All I can think now is, "How dare you?" I absolutely have no business starting a new fic, especially when I already have another one in progress, and especially when I have so many other uncompleted fics to finish. But. This game destroyed me. I loved it way more than I expected and I have so much love for these characters. Like many other fans, I absolutely reject that 'secret ending'. Josh deserved better, confused as he may have been (he is so precious to me I almost cried when I saw how he ended up).

So here's my attempt at a somewhat better AU. I hope you enjoy it!

DAWN, one month ago

"Sam, come on!"

Icy wind beats harshly on her back, slices straight through her, and she clenches her fists to hide how she trembles all over. From the cold, the fear, the adrenaline.

Behind her, the mansion is an inferno of splintering wood and echoed screams. The image of that...thing—milky-eyes unseeing as it stood inches before her, that tattoo on it's shoulder—is forever burned in her mind, and despite the fact that she's said her goodbyes to Hannah long ago, a tiny part of her still feels like she's losing a friend, or maybe she's finally truly appreciating what kind of end her friend must have went through. If there's any good that can be seen out of all this, it's that the creature is gone and Hannah can truly find peace with her sister.

Before her is the helicopter where two park rangers are helping Ashley up. Emily and Matt are already huddled inside, and Chris moves forward to pull Ashley close.

Jessica...A ranger is trying to talk to her, but her eyes don't focus and she sways. Sam can't hear what she's saying, but even if she could, she doubts it's anything lucid.

Mike's looking back at her, a bracing hand on Jessica's back, brows drawn together. He beckons her closer, giving her a look that clearly says, 'you haven't had enough of this hellhole?'

A feeling makes her hesitate, makes her heart throb in pain as if petrified, desperate fingers are squeezing tighter and tighter, don'tleavemecomebacki'msorry.

She feels on the precipice but doesn't understand why. She thinks to push back these feelings, to put this horrible night behind her, but when she opens her mouth what comes out instead is:

"I'm staying."

Shock makes her mouth snap shut and Mike simply freezes, as if he can't comprehend what he's heard. She can hardly believe it either. But...she has to.

Mike stares at her, seems to realize this isn't some terrible joke, and his expression hardens. He faces one of the rangers, says something urgently while gesturing at Jessica, and as soon as the older man nods, Mike marches to her. The set of his jaw makes Sam swallow nervously, but she doesn't back away.

Mike stops when he's just a breath away and grabs her by the shoulders.

"Look, I don't know what you're thinking but you are not. Staying. Now, come on."

He tries to pull her but Sam resists, yanking back.

"No, I'm not. I have to get Josh—"

Mike let's out a sharp bark of laughter that's anything but happy. He sounds slightly crazed.

"Josh?" he asks incredulously. "Josh is dead, Sam. There's no point in going back because there isn't anything to go back for."

"I know," Sam hisses, "I know that. I just—it doesn't feel right, leaving his body down there. The Washington's have already gone through so much, they at least deserve a body to bury this time." A lump in her throat makes the last of her sentence come out nearly strangled, but it gets out nonetheless and on a night like tonight, she's taking any victory she can get.

Mike's lips thin and there's a storm brewing behind his dark eyes. He opens his mouth, no doubt to argue more, but he's interrupted by the sound of the helicopter blades starting up.

"Time to go!" shouts a ranger, his voice barely coming over the din as he waves them over. Sam and Mike exchange a look before Sam slips by him.

"I'm not going," Sam calls when she gets to the uniformed man.

An arched brow greets her statement and she pretends not to notice when Chris's head snaps up.

"Yes you are," he tells her, frowning. "You all need immediate medical attention and the boys at the station are going to want to ask you some questions."

Sam doesn't feel like giving the long explanation.

"One of my friends is still down there, in the mines," she sort of lies, "And I'm not leaving without him."

The man frowns and looks up for a moment, squinting in the early morning sunlight.

"I can't leave you alone up here," he finally says.

"She won't be alone."

It's Mike. Of course it's Mike. He's drawn up even with the both of them and while he doesn't look too happy, there's a determined air about him that refused to be disputed.

Not that Sam doesn't try.

"No, Mike—I know you want to get out of here—"

"Don't," Mike warns, holding a finger up. "Don't even, Sam. Of course I'm not leaving you. And…" he sighs, crosses his arms, "You're right. We shouldn't leave Josh. Not like this."

Grateful, Sam gives him a ghost of a smile and squeezes his shoulder. As one, they face the ranger.

"We're staying," Sam informs him.

"Me too."

Surprised, they all look up to see Chris hopping down.

"What are you doing?!" is Ashley's panicked cry.

Chris looks up at her, looking more serious than Sam's ever seen him.

"I'm going with them."

"Chris—"

He doesn't wait to hear the rest of Ashley's pleas and walks towards the three of them, his expression daring any of them to tell him to go back.

Sam wouldn't dream of it, and Mike wisely says nothing, though he throws a troubled glance Ashley's way.

The ranger shakes his head.

"This doesn't sit right with me. But you all look like your mind's made up."

He's right, and they simply wait.

"If you all insist on going back out, then I'll go with. Someone's gotta keep an eye on you."

The three of them exchange glances, then Chris eyes the ranger speculatively.

"You got a gun?"

As if Sam could go back in those mines without Mike feeling obligated to go with. And of course Chris is going! He's probably kicking himself for not thinking of it first. Sam: 15 Chris: 00 Or is it 30? Until Dawn tried to teach me something about tennis, but I didn't learn.

If you want more, review!