Prologue

One year ago.

Everybody's out, Sam. You can do this.

All she felt was sheer terror and adrenaline. Her ears were ringing from the ear-grating shrieks of her mutated best friend, and the cold of the lodge was biting into her skin. She had to move before the numbness and exhaustion kicked in- she needed to do it now.

Steeling herself, the blonde bolted towards the lightswitch. She could feel them, oh my God she could feel them there, feel their bitter breath on her neck - all she had to do was get to that lightswitch and then it would all be over, everything would be all gone. Sam grunted as she pushed herself towards her absolute limits, internally thanking God when she felt the smooth porcelain shape of the switch between her fingers. She flicked her fingers upward, and then all she could feel was the searing heat of the explosion and the harsh collision of her body against the snow.

The only thing Emily registered except for Thank GOD, I'm ALIVE! was the screaming figure of her friend as she sailed through the air, riding the waves of the monstrous explosion of the lodge. "Holy shit. Sam!" she screamed. Sam's body remained still for the next several seconds, shock still against the ashy snow. "Sam! Sam! Oh my God, Sam!" Emily cried as she reached to help her friend up. Sam started to regain consciousness; her eyes snapped open and wildly scanned the landscape all around her, frantically looking for the next threat that would peer around some black corner of the burning lodge. "Sam, you're okay! We're all okay! You did it. You saved us, Sam. Oh my God, it's going to be okay!" The silky-haired teen reassured her friend as the blonde's eyes started to glaze with exhaustion.

Emily heard a soft "Thank God" that was riddled with pain and a restrained sob. All she could do was offer her a shoulder to lean on, and as their rescue descended upon them, that's exactly what she did.

Chris and Ashley steadily walked towards the helicopter rescue, leaning on eachother for support.

"Chris…" Ashley choked. "We made it."

"Everything's gonna be fine, Ash. We're safe now. We're safe."
The two of them stumbled into the helicopter, instantly crashing into the seats that were offered to them. Ashley curled into the strong, protective warmth that Chris offered, his arms snaking around her and embracing her tightly. Ashley cried into his shirt, tears of pure relief amidst the noise of the crackling fire and the whirring blades of the helicopter. "We're gonna be fine," he soothed. "We're gonna be fine."

Mike said nothing as he boarded the rescue helicopter. He sat down, breathing heavily from the adrenaline high and the injuries he sustained. He looked at Sam and Emily, sitting side by side as his ex-girlfriend supported the woman who saved all of their lives. Sam's eyes were darting back and forth; her breathing was quick and erratic. He could only imagine what she was feeling- she stayed behind so that everyone could be saved, facing the multiple wendigos head-on as the others ran to safety. That kind of bravery is hard to come by, he thought.

The pain in his left hand began to set in. Now that the body's natural painkiller was starting to wear off, the multiple gashes and wounds all over his body began to throb and sting. All he wanted to do was go home, and ignore the countless bouts of questioning they were no doubt about to receive. He locked eyes with Chris from across the seating area of the helicopter, and could tell his friend was thinking the same thing. None of them wanted to retell what they had just been through.

Six hours later found Chris and Ashley in the sitting room of a hospital. They had been treated, questioned, and were now waiting on their friends to finish police interrogation. They were told nothing about the others, about Matt, or about Jess - all they could do was hope. Clinging to some shred of light, Chris silently worded a prayer to anything that would listen.

Please. Let them be okay.

Emily joined them soon after, choosing to sit away from Ashley. The guilt in Ashley's eyes was plain to see as she looked at her raven-headed, probably-ex, friend. Emily locked eyes with her, and even though she knew that Ashley felt like hell for what happened- she didn't want to forgive her right now. She looked sharply away, waiting until the others of the group would join them, remaining silent.

Mike joined them soon after, looking no better than the rest of them. He slumped down heavily in an uncomfortable metal chair, staring at the floor. He was completely silent- until he heard muttering coming from the next room.

Let us see them! a male voice.

Are they okay? a female voice.

Mike's heart skipped far too many beats as his mind registered who those voices belonged to. The others must have made the same connection- as their heads shot up and swiftly turned to face the door. Soon enough, the door busted open to find a frantic Matt and a bewildered Jessica, eyes searching for their friends. Instantly, Emily leaped up and ran to Matt, catching him in a hug that rendered Matt speechless. Emily has never behaved like this, ever.

"Oh my God, you ASSHOLE! I thought you died!"

She pulled away from him, punching his shoulder (not too hard - she could see that he wasn't in the greatest shape).

"I could say the same! That was at least a hundred-foot drop, Em! How did you make it?"
"I'll tell you later," Emily sniffled, letting out a relieved laugh and another sob.

"...Idiot."

"Jess?" Mike voiced.

Jessica turned towards the source of the sound, eyes brimming with tears.
"Mike…" she choked out pitifully. She dropped the blanket she had been given and started to stumble over to her boyfriend.

"Jessica! Fuck, I thought you died! I thought you died…" he whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace. He soon pushed her away to assess the damage. He wished he hadn't seen a thing.
Her entire body was a landscape of blood, cuts, and - most likely - broken bones.

"Oh my God, Jessica!"

The confused blonde turned her head to see none other than Emily coming her way.

"Emily? Why are you… so happy to see me?" she breathed.

"Hey. Chicks before dicks! Best friends forever, right?" Emily stated lightly, regret and hope laced into her eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay," she added, a heavier tone weighing down her words.

"I'm glad you're okay, too," Jessica returned, offering as reassuring a glance she could muster.

"Sir, Ma'am, we're going to need you to come with us," a police officer said. "You need to be treated. Especially you, miss," he said, gesturing towards Jessica. "You're lucky to be alive."
"I know," she whispered.

I know.

Sam walked in last, seeing the dazed faces of her four companions that were with her in the lodge. Mike looked at her, his eyes red and puffy.

"They're alive," he said. "They made it."
Sam couldn't believe it.

"Oh, thank God," she whispered, hands rising to cover her face as tears began to fall. All of them made it. It was going to be okay.

"Thank God."