, then the next day, she shows up and we're like 'oh, hi, how was the wedding?' Like being polite, you know? And she straight up says 'Oh, it was alright, but my daughter is so FAT. She was SOOO ugly in her dress.' And we're like- like GOBSMACKED!! Like, you can't say that, lady! That's your baby girl!! What the fuck is wrong with your head!?"

"Wow. That's crazy, who thinks like that?" A canned response, but delivered perfectly.

"RIGHT?? And another time, this is gonna make you REALLY mad, when my best friend at work went around and showed pictures of lil Mango to everybody, this Hillary bitch says 'Oh, she's a chubby thing! They need to stop feeding her so much!' I WANTED TO STRANGLE THIS OLD HAG-"

"Woah, woah, what??" This wasn't news, but it did still enrage them both "What's with this stupid lady? It's a baby!"

"I KNOWWW!!" There was the slight sound of water draining and the baby girl being pulled out of the bathtub "You should kill her if you have time. Blame it on your villain of the week, no one will doubt you."

"Not a bad idea. You're such a clever lady, you should reward yourself with more kids songs buzzing in your ears for hours."

Y/N focused on drying her child, who giggled when the towel grazed her ticklish spots before acknowledging Leon's comment with a whine "Mmh, nooooo...!!"

"Hey. If it makes you feel any better, I am extremely jealous of you."

"It doesn't." Wifey grumbled.

"Call me back later, this is gonna be loud. Then I've got a motorcycle ride further into the city."

"Oh God."

Leon laughed "I'll be safe."

"I don't believe you."

"I promise. It'll just be a nice calm, relaxing ride."

"Ugh, it won't. You can't lie to me, Kennedy, I know you far too well."

Yes, she does. "I'm going to be stupid and reckless and still come out unscathed."

He could almost hear Y/N rolling her eyes, then she sighed "Have fun."

There were 10 seconds of silence between that goodbye and the explosion. That's 10 seconds to breathe. Slowly. Calmly. She'll be okay on her own. She'll be a good mom. And Mango girl is probably better without him in her life. A picture on the wall can't hurt her, mom can tell her stories of her dad, all the good parts, and she'll never have to hate him for whatever curses he'd bring upon her. She can just be a kid-

BOOM-

Head in the game, Kennedy. You got a job to do. You're not dead yet. So keep on moving.

~~

Leon called her this time. It was steadily becoming too much to be here, the police station, losing Grace a third time, fighting Tyrant again, and now the bodies-

"I really wanna come home." he whimpered, sitting on the battered and broken ground, knees up to his chest.

Y/N cooed sympathetically "I know. I knew it'd be bad."

"This bad though? Honey, I feel like I can barely breathe- I don't wanna die here-"

"Hey! Hey, dummy boy. You're gonna be fine! Breathe slowly, inhale, count to four, exhale, count to four." She demonstrated the breathing exercise and quickly, Leon relented and joined her solely to make her feel better. As always though, the woman was magic and had him calm and rational in mere moments. Of course calling her was the right decision, it always was. Whether for emotional support or help with a puzzle he had trouble solving, his Y/N was always ready and fully prepared for whatever he had to throw at her.

"Th-thanks." he exhaled slowly "Thanks, Pretty Lady. Don't know where I'd be without you."

"Dead in the dirt, I'd say."

"Hmph." Leon raised to his feet and forced himself to keep on waking. A couple seconds later he spoke up again with a hushed grunt "I hate it here."

"I know. You're doing amazing though. I'm so proud of you."

"Can you tell me a story?"

Wifey immediately perked up at that "Ooh, my favourite!!" He heard her shuffling a bit to get more comfortable on the couch, then she began "Uhm... Remember the first time we had sex?"

Leon paused, stunned by the boldness of this woman yet again "Wow. Not the story I imagined."

"Oh? Did you want a different one, Mr. Demandy-Pants?"

"No Ma'am." He chuckled then kept walking "Go right ahead."

Y/N giggled, and launched into the marvellous tale. One night, while she was on vacation in Washington and Leon was exhausted from training, they met in the bar of her hotel lobby. She liked that he wasn't hitting on her, he liked that she livened up his day without even meaning to. He fell in love with her voice, how expressive and passionate. She fell in love with his listening skills, how he engaged with her, not just letting her ramble on endlessly to become white noise.

But neither were into one night stands, so it didn't go anywhere. But that voice followed Leon wherever he went, he ended up comparing every voice that passed his ears to hers, hoping to find his Cinderella again. One fine evening in Chicago several months later, it was her laugh that drew him back. She was on a small work trip, as was he if you considered drinking after a job a trip, and someone told a joke. For the life of her, Y/N couldn't remember who or what it was they said, just a strange feeling of being admired from across the way. Just raising her drink to her lips right before catching sight of those eyes.

They looked sadder than last time, aged 40 years in 4 months, with an added hint of longing, desire beyond lust. Piercing blue eyes that spiked through every other thought so she had no choice but to leave her drink and her colleagues and join him at his 'Sad Lonely Man Table' as she so often dubbed it when retelling the tale. "Hey!" She beamed, saddling up next to him, rubbing their shoulders together. Leon was far more subdued in greeting, not that he was chill at all, he was too busy fighting the rising blush creeping up his cheeks. "So! How've you been, Mr. Mystery?" Y/N asked, still keeping that same energy.

"Eh...Just got back from Spain a week ago." He responded, taking a sip of his beer to avoid saying too much.

She hadn't picked up on his aloof demeanour though "Oh! Fun!! How was it?"

"It was..." Leon paused to consider his response for a moment "It was a time." He brought his bottle to his lips, saying "Definitely a unique experience." before tilting it, only to come to the humiliating realisation it was empty. He placed it onto the table with a thud that was just a tad louder than normal.

Y/N nodded excitedly "Oh, yeah, I bet! Was it fun?"

"Well it wasn't boring at least."

She grinned. "That's good!" Then mercifully spared him any further discomfort by launching into her own little monologue on how life had been for her. Leon could feel himself getting sucked into her world. Her warm, beautiful, lively, normal world. All he wanted was to sink in. To stay forever. So when the barkeep interrupted her hours later saying they were closing up, he had absolutely no hesitation in accepting when she grabbed his hand and asked him to come back to her hotel room.

On the way, Sweet Y/N kept chatting his ear off about every little thing that popped into her head, it was magic, but Leon still worried, getting attached to a one time hook up was a terrible idea. After she excitedly pressed the up button on the elevator, he stopped her from speaking for once by laying his index finger on the middle of her top lip. She paused, her lips parted, exhaling her hot, alcohol laced breath onto the bottom of his fingertip, onto all three joints in his finger.

He cleared his throat, began slowly, so very slowly "I- If we're doing this, I want-" the elevator's ding interrupted the moment, and by the time the doors had fully opened the couple had fully separated. Not wanting to waste time in the awkward interim between the two moments, Y/N grabbed Leon's wrist and pulled him into the elevator. Once they begun their ascent, having already picked up on her hatred for silence, he continued "I don't really do this kinda casual thing, so-" he forced out all the tension in his shoulders with a single sigh "I want this. I want to try it at least."

"That's the plan, doofus."

"No, like... like I want to call you and take you out on a date, i want to give this a real chance."

"Leon, we just talked for five hours straight."

I'd hardly say 'we' but I'm not complaining. "Yeah, but-"

"And I'm pretty sure that was our second date so... I'm pretty sure this is a thing."

The elevator doors slid open and Y/N was already walking down the hall before Leon could say anything. He sighed and followed after her, by the time he reached her room, she was struggling to get the key card into the slot, growling in frustration, Leon had the perfect opportunity to take the card from her and be her hero. She clapped her hands and giggled in appreciation.

Once in the room, Y/N made her way over to the minibar and begun pouring two drinks. Leon put his hand on her arm to stop her fully, no more interruptions. "Can I have your- your phone number or email, or- anything? Something. Please. I really like you."

Y/N giggled, then turned back to finish pouring the second drink "Mmh, maybe. Get on your knees and beg and I just might." When she turned around though, she was met with the shocking discovery that this man had done exactly as asked. She cackled "Leon! Baby, I was jokin'!"

He reached up to take her hands in his own "Can I please, pretty pretty please, have your phone number?"

"Get up, I was kidding!" She blushed a violent red.

But Leon wouldn't budge "My sweet, beautiful chatterbox, please can I have your phone number so I can hear your incredible voice everyday? Pleaase?? I think I'll die if you don't start calling me at random hours to tell me whatever is annoying you. I'll die."

"OKAY!! Okay, jeez, just get up!" She could barely look at the earnestness in his eyes "I'll call you up at ungodly hours to talk about my co-worker's. You said you wanted it, and you can trust I will take you up on that."

Finally, Leon got to his feet and pressed a sweet chaste kiss to her forehead "Thank you. I can't wait 'til you get on my nerves."

Then she handed him his drink and they each tossed theirs back in one gulp.

Then she took his clammy hand in her own and led him to the bed.

Then she-

A baby wail cut through the phone and Y/N had to rush off to help her. Leon sighed, they were just getting to the good part. He continued his way through the dilapidated subway car alone for a few minutes until his woman returned "You wanna say hi to lil mango?"

He huffed a short laugh through his nose "I want to hear the rest of the story, please."

"No. Perv. Not in front of the baby-"

"You did it last night!"

"Shush!! I was in a state of extreme exhaustion! I cannot be held accountable for my actions!"

"I'm not sure that will hold much weight in court."

"I have a witness! All yours are dead. I win."

"Wow. My own daughter would testify against me?"

The baby girl cooed in response. Y/N giggled "Why yes! Lil mangirl will speak in my defence."

"Mangirl?"

"Yeah! It's cute. Funny, sweet-"

"Funny? I think you're just very easy to please."

"I married you, my bar is on the floor."

"And I'm lucky to have someone to test my material on."

"Oh, extremely lucky. Most ladies wouldn't have lasted this long."

"And yet somehow you soldier on. How do you do it?" Leon started shooting at sentient plants, the sudden sound unsettled their little angel and Y/N was left bouncing and comforting her the best she could "Did that upset her? Should I hang up?"

"Yeah, probably. I'll call you back at some point."

There would be no signal where he was going. No contact, no goodbye, no way to apologise. "Yep." He cleared his throat and squeezed his eyes right before tears could form "Talk to you later."

"Okay, Love you."

"Lov-" She hung up before the word fully left his mouth. His beautiful woman always trusted there would be another time to say it, she once told him his way of saying it gave the impression it would be his last. She took the last from him. "Love you too." he finished, sending the words into the void and praying they'd find their way to her.

~~

Leon's condition was worsening by the minute, and now he was left slumped outside the door to the area with Elpis in it. So close, Kennedy, you almost made it. It took half his remaining energy to take out his phone and open the gallery. His sweet baby girl's face dominated the screen, with Y/N only appearing in three pictures, more energy was spent on scrolling down through the entire page. He loved those beautiful, beautiful girls so much...

He went back to the top and swiped through each picture and video, hearing their voices through the phone was exactly what he needed. He needed his last moments to be spent listening to them. Mango squealing, learning her limbs, wifey giggling and praising her. They'd be okay. He made sure they were well off if Y/N couldn't work for a while, the baby could be a normal kid, they wouldn't have to worry about her being targeted because of him, their world would be better without him taking up space.

A shuddering sigh escaped his cracked lips, his lungs slowing down, throat drying up. He looped whatever video he had left it on, thirty seven seconds of baby babbling and Y/N encouraging her to say 'papa'. For some reason she was obsessed with her daughters first words being directed at him. Again and again the video looped "Papa! Pa-pa, try it, Mango, Pa-pa!" A series of nonsense babbles followed by another attempt "Honey girl, I know we're a few months off from when baby's normally talk, but daddy will be so excited!! Try again, Papa. Pa-pa! Easy peasy, Papa, P-a-p-a!" He'd never felt more loved, this was nice. A peaceful golden glow behind him, her voice looping in his ear, it was warm, safe. Easy to drop into. Let fate take it's course without a fight.

~~

Grace wouldn't allow that though. She panicked upon seeing him and shoved him again and again until he finally woke up. The once comforting glow had turned dizzying, nauseating as his eyes struggled to adjust. Grace pulled him to his feet and tried to continue down the hall, he would've went with her if it weren't for the clack of something dropping onto the pristine floors. "My phone-" Leon muttered before ducking down to grab it.

The young woman tried to stop him "I'll buy you a new one." She joked nervously "We gotta go."

"No..." The phone was cracked, out of battery, useless. They we're gone. "No, no no, c'mon-"

"Calm down," She tried again to get his head back in the game "It's fine, just a-"

"I want to go home. I miss- I just want to see them- Oh, God..." For the first time in years, he couldn't hold it in. He fell back down and cried.

"You- You will, I promise!"

He shook his head "Grace, look at me, I'm-"

"You'll be okay!"

"Stop it. You're the-" he inhaled, wiped the tears away like they never existed "You're the priority. You're the only hope we have of stopping this thing, so you-"

Grace shook her head then pulled him to his feet again, "Together, I'm not leaving you." So Leon really had no choice but to put one foot in front of the other and keep on going.

~~

"It's an antidote!"

~~

"You're going to see them again."

~~

Leon was never a fan of the beach.

The sand always found its way to every little crevice, impossible to get rid of, the air was so salty it filled you with a constant thirst and seagulls waited around every corner to eat whatever food you left out.

But she loved it.

So he bought a beach house.

Where the floor was littered with sand and the air reeked of salt and seagulls stole your food.

Because she loved to watch the sun set over the water from her balcony.

Because she loved how the ocean licked at the foundations whenever the tide came in.

Because she loved spotting dolphins through the kitchen window.

Because she loved ice cream and iced drinks and the AC on blast.

And he loved her so much.

The door hinges were well oiled and made no sound when he opened it, the soft thud of it closing behind him was the only indication anything at all had changed. He stopped to take off his boots, because one of her rules was no shoes beyond the entry hallway, then crept forward. God, it was late, so late his eyes were burning from having been open well over 24 hours at this point. The soft blue glow on the TV screen was his guiding light as he made his down to where his girls were inevitably waiting for him to come home.

Leon paused for a second to admire the sight of his woman, his beautiful, perfect woman. Her messy hair and dark eyes matched only by his own. The only reason he didn't stay there forever was her shoulders blocked his view of little Mango, and that simply would not do. He quietly made his way up to them, leaned over to give Y/N a kiss on the head, a kiss so pure and romantic it took all the badness that stalked him and stored it securely in a jar so that none of it could affect him while she was here. Then he caught a glimpse of his daughter in her arms and his heart stopped.

Maybe she would've been better off had he died, maybe if he wasn't her dad at all. But when she opened her icy eyes to meet his own and smiled gently, her little face muscles did that just at the sight of him. Him! All the dread and guilt slipped away into the ether. Who cares what awful things could happen, when he had the best currently? He would protect her from his side of the world and should she ever be forced into it, he'd get her out.

"Hi." Wifey looked up to meet his gaze too.

"Hi." Leon hummed back, making his way around the couch to sit beside her. He let out a huge huff upon finally letting his body rest.

"Long day?"

"Long day." Serene silence fell over them and for half a minute, he closed his eyes, let himself sink into the crashing of the shore and the softness of her breaths.

Until the little angel started wailing and pulled all the attention in the room. Mom sighed and begun to comfort her, trying to ease her back into her sleep. She had been on baby duty for so long, it was second nature for him to stay silent, a longing ache stinging his heart. But Grace cured him, the blackness consuming him was gone. He reached out for her, oh God, woman let me hold her. Y/N broke his heart by instinctively pulling her away.

It was on instinct, didn't mean anything other than she was a good mother who cared for her child, but God did it hurt like a son of a bitch. "I'm fine, honey." He raised his left hand and showed her, nothing but calluses and wrinkles. "We fixed it."

"Oh my God-" She let out a shuttering gasp of relief "Oh my God, you're okay..."

"Yeah, now can I pretty please hold my baby girl?" He opened his arms, desperate to receive her. Y/N handed him their precious girl like she was made of porcelain, upon making contact with he sobbing girl, he joined her and was also a mess of tears in mere moments. "Oh honey-" He choked, kissing the top of her head over and over "Shh, you shh, papa's got you."

Y/N hopped off the couch for a moment both to give him a moment alone with her and to grab him his plate of the korma she made earlier. The gorgeous woman had kept it in the oven on low heat so it would be warm for when he got home. She started doing this a few years back when she found out he wasn't heating his own leftovers, no energy he said. It was a fair explanation, but she wanted to make sure he hard something warm to come home to. She brought the meal over to the couch and, just like he had done for months whenever she had to hold the baby, scooped a good mouthful onto the spoon and fed him. While he worked diligently on calming the noisy little Mango, she worked diligently on taking care of her husband.

"I really thought..." he spoke when the baby finally settled down "I really thought I wouldn't make it home this time."

The wonderful woman placed his half eaten plate on the table and pulled him in to her embrace "Is that right? I figured you had that thought but I didn't want to say anything in case it worried you more."

Leon snuggled into her chest, cradling his baby girl close "Yeah. I'm glad you didn't. You talking always keeps my head on straight."

"Good." She leaned forward to kiss the top of his head just as he did when he firs got home "It would be kinda bad if you hated it."

He huffed, too tired for a proper laugh "Luckily for you, I adore your chit chatter."

They stayed cuddled up for a long time, but as much as Y/N wanted to let it slide just this once, she knew she had to pry the child from her fathers arms and place her in the crib where it was safer. She gently kissed the baby's forehead before sneaking back out to the living room where Leon was sluggishly shovelling the rest of his now cold food into his mouth, he stopped when he caught her staring.

"No, don't. you're cute." Y/N grinned.

"I'm done anyway. Let me clean up and I'll join you in bed, yeah?" He yawned.

His wife shook her head, keeping that adoring grin plastered on her beautiful face "Nuh uh. Bed now, Mister. Deal with dishes tomorrow. It is time for you to fall into the slumber of a thousand snuggles."

"Oh goodness me." He groaned as he stood, knees and back dying for a proper lie down "What a cruel fate. How can I survive?"

She interlocked their arms and guided him to their bedroom "I'm sure you'll figure it out."

<3<3<3<3<3

~Elliebean714 <3

So, despite your best judgement, you ended up rushing after her, shouting for her to come back, that the forest was far too unsafe. She wasn't listening though. She didn't stop until reaching the front gates of the decomposing Baker Estate.

"My daddy is stuck in there. He needs help." The pale thing took your hand and looked up at you with sad, pleading eyes "Pl-Please, Mister, can you help him?"

You squeezed her hand sympathetically "Honey, this... its dangerous here. We should head to the police station and have them come get him."

But that wasn't acceptable to her "He needs help NOW!! Please, I promised to get him help. I promised, I promised, I can't leave him." She commanded, teary eyed yet fiercely determined.

"Sweetie, we-" you gulped, very deeply hesitant, everybody knows to stay away... "I'm sorry-" In a fit of rage at your refusal, the little girl growled, dropped your hand then ran towards the house. "Hey, wait-!" You bounced on the balls of your feet, head whipping between the woods behind you, and this defenceless little thing that just wanted her dad back storming straight to hell. Fuck. "HEY!!"

The little girl stopped right outside the main door, turned to face you and smiled as you joined her at the doorstep "Thank you." She smiled softly up at you.

"Honey, you wait here," You brought her to sit down on the steps "I'll look for a 15 minutes, if I can't find him, I'll come out and we'll head to the police, okay?" She nodded appreciatively "Shout if anything is wrong, yeah? My name's Y/N, just shout and I'll come running back to you."

She nodded again, before wrapping her little arms around your legs tightly "I'm Eveline."

"Alright, Eveline. I'll be back soon. Stay right there."

~~

Those fifteen minutes passed agonizingly slow and were ultimately pointless. No one was in here. This absolutely foul home should have no right to still be standing in its current state. Rotten food, decrepit walls, floors that creaked and moaned under your running shoes. Why the hell would Eveline's dad have come here in the first place? There's no logical reason for-

The door you came in through was locked.

"Eveline?" You began nervously "Honey, are you there? I can't open the door." The door nob rattled in your hand but nothing else budged.

"Huh? Why not?" The top of her head appeared at the bottom of the boarded up window next to the door "Is daddy with you?"

You crouched by the window and shook your head, a sympathetic expression coating your face "No, sweetheart, I couldn't find him. I'm really sorry."

"D-Did you look everywhere?" Eveline stood up on her tip toes to meet your gaze "Did you really look?"

"E-Everywhere I could, hon. There's lots of locked doors and-"

"BEHIND YOU!" She cried out a single second before you were hit in the head with something heavy.

Metal.

Blunt.

And in an instant, everything went black.

~~

The first sense to come back was scent. Rot. Decomposition. Mould. Truly the most abhorrent smells known to man must've all been bundled here. Wherever here was.

Somewhere fucking freezing. Wet, cold, hard, curved? You opened your eyes, which gave no new information as it was pitch black too, except for a hint of light that revealed an open archway to the right. Running your hands along the edge of whatever you were kept in did help though. A bathtub, you were in a bathtub. A disgusting, mouldy, bathtub.

EW.

Your attacker was kind enough to leave your clothes on at least, but was that really something to be thankful for? Nonetheless, you strained your arms as you pulled yourself to your feet, they were wabbly and unstable after having been cramped in the tiny tub for who knows how long, but you persevered. Something- Anything could've happened to Eveline while you were out, you had to find a way out of this... whatever it was, the temperature, mould and lack of windows would indicate a basement or cellar of some kind. You saw the door to the basement earlier while searching for Ev's dad, but hadn't gone down, quite reasonably, as the main house was horrifying enough without having to add a basement into the mix.

But now, you almost wished you had, at least just a peek to give an idea as to what the way out looked like. At this point though, the only option was to head towards the light and hope for the best. Your unsteady legs were nothing if not a nuisance, sure they'd return to normal soon enough, but right now it didn't feel fantastic that you had almost no ability to run. Running seemed like quite the necessity in this house, with someone out there attacking people and carrying them into the basement. That usually didn't induce confidence or a feeling of security.

Approaching the light source revealed a corridor that continued past what you could see. There was storage area of some description to your left and a door to your right. Since you could see the storage area you decided to check that first, praying to whatever higher power that would listen for a weapon, a map, anything really. Whole body chills encompass you when the door behind you creeks open, SHIT- right as you're about to turn and face them, the sound of a gun clicking begins to echo through the winding halls.

Your attacker curses under his breath and begins to frantically reload his weapon, giving you just enough time to turn and discover a guy, just like you, a terrified, confused normal guy who looked like hell. "Who th- the fuck are you?" He panted while pointing the handgun at your head.

"Y/N. L/N. I came here cause a little girl needed my help finding her dad, is that-" you heaved, this mouldy, stagnant air was giving you a bad headache "Did you lose your kid?"

"N-No," He slowly lowered his weapon and slid it into his jeans to rest against his side "My wife. I'm Ethan." The guy made his way over to you "Holy shit, I haven't seen a normal person in hours- you are normal, right?"

"I should be, are there other people here? I know somebody hit me in the head a while back, couldn't tell you how long ago."

Upon hearing this, Ethan begins to tremble and his voice quivers "J-Jack's alive?"

"Uh, maybe? Who's Jack-?"

"He's this-" He pulled out his other weaponry and began to reload each and every one "This fucking nutjob, keeps chasing me around and I- He just won't die!"

"I'm- I'm sorry, why do you need all that? Where are you getting grenade launchers and shotguns and all that-"

"The fuck do you mean 'why'?? You've seen the place!"

"Man, I've been unconscious for fuck knows how long, I ain't seen shit other than poor living conditions and an ungodly number of health and safety violations."

Ethan raises his head in surprise "You really haven't...? Holy shit, well," he picks up the handgun he almost shot you with and holds it out to you "it's bad here, like- really fuckin bad, you're gonna wanna keep that on you."

"I have no idea how to use this."

"Yes, you do. Just point that end at the thing you want to shoot."

"Fair enough."

You holstered your gun the same way you saw Ethan do it earlier, after all his weaponry is reloaded, he hands you a backpack. For some reason, he had two and was generous enough to pass one along "There's ammo, medicine, maybe some other stuff, I don't remember, listen," he begun piling everything back into his bag "You're the first sane person I've met in, uh... a while, whoever you're looking for is probably dead. We gotta focus on getting out of here, there is, uh- other people I'm helping, we're working on a cure for my wife, she's... she's sick-"

"Sick?"

"The people here-" a crash from a far off room instils a sense of fear and urgency within Ethan, who grabs you by the wrist and runs further down the hall "Fuck, we gotta get out this basement."

~~

At the top of the steps there's a room to the right, that Ethan has determined is a 'relatively safe room' for you both to sit and catch your breaths. Here, you told him everything, a little girl named Eveline asked you to find her dad who was lost somewhere in the house. To this, he raised an eye brow and countered, he'd heard the name before... used by members of this family, which he went on to explain himself.

His wife was a missing person for three years until she randomly contacted him out of the blue to come to this hellhole and find her, but something is very wrong with her. With all the inhabitants here. And Ethan has been working with the last sane one, Zoe, to make a cure for her and his wife, Mia. Although things went awry after he collected the first ingredient, a bone chilling arm that rested in your bag, as apparently Lucas, a member of the deranged Baker family that called this place home, took the women away to God knows where and made Ethan search the house for keycards to access Lucas' little torture chamber, which now that he had them, would be your next stop, but first...

"I need to get Eveline. I don't- I don't know how long I've been out, I need to make sure she's okay. Anything could've happened to her, and I- I can't have that on me, Ethan." You implored "She trusted me."

"W-We can check wherever you left her, but we can't waste time chasing ghosts." He sighed, fiddling with his shotgun to avoid looking you in the eye.

You nodded, that was good. You just had to check, if she was still there she could come, if she wasn't... then you'd probably have to convince yourself she'd run off to get help again... hopefully someone more prepared this time.

So you both finished up preparations, ensuring you each had the right ammo, one bottle of medicine each, plus splitting the miscellaneous items and supplies. Then, gun in hand, you followed Ethan out of the room and into the main hall. He waited by the door to the backyard while you went to the door you first entered through, except now, it was gone. Completely blocked by chairs and tables, everything looked like it had been thrown against the door in a frenzy.

"Eveline?" You called out nervously "Eveline, honey? Are you still there?" The wind howled in response. You banged on the furniture, raising your voice as much as you comfortably could but to no avail, she was gone.

Ethan gave you another minute and a half of trying to reach her before coming to get you. As reluctant as you were to abandon her, there really was no other option, and you spent the short walk to Lucas' building convincing yourself she had run away. No one got her. The furniture was put there by whoever attacked you, either 'Jack' or Lucas, to keep her out, not to keep anyone in. She got away. She must have.

The place was blinding, Lucas had used the brightest LED lights and some sort of neon glowing substance to absolutely obliterate your eyesight, not to mention the blaring party music. It all felt so wrong. Inside was a room covered in some sort of white sheets on every wall and the floor, in the centre of this room was a TV that activated when Ethan took a seat before it.

Lucas was on the video, ranting and raving over things you could barely comprehend, hopefully Ethan could relay everything to you afterwards, the video turned horrific as Lucas started pulling his nails out from the root with pliers-

"OH SHIT-" you hissed, flinching away from the TV screen, only looking back when Lucas addressed someone personally, Eveline.

"What? What, Eveline? I'm just trying to show him. I'm just trying to show him that not everybody wants to go back to how things were."

How the fuck does this piece of shit know her? Pure unadulterated protective instinct surged through your stomach, raging, a fire spreads through your chest as you storm towards the door further into the building. He's got her. He must've taken her after knocking you out. Oh this guy was so fucking dead. You couldn't even hear Ethan telling you to stop, couldn't hear a word from Lucas' mouth. That little girl trusted you and this fucker thinks he can take her and do God knows what?

A bomb went of behind you and a couple seconds later, Ethan stumbled out, coughing, reaching for your wrist to stabilize him. "He- I think he rigged the TV to explode? Holy hell-" he heaved, then gently slid his hand down to cover yours fully and give it a squeeze "W-We'll get her back, okay? We'll get her back. We won't let him do anything to her."

A nod was all you could manage, unable to say anything through the fury and panic. You pulled out your handgun and allowed Ethan to lead you through these haunted halls covered in traps and mould. The path took you to a barn where you finally had your first encounter with the entities that roamed the halls of this estate. There were three of them, Ethan took down two with his more powerful arsenal and let you take on the third which with your amateur firearm skills took one and a half mags to finish it off.

Due to your... less than stellar performance, Ethan made you hide behind the stairs while he fought the more powerful one Lucas had prepared. the fight was terrifying to watch, with tonnes of close calls and Lucas' sadistic commentary paying over the intercoms blaring in your ears alongside the monsters growls and Ethan's panicked breaths. But somehow, miraculously, Ethan came out on top, and you rushed over to stand beside him over the corpse.

"You did it..." You exhaled, reaching for his hand and squeezing it just as he had before "You got him."

"I've had a really bad night." The pair of you laughed breathlessly at his unfunny joke. he only gave himself a few seconds to catch his breath and reload his guns then it was right back to traversing this building. Luckily enough, in the very next room was the code to the puzzle room that would get you to the exit.

Before entering the code however, Lucas had you both place each of your backpacks into the crate beside the door so you had no way of cheating on... whatever was behind this door. Ethan, ever the courageous gentleman, walked into the pitch black room first, but before you could join him, Lucas grabbed your hair in a tight, closed fist and pulled you to the ground.

Ethan turned in an instant at the sound of your scream, however Lucas had already locked him into the room and begun pulling you away by your arm "LU-LUCAS!" He banged against the cell door so loud it reverberated through the halls as if chasing after you "LUCAS, YOU SON OF A BITCH- Y/N! HOLD OUT, I'LL FIND YOU!" were the last words you heard before Lucas picked up something that clattered inside, pulled his arms back and swung it down on your head.

~~

You woke up with your right hand handcuffed to a pipe in a workshop, presumably Lucas', though thankfully it was empty for now. Wriggling your wrist free had no effect and actually seemed impossible with just how tight he had done it, every slight movement was agony and in seconds blood was gushing down your wrist. Fuck. There was one silver lining though. In the other far corner of the workshop was an endless sniffling and mumbles from what sounded like a little girl.

EVELINE.

"Evie?? Evie, baby, are you there?" Something was happening to you, definitely. Never before have you spoken to a random child this comfortably, yet somehow this tiny thing made you feel so paternal?? There was no time to sit and consider the possibilities here, it didn't matter. Not once she stood from her spot and hurried over to wrap her tiny arms around you and sob into your shoulder.

"I was so scared..." Eveline choked out "I thought you- left me.."

Her terrified tone spit your heart in two and you brought your one free arm to encase her in a warm cocoon. "You're alright, Kiddo. Lucas didn't- He didn't hurt you, did he?"

In response, she shook her head and mumbled against you "No, he t-took you away after hitting you in the head and I- I went looking for you, and he found me and took me here... I- I was so scared you were gone."

Oh, this little girl. Oh this sweet little thing, Isn't she perfect? God, all you want to do is protect her. Love her. Be with her. "Honey..." You ran your fingers through her tangled hair, "Honey, I've met another man here, we're trying to find our way out, but he says your dad is probably-"

"I DON'T CARE!" She growled suddenly, catching you off guard, but somehow you cant find it in yourself to be startled or frightened... "I have you now. I don't need him anymore."

"You're right, sweetie pie." You hummed, then gently kissed the top of her head "You have me, I'll take care of you. I promise."

This admission, almost surrender in a way, seemed to please her astronomically, the fury in her expression shifted to a joyous grin that filled your entire body with an indescribable level of warmth and levity. Slowly, Eveline peeled herself away from you and made her way to a pile of rusted scrap metal near where she was sitting then brought one sharp piece over to you.

"I'll help you get out..." she whispered, this whisper echoed around your head for so long you barely noticed her raising the metal to your wrist, angling it right bellow the handcuff. You only came back to sobriety when she started calmly, torturously, slicing through your flesh.

You let out a startled cry of agony, blood gushed and splattered over the pipe, the wall, it coated her hair, landed in your mouth but she wouldn't stop. The bone didn't even give her pause, all it did was slow her, prolonging the torture, Ev still didn't react.

Once the bone was cut the rest of the flesh came apart and your wrist fell from its prison onto the floor with a quiet thump. Calm, restrained, normal.

Eveline picked up the separated hand and examined the cut casually. You clutched your brand new stump, rolled onto your left and heaved through the misery, sobs bubbling through your chest. She giggled "Don't cry, silly! I can put you back together! No problem!!"

And she could. While you sucked air through your teeth and gagged on the overbearing metallic scent, she grabbed a vial of medicine from your backpack Lucas must've brought here, poured half on the severed hand and the rest on your stump. The blood loss had you weak and whimpering, making you an easy patient. All she had to do was press the two together and voilà! Back together!

Eveline giggled proudly, your heaves and sobs died down replaced by wonder and amazement, it felt like even the blood in your body was refilled. For a good few seconds you simply stared at it. There was a jagged seam of flesh, but both sides seemed to fit together perfectly. Regaining control of the hand was fairly quick too, all it took was wriggling your fingers a little, then the freezing cold limb filled with life and warmth.

While you recovered, Eveline was kind enough to bring your bag over and slink it around your shoulders. "Maybe... I love you, Y/N, but if the other man is curing my mommy and my sister and-" she sniffled but held back the tears. Isn't she so strong? "If he wants to get rid of my family, maybe... maybe you and him, you could... both..." She sighed, playing with a lock of her hair bashfully "N-Never mind..."

"No, baby." You took the initiative to brush some of that hair out of her face, "What is it?"

"I thought, maybe... you know... you could both stay and... and I could have two daddies who'd always love me."

That thought hadn't crossed your mind once, but after she mentioned it, it just felt right. Of course you and Ethan should be together, how did neither of you pick up on it? Either way with Eveline's suggestion it just seemed so perfect. Why shouldn't she have what she wants? She's such a sweet girl. So with newfound determination, the pair got to their feet, left the workshop and got to the boathouse in just enough time to see Ethan boarding a rowboat with two women sitting inside.

To play matchmaker a little, Evie crashed the boat and forced Ethan to separate from the girls. Mia and Zoe could do whatever they wanted now, Ev had a new plan. To hide Ethan in the lowest part of the wrecked ship she had been transported in three years ago and let you be his saviour. And you were happy to oblige, of course! What little girl doesn't love a fairy tale of the handsome knight saving the prince? (Although at the moment it was definitely the prince saving the knight) What little girl doesn't want her own happily ever after?

But she also loves a good struggle! She made you find your own way through the wrecked ship, made you find supplies and fix up the elevator down to where he was being held. She made you fight monsters on your own for the first time. She let you die over and over, though it wasn't frightening, not at all. Not when Eveline's giggles rattled through your head after every mistake. What a treat it was to be chosen by her, what a treat it was to die for her.

At the bottom floor, Ethan was covered by huge ropes of mould, almost as thick as tree trunks, the only part that was exposed was a tiny hint of his shirt poking out through the infinite blackness. You became suddenly giddy at the mere sight of that white shirt and rushed over "Ethan?" Even just saying his name brought you immeasurable joy you struggled to contain. "Ethan, I'm gonna help you, okay?" you grabbed the crowbar and begun carelessly chipping away at the mould encasing him. Blood and flesh spewed all over your face, but you just kept on hacking at it with a big smile.

Ethan's wounds were already healing by the time you managed to pull him out "Ethan?!" You called out, the panic in your voice was scarily close to the real thing, it had you so proud to give Evie such a good performance "Ethan?? Can you hear me? Oh God." It was supposed to play out how it did, with you pressing half your weight on his chest over and over not giving up, and after your 30th push, you moved over to his face, cupped his cheeks, pressed your mouth over his and kissed him.

He woke up with a start, though half a second after his eyes opened, he melted into the kiss. Eveline must have soothed him, waking up to a kiss from a stranger would be quite the fright, and you're both so lucky she was here to set everything right. "Hey." He greeted you hoarsely with a gentle, almost lovestruck smile.

"Hi." You beamed down at him, threading your fingers through his hair. "You feeling okay, pretty boy?"

You stood up and reached out your hand to him which he accepted graciously. Once up on his feet, Ethan took a moment to dust himself off with his free hand, making no note on the blood and tears in his clothing if he even noticed "Much..." He lifted his eyes to meet yours, "Much better now you found me." he squeezed you hand and slowly pulled you towards him "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't go back for you after Lucas took you."

"Hey!" You tutted gently shaking your head "Don't get fixated on the past, there's-" You raised your severed hand to gently cup his cheek "there's a whole future for us. A big beautiful house, so much land and property and... and a happy marriage, and a daughter! We will be so happy together."

Before tonight, the concept of marriage with someone you had only met a few hours ago was ludicrous. There's no way you can make a decision with that little information on the other person! But now? With him this close? His warmth radiating onto your freezing cold, prickly flesh? Gazing into his eyes like they held the secrets of the universe? It just felt so... right. Not to mention how it felt like they were the same being finally melding into one, being absorbed, made whole.

Not entirely though. Not until Eveline appeared at your side and wrapped her tiny arms around your leg like a frightened deer. You chuckled and crouched down to pick her up, holding her securely in your arms. "Hey, hon, this is Ethan."

She poked her head out and gave him a small, shy smile "H- Uhm... Hi."

Ethan lowered himself to be eye level with her, smiling gently "Hi, honey, what's your name?"

"Eveline..."

"Now that's a pretty name! I'm a little jealous!"

Ev perked up at his praise "You are?"

Ethan nodded "Absolutely! So jealous!"

Evie giggled then as you all agreed to keep on going back to the house, she climbed up onto your shoulders, declared herself your ruler, then allowed you to continue forward. This walk was so very peaceful, with Eveline being her usual adorable self and Ethan and you having more in depth talks. He told you what he did for work and you told him where you went to collage and by the time the mine released you three into the guest house, you were 500% sure this was what you wanted. Him. Her. This.

You and Eveline were on the porch after leaving the guest house, halfway out the door, Ethan paused "Wait-" he shook his head as if trying to clear it "Y/N?" he whimpered "What the fuck is going on? Where's Mia?" The sun was well and truly up at this point, almost like you spent half the day wandering the mines in circles. Ethan grabbed your biceps firmly, again demanding answers you couldn't give. It was only after he shook you that the world became somewhat clear again.

Where were you?? You looked around frantically for a clue, how was it midday?? Last time you were out it was pitch black. What happened here?? How'd you lose so much time-

"Daddy...?" Eveline called out from above you, you looked up to find her sat comfortably on your shoulders.

"N-No, your dad is-" You mumbled, carefully lifting her off your shoulders and setting her down on the porch beside Ethan "I couldn't find him-"

"Yes you did!" She yelled "Yes you did!"

You and Ethan exchanged a confused look, what is she talking about?? "Uh- n-no, Sweetie, Ethan told me he's not your-"

Eveline begun to levitate off the floor on her own, her black hair swinging wildly "NO! NO! YOU ARE MY DAD! BOTH OF YOU! YOU PROMISED!" She screamed.

Ethan grabbed your arm and pulled you inside the guest house away from her "Run!"

You listened despite the massive wave of brain fog clouding you, 'Run' was easy, you didn't have to figure out why or how, your body just did. Behind you was Ethan's frantic footsteps thudding over the mouldy, rotted wood flooring. You ran down as far as you possibly could, but the door at the end of the hall was locked, the one to the side was locked also. So there was no other choice but to run upstairs then further up to the attic.

Ethan's breath was frantic from the running, but something about this place seemed to truly unsettle him. With a single squeeze of your hand he snapped back into focus. He pulled you along through each room, checking each window for any potentially weak planes of glass and finding none. "Shit-" he hissed. You ran over to close the door he had carelessly left open. "What the hell happened? I- I was on a boat with Mia and Zoe in the middle of the night then- something- I don't know- something happened and the next thing I know its bright out and they're nowhere to be seen? And- And what happened to you, I couldn't- I couldn't find you."

"No fucking idea, Ethan!" You let out a hushed yell "Lucas dropped something on my head and I woke up hand cuffed to a pole, I- I think Eveline was there, but- God man, I don't know anything!"

The other man considered this for a moment, then offered up "Was it her, do you think?"

A scoff escaped your lips "A little girl?" You rolled your eyes, you knew her, right? She was your responsibility, no way that little thing could've...

"Y/N, buddy, I mean this in the nicest way possible, I have seen a lot of shit tonight, a little girl being the mastermind behind it all doesn't shock me."

"I'm not bad."

Eveline's voice filled you both with a cold dread that seeped through to your bones.

"I just wanted a family."

Your mouth went dry.

"And you took that from me!"

She stared daggers into Ethan's eyes, whose only response was stepping back from this anomaly.

"You took the Bakers and saved Mia and-" She growled in frustration "Everything is all messed up now because of you!"

In contrast to Ethan, you stepped towards her, arm outstretched, reaching for the little girl that was begging you for help hours ago. Eveline sniffled exactly like she had then, whimpering "I just wanted to be family. Why can't I- Why was I not allowed that? It's not fair." she ran over and wrapped her arms around your waist "I want us all to be happy. That's not bad, is it?"

A familiar yet foreign feeling fell over you. A warm glow that wrapped you in a cocoon of love and happiness that felt horrifyingly artificial. You shook your head "Ev, no- no, what is this?"

"The future, daddy." Her voice was sweet as honey, as good as rotten fruit. She turned her face towards Ethan "Mia and Zoe left. No one's coming back for you. We should all be a family, right, Y/N?"

Your name was wrong on her tongue, why would your daughter call you that? "Yes, Darling." you mumbled "Whatever you want."

"No, daddy!! Try harder! Ethan isn't convinced I don't think."

Energy surged through you, PERFORM, you lifted Eveline into your arms and held her against your chest "Ethan, it's- This is best, I think. We can be-"

"NO!" He yelled "Jesus, man, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

"There's no point, Ethan." Eveline spoke for you "You're both filled to the brim with mould. There's nowhere you can go that I won't follow."

The fog cleared for a moment, you were now carrying her- What is happening?? "Mould??"

"Yep!" She nodded proudly, "We're ALLLLLL mould! And I control the mould, so I control you!" Horror flooded Ethan's face, but something deep inside you prevented anything but a shocked quiver of your breath. Eveline continued talking about herself, her past, and, more energetically, the future now that she officially had two parents like she'd always wanted.

Under her control, and now unable to die, she had you both under her pale pinkie finger. Ethan shared a look with you, still horrified, still fighting. You shook your head. "Ethan."

"No-"

"I think this is it."

"NO! I have- I have a life- Mia- I just got her back, this can't be-"

You maneuvered Evie so that you were holding her with one arm and used the other to take Ethan's hand. "Ethan, we can't fight something that's already inside us."

"There was a cure! I-I used it on Mia and Zoe, maybe we could-"

"Make more?" Eveline giggled "Nope! That's not how this works!!! You can't make any more!! You're stuck here as long as I want. Either as a daddy, like Y/N will be, or as one of my spooky mouldy friends."

"It's over, Ethan." You sighed "You did what you came to do, you saved her. Fighting this will just make everything worse." Ethan tried again to refute your claim, but you wouldn't give him the chance "I think we should just... just let it happen. Even if- we don't exist, some... some version of us will be happy."

"N-No, Y/N. We can't. I can't just give in! You didn't see what she did to the Bakers! I'm not letting that happen to me!"

You squeezed his hand, grounding him to reality with a single meeting of the eyes "This is happening. No matter what you want, she's too powerful. But she'll be good if we just roll over and take it." You passed a nervous glance down at Evie in your arms who nodded sweetly like a perfect little angel, half your mind already saw her as one. "She just wants a nice happy family. She'll make us happy."

"No-"

"How about this..." You gently put Ev back down on the floor and waked closer to Ethan. "We'll just sit." and you pulled him down to the wood below you both "We can just look out the window. We can just sit here."

Ethan choked back a mountain of sobs, but nodded "Okay. We'll sit." He laid his head on your shoulder and staired out the window beyond Eveline. There were no clouds in the sky. Today was a beautiful day.

<3<3<3<3<3

~Elliebean714 <3

Send REquests!!

~~

Weeks later, Y/N was trying out new paints for the first time in their small art studio. Hunched over the once white table trying to figure out how gouache works, they found themselves fixated on getting the colours of Luis' nose when suddenly, they were pulled from their thoughts by his arms wrapping around their torso and nuzzling against their neck "Ah, I do love seeing myself through your eyes, mi amor."

They dabbed a small glop of violet paint onto his cheek "You just like looking at your own face."

"Hey!" Luis chuckled as he pulled away and wiped his cheek with a tissue found on Y/N's desk "Su magnífico! I can't help it!" He ruffled their hair "You're worse than me. You can't judge."

"I'm an artista! I get a pass." Y/N stood from their chair to focus on Luis. In response, he wrapped his arms around their waist and let his hands to rest on their ass. Y/N rolled their eyes, muttered "Pervertido." under their breath, but allowed it anyway.

"¿Pervertido?" He grinned, shaking his head "No, soy un amante."

Y/N raised their arms to wrap around his neck, laid their head on his shoulder and breathed in his scent. Cigarette smoke. Cedarwood. Lime. Whiskey. Home. Moments passed in silence, they eventually began to sway in one another's arms "¿Cariño?" Luis broke the stillness with a voice so full of love it was rough and hoarse, a little scared of what was to come "I must leave for a few months."

"Mierda. Months, really?" They puled their head away to look him in the eye "For work?"

Luis gave a small, sympathetic smile "Sí, mi dulce paloma. Work." upon seeing the dejected look in those beautiful eyes he held so dearly, he forced his own face to lighten up so they wouldn't be so blue "Don't you worry though, your big, strong, handsome man will find his way back home to you. Lots of in his pocket." He leant down to kiss their forehead "And maybe a ring too, if you want..."

The sudden proposal caused a short circuit in Y/N's brain for a second "Eh..." They began, shaking their head to clear it "A-Are you..." they giggled, unsure of what they just heard "Are you proposing to me right now?"

"Sí, cariño!" Luis beamed, "I go, do my job, and come back home, marry you same day." He fiddled with the hair framing his lovers beautiful face "If you want such a thing with me...?"

Y/N rolled their eyes, but couldn't even try to contain their smile "Shush, you know how bad I want that, don't play coy."

The gentleman huffed a small laugh through his nose "Mis disculpas, amor. I shouldn't have asked such a stupid question. Who wouldn't want to be mine?"

"Hush, you." They pressed an adoring kiss against his smug lips "You like yourself too much."

Luis pulled back a teeny bit, feigning offence "I don't think it's too much. I think it's perfectly justified actually, hermosa."

The couple laughed just a little, taking the time while they had it, holding one another close. When they parted, Luis took a seat nearby his darling's desk and posed for them, replicating the position and expression depicted on the page near identically.

The afternoon after, Y/N had Luis close his eyes and reach out his hands, where they gave him something they'd been working on for his birthday since he would be gone on the day, "For luck," they'd said. It was a handmade, hand embroidered beautiful brown leather coat, to keep him warm and beautiful. He loved it, he loved who made it, he was so full of love just holding it.

They had a week before Luis left, and they spent it more romantically than they would on average. Dancing by candlelight, cooking together, reading with the other persons head on their shoulder, they even went window shopping for wedding outfits, for flowers, for rings, everything they'd have once he returned.

~~

He never did.

Not his body.

Not his jacket.

Not even just his lighter.

He was gone.

The only proof he'd ever lived at all was his love.

They kept him alive, that was evidence.

He existed.

He was real. It wasn't a mirage.

But memory fades, its nature to do so.

And with age, his face went too. His nose wasn't he same, the eyes changed colour a hundred times, his hair was never consistent.

One day, maybe he'd come back clearer than ever, maybe they'd remember his laugh again, his smile, and the repertoire of pet names.

Maybe one day an American agent would knock on the door and express his condolences, hand them a ring and say "He wanted you to have this." Share his final moments with them, bring them comfort.

Maybe one day.

For now he was just paint on a canvas. Pencils on paper. Muscle memory.

Little else.

<3<3<3<3<3

Send REquests!!

IVE BEEN WRITING LIKE CRAZY TOWN THE LAST WEEK!!

MOREMOREMORE PRETTY PLEASEEE!!

Interview Room 1, Matthew Taylor, 08:28, 02.03.15- Redacted- So, where did the problems begin, Mr. Taylor? Matthew Taylor- Uh… I guess… when I saw Emily- m-my girlfriend- hugging and like- *Clears Throat* getting close with Mike, her, um, her ex. Redacted- Alright, did you confront them after that? Matthew Taylor- Y-Yeah, in the lodge, I- *Long Pause* I attacked Mike. But it wasn't that bad! I swear! Josh interrupted us b-before… Redacted-Josh, he was the only one we didn't find. What happened to him? Matthew Taylor- Uh, well, first, me and Em left the lodge cause she forgot her bag at the cable car station and wanted to go get it, but we came back and we heard screaming near the shed and Chris and Ashley come out sobbing and screaming and covered in blood and they just- *Shaky Breath* but they told us that Josh was s-split in half… *Blinks Rapidly, Leans Back, Tucks Tongue Into Cheek* Redacted- Take your time, Mr. Taylor. Matthew Taylor- Uh, well, *Deep Breath* I didn't see anything, all I know is what they told us then and uh, later. *Clears Throat* So, they said he was torn in half by a sawblade and that there was some voice, not the guy, just like, a voice clip saying Chris had to decide between Josh or Ash and I guess he made his choice. Redacted- You didn't check the shed? Matthew Taylor- N-No, we believed them. Redacted- Alright, so is that when you all went to the fire tower? Matthew Taylor- Uh, we all split up, so Chris and Ashley went back to the lodge to find Sam and we went to the fire tower and radioed for help. Redacted- That was you and Ms. Davis, correct? Matthew Taylor-*Nods* Redacted- And what happened afterwards? The park ranger told us the call was cut off. Matthew Taylor- I- I don't know how, but the tower fell into the mines. Redacted- The mines? What about the support cables? Matthew Taylor- Something snapped them, I dunno, but it fell! And it was *Shaky Breath* on its side, and Emily was dangling over this- giant fucking hole and- *Pauses, Shaky Breath* and I left her. *Begins To Cry, Sharp Inhale* I was just- so mad, and so sick of being treated like- *Shaky breath* I left her to die… Redacted- Mr. Taylor? Are you alright? Would you like some water? Matthew Taylor- No, no, I'm fine, just- I'm sorry… *Cries Into Hands* Redacted- We'll give you a few minutes. Matthew Taylor- No. *Sniffles, Wipes Nose And Cheeks With Jacket Sleeve, Clears Throat* No, I can do it, um… so- *Short Sniffle* so I just kinda wander around the mines for hours, I don't even have a light! B-But yeah, so I eventually find Jess and she's just busted up, I mean, you saw her right? The poor thing can barely walk- barely talk! How is she b-by the way? Is she okay? Do you know? Redacted- Ms. Riley's state is still being assessed. Matthew Taylor- *Nods, Long Exhale* Right… Yeah. Redacted- So you and Ms. Riley are in the mines, then what? Matthew Taylor- We hear Mike. Or footsteps at least, but we follow them and see Mike. He said he'd been in there looking for her or the killer all night. Redacted- Mr. Munroe was in the mines all night? Matthew Taylor- *Shrugs* That's what he said. Redacted- Okay, so you three meet up and head back to the lodge, and got there after the building was destroyed? Matthew Taylor- *Nods* Basically, yeah. Redacted- Just so we're clear, you never actually encountered the killer? Matthew Taylor- *Shakes Head* No, not in person. Redacted- Alright, thank you for your time Mr. Taylor, you can go.

Interview Room 2, Christopher Hartley, 08:54, 02.03.15- Redacted- You were the last person to see Josh Washington alive, correct? Christopher Hartley- *Nods* M-Me and Ashley… Redacted- Can you tell us about that? Christopher Hartley- The uhm *Clears Throat* the three of us were just hanging out playing one of those, you know, the boards you can talk to ghosts with? Redacted- *Nods* Christopher Hartley- Yeah, so, I thought it'd be fun to mess with them so I pretended to be a ghost and Josh took it wrong and left cause he thought I was pretending it was his sister. Redacted- That wasn't your intention? Christopher Hartley- *Shakes Head* No, I was just being stupid. I wasn't thinking. Redacted- Alright, I understand. So what happened after Josh left? Christopher Hartley- Ashley and I wanted to give him some space so we just wandered around the library and eventually found the note I handed in when we first got here. Redacted- The one on the back of the picture of the twins? Christopher Hartley- *Nods* Redacted- It's good that you found that. I'm sure it'll be a great help. After you found the note? Christopher Hartley- We went looking for Josh, but heard him screaming and ran to help him. The killer was behind this door and grabbed Ashley first so I couldn't help at all, I just tried to break the door down but it wouldn't budge till he let me in. Redacted- What happened behind the door? Christopher Hartley- H-He knocked her out with some kind of gas or something, then punched me, I don't know about Josh, sorry. Redacted- That's fine, you're already doing so much. Christopher Hartley- Thanks *Sniffle* Redacted- So, when you wake up… Ashley and Josh are gone? Christopher Hartley- *Nods* Yeah. I leave the kitchen and follow the trail down to the shed and uhm- Redacted- It's alright, you're safe, you're doing great, Chris. Christopher Hartley- And Ash and- *Shaky Breath* Josh are hanging from their hands and-*Takes Off Glasses, Presses Left Eye* And this horrible voice starts talking, it tells me that I have to- *Voice Breaks, Breath Hitches* to choose- Redacted- I'll get you some water Transcript Closed 09:16, 02.03.15

Transcript Reopened 09:25, 02.03.15 Redacted- So the voice tells you to choose between them? Christopher Hartley- *Nods, Clears Throat* There's this round sawblade attached to these, it looks like rails? That lead to either Ashley or Josh, and I gotta pick one. Redated- You chose Ashley? Christopher Hartley- *Shuddering Breath, Shakes Head* I wanted to save him… I wanted to… *Cries* Redacted- It's not your fault. Christopher Hartley- He was my best friend… Redacted- Would you like to step out for a moment? Christopher Hartley- *Shakes Head* I just want to get this over with. Redacted- Alright, take your time, Chris. Christopher Hartley- Once *Clears Throat* Once it's done, the door unlocks and I can get Ashley. I had to- *Clears Throat* had to stay strong for her. Redacted- You did great. Christopher Hartley- *Scoffs* When we got outside the shed, I just broke. Thank God Matt and Emily showed up or we'd have stayed there all night. Redacted- What did you do instead? Christopher Hartley- Sam was still in the lodge, we went to look for her in case she was in trouble. Redacted- And they went? Christopher Hartley- Uh, to the- uh, the cable car. Or- at first, I think they went to the fire tower from there. Redacted- Alright, so you and Ashley are in the lodge looking for Sam… Christopher Hartley- She's not upstairs, so we have to go into the basement. There's creepy shit all over the place and- *Shakes Head* sorry, nothing really happened, but we eventually find this… dummy… thing? Wearing Sam's clothes. Redacted- Oh? That's odd, different clothes than the ones she was found in? Christopher Hartley- No, uh she wore the ones earlier when she first came up, she must've changed after her bath. Redacted- Right, sorry, continue. Christopher Hartley- So yeah, we start to investigate and the guy comes up behind us and knocks us out with the gas. Redacted- You ran into the killer twice? Christopher Hartley- *Nods* Redacted- Can you describe his appearance? Things like face, body type, skin tone, even clothes could help. Christopher Hartley- Uh, he was wearing a mask, so I couldn't tell you his face at all. And he wore gloves and most his skin was covered so I couldn't tell, sorry. But uh, he seemed like a pretty, you know like, big guy, tall, buff, all that. Redacted- *Nods* Christopher Hartley- And he was wearing *Clears Throat* wearing a big green coat. Kind of like the ones Mike and Jess were wearing when we found them. Redacted- Oh, one of those miner coats? Interesting. Thanks so much, Chris. Let's keep going, what happened when you were caught? Christopher Hartley- He put us both in another trap. We would've died if Sam didn't save us. Redacted- What was this trap? Christopher Hartley- I had this gun in front of me and more of those- those fucking sawblades coming at us. It was me or her. Redacted- Sam got there before you had to pick? Christopher Hartley- *Nods* Redacted- The killer wasn't there? Christopher Hartley- *Shakes Head* We think he left after he got us in the trap, cause Sam never saw anything. Redacted- Is that the last you saw of him? Christopher Hartley- Yeah. We all hid for a bit til Emily came down screaming bloody murder. Redacted- On her own? Without Matt? Christopher Hartley-Yeah, we didn't see him for hours. Redacted- Alright, so, can you tell us what happened to the lodge? Christopher Hartley- I'll try. *Deep Inhale* We were all sitting in the living room when some of the girls start smelling a some kind of gasoline or something and get us all out before it would blow up. Redacted- So it was gas leak? Do you think the killer was involved? Christopher Hartley- I think so, yeah. Redacted- Alright, that's everything, unless there's more you need to add? Christopher Hartley- *Shakes Head* Redacted- Okay, thank you for your help, Christopher.

Interview Room 1, Emily Davis, 09:36, 02.03.15 Redacted- Mr. Taylor said you and him found Mr. Hartley and Ms. Brown outside the shed, lets start there. Emily Davis- Sure. *Short Pause* Oh, you want me to start? Okay, uh, pretty simple, we get there and they're covered in blood and screaming that Josh is dead and stuff. *Wipes Nose With Sleeve* Redacted- Right? Emily Davis- And... I told the other two to go back to the lodge since they wanted to get Sam and me and Matt went to the fire tower. Redacted- Did that seem smart? Emily Davis- What, separating? Yeah, at the time, we needed to get help and we needed to find our friend, the sooner the better on both accounts. Redacted- *Grumbles* Alright then, why did you go to the fire tower? Surely you'd try the cable car first? Emily Davis- We did. It was busted up and the key was missing so we had to find something else. Genius. Redacted- *Scoff* You should probably be more concerned about your friend's death than being snarky. Emily Davis- Excuse me?! Redacted- Nothing. Tell us what happened on the fire tower. Emily Davis- What happened was I got everybody's head straight, I gave Chris and Ash a mission that calmed them down, I got us to the cable car, I figured out the fire tower would have a radio, I got us there, I got the power on, I called for help, and Matt fucking abandoned me! After everything I did!? Redacted- Calm down, Ms. Davis. Emily Davis- Fuck no. I was dangling over a giant fucking mine and that stupid guy left me! Redacted- Matt was incredibly sorry when I spoke to him. Emily Davis- *Laughs* He wanted me to die! Redacted- He wanted to survive. Emily Davis- He spent like 5 minutes screaming at me for talking to Mike! I didn't even cheat! Redacted- We're going to take a few minutes for you to cool off. Emily Davis- I don't need a few minutes- Redacted- You're too emotional, Ms. Davis. Emily Davis- I am not! Transcript Closed, 09:48, 02.03.15

Transcript Reopened, 09.57, 02.03.15 Redacted- How did you survive the fall? Emily Davis- The wire connecting the radio to the power source got wrapped around my ankle and kept me attached. I managed to cut it and landed on a mine entrance. Redacted- *Scoffs* Sure. Emily Davis- I don't care whether or not you believe me. Redacted- I don't. Emily Davis- I said I don't fucking care. You're here to listen to me, so shut up and do your fucking job. Redacted- You're a charming young woman, aren't you? Emily Davis- Oh, I'm fucking delightful. Redacted- *Short Huff* Emily Davis- Anyway, back to the reason I'm here dealing with your childish ass instead of on a fun weekend trip with my besties. I get fucking chased by the guy in the mines. Oh, what, am I now an interesting source? Redacted- Interesting is a good word for it. Emily Davis- *Short Huff* This fucking guy chases me the whole way carrying a gas tank and mask! Redacted- *Laughs* In the mines? Emily Davis- Yes, good boy! You can follow a story! Great job, buddy! Redacted- *Grumbled* So how'd you get out? Emily Davis- With my legs. Redacted- Ms. Davis, if you're going to keep being difficult- Emily Davis- Me?! You're the one who's shit at his job. Redacted- How did you get out? Emily Davis- I ran. Then I used the abandoned mine equipment, the conveyer belt and stuff. Redacted- Wonderful. Emily Davis- You don't sound too pleased. Careful. Don't want to seem upset a teenager didn't die. Redacted- *Sigh* What happened once you escaped? Emily Davis- I ran back to the lodge. Chris, Ash and Sam were there so thank god I sent them to get her, right? Redacted- And the fire? Emily Davis- Sam and I start smelling gas, we panicked and got everybody out and then the thing is just up in flames. Redacted- You didn't see how it started? Emily Davis- No, but it has to be the guy, cause he wanted us dead, plus there was probably a ton of evidence in the lodge he wanted to destroy. Redacted- You're speculating. Emily Davis- Figured you might need some help with your job since you're not very good at it. Redacted- Thank you, Ms. Davis, that's all. Emily Davis- I'd say you're welcome, but that'd be a lie.

Interview Room 2, Michael Munroe, 09:59, 02.03.15 Redacted- Hiya, Michael, I just read my partners talk with Matthew Taylor and saw that you both got into a fight? Michael Munroe- Uh, yeah, yeah. He saw Emily and I talkin, I think. Then he went all football brain and attacked me over it. He- He apologised later though, so we're all good now. Redacted- Happy to hear it, but, uh we haven't heard anyone mention you or Jess except Matthew saying he met you both in the mines, so where were you? Michael Munroe- There was a- a little- like- cabin thing far off that we went to to- ah- *Swallows, Clears Throat* Redacted- Gotcha, alright, so you two walked to that cabin, was anything weird going on on the way there? Michael Munroe- We felt like we were being watched, I guess? We didn't see anybody though. Redacted- Okay, can you tell us what happened to Jessica? Michael Munroe- We were in the cabin about to- uhm, you know... and uh, a rock was thrown through the bathroom window. So I went to check it out cause Jess was obviously freaked out and then I heard her scream. I ran out and saw her being dragged through the snow by this creepy fucking guy, so I grabbed the lantern and ran after them. Redacted- That was very brave, Mike. Michael Munroe- I- Thanks...? Redacted- Sorry for interrupting. Michael Munroe- Uh, it's fine. So, uh, I chased them til we got to some... building, I- I think it was used by the miners when that whole thing was still happening. Redacted- *Nods* Yeah. Michael Munroe- And uh, yeah, so I chased them into this building and the guy wasn't there, but I found Jess laying on the elevator floor and I tried to help her up but th- this fucking guy, he did something and the elevator fell. Redacted- Fell down into the Mines? Michael Munroe- *Nods* Redacted- Wow, it's incredible she survived. Michael Munroe- I know. Redacted- Did you go looking for her straight away? Michael Munroe- N-No, I thought she was dead, I went looking for that guy. Redacted- Y-You followed him? Michael Munroe- I thought he killed my woman. The fucker needed to pay. Redacted- Well, where did he go? Michael Munroe- The sanitorium. Redacted- Y-You went there? Michael Munroe- Yeah. Tons of creepy shit in there by the way, but I lost track of him. Redacted- Could you describe him for me? Michael Monroe- Creepy mask, Green jacket, big guy. Redacted- Quick and simple, thanks, Mike! Michael Munroe- *Huff* Sure. Redacted- Is that his jacket you're wearing? Michael Munroe- Don't know, I just found it hanging in the Sanitorium and took it since I was freezing. Redacted- Could we take that for evidence? Michael Munroe- Uh, okay. Transcript Closed 10:05, 02.03.15

Transcript Reopened, 10:07, 02.03.15 Redacted- So you searched the sanatorium and couldn't find him? Michael Munroe- Yeah. *Rubs Eyes* Redated- Did you keep looking for him or go looking for Ms. Riley instead? Michael Munroe- Nah, I-I looked for Jess. I went back to where I lost her and spent like 2 hours tryna get down to her. Redacted- And then you were in the mines all night? Alone? Michael Munroe- Yeah? Redacted- So you were completely unaccounted for for three, four hours until finding Mr. Taylor and Ms. Riley? Michael Munroe- I-I guess- what is this? Redacted- Why didn't you go back to the lodge? Michael Munroe- I dunno, man, I was scared Redacted- You were scared, so you chose to remain as vulnerable as possible by staying alone? Does that make sense to you? Michael Munroe- I was looking for my girlfriend! Redated- But you thought she was dead. Michael Munroe- Yeah, so? I wasn't gonna abandon her! Even if she was dead, I had to know- Redacted- She was in a state of undress when we found her, she still can barely get a sentence out, her memory is hazy- Michael Munroe- *Yells* No! No, I didn't fucking- Redated- No? Then why were you so vague when my partner was questioning you? Michael Munroe- Privacy, man! I don't wanna talk about my sex life with the cops! Redated- You can see why its suspicious though, right? Michael Munroe- No! I'd never, dude, I swear, I'd never- Redacted-Ms. Davis was your ex, correct? And she was chased in the mines. That's where you said you were. Michael Munroe- I never saw Emily! And gas tank?? Why would I have that? Somebody would've seen me bringing that up! Redacted- *Long Pause* Right. Sorry son. Keep taking. What did you do in the mines? Michael Munroe- I looked for Jess, that's all, I swear to God! Redated- Until Ms. Riley and Mr. Taylor found you, correct? You didn't find them? Michael Munroe- Y-yeah? Redacted- So you failed at the one thing you were supposed to be doing all night? Michael Munroe- What the fuck, man!? Why are you stuck on that!? I didn't hurt anybody! Redacted- Anything else you need to say? Michael Munroe- You're sending me away? Redacted- Anything else? Michael Munroe- *Long Pause* No.

Interview Room 1, Ashley Brown, 10:22, 02.03.15 Redacted- Were you aware that Mr. Hartley pretended to be Mr. Washington's sister during your spirit board session? Ashley Brown- N-no he wasn't, it was just meant to be an anonymous ghost, it wasn't meant to be one of them... Redacted- Sorry, Sweetie. So you and Chris found the note in the library, yeah? Ashley Brown- *Eyes Widen, Leans Back* Yes? Redacted- And then you went to look for Josh, right? Ashley Brown- *Nods* Redacted- That was really brave, Honey. Ashley Brown- Th-thanks? Redacted- You're welcome. Can you tell me what happened when you found him, huh? I've been hearing talk of some gas tank? Ashley Brown- We got to the door and he pulled me through- the killer, sorry- uh, and put a gas mask over my face then I was out and I woke up tied to this weird... trap? Machine? I don't know, sorry... Redacted- That's okay, Sweetheart, you're doing your best. I really appreciate it. *Smiles* Ashley Brown- Okay. Redacted- Wanna tell me what it was like when Josh died? Ashley Brown- Uhm... I woke Josh up since he was still unconscious beside me, then the voice started talking and said- Redacted- What did he say, kiddo? Ashley Brown- T-That Chris had to pick between us. He chose me and Josh was- was- Redated- Yeah, I know, Sweetheart. You're doing so well. Ashley Brown- *Long Pause, Sneer* Okay. Redacted- So after Josh was killed, Chris was able to save you? Ashley Brown- *Nods* Redacted- That's when Matt and Emily came down? Ashley Brown- Y-Yeah, aren't I supposed to be telling you what happened rather than ju- Redacted- Oh, don't worry about that, Honey. I already know everything I need to know.*Leans Forward* I just need you to confirm some stuff for me. *Smiles* Ashley Brown- C-Can I please talk with the lady, please? I don't feel very- Redacted- Oh? Sorry, Sweetheart. I was just trying to make you comfortable. Ashley Brown- I'm sorry, I'd really rather talk with her instead. Redacted- *Leans Back, Sucks On Teeth, Deep Exhale* Alright. Wait here. Transcript Closed, 10:29, 02.03.15

Transcript Reopened, 10:35, 02.03.15 Redacted- So, uh... oh, right, Matt and Emily found you and Chris outside the shed, right? Ashley Brown-*Nods* Redacted- Alright, what happened then, Ashley? Ashley Brown- E-Emily told us to go back to the lodge and look for Sam... Redacted- And did you? Ashley Brown- *Nods* Mhm. But we got caught in the basement while looking for her. Redacted- How did he get you both? Ashley Brown- He, uh, he snuck up behind us when we were distracted by this- like- creepy dummy thing wearing Sam's clothes and drugged us again. Well, me again, Chris for the first time. Redacted- With the gas? Ashley Brown- *Nods* Redacted- Alright, where did you wake up? Ashley Brown- Tied to a chair opposite C-Chris. There was a table between us and a gun on it and above us was more saw blades that got closer and- he said Chris had to choose to either kill himself or me. S-Sam came in before he could, but he was going to shoot himself- Redacted- Take a breath, Ashley, you're safe, so is Chris, he's outside waiting for you. Ashley Brown-*Several Deep Breaths* S-Sorry. *Clears Throat* Redacted- It's alright. Take your time. Ashley Brown- Th-Thank you... *Shaky Breath* Uhm, so, Sam saved us, and we all snuck upstairs in case he was still in the lodge but he was gone and we all stayed in the living room talking about what happened until Emily got there. Redacted- And what did she tell you? Ashley Brown- That he chased her in the mines. And that Matt abandoned her, she made sure we knew that. Redacted-Did she tell you how she got into the mines? Ashley Brown- She said that the fire tower fell into them. I don't know how though, with those support cables and stuff... Redacted- Yeah, that's puzzling me too, but I'm sure there's an answer. Sorry, please continue, did she say anything else? Ashley Brown- N-No, nothing in particular. We all just agreed to get weapons and wait for him to come back, but he never did. Then Sam and Emily noticed a weird smell and made us all run out of the lodge. A couple seconds after we left the lodge blew up and Matt, Jess and Mike came out of the forest. Redacted- That's everything? Ashley Brown- *Nods* Redacted- Before you go, what was the killer wearing? Ashley Brown- Wearing? A green coat, a mask, black gloves, uhm... big boots, I remember those, and jeans. Redacted- Would you say he was tall? Ashley Brown- Much taller than me. And broad shoulders so I guess strong too, maybe? Redacted- Thank you so much, Ashley, you've been a great help. Ashley Brown-You're welcome.

Interview Room 2, Jessica Riley, 11:14, 02.03.15 Redacted- Can you tell us what happened in the cabin? Jessica Riley- It was... me and Mike... we were... and then something happened... the window and... he-he ch-ch.... and then... and then there was something at the door and it grabbed me- *Begins To Cry* Redacted- Take your time, Jess. You're doing great. Jessica Riley- Mike, he... he came for me... he did! Redacted- Came for you? Jessica Riley- I was taken, and... carried... Redacted- Out of the cabin? Jessica Riley- Yeah... Redacted- Where were you taken? Jessica Riley- To... I don't know, but it was old and... I don't know. Redacted- It's alright, Jess. Just skip to what you do remember. Jessica Riley- U-Uhm, he left me on an... an elevator and Mike... Mike tried to help me... he tried to help me... Redated- But he couldn't? Jessica Riley- *Shakes Head* N-No... I fell. Redacted- You fell? Jessica Riley- Down the... the elevator. I-I passed out for... for... The sun was just about to come up so... all night...? Oh God... Redacted- You were unconscious all night? Jessica Riley- I think so... Jesus fucking... Redacted- C-Can you... Can you try to remember what happened in the cabin? Jessica Riley- Wh-What? Mike and me just... we just... Redacted- C-Can you please try? Jessica Riley- We were talking, I asked him to... to make the fire for us and... and he did... and then we started to... Redacted- D-Did you consent? Jessica Riley- Wh- O-Of course I did. I- I know I did. Redacted- Are you... I'm so sorry, but, are you sure? Jessica Riley- I know it! He didn't- I swear! We both wanted it. Redacted- *Sigh* Alright, sorry, Jessica, I trust you. Did you see the attacker at all? Jessica Riley- Just his... Just his jacket. Same one as me. And Mike... but it wasn't him, he... he wasn't wearing it until... he was wearing something different when I was... Redacted- I understand, thank you, Jessica. What do you remember after you woke up? Jessica Riley- It was cold and everything hurt and... I g-got myself up and f-found a... the jacket but it was still so cold, and... and- and then Matt and... we walked for- for a while until... *Smiles* Mike, he... he came for me. He looked for me and... he came for me... Redacted- That's really sweet of him. Jessica Riley- Do you even believe me? Redacted- Yes, I do. My partner has his suspicions of Michael, but I believe you and your friends. Until concrete evidence surfaces, I'll trust your word. Jessica Riley- Thanks... I promise, he's a good guy. Redacted- I believe you, Jessica. *Short Pause* How did the three of you get back to the lodge? Jessica Riley- We... They helped me get out, M-Mike lead us to an exit... he'd found earlier then we were in the... woods. My legs... Mike had to carry me... Redacted- I'm glad he was there for you. Jessica Riley- *Smiles* Yeah... Redacted- But, uh, tell me what you saw when you arrived at the lodge. Please. Jessica Riley- It was on fire before we... even got there. We saw the... the smoke and the flames... a-and then we saw everybody else except... Redacted- Joshua? Jessica Riley-Y-Yeah... Redacted- Thank you so much for your time, Jessica. I hope you have a quick recovery. Jessica Riley- *Huff* Me too...

10 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days later

Sam hadn't received a letter in nearly a year, so seeing the familiar return address in her apartment's mailbox made her almost squeal in delight. She rushed up to her room and ripped the envelope open, reading the letter with baited breath and shining eyes. "Oh my God...!"

The 10 hour plane ride definitely tested her will and her strength, she'd have done anything to sleep during the flight, but unfortunately, the cheapest flight wasn't a night flight, not to mention the crying children and obnoxiously loud conversations around her so she couldn't even try. At least Matt was able to drive her to the airport, he was the only one of her friends to go to the same city as her after college. On the ride he made sure she knew everything about his try-outs for any football team who'll give him a chance, and whatever important things were happening in the sports world, which, truthfully, Sam droned out a little bit. Her mind wandered over to Emily, who had broken up with Matt almost immediately, left the friend group, only staying in contact with Jess, and moved across the country to attend some fancy college 'actually worthy of her'. That was the last Sam heard from her since she promptly blocked everyone from home and Jess refused to share anything. All you could really do was hope she was doing well and leave it at that. Matt helped her get herself checked in, hugged her and wished her well, before leaving her in the airport alone. Most of the time on the plane, she read and reread the letter and attached invite over and over until getting cross eyed, at which point, she'd tuck then away back into her bag and either watch a few episodes of whatever old sitcom she chose to spend time rewatching on the back of someone's seat. A someone who had leaned much too far back for her liking. That cycle repeated until the wheels graciously touched down and let her safely disembark.

Her hotel was cheap but surprisingly pretty nice for what it cost. The first thing she did was pass out on the big comfy bed. It took her a few days to work off the jetlag completely, she'd anticipated that, of course, which is why she arrived two days early, and planned to stay two days after to have a much needed vacation from her job. The morning of, she spent an hour in the hotel bathroom getting ready. She styled her blonde hair into loose curls, much longer since last they'd seen her, and put on her roommate's dark pink chiffon mini dress. She wanted to get something newer but on her current pay check plus student loans, she was forced to beg and plead with her roommate to borrow one of her dresses. Having the apartment to herself for a week was a pretty good trade all things considered.

The wedding itself was the most beautiful Sam had ever attended, which was out of three, so not a lot of competition, but it was still true! They'd picked out a lovely spot of a public park in front of a round, gorgeous lake encased by acres of trees with wide snow-capped mountains framing everything together into a picturesque landscape that took her breath away every time she just managed to get it back. She watched from the back row as Dylan and Y/N exchanged vows beneath a wooden arch wrapped in blue and white flowers overhead. Sam couldn't understand a word they were saying to each other or what any of the guests around her were saying before the ceremony or what the officiant was saying now, but she didn't mind. She didn't need to. The tones in their voices and the way they looked at one another said more than enough. The love hadn't faded. It had weaned and linked, it had ebbs and flows but never left. Their sweet words faded out and for only a moment Sam was back in her dorm feeling lonely, felling homesick, watching videos posted by Chris and Ashley. Playing with their cat, cooking together, laughing, even Chris letting Ashley do his make-up, their relationship made her feel better. She always had a thing for other peoples relationships, always getting invested, always sticking her nose where it didn't belong, but it landed her here, as the only person other than the couple to know of Dylan's past, so was it really that bad? ...Probably.

At the reception, she found herself in a conversation with the only people other than the couple that could talk to her, Y/N's parents. They were very sweet people just... very confused. The last they heard from Y/N, he was going to school abroad and the next he's living there. Then they heard he was getting married out of nowhere. They were told it was to a lovely boy he met in school and assumed college, Sam could've corrected them, but what good would that have done? Better to let sleeping dogs lie. She told them she was an old friend of Dylan's and, when prompted, said that he had a bad relationship with his family so that's why she was the only one there. In the midst of their conversation, the newly weds had re-joined the party outside and the first dance began. Their nervous and awkward steps screamed humiliation at having to perform in front of all their guests, but they played it off well and made it quite charming.

Soon after they were finished and the applause died down, it was time for dinner, Sam was sat on the opposite side of the table from the couple and Y/N's parents so they had to part. The woman pressed a kiss to Sam's cheek, leaving a dark red lipstick mark in its place, which Sam only noticed as she saw her reflection in her wine glass. She groaned and desperately wiped her cheek with her provided napkin to the best of her ability, hoping her best made it at least blend in with her blush. Her eyes wandered to the couple across the table, Y/N was struggling to get a sentence out through his laughter, Dylan had his head thrown back as he cackled at whatever story his husband was telling the table. For a brief second, she thought of Jess, her fun loving energy that'd been taken from her that night. Mike stayed with her through all of it, pissed off the cop that was certain of his guilt, but still, Mike proved himself to be a good man. In the same second, she was right back at the table listening to the gleeful nonsense spouting from Y/N's mouth. She laughed along with everyone else to not stand out, but more so at the absurdity of attending basically two strangers wedding 10 hours away from home completely on her own where she doesn't comprehend a word outside basic greetings. It was an insane situation to be in, but Sam loved the drama. As much as she wanted to be better than every one else and pretend she didn't. That's what ended her here in the first place, nosiness disguised as charity. But she really couldn't deny that being the only one there boosted her ego a bit too much for her liking.

As dinner wound down, somebody near the couple clinked their spoon against their champagne, grabbing the attention of all the guests who watched Dylan stand and clear his throat. He begins his speech in Swedish and tells a sort of joke that makes the whole table laugh politely, when he speaks up again, Sam is elated to finally understand what he's saying.

"I wanted to, uh- you know, to talk to you, in our native language, so we could have a moment to ourselves. Plus your parents and a few others, I guess, but ah-" He cleared his throat once more "Just wanted to, god this is ridiculous, uh, I wanted to tell you our love story- during the school years so I don't take up too much time-Uh, through my eyes, cause I love telling it and..." He sucked in a deep breath of air "I mean, our wedding is probably the most appropriate context to, so, uhm," Dylan wiped his hands on his tuxedo pants "I loved you from the first moment you," he huffed a quick laugh from his nose "uh, you made fun of me for not reading. I was totally exhausted all day and then I got paired with the cute quiet boy on a project, so I had to stay late, but you managed to make it better." Dylan looked down to Y/N, giving his shoulder a squeeze so subtle you'd only notice it if you watched his suit jacket crinkle under the touch, he softly whispered "You make everything better." He shook his head and returned to his previous volume "Uh, then, couple months later, we were working on the project and I force you away from it, cause you're torturing yourself, I'm sure your parents know what I'm talking about," the couple join Dylan and Y/N in laughing politely "and uh, yeah, we just watched movies and ordered pizza. Then-" he laughed, Y/N laughed too, knowing what was coming "Then I saw that my roommate at the time was coming back and he had that stupid rule that we weren't allowed to have guests over, so you had to climb out the window."

"My knee hurt for like a week after that." Y/N added, his mother ruffled his hair playfully from behind.

Dylan chuckles "Yeah, I bet. A-Anyway, after that, it was my birthday, and I wanted to spend it with you, so you took me out to eat, then we went bowling and," he laughed again, speaking through it this time "you still can't bowl for shit, babe." Y/N rolled his eyes with a playful smile coating his lips. "Then it was break and I had to go on a quick trip home. And I wanted to bring you, I couldn't, but you know what? All I remember was afterwards, we made up and spent the day at the park. That was valentines day, by the way. Real subtle, huh?" Y/N and his parents smiled warmly up at Dylan. "It was a couple months after, that I texted you in the middle of the night asking you to meet me at a secluded location, uh, like a serial killer, uhm, but I didn't kill you, I told you I loved you, and you felt the same." Dylan smiled, pressing his lips together, trying to contain his overwhelming excitement "Can't even put into words how happy that made me. Seriously, and then you kissed me and that just made it all so much worse." Y/N giggled softly "We had our first date the next day, roller-skating. I remember, you were just so scared, and so cute, clutching my hand the whole time, it was adorable." Y/N's cheeks reddened as he averted his gaze, hiding his smile behind his champagne glass "I remember every moment of that first year, like the times I snuck into your dorm so we could eat dinner together or sneaking out to meet at night, or holiday shopping for gifts to send home. That honeymoon phase was so special to me." Dylan's lips softly curled into a small smile and murmured something for only Y/N to hear. Something that made him roll his eyes playfully, shake his head and sigh. Dylan continued without Y/N's eye contact. "It couldn't last forever, obviously, and I had to go back home for a bit, which, rightfully made you upset since we couldn't talk."

"So glad you don't do that anymore. It super sucked." Y/N huffed into his glass before taking a sip.

"I know," Dylan rubbed his shoulder "but I made it up to you every time, so you can't complain! And I started letting you spend the night at my place whenever my roommate was out getting trashed." He laughed as Y/N slapped his chest with the back of his hand, jovially chastising him for the crude implication "Sorry mom!" Dylan waved to the woman behind his husband. "That was around the time Atlantis became my cat too. Which, uh, raised eyebrows since cat hair started appearing everywhere, but I managed to keep it secret." Y/N pressed his lips together, again hiding his smile, Dylan cleared his throat "A bit later, we were hanging in my old truck and I finally told you about my problems and you were supportive, if a little aloof. But still, you took care of me, you continue to take care of me. You're always there whenever I need you."

They smiled fondly at one another. "I love you." Y/N mouthed up at him as he took Dylan's hand from his shoulder and gently kissed his knuckles.

"No matter what, you are there for me. And I want you to know, I've fucked up a lot, made a lot of mistakes, as we're gonna get into, but-" Dylan laughed nervously "I will always be here too. There is nothing you can do to make me disappear. Never again. I promise." Y/N's eyes glimmered with a fresh coat of grateful tears, he smiled and nodded along with his promise. "I've really fucked up, done awful shit to you, and we still weathered the storm, you gave me the time and patience to learn and change and grow and I believe I've become a better man because of you. Every day, I strive to become better for you. And Atlan, our pretty little princess." Everyone smiled warmly at the mention of the beloved cat, Dylan cleared his throat, then continued, "Anyway, ehm, you, uh, met one of my friends who I'd gushed to about you relentlessly, and made fun of me together." Y/N laughed, nodding "So I started introducing you to my friends, I met some of yours. It all started becoming so real and amazing when our lives became intwined. I also moved into your apartment that year as soon as my lease was up cause I was sick of that stupid dorm."

"It was disgusting." Y/N nodded in staunch agreement, making Dylan giggle.

"Oh, totally." Sam was doubtful of this, a few years ago she got curious and looked through pictures of Swedish student housing and they were absolutely incredible compared to hers and any other American dorm she'd seen. "But, yeah, that's when we started our elaborate Valentine's week, cause a day was never enough time to celebrate you." Y/N huffed a laugh through his nose and raised his glass with a playful smile "In May, I took you camping, and that was the first time we came here. That was the first time we saw the northern lights too, remember? You didn't even want to sleep, you loved them so much." Y/N nodded, swiftly blinking away tears before they could become visible to the rest of the table, "A month later, you graduated, and I was so fuckin' proud of you, when you walked across that stage, I was screaming and crying and just- grinning ear to ear, Babe. I love you!"

Behind Y/N, his mother kissed his head and father beamed proudly at their son, who looked around bashfully at all the guests around the table, who in turn, each nodded and smiled broadly at him. Y/N blushed and rolled his eyes "Stop!!" he whined.

"I don't think I will actually, cause you deserve it. You deserve everything good the universe has to offer." Dylan smiled "And so," he picked up the champagne flute in front of him, the fizzy, golden liquid swirled between the glass as he raised it to his eye level "Y/N, my love, my life, my best friend in the universe, its been 5749 days of loving you, here's to 1,000,000 more." Dylan looked to the table, to the raised glasses in his face, just above them, his eyes met Sam's.

He smiled "To Y/N!"

"To Y/N!" She smiled back.

She nodded and darted over to stand directly in front of him, he's here... he's real... Y/N had a small bump on the right side of his forehead, a medium sized gash over the opposite side that cut through his eyebrow and a tiny bit of blood soaking through his shirt, or more accurately, Josh's, that was hidden by the jacket she saw in Josh's closet. "What- Why- How-?" She stumbled over her words trying to ask a million questions at once.

"Uh," Y/N laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck "one at a time, please?"

Sam blushed, cleared her throat, then, calmer but not by much, asked "What the hell are you doing here? Why are you here, and- How?! I mean, I read the texts and-"

"Wow, Nosy Nancy over here." Y/N tried to lighten the tension, but his laugh was as quiet and subdued as the rest of the tunnel. Before Sam could explain or even defend herself, Y/N shook his head "I know. You found his phone, thought you'd find a reason or something and ended up finding us instead."

Her mouth fell open, "How did-"

"I saw you a while ago when you were in the- uhm..." He cleared his throat and dropped his gaze to the rocky floor "the towel." Sam knew she felt like she was being watched! He must've ducked before she could spot him.

"Okay, but seriously, c'mon, what happened? Why are you here?"

"For that." He pointed to the folder under her arm.

"Ack! I knew it was important!" Sam smiled pridefully.

"Smart girl then." Y/N's smile in return was more awkward and restrained.

"I thought you guys broke up. Abruptly but still. What happened between you two?"

"Uhm... Well, basically..."

(Y/N's Pov)

They supposed to meet for coffee at 1pm but Josh arrived at nearly 3. Y/N knew now he was putting off his plan as far as he could. He'd planned to break up with Y/N that day, and he would.

Y/N was sat at a booth in a far corner, he couldn't be seen by most of the coffee shop unless you were looking for him, which Josh would be. He recalled sitting in that spot, bombarding Josh with texts and growing restless when every single one bounced back meaning for some reason his phone was turned off. He drank so much coffee that by the time Josh showed up, he had switched to water so he wouldn't be having a panic attack for no reason.

Josh's hands were clammy, they were shaking and tense. He pulled his chair out and sat in front of Y/N, he didn't even get a coffee first. Y/N asked why he was late and Josh only gave a weak half answer then trailed off, trying to find the courage to do what he came to do. Before he could start, Y/N pulled out an unsealed envelope and passed it to Josh across the table. "I got accepted...." Y/N smiled weakly, hoping it would liven Josh's mood, he opened the flap, pulled out the letter and skimmed it. He remained mute, forcing Y/N to keep talking to break the silence, "The school year starts in August, we could go."

He bit his lip eagerly, waiting for Josh's response, but all the excitement drained from him when Josh put the letter down on the table, face empty and sad. "W-" The word got caught in his throat, he looked over his shoulder, trying to avoid eye contact, when he was ready, he turned his head back towards Y/N but studied the wood grain instead of his sparkling eyes, the ones that never failed to make his heart stop or breath hitch since they first entered his life. "We should-" he skipped a breath, clearly on the verge of sobbing.

Y/N could guess what he was going to say, "What-?" he grabbed Josh's sweaty hand.

"I think we need to break up."

The world stopped.

His words stopped making sense.

Everything became muffled.

Everything became blurry.

Y/N became lightheaded.

His throat tightened.

The air thinned.

But he couldn't believe it. Something was wrong, Y/N begged for an explanation, he can't have possibly meant what he was saying, but all Josh could give was just mumbled apologies and when Y/N's insistence became too much, when his voice cracked and eyes started sparkling with tears instead of stars, he swiftly stood and left the coffee shop, leaving Y/N stunned into silence.

That's when he started frantically texting Josh and was horrified by his utter cruelty, but he hoped he was wrong. He knew Josh wasn't doing very well after the girls passing, Y/N was left hoping against hope that it was just a bad day. He couldn't have been serious, the shit he put himself through, the shit he put Y/N through, it'd make no sense for it to have been a lie. What would he gain from being that evil?

So, Y/N thought, maybe he just needs space? First to calm down, then to apologise. He got the bus home and as soon as his room door closed behind him, he fell into a heap and sobbed for hours on the floor.

~~

The next day he chose not to text Josh in case he panicked and closed himself off before Y/N could get there and talk to him. Instead, he called in sick to work for the second day in a row, his stuffy nose must've been significantly more believable that time after a whole evening, night and morning of non stop crying, and went to Josh's house.

He'd walked this path a million times, but Y/N knew regardless of the outcome of this day, this was one of the last times he would. The fancy ghost house came into view and right before Y/N crossed the street, a spike of panic stabbed him in the chest, What if he did mean it?

Y/N shook his head, no, he can't have. No one could be so vile, not for a four years. Then, more assuredly, he made his way across the road, behind the house, up the vine and into Josh's window.

The room was empty, Josh was either downstairs or, more likely, out destroying himself. Y/N wasn't going to give up on him, he sat on the bed and waited indefinitely.

(Sam's Pov)

Her head was reeling, but she remembered that day, vaguely. "I could be wrong, but I think..." she paused, trying to be sure, "I think he was with me?" Y/N raised his eyebrows "Sometime late April, he came to my place having the worst panic attack I'd ever seen. I mean, thought he might die! It was awful."

(Sam's Pov)

Frantic pounding on her door forced Sam to run to answer "Sam!" Josh called from the other side, sounding deeply distressed. She threw the door open and Josh fell inside, collapsing to the floor and heaving.

"Holy hell, what happened?" She crouched down "Come in!" then grabbed his bicep, pulled him in and shut the door behind her. When she turned back around, Josh was bawling and stumbling through the house to the living room she was just working in. He was curled up on the couch gasping, panting, sucking up all the air in the room, utterly inconsolable. Sam left for a moment to grab him some water, when she came back, she placed it on the coffee table in front of him and gently rubbed his back "You're okay."

It was 3 minutes of uninterrupted wailing before Sam could get a single sentence out of him "It's my fault- Everything- I ruined it-"

Sam shook her head, continuing to rub his back soothingly "It wasn't. It wasn't your fault. I promise."

But Josh wasn't having it. It almost felt like he couldn't even hear her, "-Loved -im-" he sobbed "More than anything-"

Looking at his state, it seemed like this panic attack wasn't his only current problem. He looked exhausted, like he hadn't slept in days. "Have you been sleeping?" she asked gently.

He shook his head "No. Every time I try to take my pills I throw them up, I can't do it, Sam... I can't."

She tried to calm him, but he was completely inconsolable. For a little over two hours he stayed that way, all Sam could do was stay beside him and keep him company since he was adamant she shouldn't call his parents or take him to the ER.

It was terrifying to watch, he heaved like he was taking his final breaths, sweated like he'd ran three marathons back to back and bawling like his heart was just ripped out of his chest. Eventually, more from exhaustion rather than actually calming, he quietened down. Didn't stop, just slowed down. Sam offered for him to stay the night, but as soon as he regained feeling in his legs, humiliation overcame him and he hurried home, still weeping.

(Sam's Pov)

Y/N listened to her story with kind, empathetic eyes, when she was finished, he gave her an appreciative smile "Th-Thanks. For being there for him when I couldn't."

"I didn't have a choice. He stopped talking to his parents, Chris, even you for a bit. He needed me." They stared at each other for good couple seconds, a soft gratitude in their eyes, before Sam stepped back and found her eyes stuck on the sewer grate beneath their feet. "Hey, I might've found a way through." She used the metal rod laying next to it to lift the grate and slide it away, leaving the hole open. "C'mon." She stuck her leg down until it hit a rung of the ladder "You can tell me the rest on the way."

(Y/N's Pov)

The first sign that Josh came home was the closing door and the screaming argument between Josh and both parents. It was their fault Josh hated himself so much. Their fault they had to be a secret. Their fault they were going to run. Everything awful that happened to Josh was their fault. So, yeah. They were Y/N's worst enemies. And he looked forward to leaving them in the dust. And stealing their son. Maybe bad timing, but if you don't want your kids to leave you, you should love them, eh?

Soon after, footsteps thumped up the stairs, the door to the bedroom whipped open and slammed shut. Josh was clearly exhausted and on the verge of bawling his eyes out for what looked like the eighth consecutive time that day.

His eyes were pinned on the wooden floor beneath him, when Y/N gently called out "Hey...?"

He jumped out of his skin "GOD- Jesus- What the fuck!? Why are you here? I said we're-"

"No, we're not."

"I was fucking with you."

"No."

"It wasn't serious-"

"Shut up!" Y/N yelled in frustration, clasping his hands over his mouth when it came out far louder than intended.

Josh turned around to lock the door, with his back still turned, he said "Y/N. You're stupid. You're pathetic. Wh-Why would anyone love you?"

Y/N flinched as though he was shot, "Josh, what the hell is wrong with you!?" his eyes stung with tears "Look at me." Y/N stomped over to him and screamed "Turn around and look at me!!!"

"Get out."

"No. No! I'm not doing anything until you look at me!" Y/N grabbed his arm and spun him around but Josh couldn't force himself to meet Y/N's eyes. He'd later told Y/N that would've broken him, he wanted Y/N to hate him and Josh would never have survived seeing him that destroyed.

"There's someone else-"

Y/N scoffed "Shut up! Just tell me the fucking truth!" In a moment of rage, he shoved Josh, letting the tears spill.

Josh threw up his hands "I don't love you anymore. I was young and dumb, I just realised that I was only with you cause I wanted to be edgy and rebel against my parents."

"So you were using me?"

His breath hitched, he blinked secret tears away and tucked his tongue in his cheek "Yup."

"Don't say that. That's not true, stop lying to me-" Y/N begged, soaked cheeks and all.

Josh took him over to the window "Go home. Don't talk to me again."

"No! No, nononononono!" Y/N shook his head ferociously, "I'm not letting you do this to me!" he wrapped his arms around Josh, trying to make him see reason. Josh was robotically stiff, arms pinned to his sides, but Y/N could swear he could feel his heart breaking under the skin.

Josh pushed him away then mumbled "It's for the better." and pushed the window open wide enough for Y/N to fit like he'd done a thousand times before, but this time his movements were slow and sullen. Like he didn't want him to go.

But he did.

(Sam's pov)

She paused "Oh, man, that must've been-"

"Yeah." Y/N muttered, digging his foot into the dirt between stones.

"M'sorry." Sam gave him a quick hug "You d- You both deserved so much better." She squeezed a little bit tighter before pulling herself away and continuing down the sewers.

Not long after, they came to a huge cliff wall. Y/N was hesitant, but Sam's confidence was infectious. They'd both climbed a lot in their lives, they should be fine. Sam unzipped her hoodie, pressed the folder against her chest then zipped it back up.

On the way up the cliff, Y/N asked why she was down here in the first place, she explained what the Stranger had said, what Chris experienced and what Mike was walking into.

When she remembered that a piece of the puzzle was that Josh was killed, more than that, that they were heading towards his corpse, she almost lost her grip. He noticed her sharp shift in demeanour and asked about it, to which she couldn't answer.

Sam got to the top of the cliff first giving her a good few seconds to prepare herself for the ensuing conversation. Soon, Y/N joined her and she reached her arm down to help pull him up. They stood up together and Y/N tried to keep going, Sam was frozen in place "C'mon." he called when he saw that she wasn't there beside him "We gotta find our boys."

"Stop."

He did "What?"

Sam walked over to where he stood "When Chris went to get Josh he wasn't there."

Y/N gave her a puzzled look "Yeah? I know? That's why we're gonna go get him?"

She shook her head "No, he's not..." She took a deep breath "He's not gonna be-"

"No-" Y/N let out a quivering breath, on the verge of a break down "No, nonononono, please, you can't- no..."

"I'm so sorry," Sam whispered, Y/N's legs buckled and he collapsed against the cave wall, "I'm so sorry." she sat down beside him and carefully rubbed his back. He sobbed into his hands, for a while they sat still together, letting the world pass them by. Slowly, Sam pulled the folder out of her hoodie and held it out for Y/N to take. "He would've wanted you to have it."

Y/N laughed weakly and took it out of her hand "Yeah." He opened the flap and pulled out a passport, he opened it and Josh's face met him.

Sam rubbed her shoulder against his "How'd you guys get back together?" Y/N gave a quizzical expression, glassy eyes, runny nose and reddened cheeks, she continued "After everything. How'd he win you back?"

Again, Y/N laughed weakly and dropped his gaze back onto the photo in his hands "So, he texts me out of the blue in July and I'm so emotionally exhausted, I physically can't respond. Then a month later, I get a text from an unknown number." He pulls out his phone. Sam can feel her eyes rolling to the back of her head, ENOUGH WITH THESE PHONESSSS, but lets it slide since it's Y/N. He taps a few times before scrolling to the very top. Took much longer for Sam to get there on Josh's phone. "And it's like a fuckin' soliloquy, you know?" He laughs, passing the phone to her. The name at the top of the screen isn't Josh's, it's Dylan, like the passport...

August 13th 2014

-Hey, Y/N.

I got a new therapist a few months ago. He's not great tbh but I told him about us. Kinda? Not that we dated, just that we were best friends for years and I ruined our 'friendship' cause I hated myself. He said it was some sort of grief induced self destruction and that I should text you from a burner phone since I'm too scared to look you in the eye.

I loved you from the first moment you sat beside me in class, I just didn't know it. I exist to love you, no matter if you never talk to me again, or never even read this, my heart is yours till it stops. I hope you went to that college. Or that work is going well for you, or that whatever the hell you decide to do, you're happy and fulfilled, surrounded by people who love you and care for you.

I hope you meet someone unafraid to love you. Someone who'll show you off to their friends. Someone you can know fully. A better person than me.

I'm sorry I was so cruel, I'm sorry I used you, I'm sorry I didn't appreciate you.

I'm scared I'll never get out of here, but if you do, that's enough for me.

I love you. Give Atlantis a kiss for me, please?

I missed you-

(Y/N's Pov)

Ocean waves crashed against the shore, the sun shone directly in his eyes, which he was squinting when he heard Josh's apprehensive greeting. "Hi... Y/N...?"

He was holding out Y/N's favourite ice cream as a peace offering, while keeping his own in his dominant hand. Y/N took the ice cream with a surprised expression that he could just tell made Josh's heart want to burst. It's pretty flattering to know that even when your relationship isn't great, you can still make him dizzy with a cute smile.

"Thanks." Y/N mumbled before eating the ice cream quickly as it was seconds away from melting all over his hands.

Josh apologised profusely, Y/N tried to remain steadfast in his anger after Josh hurt him, but he slowly crumbled and was back in his arms by the end of the day. He could never resist Josh's self deprecation. Or a free ice cream.

(Sam's Pov)

"That easy, huh?" She raised an eyebrow.

Y/N dragged his thumb idlily over the picture of Josh's face. "No." He scoffed "Just trying to remember the good stuff, you know?"

Sam nodded then let them fall back into a temporary quiet. His eyes remained glued to the photo, expression filled with sombre. The cold air stabbed her lungs, she had to keep going, but Y/N didn't. She gently took the passport from his hands and slid it back into folder with everything else.

"You don't need to come anymore. You have everything, you should run down to the cable car and-"

"Josh has the keys. M'not gonna go very far without them, am I?" Y/N sniffled.

"Then..." Sam slowly got to her feet and extended her arm out to help him up "We should get going, huh?"

They walked for a short while, Y/N was silent until Sam asked about their plan. About why Josh made everyone come up to the mountain on the twins anniversary. Why he'd torture everybody. Y/N seemed a little reluctant but she was able to convince him with just a tiny bit of pushing.

(Y/N's Pov)

Smoke billowed slowly out of Josh's mouth and quickly, the wisps floated to the top of the room to congregate with the rest of the fog. Y/N closed his fist over his mouth and cleared his throat. They sat opposite one another on the bed, Y/N on his laptop reapplying for the university he dropped out of after the break up, Josh was panic smoking while trying to come with an excuse to go up to the mountain and grab the documents. It was meant to be a temporary hiding spot until it was time for them to go. Might've been too good of a spot though, in hindsight.

One thing Josh was adamant about was that 'Josh Washington' had to die. By any means necessary. That was where it started, but Josh quickly spiralled into an elaborate revenge plot that started with his 'death' and ended with all his old friends traumatised for the rest of their lives. Y/N probably could've pushed back on some of his ideas, but honestly, at the time all he cared about was getting Josh all to himself forever, regardless of mental scarring caused to other people.

At the end of the week, Y/N received an email from Josh's secret account detailing the plan, airtight and crafted to completion. It was a little creepy, but hey, anyone planning their own death is.

(Sam's Pov)

Sam grumbled when she heard his apathy towards the groups future pain, but at least he seemed presently apologetic, that was better than nothing, she supposed. The path they were on led them to a locked chain link gate that she pried open with a nearby shovel, when Y/N offered to help, she refused, something about watching him grow up over the last three hours made her extremely protective of him.

Up ahead, there was a loud commotion Mike screamed at something chasing closely behind him. Y/N and Sam came running to find him being pinned down by some sort of horrifying abomination they identified as the wendigo they'd been warned of. Sam leapt into action immediately, swinging the shovel down on the thing then when it turned it's attention towards her, across the cheek hard enough to snap its rotting head clean off.

Mike was quick to his feet, groaning and cursing under his breath. He wiped himself off before spotting Y/N in his peripheral vision. Instead of answering Sam's concerned questions, he stepped closer to Sam protectively and pointed to the other boy with the flashlight in his hand "Who the fuck is this guy?"

Sam placed her hand on Mike's forearm, forcing him to lower it, then stepped out to stand in front of the now very uncomfortable Y/N, "Uh..." she took a deep breath, giving her time to figure out how to word it "This is Josh's boyfriend."

He did a double take, Y/N timidly cowered behind Sam, who squeezed his hand when he reached for it. Mike laughed incredulously "No fuckin way. You with that old guy?"

"No...?" Y/N squeaked.

"He's Josh's boyfriend, I'm serious. He was helping him tonight." Sam insisted.

Mike laughed dryly "That right?" When he spotted Y/N's hair bouncing with his head hidden by Sam, he shook his head dismissively "Whatever. Why not? Josh was gay too." he nodded behind him "We gotta go, c'mon."

The trio continued their journey in silence with Mike leading the charge and the other two following closely behind. After a bit, Mike stopped, curiosity getting the better of him. He turned to face Y/N "So what've you been doin' tonight if nobody saw ya?" his voice was gentler. Or at least trying to be.

"Uhm..." Y/N laughed awkwardly, eyes drifting to Sam for reassurance, she smiled softly, rubbing his bicep. "Its kind of a long story?"

Mike indicated to the path ahead of them "It's a long walk."

(Y/N's Pov)

Like a sleeper agent, Y/N had to stay in the workshop until Josh sent him the signal to come up, knocking on a pipe that goes up the basement wall. Duh duh duh-duh duh.

Duh duh. He knocked back to let Josh know he received the message then pulled the mask over his face and hurried up the stairs. Once he reached the first floor of the lodge, he paused to get his bearings, Josh gave him a quick rundown when they first got here, but it wasn't particularly extensive. He knew this floor was pretty much just theatre and some spare bedrooms so he snuck up the next stairs to where the kitchen should be. At this moment, Chris and Ashley would be exploring the library, they might even be holding the note in their hands, so he had to rush to there.

He jogged outside. There were two entrances to the kitchen luckily, so he wouldn't have to try sneaking past them. The chilly air was really refreshing over the thick, muggy 'serial killer' outfit Josh made him wear. He was back inside in a flash.

Josh met him at the end of the hallway, holding the door open. "You look hot." He smirked, closing the door behind him.

"Quiet perv." Y/N grumbled, walking to his spot by the door, there was a gas tank and mask beside him that he was supposed to use to knock Chris and Ashley out "You have a thing for serial killers?"

"I have a thing for you." Josh corrected him.

"So... how strong is Chris, huh? Am I gonna get my shit rocked?"

Josh chuckled "No. Don't worry about that."

They were interrupted by muffled voices coming down the hall from the library. Y/N's hands shook, even when he closed them into a fist they wouldn't still. Josh cried out in fear, knocked over a side table then laid down on the floor. Ashley called out his name and opened the door.

Y/N whipped around and grabbed her inside. He grabbed the gas mask and brought it over her mouth and nose, he leant against the door to keep it shut, Chris banged the door over and over, almost making him loose his footing. Ashley fought like a wounded animal, flailing and wriggling relentlessly in Y/N's arms, nonetheless, she fell silent after a few seconds thankfully.

When she was finally unconscious, he tried to be gentle by carefully lowering her down, but Chris hit the door at the most inopportune time and busted through. Both landed on the hardwood floor. Y/N was quick to recover, he scrambled to grab the mask and get to his feet at the same time, but the mask slipped out of his hand after he stood, Chris joined him, rubbing a presumably sore spot on his forehead, Y/N panicked and filled with furry, socked him in the jaw, watching him fall to the floor in a heap.

Josh hopped up to accompany Y/N who was nursing his knuckles "You okay?"

Y/N nodded slowly "Yeah. M'sorry, I didn't mean to hit him, I just freaked."

Josh laughed a little "Don't apologise, you're a serial killer!" He grabbed Ashley's arm and began dragging her towards the door to the outside.

"You need any help?" Y/N asked, eyes wandering between the door and the counter where a duffel bag sat.

"Nah, no, you go on ahead. I got it." Josh opened the door. "Oh, by the way, stay off the main path, Matt and Emily went down to the cable car station a bit ago. Don't want you getting caught, do we?"

"Thanks for letting me know. I'll be careful." Y/N grabbed the duffel bag, feeling the weight immediately sink his arms, he yelped in surprise, "You go get killed, sweetie!"

"Have fun with your arts and crafts, Darlin'!"

~~

It took an embarrassingly long amount of time for Y/N to carry the bag down to the cable car station. Josh never warned him it'd be that heavy! But he eventually managed to get there without being caught, Matt and Emily passed not too long ago, they seemed freaked out by something. Probably some other elaborate scare Josh set up a while ago.

Y/N opened the door, relieved the finally have that weight off, and navigated to the control panel where the key sat in the ignition. He twisted it off, pulled it out and pocketed it, then the real fun began. Inside the duffel bag was a fire axe, a medium sized paint brush and two cans of red paint.

He picked up the axe and looked around the small building... These ungrateful rats... how many times have they been here whilst he sat at home missing Josh, huh? How was it any fair for them to know this place better than him? They didn't deserve it! None of them! Y/N screamed, bringing the axe down on the closest piece of furniture, a wooden bench, which crumpled instantly upon impact.

Rage and envy coursed through his veins as he wrecked the place, he screamed, he cried, he sweat, he didn't stop til his legs gave out under him, then he laid on his side sobbing relentlessly. Icy cold wind pierced his insides, the weight of the past and future on the verge of crushing him beyond repair. "I can't do this..." He shook his head, laughing pathetically, which then turned back to crying.

Weariness and apathy combined to leave him with stingy eyes, frozen cheeks and a runny, rosy nose. He turned on his phone and stared at pictures of Josh. It's all for him, 3, 4 more hours and they'll have ditched the truck, 4 or 5, and they'd be driving to pick up Atlantis in the rented car they stashed miles away, 8 or 9 they'd be at the airport, by next week, they'd be in their new apartment, living happy and free. Like they deserved.

Y/N got slowly to his feet and returned to the bag. He pried the lid of the paint can open, dipped the brush in and started messily writing vaguely threatening words and phrases all over the walls. Not his best work, but serial killers have more important things to worry about, don't they? He ran outside to hide the paint cans and brush near the forest then came back to grab the duffel bag and axe, locked the door behind him, swung the axe into it then started his dash back to the lodge.

~~

"C'mon, this feels really perverted, can't we do somethin' else? Why'd you have to take her clothes too?" Y/N asked, whilst Josh checked the gas tank wasn't too heavy. It was by the way.

"You're so bad at staying in character." He checked everything was tight enough so there wouldn't be any leakage "I'd never hire you to be in my movies."

"Thank God I don't want to be in your movies then."

Josh lifted his eyes "Not even the sexy ones?"

"You need to go to jail, you're sick in the head."

"Uh huh, whatever you say." He shuffled the tank closer to Y/N "Now you go sexually harass my friend, please and thank you." He kissed the cheek of the mask.

Y/N rolled his eyes and stood, hearing Sam's calls from outside. Josh's fingers hovered over the button he rigged to slam the doors closed, waiting impatiently for her to step into the theatre. "Woah... this is weird..." She whispered.

The doors flung shut on command, Y/N gripped the tank in his gloved hands and heaved it out of the room and Josh simultaneously started the heavily altered voice clip of Y/N speaking and the video Josh just sloppily put together of the nights recent events. Y/N panted behind the doors, waiting for his cue, which came pretty fast. Sam's panicking and his own distorted voice reverberated in his head... deep breath... showtime.

The chase was mostly a blur, save for a few specific things. Firstly: the gas tank was far to fucking heavy. Maybe Josh could handle it (For like 5 seconds) but Y/N's arms were on fire the whole time, and that's what ultimately let her escape. Which, oh yeah, secondly: Sam escaped and apparently that was Y/N's fault despite him only following stage directions. And last but probably not least, but also maybe least, Sam hit him over the head with a baseball bat and then he had a headache all night.

~~

"The fuck do you mean she 'got away'?!" Josh hissed. After Y/N returned to the workshop alone, he did the knock signal, telling Josh to come down.

"I mean that I couldn't catch up to an athlete while carrying a 190,000lbs gas tank. And after getting smacked in the head full force by a woman runnin' on survival instincts." Y/N defended himself with a cute little pout.

Josh's face softened at that, he took Y/N's chin in his hand and pulled him closer to examine his forehead. He ran his free thumb over the slowly forming bump near his temple "Does it hurt?"

"Yeah, dummy, a baseball bat got swung at my head."

Josh kissed the spot gently "There, all better."

"You're the mystical magic man."

"Yessir." Josh released his chin and took his hand. "C'mon. we can hide easier in the surveillance room, Sam can't get you in there."

~~

Sam was in the workshop, they heard her kicking open a vent or something metallic and heavy 10 or so minutes ago and never heard her make any other sounds, she was definitely still there. Any way out of the workshop was to loud to be missed, a squeaky door, a creaky stair, even if she left through the vent she seemingly came from, they would've heard her banging around in there. For that whole time they'd been debating what to do. They landed on sending Y/N out to figure out what she was doing.

He crept over to a piece of the wall that was open due to age and gaps in the wood exposing inside the room. Sam was standing with her back facing him, he tried not to stare at her bare skin and instead focused on figuring out what had gripped her attention so strongly. She must've sensed his prying eyes and quickly spun around, searching for her spy. Right before her eyes passed over him, he dropped to the floor, internally panicking. He waited for what felt like hours for her to call out or to come investigate and force him to try and incapacitate her, which he really didn't want to do, she was very scary in her own right.

But nothing came of it. Y/N lifted his head to take the smallest possible peek and it seemed like she was distracted by whatever captured her interest before he interrupted. He snuck along the wall, still tense as ever, and turned the corner to peek through a different hole that'd hopefully reveal what had her so engrossed. This was a far more risky move since he'd be more likely to be actively caught in her peripheral vision, but Josh would be mildly disappointed if he returned without information.

Y/N slowly raised his head to snoop on her... she's captivated by... her phone? Really? After being cased by a serial killer, she's focused on her phone? Wait... Is it even hers??

He ducked back down, SHIT- she's on Josh's phone, she's on Josh's phone- then crawled along the side of the wall, don't panic until you're with him, don't panic until you're safe, don't panic, don't panic-

At the door to the surveillance room, he lifted his arm to slowly and quietly pull the handle down then carefully open the door wide enough for him to slide through with minimal struggle. Once inside he stood and closed the door just as quietly and only released the handle when it was firmly shut, at which point he felt all the tension leave his body in one breath and allowed himself a little panic attack as a treat. Josh hurried to his side where he held and comforted Y/N until he calmed down enough to explain what he saw. Josh was silent on his own worries, more focused on making Y/N feel better.

Josh started putting together a dummy they could put in the chair for Chris and Ashley to find, he finished it quickly and snuck off to plant it where they would've put Sam. Soon enough, he returned and they were curled up together watching Chris and Ashley explore that maze of a basement, which Josh was far more invested in than Y/N who was busy day (night...?) dreaming about their lives together instead. Josh was trying to, in his own weird way, push Chris to get with Ashley. A parting gift, if you will.

They were coming up on the kitchen now making them separate and start preparing for the next bit, knocking them out, tying them to chairs and letting the chaos ensue. This was the point that Sam was supposed to get out and save them, or Matt and Emily, but they'd gone rogue and hadn't been seen in a good while, so that was unlikely. Maybe Jess and Mike would show up? No matter what, this was the last part, then they'd run away and never be seen again.

Josh grabbed the gas tank from under the desk, at the same time, Y/N pulled the mask over his head, very ready for it to be the last time. He thanked Josh for volunteering to carry the tank this time then, just as carefully as before, opened the door and snuck out to check on Sam. Still on the phone! Damn girl is just dedicated to figuring out Josh's deepest secrets, isn't she?

This time, he doesn't even bother being quiet, they both stomp their boots all the way down the hall until reaching a set of doors that would allow Y/N to sneak up on Chris and Ashley when they're distracted by the Sam dummy. Josh kissed him on the masks forehead, passed the tank over then snuck back to the surveillance room. Y/N took a deep breath, pushed the door open and terrorised Chris and Ashley for the second time that night.

Chris went down semi easily, just a bit of thrashing, that Y/N had a bit too much fun putting down. Ashley had a pair of scissors and fucking stabbed him in the shoulder. Y/N screamed in pain, which came out as more of an angry growl through the voice distortion, he kicked her leg, she fell to the floor and in an instant, had the gas mask over her face and was out like a light.

It took a considerate effort to drag them and restrain them in their respective chairs, but he managed. He found the gun Josh left out and placed it on the table between them then crept back to the surveillance room. "You okay?" He asked Josh, who was hunched over the desk deep in thought.

"Yeah, just..." he trailed off, sighed, then started up again "She knows I'm not dead." He indicated towards Sam outside.

Y/N pulled the mask off "What? No she-"

Josh cut him off "She found my phone."

"And? Maybe its like a trophy or something. Serial killers take those, right?"

He shook his head and whispered "She knows I'm alive. I can't go..." staring down at the desk like its the most intriguing thing of all time.

"You don't know that..."

"Yeah. We do. I'm not leaving."

"Dylan-"

Josh stood up to look Y/N right in the eye, much more energy in his stance "You are though." He pointed at Y/N thoughtfully "You are. We gotta switch clothes, hurry." Josh began to remove his blue checked overshirt before Y/N could question him.

"Gah- why??" Y/N took off his gloves.

"I'm taking the fall so you can go. Take off your clothes, baby." His tone was flirty yet demanding as he pulled his black undershirt off.

"Fuck off, I'm not doing that." He tried to keep his eyes on Josh's face, but they couldn't help but wander. He's just a boy, he couldn't help it!

"She knows. There's nothing we can do to stop her for telling people. But we can get you away."

Tears flooded Y/N's eyes "I can't- there's no-" his voice cracked "There's no reason for me to go if you're not with me!"

"Hell yeah there is! School and-"

"I'm not going, okay! You're not taking the blame! I'll stay and keep harassing them, you go!" Y/N shoved Josh towards the door. "Well, maybe get your clothes on first then-"

"I framed myself." Josh sighed.

Y/N's jaw fell to the floor, eyes widened, allowing stray tears to escape "WHY?!" He screamed, Chris and Ashley began to stir on the screen. Josh started playing the clip of Y/N's corrupted voice while he took a moment to compose himself.

"For you. Either you get outta here or we're both going down." Y/N stared at Josh for a couple seconds, letting the anger, despair, and sorrow wash over him, then started to undress.

Josh was the first to get dressed, he accepted his fate long ago, and now was left standing by the door with a stoic expression while Y/N wept in the chair with his head in hands. He was going to say something to comfort him, but nothing came out. By the time he thought of what to say, the gun went off meaning it was time to go. Y/N hadn't reacted at all, so Josh walked over to him slowly, kissed the top of the head, then left without a word.

Y/N took his time to sob silently, it was all for nothing... a cacophony of merciless yelling exploded from the speakers behind him, but he had no energy to move even when he knew he should. Josh launched into some big rehearsed monologue that was shockingly believable, even for Y/N who knew everything. People screamed at him, he laughed in their faces, until Mike mentioned Jessica being killed.

A pit formed in his stomach, the tears dried from his eyes as he spun around to watch the fight transpiring on the screen. Josh was equally as confused, that seemed to make Mike madder. He pistol whipped Josh, who collapsed to the floor in a heap.

The boys restrained Josh with a piece of unused rope that had been lying on a countertop in the room and started dragging him out. They told the girls to wait in the living room while they took Josh to the shed. Everybody walked by the surveillance room and that's when Josh woke up and snapped back into character. Y/N panicked watching them go, once they were out of sight, he threw on the under and over shirt and crept up the stairs far behind them.

Part of him wanted to grab the folder and run, but that was definitely the minority. He had to check on Josh before leaving. Especially if this was the last time he'd ever see him, which it was seeming like. At the top of the stairs, he stood, trying to figure out the best way to get to him without being spotted.

He knew there was a hundred exits from the living room so finding one wouldn't be the hard part. Step one though, get there and scope out the girls positions and lines of sight. The path there was one that would've been short had he been more familiar with the layout, but thanks to homophobia, it took double the amount of time it should've. Sam and Ashley were sat in front of him facing the fireplace, there were exits to either side, the choice was which one would cause more trouble.

Ashley was seemingly lost in her own world, curled in on herself, but Sam was completely absorbed in Josh's phone. There was only one reason she'd still be on it. She found out about him.

Hopefully she wouldn't look for him cause that'd open a whole new investigation he didn't want to deal with. Not when Josh was sacrificing himself and everything he'd wanted for Y/N. Regardless, Sam being so preoccupied meant it'd probably be easier to slink by her than Ashley, so he crept silently along the wall as he'd grown very accustomed to after 5 years of sneaking around.

He quietly opened the door, slithered out of the lodge, closed the door and sprinted into the forest. Finding the path to the shed was easy, it's difficult for three big-ish guys to hide their tracks in the middle of the snow, plus the other tracks presumably from Ashley, Chris, Matt, Emily and Josh earlier in the night. He followed the path through the woods just as he did on his way to the cable car station, the sound of yelling guided him further and further. The main building was locked up, or at least empty, since the door was closed and the sound was coming from the side building, but he couldn't just waltz on in through the front door, he had to wander around the back of the shed. Y/N knew he couldn't talk to Josh, even though it killed him, he accepted it. He just wanted to see him one last time.

From the sounds of it, Josh was having a ton of fun playing the part of insane serial killer who terrorised his friends for a laugh. He always liked getting people riled up for no reason. Y/N marched through the crunchy snow, grateful that the yelling covered up the sound and poked his head through the window, inside, Josh thrashed around on the stool he was sitting on, his hands were tied to a wooden beam behind his back and he was laughing at his own incoherent ramblings.

Mike and Chris ignored him, spinning around to have a quick chat between them of Josh's mental state and how sudden this apparent mental break was. Josh kept at his senseless babbling until he saw Y/N out the corner of his eye. He choked on his words, turned his head to check his eyes weren't deceiving him. The look of adorable shock on his face was worth a million bucks. Y/N waved sadly, the innocent act pissed Josh off a little bit. He jerked his head forward, face alone telling him to get back to the lodge and leave the mountain before he got himself found out. Y/N placed his hand on the window and mouthed with a sad smile "I love you" then left before Josh could reciprocate. As soon as Y/N ran away back into the woods, Josh started yelling vulgar things at the boys about their respective partners to draw their attention back to him and give Y/N a better chance of getting away.

Y/N ran through the forest, vision blurry from the onslaught of tears. He couldn't care less about sneaking around right now, he just wanted to fall into his bed and stay there for a hundred years.

But he wasn't going home, he was going to some ladies house to pick up Atlantis, and then he was going to the airport alone, and then he would be alo- Why is Sam hanging out of that window??

Sam was shimmying between two windows with something in her hand. Y/N immediately sobered up, eyes drying in seconds. He rushed to stand below her, by the time he got there she was on the second windowsill. She released one of her hands keeping her anchored to the windowsill, pulled her arm back and hit the window with whatever it was she was holding onto several times until the glass shattered and invited herself inside.

Most of the glass joined her inside the room, but a few shards fell outside. Y/N was lucky to avoid most of the falling debris, but one particularly homophobic fragment decided to slash his eyebrow. He hissed through clenched teeth, bringing his hand up to cover the wound. Thank fuck he jumped before it could get to his eye, but it still stung like a bitch.

Y/N crept back in through the kitchen entrance, where he grabbed a paper towel and dabbed it over the cut until no more blood appeared, at which point, he threw it in the trash can and left the kitchen, aiming for the living room. Homestretch.

He hid behind the library door listening to Chris and Ashley talk about Josh. He'd have to wait for a while until they left, definitely not sneaking past them both at this point. Or find another way to Josh's room, which seemed like the only choice, despite it requiring significantly more effort and energy than he had left in him. He took a step away from the door and wandered around the library, looking for an alternate path that didn't include going outside and getting his face slashed to pieces again. Speaking of which, what the hell was Sam doing? She couldn't have been climbing into Josh's room, could she??

What was with this girl?! She was obsessed with Josh's secrets, what a stalker!! In any case, the likelihood of her looking in the vent was slim to none so he wasn't worried about her finding the folder or anything, he just had to wait her out. He was nearby the little nook Chris and Ashley found the threatening note in when a scream cut through the silence, it sounded like a woman? Regardless, that wasn't any of Y/N's business, so he kept exploring.

Ten or so minutes passed and he found himself back at the hall leading to the living room where he heard Sam's voice muffled through the door "-basement might be okay." And a gruffer, deeper, manly voice agreeing, telling everyone to go to the basement.

Y/N went to find somewhere to sit. He just had to wait them out. As soon as he was off his legs, his eyelids began to feel unreasonably heavy. Not wanting to fall asleep, he tried to focus on things like the task at hand, the very uncomfortable flight the next day, hugging Atlantis, telling her that she won't see Dad 2 ever again... Why Matt's voice was appallingly old sounding. Why they were going into the basement again in the first place, what was going to happen to Josh, what it'd... be... like in...

~~

An ear-piercing scream startled him awake, "hwa-?" he stood up and rubbed his eyes aggressively trying to clear his foggy brain. There was a bunch of yelling and banging coming from the living room, which, rightfully so, frightened Y/N. He stumbled through the library and hallway, reached for the door handle as soon as he got to it and carefully opened the door. He poked his head out and saw Sam and Ashley helping Chris down the stairs. Nobody else was in the room so Y/N left the hallway, waited for the door to the basement to open and close then booked it up the stairs.

He grabbed the key from the underside of one of the leaves of the plant next to the door, somehow the plant was alive and almost thriving, but the door was already unlocked when he tried to use it, he gently opened the door. The first thing he saw was a chair directly in front of him and his stomach dropped, his foot found the screws that had dropped... Sam opened the vent. He climbed onto the chair, ignoring the smashed window and items thrown about during her rampage and reached his hand in just like he'd seen Josh do when they first got there after putting Y/N's new acceptance letter inside.

Y/N had asked why they didn't just keep it in the workshop, Josh said it was safer up here "just in case" which didn't make sense until now. He was already preparing to take the blame should anything go awry, but it didn't matter now, did it? Sam's not going to give it to him. He pulled has hand out, stepped off the chair and finally felt the icy air from the shattered window.

Too tired to cry, too tired to fight, too tired to exist. Y/N numbly walked to the closet, which was ajar so clearly Sam searched through it, put on his jacket and went downstairs.

~~

Something stopped him from stepping outside, his hand hovered above the handle. Y/N wanted to be with Josh since secrecy didn't matter anymore, but for some reason he had a horrible feeling. He chalked it up to his gut telling him to try talking to Sam. If she's so invested as to break into his room via the fucking window and look through a vent for her investigation, surely she'd be willing to talk to him, right? She's his biggest fan.

Y/N crept down into the basement but didn't hear anybody and poking his head out to scan for them revealed that, as far as he could see, no one was there, so they went further down for some reason. He continued down the long winding hallways, even reaching the old hotel, where he eventually started to hear a stifled conversation from a far away room. He followed it until some words became clear-ish. A mans voice yelling "Josh, he's gotta have it!"

The rest of the conversation was muffled again as what seemed like feminine voices spoke up, Y/N moved towards the voices until a figure came into view, it looked like Mike, maybe? He ducked behind a beam and cursed under his breath, muscles tense and eyes shut tight. But nothing came of it, the footsteps kept walking away and the conversation died down. Whatever he was looking for, Josh had it, what was worrying though, was that he was heading further into the hotel instead of going back upstairs. So Y/N had a choice to make, follow Mike into the unknown or try to get Sam alone, ask for the folder and beg for her silence. His body made the choice for him, legs moving one by one slowly tracing Mike's trail.

He never saw where Mike went, but thankfully the tunnel only went in one direction. Along the way, the sound of what seemed like a metal door screeching open and closed told him what way to go. When he finally came upon it, he shoved his shoulder into it, trying to force it open to no avail. he let out a frustrated grunt as he tried again unsuccessfully. No, nononono, "C'mon!" He rammed into it again and again "C'mon!" Fuck! He blocked the door with something, didn't he?

Goddamn it! Y/N tore himself away, fine, fuckin- FINE, there's gotta be another way! He turned to his right to examine the rest of the tunnel with his eyes. "Hello?" Sam called out to him. SHIT- The dread hit him like a semi truck and he almost saw his life flash before his eyes, before, once again, his body moved without his brains permission and he, wide eyed and pale faced, stared at the girl that ruined his whole life.

(Sam's Pov)

Y/N's story was equal parts fascinating and upsetting. Everything made sense, Josh wasn't crazy, he hadn't flipped on a dime, he was protecting Y/N because that's who Josh was, he always protected his loved ones. And now that was exclusively Y/N. Was...

Sam didn't even have it in her to be upset that he chased her while she was practically nude, or that he attacked and drugged Chris and Ashley. In her eyes, Y/N was an innocent baby who'd never done anything wrong in his life and nothing he could say would change that, so when Mike got (rightfully) mad at parts of the story, Sam held Y/N's hand tighter and gave Mike a death glare. How dare he interrogate her baby like that?!

Mike was also completely engrossed in his tale. He was a lot more questioning than Sam because he didn't have nearly enough context, but nonetheless still captivated. Mike expressed his condolences for Y/N's loss, but he shrugged them off "Just want my cat." he mumbled.

As soon as those words left his mouth, they came upon a large pool of water, across it, were two rocky platforms, one leading to a closed metal door that was probably the way they had to go, and another that seemed empty, but it being closer meant it wasn't super out of the way to check it out. They all dropped into the water individually but as soon as Sam heard the water splash behind her, she reached out and grabbed Y/N's hand. It was shaking and sweaty and somehow burning hot in the middle of the painfully cold lake. "You'll be okay." She whispered as she guided both Y/N and Mike towards the closest ledge and climbed onto it.

There, she found a journal written by Hannah detailing her time in the mines culminating with her confession of cannibalism. Sam and Mike were far more personally affected by the discovery, compared to Y/N who barely reacted. Sam had to assume it was cause he was more focused on the fact that his soulmates corpse was 50 meters away rather than being apathetic to the fact that one of his friends was eaten by her sister. The duo gathered themselves then joined Y/N by the edge and jumped back in the icy cold water. Sam's hand found Y/N's again just like last time except he was completely unable to keep himself from trembling violently.

In front of the door, Sam squeezed Y/N's hand while Mike pushed the lever holding the door shut and wave of more freezing water came flooding out carrying a decapitated head with it. Everyone freaked out for a few seconds before Mike ushered them inside, where a body hung from a meat hook, the stranger that was supposed to help. They almost puked at the repulsive sight, however the feeling of Y/N breaking out of her hold pulled her out of it. She went to call his name but he zipped right past her through the wooden partition. Sam and Mike followed him, she was preparing to have to hold Y/N while he sobbed uncontrollably, he was preparing to defile a corpse. What they found brought Sam to tears.

"She said you were dead, I th-tho-I thought" Y/N blubbered. They were embracing each other on the rocky ground, Josh held Y/N's head in his hands and pressed his head into Josh's chest.

"I love you- I love you-" He mumbled before kissing his head a million times.

"Holy shit..." Mike whispered, emphasizing each syllable, "He's actually his boyfriend."

Sam furrowed her eyebrows and looked at him "You doubted it?"

He shrugged "A little, I dunno."

She rolled her eyes and brought her attention back to the boys on the floor. Her hand found Y/N's back, which she rubbed supportively "You doin' okay, bud?"

Y/N laughed, Josh loosened his hold of his head, but kept his hands where they were, allowing Y/N to wipe his runny nose with his sleeve "Yeah, yes." he nodded, eyes glancing back at her "I'm doing great."

The boys separated enough for Y/N to stand, but Josh really struggled and needed him and Sam to help him, once up, he leant against Y/N and explained that he was dropped into the cave and landed on his knee wrong. His left knee turned to the right and the force of the fall had twisted a ligament. It should heal in time, but right now it hurts like a bitch.

Mike brought everyone back to the goal at hand by asking Josh for the key to the cable car, who surrendered it immediately. Sam took this time to tell Josh what they had uncovered about his sisters, but before he could have any sort of breakdown, Mike tried to get them all on the move again. Sam had a different idea, to separate.

After a lot of resistance, the boys eventually, reluctantly, agreed to her plan. For Josh and Mike to take the long way to the lodge through the mines so Josh wouldn't put too much stress on his leg and for Y/N and Sam to go up through the skylight and separate from there, where Sam would run down to the lodge to destroy all the evidence of Josh's guilt and convince everybody to keep the fact that Josh is alive a secret and Y/N would burn down the shed to destroy the fake body so the police would have no evidence of what truly happened. Mike had to part with his lighter and the cable car key, so Sam and Y/N had to promise he'd get them back to shut him up. Even though they couldn't guarantee it, but that was all in the fine print.

Josh and Y/N kissed before they were forced apart, swapping I love you's and promises to see one another again, then went their respective ways. Sam and Y/N were quick to the top, happy to feel the moonlight on their skin. "Still can't believe you're real," Sam laughed on the walk to the shed and lodge, "you think you know someone..."

"He wanted to tell everybody, he was just scared."

Sam nodded, "Yeah, well... he won't have to be after tonight."

"Hopefully." Y/N sighed.

(Josh's Pov)

Mike's arm was wrapped around Josh's shoulder, helping him walk by lightening the weight being put on his knee. It was a fairly awkward little walk to the lake since Josh wasn't sure if he should apologise for what happened to Jess or if that'd make him seem guilty so he hobbled beside him silently. Mike didn't seem too mad that Josh elected not to say anything, after the last half hour of information overload, he was probably glad to have a minute of quiet.

The body hanging on the meat hook hadn't began to rot yet, so Josh hadn't known it was there until this moment when the decapitated body started dripping blood onto his shoulder. A strangled gasp escaped him as he looked up at the unfamiliar figure, he froze, Mike stopped too, not wanting to have to lug him around. Josh questioned who the man was, to which, Mike replied, "He tried to save you." he kept walking "Chris did too. You know you could've told us right?" Mike turned his head to watch Josh's reaction, but the other boy kept his gaze forward and vacant.

"No, I didn't know that."

(Y/N's Pov)

Snowflakes violently whipped around them, landed all over their skin and took their sweet time melting. Y/N rubbed his pink nose with his pink finger as Sam hugged herself to try control the shivering. The shed was right in front of them, to get to it, as well as the lodge, they had to jump down a ledge. It wasn't a huge drop luckily, but it was big enough to require them to sit and then hop down to give their legs as much leeway as possible.

At the bottom, they slowly made their way to the front of the shed, boots crunching through the everlasting snow. "Well, I guess this is it...?" Sam sighed once they were there, Y/N nodded. Her eyes stung with fresh tears, but they weren't sad this time, "I hope nothing but the best for you. The both of you." She pulled him in for a long, tight goodbye hug, "You take care of him, okay? I know he'll take care of you."

"I will..." Y/N mumbled into her shoulder.

Sam pulled away to look him in the eyes "Good luck in school, and," she sniffled and blinked several times to keep herself from breaking down "give Atlantis a bunch of kisses for me, and" her efforts were all in vain, she broke down into a mess of bittersweet tears and a smile so wide it made her cheeks ache, "send me a postcard!"

(Sam's Pov)

Y/N thanked her profusely for helping them run away, but she shook her head, it was totally unnecessary. Ever since she was a little kid, she'd seen Josh as a sort of older brother, someone who you could trust and confide in and would never let you know he was hurting too. A part of her always pitied him, on the outside he seemed so lonely, disjointed and... out of place, to know he'd found his place, that he found his soulmate was all she really needed. Josh was sick of trying to exist in a world he believed he had no right to, could she blame him for wanting an escape? She could criticise his methods, sure, but at the centre of it was love. Pure, unadulterated, beautiful love. And what could be wrong with that?

She tore herself away, sniffling, "Okay, I really gotta go before I get too attached and decide to never let you leave."

"I tend to have that effect on people."

"Hah hah, you're very funny, now move it. You got a felony to commit."

"What's this, my third one tonight?" Sam laughed at his dark joke, kissed him on the cheek, then dashed down towards the lodge.

(Josh's Pov)

Mike warned him it'd be cold, but man did he undersell it. The only positive was that the water made it a teeny bit easier to walk since it took a bit of pressure off the knee. Mike was a good few paces ahead of him so he help Josh out of the water at the other ledge. Suddenly, a few ripples begin to show on the surface as if something was swimming underneath, Mike screamed before quickly being pulled to the icy bellow.

F-Fuck... "Mike?" Josh called out, when he didn't immediately answer, Josh picked up the pace as best he could. He shouted Mike's name again, but before he could even finish saying the word the creature that found him in the shed burst through the still water and screeched.

As it went to grab him, he saw it... irrefutable proof of what Sam had said... Hannah's tattoo. A deafening gunshot reverberated around the cave walls and several chunks of rock plummeted from the celling, crashing into Hannah and making her... (it?) jump back onto the wall behind Josh. "Run!" Mike yelled at the top of his lungs. Josh tried to quicken his pace along with Mike who was far ahead, turning around every few seconds to shoot at the creature and keep it as far away as he could, the sounds of footsteps sprinting over rocks came quickly towards the lake.

(Y/N's Pov)

After Sam darted away, Y/N was left in the snow without a plan, he knew he had to burn the shed down, but the how was eluding him. First thing he did was find a small, recognisable alcove to hide the folder, he swept snow off the step, wrapped the folder in Josh's blue plaid overshirt and carefully laid it down before running back over to the shed. Being covered in snow all year long, the shed and all the branches he could find would be drenched and completely incapable of catching fire. He went inside to try find anything that was even remotely flammable.

There was the curtains on the windows that'd been kept closed, he ripped them from their rods and threw them into a pile near the fake body, it had to be the first thing burned so Y/N could be certain he'd done his job right. He also added the stool Josh had been made to sit on as well as the rope used to tie him there and a few other pieces of stray timber that had stayed relatively untouched to the growing pile. but it still wasn't enough. It might burn through the body, but unless the whole structure is destroyed there's still a high chance they'd know it was fake and investigate further. He needed more power.

(Sam's Pov)

Sam moved like she was made of air through the basement to get to the workshop and the people waiting to be saved. She wanted to stop, take her time and think about how she'd explain the situation to them, especially Chris, but she didn't want to keep her new best friend Y/N waiting longer than he needed to. "Sam?" Emily called out when she passed one of the holes in the workshop wall.

"Yeah, its me." Her voice cracked, they'd found the workshop. She sighed to prepare herself then slowly made her way around the corner. In the door way, she picked at the skin around her finger nails. The trio bombarded her with questions that she refused to answer right away, instead, she asked them to sit calmly and let her speak before asking anything else.

(Josh's Pov)

"Guys!" Matt came barrelling out from behind a mineshaft carrying an old oil lantern up to light the way, Josh kept moving as a good three or so seconds after Matt appeared, Jess stumbled into view.

Her presence shook Mike to his core "J- Je-" Matt put his arm around Jess and helped her get to Mike, who began to weep tears of joy as he hugged her pitiful form. Matt took the liberty of helping Josh out of the water, giving Mike more time to fuss over Jessica, but as expected, their reunion was cut short by Hannah crawling over the wall towards them.

Jess whimpered and hid her head in Mike's shoulder, he kept one arm around her waist, lifted his free hand and shot at the creature. He tucked his flashlight in his pocket and asked "Matt, he can't walk, can you-"

"Got him." Matt wrapped his arm around Josh's shoulder "C'mon, Man." They all limped through the mines, Matt and Josh were much further ahead since Jess was so mutilated, Mike was left balancing her needs as well as shooting back at Hannah every so often when she wandered too close, he was struggling though, if Jess couldn't go any faster they'd be caught and killed. "In here!" Matt yelled behind him to Mike as he helped Josh into a tiny wooden shack built into the cave wall.

Mike and Jess joined them ten or so seconds later, leant against the wall and held her so she wouldn't fall. They all froze as Hannah zipped up to them and surveyed the area, Josh felt Matt tensing up beside him as he held his breath and watched Mike keep Jess upright when her legs failed her. As terrified as he was, he did feel a little relieved that the monster was with him, it meant Y/N was safe. That's all that mattered. He was safe.

(Y/N's Pov)

He'd managed to find enough kindling to have multiple piles strewn around every room of the shed. In ransacking the building, he'd also found a giant stockpile of gasoline tanks either hooked up to the saw machine or sitting near it being perfectly accessible should anything have gone astray before showtime and he could quickly switch them out. Josh really hadn't wanted anything to get in his way of dying.

Y/N grabbed the gas tanks and either emptied them all over a pile and the surrounding area or placed it in the middle of the room to combust when caressed by the flames. He grabbed a plank of wood, placed it on the floor, stood on one end and pulled it till it broke into two pieces. He covered one in gasoline, set it alight, threw it towards the fake body and ran out before the explosions started.

By the time he stepped foot outside, three explosions had occurred in that main room and the fire had begun to climb up to the roof. He drenched the other piece of the plank in gasoline, set it alight and threw it inside the smaller side building. The glass windows began shattering one by one, metal warped and bent, wood crackled, plastic melted, in minutes the structure was a merciless blazing inferno that started to take over a few of the surrounding trees... FUCK. Y/N quickly slid off his gasoline soaked jacket and chucked it into the flames then, not even stopping to watch it burn, ran to the place where he stashed the folder before he started, threw the over shirt back on in place of his jacket and sprinted through the woods away from the hellfire he summoned to earth.

(Sam's Pov)

Ashley and Emily's reactions were what she expected, shock, horror, intrigue, it was Chris that stood out. He was hurt. Deeply hurt. "I thought we were best friends..." he mumbled, eyes glued to the floor.

Sam crouched down to meet his eyeline "You are!" she took his hands, her tone implored him to take her seriously, "You are, Chris, It's nothing you did, I promise. He was just scared-"

"Of me?" His question was sincere but stinging with worlds of hurt.

Sam shook her head, she wanted to reassure him, but she couldn't tell him what Josh was thinking, only Josh could know. "Of everybody! Nobody knew except Beth. I'm sure he wanted to tell you."

He almost seemed to be staring through her "I never knew him, did I?"

"Of course you did! He's still Josh!"

Chris stood up and started pacing, "But he- he had this whole second life? And- he felt like he couldn't trust me?"

Sam joined him, standing up straight "It wasn't you!"

"I should've been the exception! He should've been able to- to-"

Ashley could tell he was on the verge of breaking so she wrapped her arm around his torso, letting him lean on her. "It's not your fault!"

Sam nodded "Its not. It was his stupid parents. If he could've told anyone, he would've told you." She rubbed his arm gently.

(Josh's Pov)

When Hannah scurried further down the mineshaft looking for everyone, they took a moment to regroup and collect their thoughts. Josh explained the basics of the situation to Matt when he was asked about the shed, and Mike fussed over Jess' state again. When Josh stopped talking, Mike immediately got to business, "Matt, she can't walk, I need you to shoot it while I carry her." He passed the gun to Matt's shaky hand.

"I- I gotta hold this," he lifted the lantern to be level with his chest "and help h-"

Mike cut him off "No, you're gonna throw that at it. Fire hurts 'em." he pulled his torch out of his pocket and passed it to Jessica "She'll light the way." Jess had a little smile on her face as she took it in her hands, happy to be a little useful. Matt accepted Mike at his word, he seemed like he wanted to say more but stayed silent, watching him lift Jess and carry her bridal style.

"I'll hold it till we see her," Josh took the lantern from Matt's hand, "then you can take it and show off your big football arms." Matt huffed, smiling, Mike kissed Jess' scrapped forehead and Josh turned to him to ask "What way are we going?"

"Well, I came through the sanatorium, but A. I don't think we're gonna wanna go that way, and B. No idea how to get back there from here, so I'm thinking, Sam and Y/N came through a sewer under the lodge, our best bet is to find that then we should be fine."

(Y/N's Pov)

The door was smashed to pieces and the axe was missing so Matt and Emily must've taken it wherever they went. Hopefully they were okay. Y/N would've felt guilty if he wasn't hours away from a new life. He navigated to the control console, inserted the key and brought the cable car back up to the platform. Before he could step foot into the cable car he paused, turning to look behind him. He could go now and wait in the truck for Josh. He could wait in the cable car. He should, Josh would be mad if he didn't.

And yet he found himself stashing the folder in one of the knocked over file cabinets and running out of the cable car station with reckless abandon towards the ever-growing forest fire. His boots crunched through the melting snow as he steadily grew closer. He paused at the precipice of the inferno. A wall of flames stood, waiting, welcoming him with open arms as if eager to take his life. He wanted to back out, he was terrified of course, but the thought of Josh having to navigate that hell alone with his busted knee, or worse giving up because of it was unbearable. Y/N caused this, he'd have to take responsibility for it. He took three deep breaths, cursed under his breath, then began the long sprint.

(Sam's Pov)

"So, we need to destroy any evidence pointing to him. And I need you guys to keep quiet about this, okay?" Sam waited anxiously for their response.

"What?!" Emily spat.

"Why??" Ashley was completely baffled.

But Chris remained silent, allowing Sam to make her case "Because, you guys, we killed his sisters. Every one of us except him and that boy he loves. Doesn't he deserve a happy ending after all the shit we put him through?"

A brief silence fell over the group as they thought it through. Ashley was the first to speak up, shaking her head to reveal her answer before she said it. "No. No. He already got his sick revenge tonight, I'm not covering for him so he doesn't have to face the consequences."

Emily nodded her head, but Sam couldn't even pretend for a second she was on her side when her expression was that of disgust "Yeah. He brought us up here to fuck with us and ended up with two of us dead."

"We don't know that Matt's dead-" Sam tried to discredit her claim.

But Emily bit back with "Oh, that limp dick prick better wish he was dead after leaving me to die on that goddamn tower!"

"Calm down, Em, I'm sure he didn't intend on you dying-"

Chris tried to join in and agree with the girls "And it's not like we all were in on the prank, some of us were-"

Again, Emily cut him off, clearly bringing up Matt had her so riled up she started attacking her own team "Shut up, four eyes, don't act like you're better than us. We all know you drugged him!" Sam was taken aback by the accusation and asked for more information while Chris did his best to deny it, but there was no stopping her, "You tried to say no but we gave you what, 20, 30 dollars, and you slipped sleeping pills into his beers so he couldn't stop it."

(Josh's Pov)

The group ran down the mineshaft, Mike carried Jess seemingly effortlessly and Josh leant on Matt who anxiously checked behind them every three seconds. When Hannah did eventually show up, it was when his back was turned, she screeched. "You keep going! Get her outta here! We'll catch up!" Matt yelled at Mike who reluctantly listened. Josh passed the lantern to Matt, he detached himself and propped himself up on the rocky wall.

Matt cocked his arm back and threw the lantern full force at Hannah then quickly lifted the gun and shot it, several pieces of shrapnel hit it and the lantern exploded into a giant ball of flames that coated her corrupted, leathery skin. The creature let out what could only be described as a distressed whinny and scampered down the opposite direction. Matt grabbed Josh, let him lean on him then helped him down the mineshaft where Mike and Jess went. They kept a watchful eye out for the light.

They were lucky, for the most part, this mine was all one path. Where it did diverge, those paths were blocked off by wooden planks. They called out for the couple, voices echoing off the closed in walls, waiting for responses that wouldn't came. Dread seeped into Josh's stomach as a cliffs edge came into view.

Matt left Josh leaning against a wall while he left to walk along the edge, looking for a way out. Josh grew more anxious as sounds of rocks or something similar clattering began to reverberate from far behind him, he limped towards Matt "Did you hear that?" he called out.

At the sound of Josh hobbling, Matt came running over to help "What?" he asked, wrapped his arm around Josh's torso, and led him down to the spot he was looking at. Josh brushed it off, it was probably nothing, he was antsy, that's all, so Matt took the charge, talking about where the best possible spot for him to jump from in his state when the tunnel bellow them began to emit a soft beam of light. "Mike?"

(Y/N's Pov)

The pyre devoured the timber surrounding him with its vicious gaping maw and thick jagged teeth. The snow beneath his feet held strong until he left his footprints, then begun to evaporate. He was unbelievably lucky he was on a mountain right now and not back home. This fire was nothing compared to California wildfires, the snow was slowing the flames, but not stopping them entirely.

Y/N was already nearing the end of the fiery intermission, fortunate he got there early enough to be easy, but in the time between now and Josh leaving the lodge it could expand to cover half the mountain. He had no choice but to wait, see and push through. Outside of the forest the air was cleaner, thinner, colder, heaven for somebody just leaving a forest fire. He slowed his pace to a light jog as the lodge came into view.

(Sam's Pov)

"I di- I didn't-" Chris tried to deny it before falling apart at the seams and sobbing uncontrollably. Ashley hurried over and caught him in a tight hug, rubbing his back and whispering assurances that he wasn't at fault or a bad person.

Emily rolled her eyes and wandered off to her own corner to let Sam deal with it. Her head was spinning a hundred miles a minute, Josh stopped taking his sleeping pills, Josh stopped going to Chris for support, Josh tortured Chris the most, Y/N dealt with Chris far rougher than Ashley, Jesus Fucking Christ. Bile filled her mouth, throat tightened so she couldn't swallow it, Fuck-

She picked up the trash can next to the desk she stood at for almost an hour and silently spat it all out. The aftertaste was deep and bitter and refused to leave for even a moment as she set the trash can back down in its place and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Chris was indisposed in Ashley's arms, Sam watched them for a short minute before the nausea subsided and she had enough courage to walk over and interrogate him.

"What the hell, Chris? Is that true?" Chris nodded his head, face covered by Ashley's hair and shoulder. Sam laughed in disbelief "You drugged your best friend? You spiked his drink?? Yo-You know that's illegal, right? What the hell were you thinking?!" The bombardment of questions only made the anger in her tone stronger and more venomous, by the end she was spitting the words at him.

"I- I know..." Chris wept wildly.

Ashley ran her fingers through his messy hair, scowling at Sam "Back off, Sam, he's clearly sorry."

Sam was baffled by her dismissive response "Are you- you're joking, right? He could've fucking killed him!"

"He didn't!" Ashley yelled back "Nothing happened to him."

"Noth-" Sam laughed out loud at Ashley's defensiveness "Nothing happened? Hannah and Beth died!"

"We didn't mean for that! It was just a prank!" Ashley's voice faltered, but she tried to remain strong for Chris.

"You-" Sam scoffed "There's something wrong with you, all three of you!" She furiously looked around the room, Emily was in her little corner apathetically admiring her nails, Ashley was staring up at the ceiling, blinking rapidly to keep herself from breaking down and Chris remained trembling in her secure arms. Sam knew that if she wanted to get anywhere in this conversation, she had to talk to him directly. She took tentative steps towards him, when Ashley noticed her, she anxiously pulled him away, making Sam raise her hands to show she meant no harm. Ashley reluctantly relaxed her grip, giving Sam some space to gently take Chris by the bicep and slowly peel him away from Ashley. "Hey, bud. Can we talk about it?" Chris pulled his eyes from the floor to Sam's face and nodded solemnly. "What happened, huh? Why'd you do it?" Sam gently rubbed his bicep.

Chris took in a deep, shuddering breath and, with Ashley's support, begun to explain...

(Josh's Pov)

"I'm here!" Mike called, the light grew closer and brighter, telling them he'd started jogging towards their voices. When he stepped into view, he continued speaking "Found the sewer, got Jess up, she's makin' her way through now. We'll catch up to her though."

"Uh, awesome. How'd you get her down from here?" Matt asked, doing a quick scan of the edge.

Mike walked to the base of the cliff wall "I got down first and caught her." He lifted and spread his arms "Think we can do that, Josh?" Mike teased

Josh rolled his eyes, slowly lowering himself to the edge "Shut up." his legs dangled over the drop.

"Okay, so just, try and grip the wall the best ya can, alright? Press your back against it, s'gonna hurt like a bitch, but we need you to go as slow as possible, yeah?" Mike explained "Just think about your boy waiting for ya, right bud? C'mon." His voice was exhausted but encouraging.

"You're alright, I'll be right behind you." Matt squeezed and pat his shoulder gently.

Josh gripped the edge, carefully scooted towards the corner, and looked down to the abyss bellow. Mike was right, this would hurt like a bitch. The rocky surface was sure to scrape his arms and shred the hell out of his clothes, he took a deep breath and dropped down.

He pressed firmly against the jagged wall, feeling his clothes tear, even his thick denim overalls were helpless against the ridged surface. The drop was barely slower than it would've been anyway, with how physically demanding the slide was, it had probably been hell for Jess, that jacket may have protected her upper half, but her legs were bare, already bloody and bruised, and she definitely couldn't push back as far as Josh could. She must've depended on Mike a hell of a lot more than Josh would.

When he did crash into Mike, it was sudden and brutal, with Mike acting as more of a cushion than actually catching him. Josh apologised profusely, while Mike laughed "I love you, man, but not like that."

Josh rolled his eyes "This is why I never told you guys." he started wiping his thighs and waist with his scraped and bleeding hand as Matt began his descent.

"Chill out, bro. M'just Joshin' ya."

Josh fake laughed "How'd you think of that one?"

Matt was halfway down at this point "He's a comedic genius. Haven't you heard?"

"Hmph, sure." Josh huffed.

More far off rocks clattered, echoing off the walls, Mike raised the torch looking for something out of sight. Matt jumped down, landing next to Josh with a loud thud. They turned around and walked down the tunnel at a slower place to recuperate from the draining descent.

(Chris' Pov)

The sun had just started setting when Jess pulled him away from his attempt at flirting with Ashley. She brought him into one of the smaller lounge rooms where Emily was reclining, taking up the whole couch so Chris and Jess had to stand in front of her. They explained the gist of their plan to prank Hannah to get her to back off.

"She won't listen to me or Mike! It's so disrespectful, right?" Emily moaned to Chris, who nodded awkwardly, unsure as to why he was being roped into drama he didn't care about.

"So anyway," Jess carried on for her "we need Josh out the way, so if you could get him super drunk or something, we'd really appreciate it."

"No? Why would I do that?"

"Because," Emily stood up "you're my best friend and you care about my happiness."

Chris raised an eyebrow "Mhm, sure, uh, no. Not gonna force him to get hammered, thanks."

Jess rolled her eyes "Oh, c'mon, he's gonna do it anyway. Just speed up the process." she shrugged "Or use one of those pills he takes to go to sleep." Chris was hesitant, so Jess huffed and pulled 3 $10 bills out of her sparkly violet purse and pressed them against his chest "Better?"

Chris nodded down at the cash as he took it "Sure." He pocketed the money "But just this once, alright ladies? Don't want you two going mad with power."

Jess waved him off "Of course not!" The girls grinned cheerfully, linking their arms. Chris took their lack of goodbye as a goodbye and left $30 richer.

~~

Chris leaned the doorway of Josh's room listening to him talk about college, he was being pretty vague, like he was performing a routine he'd practised but not memorized. Whenever he glanced over at Chris he always seemed to be looking just above him. Josh was searching his room for his 'medicinal' grass, he'd looked everywhere, but quickly came to the conclusion that Beth had taken it and left to raid the room next door.

Taking his chance, Chris grabbed the orange bottle from Josh's nightstand and tapped it against his palm until four little white tablets came out. He swiftly pocketed them alongside his payment, returned the bottle to its home and joined Josh in Beth's room. Luckily enough, Josh had just found what he was looking for and hadn't noticed, or at least hadn't mentioned that Chris had been absent.

~~

Everybody was drinking, cameras flashing, laughing, bad singing, at one point, Chris went to grab a pair of beers for Josh and himself. He opened them with the bottle opener Josh left out and put one pill in each then brought them over. A few more beers later, he did it again and this time they were both out like a light.

Chris knew it was wrong, Chris knew it was dangerous, but he'd never do something to Josh if he couldn't do it to himself. They were best friends. Or at least supposed to be.

(Sam's Pov)

Silence filled the room again, suffocating everyone except Emily who remained apathetic despite what Chris just revealed. Sam let out a long puff, slowly taking it all in before nodding in acceptance "Okay, alright, okay..." she rubbed her face with her free hand "so, you- okay... so you take the money from Jess and then laced Josh's beers, alright..."

"And I've regretted it ever since, it just- it eats up at me everyday." Chris had stopped crying and was staring at a spot on the wall in a state of shock.

Sam nodded again "Yeah, thought so." she paused to let the tense moment pass, she had to get the timing right or he'd shut himself off and refuse. And if she couldn't convince Chris, everybody else was definitely off the table. "If you want to make it right," She carefully began "you can keep quiet, and let him be happy with Y/N. It's what he wants, and if you want to clear your conscience, I'm sure he'll forgive you, or at least forget once he does go."

Chris' face filled with dread and sorrow "He's my best friend..."

"I know..." her hand squeezed his bicep, knowing what she'd say next would sting more than anything else tonight "But you're not his." Just as she predicted, he broke again. She didn't have time to coddle him anymore, she needed to do her job "If you want to make it right," she repeated, taking his hands in hers "you'll let him go."

"This sucks." He tried to laugh through the tears, but it came off more as a pathetic huff.

Ashley rubbed his back soothingly "I'm really sorry, Chris," she kissed his cheek.

"It does," Sam agreed wholeheartedly "and we can talk about it for as long as you want. As soon as we're off the mountain. Josh needs us right now. Lets do one last thing for your boy."

Chris sighed, letting the remaining teardrops fall, before wiping his eyes with the tips of his fingers under his glasses "Yeah, okay. Lets do it."

Sam's hopeful eyes moved up to Ashley, who nodded most likely for Chris rather than for herself, but at least they were both on board. She turned to face Emily, before she could say anything, Emily held her hand up "No choice, have I? If I go along with your story, you won't expose us for conspiracy, right? Now that he's gonna be so full of guilt and completely indebted to you, they're gonna tell the truth if you tell them to." she pointed at Chris and Ashley with a scowl.

Her eyebrows raised "Y-Yeah, definitely." Absolutely not. Sam had planned on appealing to her good side, but if Emily says blackmail, then that makes Sam's life easier. "Alright, everybody, we need to destroy everything pointing to Josh." she clapped her hands "Lets get to it."

(Josh's Pov)

The walk was quick despite the boys slower pace. Surprisingly, the atmosphere was pretty lively between them as they joked and laughed like actual friends. Josh expected to have more criticisms thrown at him, but an indestructible man eating monster is a pretty good distraction. A cry for help stopped them in their tracks.

Emily called out for Matt, her voice was muffled and terrified, there was a frantic banging along with it. Matt's head wiped around to try and find the source, he shouted her name, trying to follow it down the diverging path her voice seemed to be coming from, before he could leave the formation though, Mike grabbed his forearm and shook his head "Bad idea." he warned.

"She's in trouble!" Matt protested "I need to help her-" he tried again to follow Emily's voice.

"No!" Mike pulled him back "She's fine, she made it back to the lodge, that isn't her."

"Am I supposed to listen to you? You're not my friend, I know you two fucked." he spat that last word.

Mike furrowed his brows "What are you talking about, man? Not since we broke up we haven't."

"Liar, she admitted to it!" Matt yelled, "I asked her on the fire tower and she said it outright, so I got mad and I- I left her to die." his voice broke Emily called for him again and, riddled with guilt, he pulled out of Mike's hold to go get her.

"Goddamn it," Mike uttered, "Josh, you keep going down the tunnel, I'll be right behind you."

"What am I looking for?"

"You'll find a ladder and open sewer grate." As soon as Josh gave any sort of acknowledgement, Mike dashed after Matt, calling his name the whole way.

Josh limped along the wall, keeping a keen ear out for Mike and Matt's faint conversation. "-stop -not her!" From Mike and "Can't risk it- already abandoned-" From Matt were the only legible words Josh could figure out, the rest were muffled and indistinct.

The conversation got louder but no more clear until he found another pathway leading to wherever they were. "I don't care! I need to get her."

"Get back!" Mike yelled at him. The banging and crying continued on, but the sound of someone tackling the other was added. Mike and Matt grunted.

Matt growled "Get off me!"

"I'm trying to save us, you stupid fuckin-" a shriek interrupted Mike, the boys screamed and the gun went off. Josh took that as his sign to hobble faster down the tunnel towards the ladder that had been illuminated by some light from above. He heard Matt and Mike coming up behind him, one of them shooting the gun periodically, and did his best to climb swiftly, despite the fact that every step was agony.

Thankfully there was only the five rungs and his arms were able to do most of the heavy lifting, he slowly got to his feet in the time it took for Matt to join him, who was quick to take Josh under his arm and help him run. A gunshot rung out under them before Mike practically teleported behind them. He joined them in pace. He could've ran ahead, but he stayed beside them, finger on the trigger of the sawed off shotgun, ready to shoot Hannah when she appeared, although the two short screams came from behind and Mike firing the gun twice told a different story.

(Y/N's Pov)

An ear-splitting sound like an animal being mauled to death shook Y/N out of his fixation on the windows. His head whirled around as he searched the dying fire for the source of the sound. Slender light grey limbs sprang from the snow to the trees to the snow again, rapidly approaching the lodge. Y/N crouched beside the stairs and froze, like Sam warned him to. Luckily, the monster didn't stop and look for him, instead it flew through the door Sam must've left open when she first got here.

(Sam's Pov)

Everything was gathered in front of them.

A box of fake newspapers, they'd do their best to find and destroy any stay ones left around the mountain before the cops started their search.

The death machine plans, alongside Y/N burning the machine and shed there'd be no proof it even existed outside of myth. And memory for some.

The voice recorder, this one was easy to clear, Sam just erased the recording and Y/N's cute first attempts at frightening was gone to the whisps of time. She placed that back on the desk since it was now harmless.

Lastly his psychiatric report, this one was the most divisive, with Chris and Ashley arguing that since it doesn't say anything explicit about potential current violent tendencies it wouldn't be a problem if it was found, and Sam and Emily sure it'd at least have some eyebrows raised and had to be destroyed just in case. They'd won since Chris and Ashley didn't care enough to fight. Sam gathered everything on top of one another and stepped aside, letting Emily take charge.

Emily took the final flare out of her bag, those flares had served her well in the mines against Hannah, and now she was using them to cover up for a myriad of crimes and truths. As upset as Emily might be, something about the subtle glint in her eye told Sam she was having a world of fun living out her own mystery plot in real time. She twisted the top and sparks burst from it, bathing the workshop in a big beautiful red glow. Chris, Ashley and Sam backed away, towards the door as Emily dropped it on the pile and joined them as they all fled the room. Panic struck them as Jess' broken form appeared in the halls calling for help.

"Oh my god!" Ashley gasped.

Sam and Emily ran over to help her stand, the latter pushed the former out of the way to have the sole focus from Jess "What happened to you?!" she covered the front of Jess' body and started buttoning up her jacket so no one would see her bare skin

"I was- there was- glass, and- it was cold, and it had its hands all over me-" Jess tried and failed to explain her night, instead, crumbling into a puddle of tears.

Emily caught in her arms like she was light as a feather "You're okay now. Promise."

Jess sniffled a timid "Thanks." before continuing much clearer, "There's something coming. M-Mike, Matt and-" far away gunshots cut her off. "W-we need to go!" she warned the group.

Everyone but Sam moved, when shouted on, she called "I'll catch up!"

Then began to approach the sound, but Ashley ran up and grabbed her forearm and pulled her back "No. We're sticking together. They'll catch up." She stated firmly as she and Sam re-joined the main group. They collectively sprinted through the basement, listening to the gunshots and the footsteps along with them getting closer.

She started to hear yelling coming from the boys, telling each other and anyone else within earshot to run, exclamations of fear and dread, and stupid jokes thrown between each other so at least they weren't doing too bad back there. "You guys okay?" Sam called behind her.

"Oh yeah, just having a nice morning run."

"Yeah, just a light 2k jog."

"uh huh, just going for a little walk with my boys."

She felt her eyes roll to the back of her head at their goofy responses "I hope you three get mauled to death."

"Love you too, Sammy!" Matt exclaimed, she could hear his smile in his voice.

Finally out of the basement, Chris opened the door to the theatre, but Emily, who was still holding Jess, shoved him out of the way to get ahead. Ashley ran over, helped him up and the pair ran over Jess and Emily's tracks. In the doorway, Sam paused and turned, she didn't want to leave the boys to fend for themselves, plus Josh's knee must be making things difficult. "You guys okay?"

"We're fine, we're fine!" Mike answers, panting, so the running was obviously catching up with him "Just keep going!"

Sam took his advice and sprinted in the opposite direction, up the two sets of stairs to the main floor. Emily and Jess were huddled a few meters away from the door, Chris and Ash held hands on the other side of the stairs, seeing all four frozen in fear made Sam stop dead in her tracks, her eyes scanned the room, it took 10 seconds for her to find the wendigo crouched on the large hanging spherical chandelier in the centre of the living room. By the time she had found it, the boys finally appeared behind her.

Mike warned anyone who could hear him to keep still, but the words were superfluous since everyone was frozen on the spot. Hannah surveyed the room for movement but nobody caught her eye, except when two more wendigo scampered up the stairs and the three started a violent fight. Jess and Emily took this time to escape while they were all distracted, Ashley and Chris crept towards the door after them.

The fight escalated to the main wendigo, Hannah, throwing one into the fire place and causing a pipe to break and some sort of flammable gas began to leak from it into the air. Mike and Sam formed a plan telepathically, break a lamp's lightbulb and turn it on once everyone's out. He slowly prowled across the hardwood floor to the intended lamp, at the same time Sam backed away and her foot landed on a creaky floorboard, drawing Hannah's attention.

She screamed in Sam's general direction and did a quick survey of the area, but Sam was invisible to her. From the corner of her eye she saw Matt helping Josh creep over to the door and Chris and Ash bolting out into the snow. In the brief time Hannah had her back turned, Mike crushed the lightbulb in his hand, the sound brought her attention over to him again.

"Hey!" Matt called out to her before she could get to Mike, Hannah jumped over to investigate the noise. Matt stood defiantly in front of her, as Sam and Mike snuck down to the door, the second wendigo popped back into the fight. Hannah doubled back to finish the fight with the wendigo, in that split second, Matt grabbed Josh who was crouched beside the banister and threw themselves outside.

In her peripheral vision, Sam could see Y/N fussing over his beloved Josh who could only press his forehead into Y/N's shoulder. They were probably the center of everyone's attention out there, the fact that there was a stranger on a private mountain continued to be quite the fright no matter how many times it'd happened. Mike and Sam took calculated steps back, Mike was first out with Sam quick on his heels. Hannah noticed too late and was killed as Sam flipped the light switch on her way out.

Sam and Mike were flung out into the thick layer of snow as the building combusted behind them. Everyone stared into the inferno except Y/N, who ran over to help her stand. "Thanks," She was happy to see him, of course, that was her baby boy after all, but a tiny bit of her was mad he wasn't gone yet "what are you still doing here?"

"I, uh, caused a forest fire." he pointed his thumb towards the dwindling flames behind him "Didn't want Josh to have to deal with that on his own. Well, it was pretty big when I went through it but now it just seems unnecessary."

She let out a long breathy laugh and wrapped her arms around him tightly "So glad you're safe." he reciprocated the hug cheerfully, Josh placed his hand on Y/N's shoulder. His presence forced Sam to pull away "You guys need to get going, don't you?"

They nodded, Josh kissed the top of Y/N's head before they turned to their left where everybody stood wanting to say goodbye. Emily and Jess mumbled apologies and well wishes, but neither could meet the boys eyes. Mike and Matt stepped forward, Mike pat Josh's shoulder and gave him a tight, conflicted smile "Congratulations man. You stay safe, alright?"

Josh murmured an assurance and turned his attention to Matt, who gave him a loose hug "Hope you guys are happy together wherever you end up," he broke the hug and looked to Y/N "you better treat him right or you're dead."

The pair furrowed their brows, Y/N tilted his head and Josh squeezed his shoulder "Okay, calm down, bro. He's good to me." Matt raised his hands in surrender, laughing.

Chris and Ashley came next, they were hiding at the back and Emily and Jess pushed them forward. Emily must've told Jess the situation so now she was as desperate as Emily to keep Chris quiet and that probably included Josh's forgiveness of him, they couldn't give a fuck about either of them, they were just trying to save their own skin. Still, if they were encouraging Chris to apologise, Sam couldn't really complain, at least not until they were safely off the mountain.

Ashley squeezed Chris' hand, a small act of support to let him know he wasn't alone, with her securely at his side he began "I'm sorry-"

As his voice broke, Josh removed his hand from YN's shoulder and pulled his best friend into a warm embrace "I know, buddy. I know. You fucked up, didn't you?" Chris nodded sheepishly "I can't- like, forgive you for it." again, Chris nodded, this time in acknowledgement "But I'll let you off, alright?" he pulled away so they could look one another in the eye "Don't torture yourself over it."

Chris sucked in a huge shaky breath "Yeah. Th-thanks, Josh."

"You're my brother, Chris. I love you." The boys gave each other the same bittersweet smile.

"Love you too, man."

"Alright, alright," Y/N grumbled, shoving Chris away and stepping in between them "that's enough." Josh wrapped an arm around his waist, pulled him closer and kissed the top of his head, giggling all the while.

Ashley brought Chris back to the safety of the group, leaving the couple staring into the still warm embers of the woods when Sam's hand landed on Josh's shoulder, turning them around to face her. Before they could say anything, she brought them both in for a hug and squeezed so hard all three stopped breathing for a few long seconds "Oh, I am gonna miss you two dorks!" She squealed.

"Yep, you too-" Josh wheezed.

Y/N nodded the best he could through the tightness "Mhm, love ya, Sammy."

Sam finally let go the tiniest bit to stare at them, Josh and Y/N, her boys, her favourite boys. "I'm serious!! You guys just... I'm so happy for you, Josh!" she exclaimed and pulled them right back in.

"Thanks, Sam."

Y/N tore himself away and nervously stutter "M'sorry about the- bout the t-towel..."

"Shush," she waved him off "that's hardly the worst thing that's happened tonight."

"Still..."

"I know. Don't you worry about it. I don't want you wasting your time thinking about me." At the reminder of their ultimate goal, "One last thing," she reached into her back pocket and pulled out Josh's phone, "here." then passed it over to him "Leave no trace, right?" Josh stared at the phone for a few seconds, just as she had for hours, just as he had for years, then snapped it in half and chucked it into the firestorm.

"That feel good?" Y/N asked, he watched Josh's reaction.

Josh beamed down at him, kissing his forehead three times in a row "Very."

"Alright, that rescue team has gotta be here soon, so you two should..." Sam nodded her head behind her.

"Yeah." Josh kissed Y/N's forehead again.

Sam poked Josh in the side with her elbow "Listen, dorks, I want an invite to the wedding, alright?"

"Ha ha." Y/N rolled his eyes.

"Don't laugh, gorgeous, you know I'm getting you a ring as soon as we land right?"

"Oh God, how ugly is that ring gonna be after, what 37 hours without sleep?"

"Well, it's the thought that counts."

"No thought is going into that."

Sam rolled her eyes and shooed the boys away "Alright, enough flirting. Move." Y/N pulled Sam in for a quick hug and thanked her for her help then took Josh's hand and the couple sprinted into the forest. As the sound of helicopter blades whirring became clearer, Sam rallied the group together and told them all the story they were supposed to tell the police. "-the main structure is completely destroyed..." Sam wouldn't let anyone turn away, everybody had to recite their story by heart "-survivors. Let's pick 'em up."

~~

Interview Room 1, Samantha Giddings, 10:37, 02.03.15- Redacted- How well did you know Mr. Washington? Samantha Giddings- Pr-Pretty well, I was close with Hannah before she- *Shaky Inhale* Redacted- That was one of his sisters, correct? Samantha Giddings- *Nods* Redacted- Alright, can you tell us about the last time you saw him? Samantha Giddings- Uh, sure, we just turned the boiler on in the basement cause I wanted to have a bath. *Laughs* And then Chris showed up and scared us. Redacted- Scared you? Samantha Giddings- Yeah, he got dressed up in some old movie costume Josh's dad left somewhere and chased us to the door. Redacted- So everyone was in high spirits? Samantha Giddings- Maybe not high spirits exactly, but yeah comfortable at least. Redacted- I have to ask, was Josh acting strange or out of character? Samantha Giddings- *Shakes Head* No, I thought he'd be having a tough time after last year, but he seemed pretty normal. Redacted- Alright. So after Chris scared you both? Samantha Giddings- I went upstairs for my bath and I think Josh played one of those spirit board things with Chris and Ashley. I think, you know, I wasn't there. Redacted- Right, and after your bath? Samantha Giddings- *Sharp Inhale, Shaky Breath* My clothes were missing, and I couldn't find my bag, so I had to leave the bathroom to look for them, but there's like balloons pointing down the stairs and- *Shaky Breath* I thought it was just a prank, you know? We're always playing dumb pranks on each other. Redacted- Even after last year? Samantha Giddings- Old habits I guess. Redacted- Wow. Samantha Giddings- *Clears Throat* I, uh, followed the balloons to the- the theatre and a video stared playing and *Shaky Breath, Rapid Blinking* Redacted- Are you alright, Ms. Giddings? Samantha Giddings- *Wipes Right Eye With The Side Of Her Hand* Y-Yeah, just...*Long Pause, Shaky Breath* He had, uh... *Tucks Tongue Into Cheek, Rapidly Blinks, Covers Face With Hands, Whispers Something Unintelligible* Redacted- Sorry, Ms. Giddings, can you repeat that? Samantha Giddings- *Removes Hands From Face, Shouts* He fucking filmed me. In the bath and- *Sharp Inhale, Covers Face Again* Redacted- Take your time Samantha Giddings- Sorry... *Sniffles, Uncovers Face* Redacted- It's alright if you don't remember exactly, but was it a static camera or handheld, do you know? Samantha Giddings- Uh, it looked like it was just on the counter or something, it wasn't moving. Redacted- Okay, so this was premeditated then. Samantha Giddings- I guess so... Redacted- Sorry for interrupting, please continue. Samantha Giddings-Yeah, so, uhm, *Clears Throat* another video starts playing and its... Josh, and he's being... *Shaky Breath* split in half by this huge fucking sawblade! Redacted- That was filmed as well? Samantha Giddings- *Nods* Uh huh. Redacted- Interesting, sorry, keep going. Samantha Giddings- Uh, basically, he starts this- this countdown and appears in the doorway behind me with a gas tank. *Shudders* Redacted- Are you alright, Ms. Giddings? Samantha Giddings- Can I- Can I have a Minute? Redated- Of course, take as long as you need. Transcript Closed, 11:40, 02.03.15

Transcript Reopened, 10:49, 02.03.15 Redacted- Alright, so, you said you saw him in the doorway? Samantha- Yeah, just... he had me cornered so that my only option was to run into the basement, I did, ob-obviously, and I just ran the whole way, at- at some point I hit him with a baseball bat. Redacted- Oh? Hard? Samantha Giddings- I guess? I was more focused on getting away. Redacted- He may have a concussion or something, that could help us find him. Great job, Ms. Giddings. Samantha Giddings- *Long Pause* You're welcome...? A- Anyway, I, uh, somehow managed to escape him by hiding in an old elevator shaft. Redacted- That's lucky. Samantha Giddings- Y-yeah... sure... Redacted- How did you avoid getting caught afterwards? Samantha Giddings- I just wandered around the vents for a while until I heard Chris and Ashley screaming. Then I got out and helped them. Redacted- You never saw him again? Samantha Giddings- No. Redacted- Before we continue, could you describe his appearance? Samantha Giddings- I can try, but everything was covered so it won't be a ton of help. Redacted- Anything can help. Samantha Giddings- Uh, alright, he was pretty tall, maybe 6'3, 6'4, and really bulky. He wore, like, a big thick green jacket and had a white mask that kinda looked a tiny bit like a skull, I guess would be the best way to describe it. Redacted- Was the jacket similar to the ones Mike and Jess were found in? Samantha Giddings- Yeah, it was the exact same. Redacted- Interesting. *Long Pause* Ms. Giddings, forgive my brashness, but... *Short Pause* has Mr. Munroe ever given you any... worry, I suppose? Any inclination that he may be... unstable, in any way? Samantha Giddings- Wha- Mike?! No, definitely not, Mike isn't violent at all! Redacted- He's the only person completely unaccounted for all night. Samantha Giddings- Jess was with him- Redacted- Ms. Riley can barely talk, we can't expect her to have perfect memory, can we? Samantha Giddings- He didn't- Redacted- Ms. Riley was found in half naked in the mines by Mr. Taylor. Mr. Munroe was alone with her in a secluded cabin, and she's found half naked and on deaths door at the base of an elevator shaft in a mine system. You don't think that's cause for alarm? Samantha Giddings- No! She would've told us if he- Redacted- Post-Traumatic Amnesia. Anterograde Amnesia. Retrograde Amnesia. Dissociative Amnesia. Anything could be going on in her head after a traumatic event like that. Samantha Giddings- You think he raped her?! Redacted- I'm not ruling it out. Samantha Giddings- He would never! He makes dirty comments but he'd never- Redacted- The assailant you just described sounds exactly like Mr. Munroe. Tall, muscular, green jacket. Samantha Giddings- What about- Redacted- Ms. Davis saw the same person in the mines, when Mike would've been unaccounted for. That was his ex girlfriend, correct? And you couldn't identify the person who filmed you in the bath and chased you in a towel. Ashley was drugged, you and Emily were almost, where as Chris and Josh were physically attacked. Samantha Giddings- You're being ridiculous! Mike wouldn't drug us! Redacted- All four woman on the mountain reported being physically attacked in some way, two of whom, yourself included, were in a state of undress. We cant take that lightly, Ms. Giddings Samantha Giddings- Mike didn't do it! I don't care what you try and say. Redacted- Alright, alright, sorry I upset you, Samantha. What did you do after freeing Mr. Hartley and Ms. Brown? Samantha Giddings- We sat in the living room until Emily came, she told us what happened to her then we all found weapons and stayed there til we smelt a gas leak and left before the fire started. How could Mike have done that if he wasn't there yet, huh? Redacted- I was just keeping options open. Samantha Giddings- I hope you can figure it out, I really do, but please don't try to pin this on any of my friends. *Short Pause* Can I go now? Redacted- *Long Pause* Yeah. Go on. Samantha Giddings- Thank you.

Killer Remains At Large

The Murder On Blackwood Mountain Still Unsolved After A Month With No Suspects

More at 11

♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆

~~

Chris bravely made the choice to get Josh, so he left with the stranger and Sam and Ashley remained in the living room upstairs while Mike and Emily went down to the basement. Ashley waited anxiously by the windows, Sam sat on the couch with the folder in her lap.

She resisted the temptation to open the folder, she didn't know if she'd have the time, anything could happen at any moment. The texts were quicker, Sam pulled the phone back out of her pocket, opened it back up where she left off and swiped up and landed in February, skimming through, it seemed like she stopped at the start of their Valentines week.

February 11th 2013

Sooooooo-

-Sooo...

Did you like the letter?-

-Ah, so YOU'RE my secret admirer????

Yup. Expect to be spoiled all week <3<3-

-Woah, woah, woah! What made you all confident?

Beth. She's the one putting everything there. I'm doing it for her gf-

-Aw, man! Wish I would've thought of that!

We could've done something for you guys too!

Don't worry!! We wanted to surprise you both!-

Because we love you<3

-I do like this lovey dovey Josh, can he stay longer?

Just until Sunday. Then I'm back to brooding.-

-Well, I guess I'll appreciate him while I have him

Can you wait for me in the parking lot after school?<3-

-Ooh, are you asking me on a date??

<3-

-Ehehehe, I guesssss

If you REALLY want

I doooooo<3-

-YOURE SO CUTE!!!

One week only, folks, one week only-

(Josh's Pov)

The hallways were always crowded at lunch, the afternoon sun shone through the floor to ceiling windows opposite the wall of lockers. Josh waited in the corner with a few of his friends in a group waiting for the rest to join. He was zoning out whatever Mike was saying, staring at a specific point in the distance. To anyone else it just seemed he was staring into space, stuck in his own head, but of course, if you knew Josh, really knew him, you'd see it so clearly. Y/N's locker.

This was one of the only times Josh got to see Y/N during a school day. They shared 3 classes, but sat on opposite sides of the room, the only plus side of this arrangement was that one always has a perfect view of the other. Josh felt his stomach flip when Y/N walked into his sight. His lips were pressed together in a tight line to hold back his smile as he watched Y/N across the hallway. He walked to his locker with his friends and laughed at one of their jokes. Josh watched his face brighten when he opened it and the letter that was shoved through the slits fluttered to the floor.

He quickly crouched down to grab it before anyone could see, but his friends got all into a frenzy over Y/N, their single, lonely Y/N having a secret admirer. He caught Josh's eye from across the room for a split second, however, they both looked away just as quick. The letter was generic cheesy love letter stuff, but that didn't make its contents any less sincere.

Later, Josh found him crouched by his truck, staying out of sight like he'd done so many times. He greeted Y/N politely as he crawled into the truck and hid under the dashboard like he was known to do, only climbing out when the truck stopped at a red light a good couple miles out.

And Josh drove. For hours along the coast. The boys talked, and they laughed, and they sang along to whatever popular songs were on the radio, and when they got hungry, they grabbed take out from the closest fast food joint and ate on the roof of his truck, watching the sun slowly set over the cliffside beach 4 hours from home.

With their fingers tangled, Y/N leaned back into Josh's chest and Josh, predictably peppered Y/N in little kisses wherever he could. "I love you..." he mumbled against Y/N's hair.

Y/N, grinning, rolled his head all the way back to look up at Josh, "Love you too," Josh leaned down to kiss his lips softly. Afterwards, Y/N returned to his first position laying on Josh, a few more seconds of peaceful silence passed "A whole week of this?" he asked, watching the sun set.

Josh hummed, kissed his hair again and mumbled "Could be a whole life..."

"Mmmh, is that right?"

"Sure is."

"Can I ask how?"

"Mmh, I'll figure it out."

Y/N tore his eyes from the coast and gazed up at Josh, who continued to stare ahead "So... you're talking shit?"

"What??" Josh looked down at him with a puzzled expression.

"You don't have a plan! You're just dreaming."

"I said I'd figure it out! Shouldn't be that hard..."

Y/N laughed at him "Uh huh? Good luck, buddy." He lowered his gaze back down to face the steadily fading sun.

(Sam's Pov)

The whole week continued like this, secret romantic gestures hidden in plain sight and they kept ramping up throughout the week. Everything made Y/N ridiculously happy. Judging off that week, they were in a great spot.

She raised her head, there was a distant scream coming from far outside and Ashley paced along the windows anxiously biting her nails. "Anything?"

Ashley shook her head "No... Haven't seen him for a while..." Sam nodded in recognition, swiped up again and read the first conversation it landed on.

May 24th 2013

-I'm so excited for this weekend, you don't even KNOW!!!

Just threw my bags in your truck btw. Left the keys in the mailbox like you said.

Thanks babe, I'm just as excited as you. Don't worry.-

-You better fuckin be, a literal whole weekend camping and traveling with ya lova boi

Ain't nothin better.

Nothin better<3-

May 25th 2013

I'm at the meeting spot-

Where you at, cutie?

-Gimme a minute, I'm grabbin snacks.

Could've done that earlier, but I won't complain if I can benefit-

Can you grab me Nerds please??

-You can pay if you'd like

Then I'll get you whatever your little heart desires.

What if I want to be spoiled too?-

-I spoil you with my love and presence.

Not many can say that

Also, why would you want Nerds when you already have the best one who loves you oh so much?

Get me Nerds or I'll cyberbully you-

-I'll get you the tiny pack with like three nerds in it total.

NO. YOU GAY LOSER. BRING ME ALL THE NERDS OR BRING ME DEATH.-

-Hmph. If I must

You must-

(16:23)

Where'd you go?-

Come help with the tent!

-I'll be there in a minute

I'm taking pictures for my mom

Mamas boy-

-At least my mama likes me

Ouch-

Unnecessary

But not untrue

-Hey, who needs her? I like you enough for the two of us.

Actually for everybody.

Damn, boi, just say you wanna fuck me-

-I WANNA FUCK YOUUUUUUU

Then come help with the tent-

-IN A MINUTE, BITCH

(Josh's Pov)

Later that night, the boys sat in the middle of Death Valley National Park eating junk food and drinking cheap beer. Well, Josh was drinking, Y/N gave up after four sips. They both gazed up at the stars in silence, amazed by the night sky without light pollution. "You ever seen anything like this?" Y/N whispered, like talking too loud would scare the stars away.

"Only on google." Josh took a swig in a futile attempt to keep himself from saying something stupid.

"Mmh, is that why we're here? You saw this place on 'Top ten places to make out in Cali?'" Y/N brushed his shoulder against Josh's teasingly.

Josh dropped his gaze to the desert beneath his feet, he shook his head and took a gulp "Just wanted to see it before I left."

Y/N turned to face Josh after he said that cryptic shit, "What does that mean...?"

"I figured it out. We could run away, I know how."

"S-Sorry, what?" Y/N furrowed his eyebrows, wearing an expression of confusion.

Josh raised his head to examine Y/N's reaction "I've been saving, I have enough to get us an apartment anywhere."

"Anywhere?" Y/N smirked sceptically, "You're insane."

"No! I mean it, name a place, I'll take you there."

"Uh," Y/N racked his brain thinking of the most outlandish option to challenge Josh's confidence "Sweden."

"I can do that."

Y/N laughed "Shut up!"

"I mean it! I want to run away with you, I can't stay here with my family, I'll literally die." Josh dug the base of his quarter full bottle of beer into the sand, "I want you to come," he droped his gaze down to follow the bottles movement "but I won't force you." They were plunged back into silence as Y/N thought everything through. Josh hated that silence, it went on forever.

Y/N spoke up, "I..." but the words got lost in his throat. "How... I mean-" he laughed and brought his face back to the nebula above him "What about my parents? I... can't just go..."

Josh took a deep shaky breath, nodded, and took a long swig to finish his drink "Okay."

"I want to, but-"

Hearing that invigorated Josh with newfound determination "We're almost out of school! Once we are, we can go!" he turned to Y/N, who mirrored the action "If you want to, then we can, come on! You don't owe anybody anything."

"Josh, I-"

"Your mom would want you to be happy. Once we're away, I can show you off. I can make you happy." Josh reached for Y/N's hand and encased it in his own. "Please, don't be tied down by anyone else. If you want to, then we will."

Y/N stared down at their connected hands "Talk me through the plan. Then I'll decide."

Upon invitation, Josh jumped into a long and rehearsed monologue, describing the whole intricate plan, he even brought up ideas of fake ID's, at least for Josh so his family couldn't find him. It honestly kind of scared Y/N to see just how prepared he was. He had an answer for any and all questions Y/N could ask, by the end, Y/N was stunned into silence.

A few moments later, he smiled, almost imperceptibly, and nodded. That was the best weekend of Josh's life.

(Sam's Pov)

A screech tore Sam from the phone. She frantically put it away, lodged the folder under her arm, a terrified Chris appeared at the door and Ashley helped him inside, once the door was slammed closed behind them, the girls noticed Chris' limp and ran to either side of him to help him get to the basement.

The basement was as dark and damp as Sam remembered it from her brief visit. They had to travel for a while before finding Mike and Emily standing tense and awkward in a far away room of the old hotel. Chris found himself a corner to sit and tremble while everyone else looked through the various documents, Sam decided to open the messages back up. She was so close to the end. She had to know what happened. Same routine, Sam swiped up and read the first texts that popped up.

June 6th 2013

Was that my hoodie???-

-Huh?

I just walked passed you-

Are you wearing my hoodie??

-Hehehe

Maaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyybbbbbbeeeeeeeeee

WHYYYY-

-We graduate today! Nobody gaf

YOU LOOKED ADORABLEEEEEE-

I can't do this when you're sat in my hoodie

You're so cute!!!!!

-I'll be wearing a giant robe. You won't see anything.

But I'll know. I'll know you're wearing my hoodie like a little harlot-

-Oh, Y/N is such a naughty boy

He is! My friends could see you in ittttttttttt-

-OOOOOOHHHH ISNT THAT SCANDALISTTTT

Yes-

I CAN HEAR YOU LAUGHING FROM HERE

-Sowwy, papa

No. I will break up with you.-

-NOOOOO DADDY, IM SOWWYYYYY

Electric chair-

(Josh's Pov)

Josh didn't even remember Y/N stealing his hoodie in the first place. He remembered realising it was missing and assuming Y/N took it, but he never thought Y/N would wear it in public! He was so fucking lucky none of his friends saw! (Because they definitely would recognise a plain black hoodie on some quiet kid none of them knew as Josh's. IT WAS SUCH A RECOGNISABLE ITEM!!!)

Y/N really picked a bad day to tease him. It was one of the only days they couldn't see each other, Josh's friends were making him throw a party to 'celebrate', but that was obviously an excuse to get drunk and wreck shit.

The music was blaring, testing the speakers max volume, cheap vodkas and beers filled the plastic red cups littering every room you'd walk into. People were making out behind every closed door, some were shameless enough to do it in front of all the party goers. Everything was on display.

Josh stood in the corner, getting talked at by a couple people he vaguely recognised, when his pupils dilated and he felt his heart beginning to race... Y/N was here... In Josh's hoodie.

His cheeks reddened, eyed widened, mouth dried. Why is he here???Josh quickly excused himself from the meaningless conversation and hurried over to a somewhat secluded corner, where he pulled out his phone and frantically typed:

(19:28)

WHY AREYOU HEREJ!?-

Then lifted his gaze to Y/N standing laughing across the room with his friends, it took a few agonising minutes (20 seconds) before Y/N finally checked the text. Josh watched him let out an amused huff even though he couldn't hear it. He typed for a few moments before sliding his phone back into his pocket and re-joining the conversation going on around him, it took several seconds for Josh to receive the message, which he hurriedly opened.

(19:29)

-Got invited? Its a party, bro. Chill

Josh felt humiliation rising in his stomach, up to his throat, tightening, filling, until he felt like he might suffocate, puke, die even, he had to get out. His shaky hand found a stable surface and he used it to guide his unsteady legs over to the stairs, where he gripped onto the rail and dragged himself up to his room. "Get out." He called with a hoarse voice to the couples having sex inside as he threw the door open, he repeated himself when they didn't immediately disappear.

When the door eventually slammed shut behind the last one, Josh allowed himself to collapse. His frantic breathing left his head spinning, his eyes watering, his throat closing in on itself. Moments later a knock cut through the heartbeat thudding in his ears "Go away!" he yelled at the sound.

"No, dickhead." Beth pushed the door open, inviting herself and the music in, "What happened to you?" She closed the door behind her and sat beside Josh on the floor.

Josh rubbed his forehead "Y/N's here."

"Uhh... and? He's here all the time."

"Yeah, but-" He shook his head, panic slowly turning back to humiliation "Never mind, you wouldn't get it." He lowered his head into his hands.

"Yes I would, but okay." Beth rubbed Josh's shoulders comfortingly, they sat in silence until his breaths stabilized and he could think coherently "Want me to go get him?"

"What?" Josh sniffed.

"People think me and Y/N are hooking up since his buds caught me leaving him presents during Valentines." She explained nonchalantly.

Josh raised his head to give her an incredulous look "How bad are you at putting flowers on a desk without anybody seeing?"

"I wanted to get caught." Beth paused, like that was enough of an answer, before being implored to continue by Josh's stupid, pathetic face "So I could hang with him without arousing suspicion," again she paused, and rolled her eyes when that still wasn't enough "He's cool, man, I love him. You're lucky I'm gay as fuck or I'd be all over him."

Josh rolled his eyes "Shut up."

Beth scoffed "Do you want me to go get him or not?"

"No. It's a party. Let him have fun. I'm gonna just stay up here for a bit."

"Alright. Whatever you say." Beth stood from her spot on the floor "Have fun, loser."

(Sam's Pov)

Emily and Mike squabbled over what to do next. Sam scrolled up as they argued. Emily wanted to stay put until the rescue team arrived, Ashley and Sam were inclined to agree, but Mike grew restless. He couldn't wait, Sam spared a quick glance at the screen, it had landed on a picture of Josh and Atlantis, then looked right back up at Mike, who'd made the decision to head off to the mines to find Josh's body despite everyone else's warnings.

God, Josh's body. The notion make her stomach ache with grief, her best friends brother, her big brother in a way, and a complete stranger, one she's spent hours relearning, meeting for the first time. He'll never see Y/N again, and Y/N won't know what happened to him, he'll just become another tragedy lost to the snowflakes of time.

Mike took off and Sam brought her eyes down to the phone, blinking away tears until the image became clear again, it comforted her. Looked warm and cozy in there, so vibrant and alive...

November 9th 2013

-Y/N sent a photo -My CUTIESSSSSS!!!! She looks upset at being held- -She saw the treat in my hand 0hhhh- So you bribed her? -Yes Sir Why else would she like me more? You evil beast- -Rawr

(Josh's Pov)

Josh allowed himself a small smile, but only for a moment, before he flipped his phone around and laid it face down on his desk. His eyes landed back onto the faux document in front of him. A passport falsified by a very handsomely bribed government employee shook in his hand.

He shoved it back into the envelope and tossed it in his drawer hiding everything else he'd been collecting over the last few months, almost done. Josh closed the drawer and picked back up his phone.

(16:09) Hej snygging- Hur är din svenska? -Inte bra Du kommer att bli bättre, älskling- -Jag försöker Stolt över dig, älskling- -Sluta vara nedlåtande mot mig!!!!!

He chuckled at his dramatic reaction. He could hear the pout through the phone, could also tell Y/N used a translator, but he was doing his best. And Josh did too so who was he to judge?

~~

Luckily that evening Y/N was off work and his parents went off to some work party, so Josh was free to jog over to Y/N's and discuss the plan. And make carrot cake for Y/N's mom, which he was less excited about, but any excuse to see Y/N was a good excuse.

In the kitchen, Lo-Fi beats filled the quiet air between the boys while they worked on opposite counters, Josh had the easy job of chopping walnuts, which he wasn't doing too well, since he was more busy talking Y/N's ear off about his whole plan. He knew Y/N was rolling his eyes the whole time, but he was just so excited and proud of himself, he couldn't help it.

Once he completed the gruelling task of chopping up a few handfuls of walnuts, Josh moved them to a small plastic tub and placed them next to Y/N's other ingredients. Y/N was busy grating the last of the carrots when Josh wrapped his arms around his waist and fixed his chin onto his right shoulder, as always, a perfect fit. He stayed there as long as he could, swaying along to the gentle rhythm before Y/N shoved him away with his hip so he could advance to the mixing part, so Josh moved on over to Atlantis, who was chilling in a cardboard box by the trash can instead of her nice, plush bed as any cat would.

"Heya, girl..." He scratched her furry head causing her to close her eye and purr softly. After a quick moment, he called out to Y/N behind him, "You need any more help or can I go snuggle with the Missus?"

"Have fun." Y/N waved him off.

With his permission, Josh reached into Atlantis' cardboard sanctuary and carefully picked her up and brought her to the couch. He sat down on the plush pillows and the fuzzy throw blankets and laid Atlantis on his chest. Josh cooed sweet nothings about how beautiful she was, what a good girl, and pampered her with hugs and kisses.

The music from the kitchen as well as the mellow sounds of Y/N bustling around travelled through the house and kept them company while they cuddled. "Good kitty," he murmured, kissing her soft cheek repetitively "such a good kitty." The oven door opened and closed and seconds later, Y/N appeared in the doorway with a cat treat in his hand.

As he walked over too the couch, Josh and Atlantis must've looked too adorable to resist because he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture after sitting down.

(Sam's Pov)

Ashley comforted Chris in their own corner, Emily curled up into a ball, terrified of encountering the monster that terrorised her in the mines again, Sam stared down, past the phone, at the folder in her lap. Enough waiting, what was in this fucking thing? Probably had nothing to do with Y/N, but this wasn't about him, it was about helping Josh.

But Josh was... dead. Was going through his stuff really the best thing to do in lieu of the circumstances? If she was doing it all to help Josh then there was no reason to keep snooping... right?

Ugh, fuck it. Sam opened the flap at the front of the folder and scanned the first document poking out, some sort of college acceptance letter? She plucked the paper out to examine it closer, yep, an acceptance letter from some Uni she'd never heard of before, but it wasn't addressed to Josh.

January 11th 2015 'Dear Y/N L/N, We are pleased to inform you that your application for admission to study abroad at Linnaeus University has been accepted...'

Sam was sure she looked like a fish with her gaping mouth, but who could blame her??? Why did Josh keep this- no, how did he get it? Its dated this year!

She slid the paper back in its place and brought out something shorter but thicker... two actually. When her hand emerges from the depths of the paper stock folder, she's holding two passports between her index, middle and ring fingers. She opens the first one with her free hand, Y/N's face, Y/N L/N, the other one, Josh's face, someone else's name.

Wh-What? It made no... she settled them back in their place, this can't be right... she drew out another A4 document, so many that several pieces of paper had been stapled together, she hastily scanned the pages for clarification, Study Permit... Approved... Y/N... Immigrating...? Her head swirled but she kept going, the same name as the one on the passport next to Josh's face, Dylan Williams, Work Permit, Approved-

Sam quickly opened the phone and scrolled down, this must've been planned recently- oh... fuck... he brought it up last year...

January 17th 2014 -Finally found my passport It was hiding in my moms room Glad you found it- -And I found Atlan's forms, so she's coming too SICK- NICE ONE BABYY -Lmao why are you more excited about her than me? We could long distance if we had to- Cant really long distance with a cat -Aw poor Joshie missing his kitty Always- January 30th 2014 -Have you got everything? Yerp. In the folder- -Sure? Check one more time to be safe, please Kay. Gimme a sec- Yep. Got everything -Great. And you're sure you've got money up there? YES! STOP WORRYING SO MUCH!!- -Someone has to February 2nd 2014 -Everything okay? How'd it go? (16.29) -Josh? How was the weekend? Coming home soon? Miss you! (19.35) -Hey! Haven't heard from you or Beth, but I guess you've been held up? Just text me when you get these, please So I can stop worrying Love you! (22.38) -Josh? Gonna head to bed, so don't be mad if I don't answer asap, but can you PLEASE call me? Or text me Something Anything to let me know you're okay February 3rd 2014 -Decided to stay up. Maybe time zones are weird over there? Work is gonna suck tomorrow lmao TEXT MEEEEEEEE!!!!!! (04.10) -DO YOU LIKE WATCHING ME PANIC????? ITS NOT FUNNYYYYYY (08.50) -Got a couple hours sleep. Just getting to work now Hoping you'll have sobered up and texted me by lunch lol Love you (13.09) -Okay, seriously, I'm getting worried, neither you or Beth?? What is wrong!? (17.39) -Finally off work! Gonna head over to yours Just to check if you're home Maybe you lost your phone? And Beth too, I guess lol Not gonna be a perv and eavesdrop before you accuse me of anything!! Hope you're okay! You better be okay, hear me? Or I'm gonna kill you! (19.13) -JOSH! WHERE ARE YOU!? YOUR PARENTS CAR IS GONE! DID SOMETHING HAPPEN? PLEASE TEXT ME NOW!! (21.18) -Are you still on the mountain? I'm looking through police records but nothing has shown up Don't know if that makes me feel better or not Guess I'll see if you're home tomorrow? Kay. Text me when you get these. Sorry for blowing up your phone lol February 5th 2014 They're gone- -HEY HOLY SHIT I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD ARE YOU OKAY?? WHAT HAPPENED?? WHO'S GONE? Hannah and Beth- They ran out in the middle of the night and we can't find them -Wait, are you serious? Oh my god that's horrible Sorry I scared you- -Shut up! Don't worry about me right now! Are you coming home? What's happening? Don't know- Cops made us all leave so they could search properly We're in a hotel for the night I think everybody else is going home They talked to the cops I think it's their fault -Woah, what? Why? What happened? Call I call you in a sec? Mom's about to leave- -Sure. I'll be here

A few droplet of tears fell from her eyes onto the screen, making the system freak out and forcing her to turn it off and wipe it dry on her hoodie. She turned to face the wall beside her so as to not draw unnecessary attention to herself. The tears she held back burned her eyes without mercy, and her lips pressed themselves together so tightly the tension could've torn her skin.

Everything was flooding back. From the moment she stepped foot on that cable car to sitting in this dark dingy basement hiding from monsters that somehow managed to escape her mind all this time while she engrossed herself in all this history.

The girls... last year... if she tried harder, if she didn't hesitate, if she got there on time, if she followed them- she squeezed her eyes shut to prevent the flood from drowning her. After taking several deep, shaky breaths until they fell constant and reliable.

Almost done. Sam turned the phone back on and read through February, March and April, watching Josh deteriorate in real time all over again, until she saw the date she'd been dreading for hours, April 24th 2014. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she steadied herself, and read on...

April 24th 2014 -Josh, you're scaring me Don't talk to me- -I'm really worried about you, babe Shut up. I mean it.- -I can't when you're obviously hurting. Let me help, please. Please talk to me. Go- The Fuck Away -I'm really scared. Can I please come over? No.- No. Leave me alone. Don't talk to me. Ever again. -I know you don't mean that. I never loved you- -Now you're just trying to hurt me I mean it- I never loved you. It was just a bit of fun for me You took it far too seriously. You're so fucking desperate for a chance for somebody to love you you'll put up with being kept a secret It's pathetic -Hint taken. July 18th 2014 I wish I was good enough to love you- (Read, 23.26)

Then it was over. No more messages, no more pictures, no more jokes or flirting, or 'I love yous', it was over.

And that hurt more than she could express. She couldn't comfort Josh, she couldn't share in the hurt and expose his secrets. Sam bit back the ocean of tears threatening to spill. In that moment she swore to herself and to Josh that once she was off the mountain, alive and well, she would find Y/N and take care of him. That's what Josh would've wanted.

She turned the phone off, its absence, a life story, both a weight off, and now on her shoulders, but at least she knew, then quickly checked the folder for... yep, here, an envelope full of cash, seemingly what made the folder so thick in the first place. More than enough to take care of him for the rest of his life.

"Hey, Sam?" Ashley's meek voice cut through the static inside her head.

She gave herself a good couple seconds before turning to face her with her most neutral possible expression, "Yeah?" Her voice was cracking and unfamiliar, instead of words, Ashley responded by passing a thick book over to her. Handwritten, and drawn looks like, presumably by the stranger they'd encountered.

At the reminder of his existence, Sam spared a quick glance at Chris who was still hunched over and trembling in his own right, then brought her attention back to the large leather bound book in her hands. She skimmed the page it was open on, something about the Wendigo being held at the sanitorium Mike was heading to.

Great. Of course she'd have to deal with that. Chris was in no state to walk at all, Emily was still far too shaken from her own encounter and, politely, Ashley wasn't going to try. So Sam had to.

"Kay." Her voice cracked again, she put on a brave face "You guys stay here, I'm gonna get Mike," Then she hurried out of the room towards the tunnel she first found Mike in, where else would he have gone?

She followed the creepy, dark tunnel for several minutes, but felt her blood run cold as she heard some banging, then frustrated grunts. "C'mon, c'mon-" A voice that didn't belong to Mike. She rounded three more corners, the sounds guiding her all the way to a huge set of metal double doors. A figure with its back turned to her looked around, presumably for another way through.

"Hello?" Her voice equal parts hopeful and terrified. The figure froze for a millisecond, then slowly turned to finally face her. A pit formed in her stomach as she stared at the face that had haunted her whole night...

♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆

January 5th 2012

Y/N help I'm freaking out-

You there?

Please, I need you

-Hey, I'm here, calm down, it'll be alright.

Can you tell me what happened?

They know-

-Who knows what?

Help me understand, goofball

Sorry-

I was having dinner with everybody, and you know how horrible people just NEED to let you know how horrible they are?

-Yeah, I know what you mean for sure

Well my mom and dad started randomly talking about how awful the gays are and stuff-

And I kinda freak out inside, you know? And they call tell something is off

-Did you come out??

NO-

Nonononono nothing like that

-Then what's the problem?

They saw me get all pale and awkward-

They have to suspect something

What if they kick me out? I can't be on my own

-I know, calm down, they won't. Trust me

They don't know

They would've brought it up if they did

(18:02)

-Josh? You okay?

Yeah-

Sorry

Just had to find my anxiety meds

All good now

-Great.

Ily

Ily2-

(Josh's Pov)

Josh sighed and dropped his phone onto his chest. He stared up at the ceiling, feeling his heart slow and the pounding in his ears subside. Eventually all he could feel was the cool evening breeze from his open window and all he could hear was... footsteps coming up to his door? Oh shit-

"Josh, you okay? I wanna talk to you!" His little sister called from the opposite side of the locked door.

"Yeah, Beth, gimme a minute-" He chucked his phone into his bedside table with all those fucking meds nobody could pronounce then hurried to the door and unlocked it "what?"

She barged right past him and collapsed into the bean bag in the corner of the room, one he only put there so she'd have somewhere to sit, because for some reason Bethany Washington was allergic to sitting normally. "Dinner was weird, huh?"

Josh felt his stomach drop but did his absolute best to have no reaction "Yup." He closed the door, wiped his increasingly sweaty palms on his jeans and sat on the edge of his bed facing her.

Beth studied his face for anything, after a moment of silence she bluntly asked "You into guys?" The air left his lungs in a millisecond, he could feel his face going white, before he could respond she nodded, as though that alone confirmed it "Yeah. Knew it."

"Please don't tell-"

"Shut up, dude. I'm a lesbian. I won't tell if you don't."

Josh breathed slowly to help calm his racing thoughts, he nodded to save himself from saying something stupid.

"Cool... you gay?"

"Bi." He corrected, with a dry throat.

"Got a partner?"

A hint of a smile appeared on his face "Mhm. Boyfriend."

"Who? Does he go to our school?"

"Y/N L/N. He's in a couple of my classes"

"Oh, never heard of him."

"Good," Josh muttered under his breath. There was another beat of silence between them before they spoke in tandem, "how'd you know?"

"Can I see a picture?" They'd laughed, Josh nervously, Beth lightly, then Josh walked to his bedside table to grab his phone while Beth explained herself. "You had that same deer in headlights look I did my first couple times." Which made Josh turn a little red, he thought he hadn't reacted externally.

He returned to his spot on the edge of the bed, clicked the most recent photo, Y/N playing with Atlantis on his bed, and passed the phone to Beth "Uh, here's him." Her face brightened "Oh my god, Kittyyyy!!!" She gasped and smacked his arm playfully at her realization "That's why you're always covered in cat hair!" Josh just nodded with a wide-ish smile. "Oh, I love him, whats his name?"

"Y/N- nope. You meant the cat, Atlantis. And her."

"Aha~ oh, Atlantis. She's delightful." Beth passed the phone back. "Cute boy too, he single?"

"Shut up."

(Sam's Pov)

All Sam could do was hope it turned out okay afterwards. There was no real closure for her in the texts, and, well maybe the fact that, presumably, nobody knew he was bi was enough proof that things were alright in the end.

She decided to skip forward, nothing was catching her eye honestly. They were all becoming the same, she wasn't learning anything. She threw back her head in frustration, which was exactly what she needed, a break from staring at the phone. Sam looked around the room, Chris and Mike weren't back yet, Ashley was still curled up in a ball on the couch shivering and covered in pigs blood. Sam asked if she was alright, but the only answer was an almost imperceptible nod.

She'd considered heading out after the boys. To talk to Josh about it all. To have it all explained and answered. Why would he break up with Y/N? What could've gone so wrong? As badly as she wants the answers now, she knows he's definitely not stable at the moment, and everything she's looking for is in this phone. Or at least the questions that'll get her the truth.

So, Sam scrolled for a bit then stopped in May, mid-fight. It was a jarring shift, and very intriguing for her.

May 15th 2012

I didn't want to go, Y/N!-

Jesus Christ, its like you're not even listening!

-It doesn't matter if you wanted to, you still went on a date with someone who isn't your boyfriend of almost three years, Josh!

What did you expect to happen here?

I did it for US!-

To protect us, please, Y/N, fucking listen to me

-Us??

Josh it's all you.

It's about how scared YOU are of being found out

We're a secret because of YOU

You're protecting yourself.

Wow. Yeah, you're so fucking lucky you don't have to live in fear cause of this-

I'm genuinely scared for my safety every day I live in this house, but yeah, I should definitely be public with you.

Yeah, your feelings are way more important than my safety.

Thanks sweetie!

-YOU

WENT

ON

A

DATE

WITH

SOMEONE

ELSE

Don't try to turn me into the bad guy here.

Then I guess we're both the bad guy-

-If we have to do that, then you're so much worse

Can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm really tired-

-Don't run away. Talk to me.

Can we meet up tomorrow? I don't want to talk when we're this mad-

-School

Ditch, I really miss you-

-Fine. Let's take the night to cool off. See you tomorrow.

Love you-

(Read 01:51)

(Sam's Pov)

Her mouth was agape, Josh went out with someone else? Who!? Why?! Sam was racking her brain trying to remember if Josh ever went out with somebody, but nothing was coming to mind. She threw her head back, trying to think harder, and eventually gave up, there was nobody, that was why she was so shocked to find out Y/N existed at all.

"Hey, Ash?" Her voice cracked out, if she couldn't think of anything, the chances of Ashley being able to were negligible, but why not try? Ashley didn't respond verbally, she just lifted her head and looked at her. "Do you remember if Josh ever had a... girlfriend, or went on a date, or... I dunno, anything like that? I'm just trying to figure out why this happened."

"He said it was cause of Hannah and Beth, what would an ex girlfriend have to do with it?" Ashley spoke up, her voice was hoarse from being unused.

Sam leaned back trying to come up with an excuse "Yeah, but like, surely there's more to it? I mean I just find it hard to believe he flipped into... that in just a year, you know?"

"Well, I remember there was that one girl, 2 or 3 years ago that he went on one date with, but that's about it. I really don't think there was anything serious."

She looked down at the phone in her hands "Me neither." She sighed.

(Josh's Pov)

The diner was pretty much empty when Josh sat down. The sun shone through the windows and hit the thin glass vase in the middle where Josh placed a rose from the small bouquet he'd brought, and showered blue light over the opposite side of the table. His leg bounced as nerve induced adrenaline pumped through his bloodstream, if he messed up again today, he'd lose the love of his life.

Josh had already ordered Y/N's favourite meal from this place when he arrived. Wearing a look of weary eyes and frizzy hair matching Josh's own, signalling to him he'd also not gotten much sleep the night prior. But there was a subtle shift in his expression when his eyes found Josh's across the room, it brightened. Like it always did when they found each other across the room.

The ambient sounds of the diner were muffled by the increasing pounding in Josh's ears when he sat down. They'd held each others gaze from the moment Y/N found him, and held it for a good 10 seconds after he sat down, before Josh broke the tense silence with a nervous "I got you these," as he passed the roses over "I know you're upset, and you have the right to be, but I want you to know I love you. No matter what dumb shit I do to hide it."

Y/N took the flowers and placed them on his lap. "Can you just... can you talk me through it? Cause right now all I know is you went out with this girl and I'm expected to be okay with it."

Josh looked down in shame "I was scared. People were pressuring me, then wondering why I wasn't dating, and I just- I got paranoid, I'm so sorry. I found some girl and took her out in public to show it off."

The tension in the air thickened and Y/N sat there, mouth agape "Jesus Christ, Josh." He shook his head in disbelief "What the hell?"

Before Josh could defend himself, the waitress brought the food he'd ordered for them both before Y/N showed up. The woman gave the boys a look, it made Josh nervous, when he ordered food for two, she'd obviously assumed a girl would be coming instead. But now there's another boy sitting with roses in his lap and a wide eyed joyful expression at his favourite breakfast food. Although maybe Josh was reading into things, because the woman was still perfectly respectful as she placed the food in front of the boys and left. Josh dropped his head and mumbled under his breath "I know..."

"You really just found 'some girl' and used her like that? That's so mean! What were you thinking??"

"I was thinking..." Josh hung his head in shame "I was protecting myself. That's all it was. Didn't matter who I hurt, I just had to show my parents... I'm sorry. I was scared, I fucked up. I don't know how to fix it..." he'd begun tearing up by the time he trailed off, voice full of shame and regret.

Y/N leaned back in his chair, considering Josh's words. "Well, before anything else, you cannot see that girl anymore. Apologise and break it off, please." he says sternly.

Josh nods "100%, I already did a week ago. Don't worry about that."

"Right, good." He exhaled "And... Please talk to me... if you need to do this again. you can't do something like that without talking to me!"

"I will! I promise, never again. I wont ever be impulsive like that again. If im ever scared, or- or worried or anything, I'll tell you, and we can work it out together," Josh leaned in and reached in across the table to hold Y/N's hand "promise." his voice was shaky, but sincere.

Y/N exhaled slowly as Josh's words sink in "Alright. Okay," he lifted his gaze to meet Josh's weary one "I guess it wasn't, like, proper cheating so... I think we can work past this." He watched Josh's eyes light up, and could tell he was fighting back the urge to jump up and hug him, and cry, and kiss him and all that gay stuff.

Instead, a mumbled "Thanks," escaped the hidden smile on his lips, and it took a few extra seconds for the tension to dissipate before the boys could start eating. When they do, its quick so they don't have to talk, when they do, its light small talk, but its better than arguing. Afterwards, they share a short hug and part ways, thinking things through the whole way home.

(Sam's Pov)

Well, she may not have known exactly what happened, but the subsequent texts between them slowly became less strained, and they were able to get back to a somewhat normal, so it seemed to have worked out, whatever it was.

To liven her spirits, she decided to keep scrolling until she saw a picture of everyone's favourite girl.

August 29th 2012

-Y/N sent a photo

-Ya girl misses you

Oh, how I wish I didn't have to leave her-

-Ah, tis the cruel fate ae a soldier

Always scurrying towards 'em warzones in hopes of glory

When the true glory is wae yer lover and bairn

WHY ARE YOU SCOTTISH????????-

-Stop being racist, Joshua.

Good thing everything was back to normal by August. Maybe that fight was a piece of why they broke up, but it seems they weathered the storm this time.

-Y/N sent a photo

-Doing that thing where she digs her claws into me, but its meant to be sweet I guess.

Yeouch. Don't envy you much there, bud.-

-Yeouch is fuckin right, this shit is awful

-Y/N sent a photo

-Oh, but she's cute, how can I be mad?

Pretty privilege. Smh-

-Shake it all day and night boy, this girl can do anything to me

This sounds like an abusive relationship-

-And? Its my abusive relationship

(Josh's Pov)

Josh walked the streets of Burbank with a pep in his step as the sun began to set. He shook his shirt free of cat fur, remembering how affectionate little Atlantis had been, especially since it'd been a month since she'd seen him.

He had been walking in circles around the block, waiting for Y/N to text him saying his parents had left, and when he finally did, he sprinted (casually jogged) to Y/N's house, where he found Y/N in the doorway holding her in his arms.

When he approached, Atlantis jumped out of Y/N's gentle hold, and ran towards Josh. "Hey girlll!!!" He bent down to pet her back as she rubbed against his leg.

Y/N joined her soon after and gave Josh a quick kiss on the cheek in greeting "Hey me too, right?"

Josh picked up and kissed Atlantis on the top of her little kitty head, she purred loudly and bashed her head against his chest when he lifted his to smile at Y/N "Yeah, of course, everybody gets one." Y/N wrapped his arms around Josh, laid his head on his shoulder, and walked him inside the house.

~~

Even though it was light, and Josh could've just walked through the front door, he instead, made the choice to climb the wall and sneak into his room. Because who wants to ruin such a good day? As soon as his feet touch solid ground, he swipes his jeans in an attempt to clear them from cat hair, he smiled remembering how playful she was, how she clung to him, staying firmly in his lap so he wouldn't leave.

He knew the way to Y/N's room like the back of his hand, so he carried Atlantis all the way there while Y/N grabbed them some snacks and met them a few minutes later.

Y/N walked in on them cuddling on his bed, Josh laid on his side with Atlantis curled into him, gently purring. He placed the packets of junk food on the foot of the bed and joined them, laying on his side opposite Josh. Atlantis trilled and purred as she was showered in pets, cuddles, kisses and "Good girl"s between her two papas.

"Man, I remember when we first got her, she was all sooo anxious all the time. And really shy, remember? But every time you'd come over, she'd immediately come runnin' over for snuggles with dad 2." Y/N smiled faintly.

"Dad 2 feels mean."

"What? You're the sequel. Like a really good sequel."

"Am- Am I supposed to thank you?"

"Eh, no I guess I'm humble enough to live without one."

"Well, thank you."

"Oh em gee, what? This is so unexpected."

"Mmh, I love you."

"Smart move, I'm very good for you."

~~

After getting changed out of his cat hair covered clothes, Josh landed on his bed and opened his phone to find a photo of his boy and his daughter waiting for him.

God, he couldn't wait to leave this stupid fucking house.

(Sam's Pov)

Welp, Sam couldn't deny they were a funny couple. In fact sooo funny, it caught Ashley's attention. She stared at Sam for a few seconds before speaking up in a wabbly, yet very curious voice "What are you looking at??"

"Uh- uh- well- it's- uh..." Sam's face goes red as she struggles to explain why she's invading her friends privacy "It's Josh's phone...?" she answers with a guilty expression "But listen! I'm not trying to be weird, it's just-"

"I don't care." Ashley sniffles, rubbing her pink button nose in the hopes of warming it up. "You do what you have to."

Sam smiles a thin line "Uh huh," she nods, but Ashley's stamp of approval didn't do much to soothe her guilty conscience. She shouldn't really be doing this, should she?

Reading through her mentally unwell friends texts with an old lover. Even just thinking through it makes her feel shameful. The worst part was that she wasn't really doing it for evidence or explanation, it was cause she was invested. She'd started treating it like a novel or something, but it's not, these are real people, this isn't entertainment, she needs to either stop or be serious about it.

She knows the answer. Even recognising that continuing is weird and invasive, she can't stop. So take it seriously, what happened here, and how can it help Josh.

These texts are extremely helpful, of course, but there's one thing Sam hadn't thought of trying yet, looking through Josh's room to see if there's anything there. The workshop was full of the pyscho's stuff, his bedroom was sure to be full of Josh's stuff. That's what she needs to do, there's something in there. She's sure of it.

"Hey, give me a couple minutes, I'm heading upstairs to look for something." Sam was up on her feet and heading to the stairs before Ashley could react.

While walking up the stairs, Sam swiped once and let the messages land on mid 0ctober, climbing as she read:

October 16th 2012

-Your sister is awesome

-Y/N sent a photo

WHAT THE HELL?!?!-

WHERE DID YOU MEET HER??

AND WHY ARE YOU IN MY BEDROOM??????

-Lmao, I broke in cause I thought you'd be home

Oh. so you're a dirty rotten criminal?-

-Absofruitly

BTW, you're very cute in your yearbook pictures

IM GOING TO KILL BETH-

-AVGHCFXGFCJVCGFXHGVVHJBHJVTFYV

NOOOOOOOOOO

SHES THE BEST

She's also gonna go missing-

-YOURE CUTEEEEEE PROMISEEEE

Yup. Youre going missing too-

Cant have any witnesses

-NEOOOO I AM INNOCENTTTTT!!!

Tell it to the judge-

(Josh's Pov)

Josh started going to school without prompting, which used to be a once a year occasion, but I guess some people just influence you without you even knowing. But Y/N had also been influenced by a certain someone, and decided to not go to school after his dentist appointment. What could he say, he shrugged with a smug little smile when Josh interrogated him afterwards, he thought Josh was still a delinquent youth.

So, as Beth told it, she was on her way to Josh's room to borrow (steal) his charger, and when she walked in, Y/N tumbled in through the open window. She screamed "AH- WHAT THE FUCK?! GET O- Y/N?"

"Uh... hi..." he stood up and wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans awkwardly, "You know me?"

"You're Josh's boyfriend. Why are you in here??"

"Wanted to surprise him..." he looked down at the floor, humiliated.

"He's not here... I'm home alone"

"How did you know we're dating, did you find out? Do his parents know?"

Beth plopped down on Josh's bed and plugged her phone in "Nah, don't worry, just me. He told me, well I figured it out first then I got him to confess," she gave him a once over with a small smile on her face "He's crazy about you. Won't shut the fuck up about you. To me at least, well I think I'm the only one who knows about you, so when he has something to say he just offloads it all onto me," Y/N and Beth laughed softly "I mean it though, he's totally obsessed, with you and little Atlantis."

"Of course you know her." Y/N shook his head, smiling like crazy.

"Uhhuh, the culprit for 'who left all this cat hair in the house, we do not own a cat.' They laughed harder, fondly, almost like old friends. Beth was retelling the story to Josh in the evening, and was still grinning ear to ear over finally meeting the elusive Y/N from the stories and the photos. Soon after this she introduced her long term girlfriend to Josh because she was so excited.

They took a picture together to send to Josh, which when Y/N sent it, scared the shit out of him so mission accomplished. Then apparently, Beth got all excited and brought Y/N downstairs so she could embarrass Josh.

Beth snickered as she pulled out one specific yearbook from one of the four hundred mahogany bookcases littered around the 'home'. "Here, he looks so stupid!!!" She opened the book and zeroed in on the page with a child Josh from before Y/N knew him.

"Awww, he's just a baby!" Y/N cooed, taking the book from her hands.

"Pft, a baby dork! Oh, man, you gotta see this picture of him," she took the book back and flipped to a page to one of Josh and a friend she named as his best friend, Chris.

"I know Chris! Josh talks about the dumb shit they do together all the time!"

"Well I don't know what he's told you! I have to reveal all his deep, dark secrets!"

"Oh yes you do, ma'am."

Y/N stayed all day chatting with Beth, drinking sweet tea with homemade cookies swapping stories of Josh's two lives, until Beth received a text that her sister, Hannah was on her way home with Sam.

At which point, Y/N and Beth hurried over to the kitchen where Y/N cleaned the dishes quickly and Beth bagged some cookies for him to take back with him. He texted Josh when he got home and when Josh and Beth could be alone later that evening, she cackled the whole time Josh freaked out on her. Lovingly, of course.

(Sam's Pov)

Sam stopped at the middle platform of the steps, checking the date and... yeah, she was there that day a few hours earlier. She and Hannah did their homework in the study, and Beth was... well, looking back, she was buzzing about something. So subtly that Sam didn't even notice at the time. If Hannah did she never said anything.

It kind of made Sam smile that Beth knew. That someone knew. Knowing Josh wasn't fully alone with this just made her smile. Sam swiped up again and read whatever it landed on as she crept further up the stairs.

December 10th 2012

-Come overrrrrrr

I miss you bb

Hello to you to-

-Get your cute butt over here neowwww!!!!

Or are you busy moping around?

I'm comin-

Calm down, loser

-YEYYYY *Claps hands like a little seal*

Awe, should I bring you some fish?-

-no

Very insightful, thanks so much. Ugh, whatever. She slides the phone into her back pocket and continues towards Josh's bedroom.

(Josh's Pov)

Josh rolled his eyes and rolled out of bed as well. He had plans of staying in bed and moping around. It's a school day, Y/N was supposed to be in class right now. The world's turned upside down.

He looked in the mirror, fixed his hair, drenched his face in water, and left through the window. He already felt like complete shit, he didn't need those heartless shitbags screaming at him to get better.

(Sam's Pov)

The door was obviously locked from the inside, meaning Sam had to get creative. It was a double-sided lock so she'd be golden if she could find the key. There wasn't a crowbar or anything nearby so that was her best bet. Sam looked around the hallway with an investigative eye, but nothing was clicking. A pile of sealed cardboard boxes, an evergreen leafy plant and the railing stood out the most as stuff to investigate.

She didn't have time to open each of the boxes individually, so she picked each one up, shook it and listened for any sort of sound that could be interpreted as a key jostling around, but none had anything. Great. Moving on to the plant pot, she dug her hand into the dry dirt and searched around for anything, but all she found were roots and tiny stones, she pulled her hand out and lifted the pot to look under, again nothing. One last thing to try, she ran her hand under the railing between each bar and once again, there was nothing that could help her open this stupid door. She grumbled, God damnit, there's gotta be some way-

THE WINDOW! She could climb in via the window from the room next to his! Sam crept over to that door, Beth's room... Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves and still her shaking hand, she gently opens the door.

(Josh's Pov)

"Hey," Josh's voice was empty and tired, he was sure he looked like it too.

Y/N's face fell "What's wrong?"

"Bad day." Josh sighed in response.

"Oh," Y/N nodded in understanding "something happen?" Josh shook his head, before Y/N could respond, Atlantis joined them at the door. She weaved herself between their legs and purred when Josh crouched down to scratch her head. "Wanna come in and watch terrible Hallmark movies?" Y/N offered with a sympathetic smile.

Josh huffed with a tiny, imperceptible smile while still on Atlan's level "My favorite holiday tradition."

(Sam's Pov)

Beth's room is ice cold. So cold it almost hurts. Exactly how she left it. Frozen in time, waiting for a dead owner who'll never return. Sam identifies the window directly next to Josh's room and quickly crosses the frozen tundra to open it wide enough for her to poke her head out, to allow her to check on the window into Josh's room, its locked. Sam turns back into Beth's room to find something small but heavy enough to crack Josh's window.

And of course, just her luck, there's nothing here. Not that Sam had anything particular in mind, but Jesus, there's nothing here!!! "Thanks Beth." Sam grumbles, slinking into the bean bag in the corner of her room, she always loved these things. "Man," Sam looked around the room with just her eyes "almost like you never left."

She did, but... the room wasn't completely untouched, she remembered now, last year after Beth ran into the blizzard after Hannah everybody went back to the lounge room to talk, but Sam went to the kitchen to check on the boys, found Beth's camera and brought it back home to her dresser before going to meet everybody else and tell them off again.

Sam was on her feet and at that dresser in an instant, she whipped the door open and grabbed the camera, exactly where I left it. Sam beamed with pride as she rushed over to the open window and opened it far enough for her to squeeze through.

She climbed out and placed her feet on the windowsill and closed the window behind her to give herself more room. She ensured she had a tight grip on the frame above her and the camera, "Whooo, okay, shit- don't look down-" Sam took several deep breaths through her gritted teeth. Just get it done, just get it done, just get it- Sam lifted her eyes and focused on the windowsill leading to Josh's room. Deep breath, deep breath, deep breath.

(Josh's Pov)

No one would make the argument California winters were cold... like at all. But that doesn't mean snuggling under blankets drinking hot cocoa wasn't an option. Might not be smart all the time, but fuck it if it isn't the best. Especially when the one under the blankets with you is your favorite person on the planet. And your favorite kitty, but of course.

The tv was playing "business woman, small town man ," or something like that, Josh and Y/N were hootin' and hollerin' at every little thing that happened on screen. But they're also being very deep and thoughtful, "Ew, that's so creepy!" "Tell me that's not cultish! Tell me! they won't let her leave!!" "Oh my god, She said no a million times! Take a fucking hint!" "Is it just me, or was her ex at the beginning low-key a better person than country boy?"

Josh was laughing so hard, God, only Y/N could cure his bad days. He looked over to his glowing face, can't wait to run away with you... "Hey," Josh spoke up with a slight quiver in his voice, when Y/N met his gaze with that goofy smile on his gorgeous face, he cleared his throat "I love you."

And Y/N snuggled in closer, his head in Josh's neck "Mmh, love you too."

(Sam's Pov)

The winter air made her tense fingers turn red, she shuffled closer to the window in her view, closer to the edge. Okay, FUCK, okay, a sharp, icy pain stabbed her directly in the lungs as she soothed her nerves. Even breathing hurt up here. Once she got to the end, she strained herself, took one last deep breath, and reached her left leg over to Josh's windowsill.

When the tip of her foot grazed the edge, she shuffled closer and closer until the foot still attached to Beth's windowsill was at the end, no going back now. It took several tries before her foot latched onto the ledge securely, Sam finally released her breath "Okay, okay, c'mon you got this-" she heaved.

Next, she streched her arm across to the other frame, her other hand clutched onto the camera and frame even tighter as she flexed her fingers to regain some warmth and mobility. As soon as she could, she gripped onto the window frame and with her hand and foot on Josh's window she shuffled over very slowly, until she was fully in front of Josh's room.

More deep breaths to steady herself, Sam bares her teeth, pulls her arm back, whips the camera into the glass, and again, and again, and again, until it finally shattered, inviting her inside.

Sam let out a huge sigh of relief once her feet were back on solid ground. The cold wind continued to whip around her, but thankfully, her fingers were already warming up. She wasted no time snooping around, nothing was off limits.

Drawers, nothing but pills, shelves, nothing but cd's, closet, nothing, well, not nothing. There was a jacket that looked very similar to one Y/N wore in one of the pictures forever ago. Josh probably borrowed it and couldn't bare to part with it... but other than that, nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. Not under the bed, or hidden in stacks of books Josh definitely didn't read. Nowhere. There was nothing. She did this for nothing...

She placed her hands on the desk, grumbling "God damnit," and shaking her head "there must be something... there has to be," she stood up straight, more determined. Think, girl think... okay... look somewhere no one would look...

And so Sam examined the room, scrutinizing every little thing. Eventually, her eyes become fixated on the ventilation shaft above the door, is that panel loose? Holy shit, it is! Sam took the chair at the desk over to the door and climbed up to investigate the vent shaft.

Definitely loose, the screws aren't the tightest, the one in the bottom right corner is even missing, presumably lost to the shadows beneath her. Looking inside, there does seem to be a vague shape between the slits. She tries to turn the other screws with her thumb and forefinger with no luck...

So, Sam climbs down and runs over to grab a shard of glass, and returns to open the vent. She fits one the sharp ends into the slot of the top right screw and carefully twists it so she won't cut her hand. It falls in seven turns, landing on the wooden floor and clattering a few times before falling silent, lost to the shadows with its comrade.

She repeats this process for the top left screw and watches the panel slump down, left hanging by the last screw. "Yes, c'mon, c'mon..." Sam shoves her free arm inside and pulls out a full paper stock folder.

The glass shard drops to the floor as she eagerly examines the exterior of the folder. Its an A4 beige folder, plain and unassuming, just before she could open it, there was a blood curdling scream from bellow coming towards the lodge. Sam wedged the folder under her arm, carefully climbed off the chair, unlocked the door, and ran downstairs to help.

♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆