Mike
The Lodge
"Hey!" was that Sam? Mike's blood was pumping so loud in his ears he wasn't even sure he heard it. The Wendigo stopped and leered round searching for the noise, and leaped to where she was standing. Blood, a light shining from the torch on her head, and the reflective stripes on her trainers, was all Mike could see through the haze in his eyes. It then suddenly occurred to him, she had saved his life.
They had escaped, together. With Mike running out of the door as Sam switched the lights and caused the lodge to become engulfed in flames, they both got thrown yards to the ground of snow. Mike felt the cold shock of the ice hit his face, his 3 fingered hand became painful again, and his heart felt strained to the end of it's life. Through the smoke, he saw them. His friends. Ashley and Chris were both standing, staring at the greyness the fire created. Ashley looked at Chris with relief in her eyes and they embraced. Emily was sitting in the snow, her face washed of any emotions. Sam was staring right at the lodge as the helicopter flew overhead, without thinking, Mike grabbed her arm and squeezed her hand, we made it.
1. The Beginning
2 years later
Sam
Everett, Washington
11:02am
"Okay, two coconut lattes, one raw energy brownie and a vegan cookie to go" Sam told the new barista, Alice. The young red headed girl nodded and proceeded to froth coconut milk. Sam collected the money and thanked her customers, and then hastily cleaned and organised the coffee section. It was almost lunchtime and that was Jobeha's café's busiest time and best turnover of sales.
The coffee shop was a small rustic looking place just situated off the main street in Everett. It was vegan, like Sam, and sold only dairy free coffees and completely vegan cakes, and actually made Sam begin to like and trust part of humanity again. Before she always felt a little ridiculed, maybe a little bit mocked at times, from the 9 other friends who definitely didn't understand why she didn't ever eat birthday cake, or drink a shot. Yet here she met people more like her, and felt a bit more 'normal'.
After the incident of Blackwood Lodge, and once the Washington family were informed of Josh's disappearance, they eventually invited Sam over for a meal. Right up until the night of the meal, Sam was refusing to go, not wanting to accept that Josh really had gone, and that everything that happened really had happened. But she relented. Paul and Jean Washington greeted her like their long lost daughter, enveloping her in hugs and wet kisses on the cheeks. They sat her down and reassured her that neither of them blamed her for what happened, and they've always thought of her as one of their own.
"He'd been seeing Dr. Hill for a while, to cope with what happened to our girls" Paul sighed "I think he was consumed by revenge"
Sam's eyes glistened with tears and her voice was quiet "I know we deserved it, that's the saddest thing, and I'd give anything to replay that night all over again – I'm so sorry"
Jean put her hand on Sam's knee "Sweetheart, Josh told us you had nothing to do with the prank. He liked you a lot, but I think everything must have become too much for him" She tried to smile "We really hope the police can find him, that's all we want"
Sam couldn't bring herself to tell her the likely truth.
After a few meetings with them, after they realised that their final child was likely to never be found, the Washington's said they wanted to give some of their children's fund to Sam – to do something for herself. Paul and Jean both knew that Sam's parents weren't made of money, however her ambitions were something that they both admired, and so invested in her to open her own vegan shop. Sam couldn't believe it, and promised she wouldn't let them down, and would do it for the memory of their children.
Sam
7:20pm
Parent's house
"Hellooo" Sam called out as she closed the door behind her. Her parent's bungalow was small but cosy, with trinkets from her parent's travels and pieces of their own artwork. She heard a creak of the floorboards and Zuri approached, wagging and happy.
"Hey baby boy" she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing the top of his head. After the events two years ago, Sam became a bit of a recluse. Never going out without someone being with her, refusing to go for a run, waking up night after night screaming in fear and covered in sweat. Her parents tried everything; counselling, hypnotherapy, trying to contact her friends…and then one day they realised. Sam needed something to get her up and out – something to focus on. So they got her a Dalmatian puppy – something that could one day go out for a run with her. It was possibly the sweetest thing that they've ever done for her, and he has indeed been the best thing for her sanity.
Zuri licked her face and nuzzled into her "Where are the rents, bud?" he stared back at her solemnly.
"Sam, we're, uh, in here" her mom's voice wobbled. What the hell is going on? She followed the voice into the kitchen, her heart started to pound in her chest; her parents and two strangers greeted her. One of the strangers was older, tall, with close cut brown hair and a lined face, a kind face, with sympathetic eyes. The other was younger, but harsher, with a sharp face and an angled nose with bright blue eyes. His skin was milky white and was contrasted with a shock of black hair.
"Sam…this is John and Lucas. They" her mother paused "they are from a sector from the Government". She lightly touched her arm, as if to make sure she was listening "they want to talk to you about something…important"
Lucas, the younger one, stepped forward "Samantha" he was British "is there somewhere where we can talk privately? It's important we have your full attention"
Sam nodded, slightly frozen, and looked at her parents to give her the signal. They met her gaze, and left. "Take a seat" she motioned her hand at the kitchen table.
They sat down, opposite her. Was this about Josh? They looked like they were both about to interview her for a job. Both in suits, both smart, both serious. "What can I help you with?" Sam tried to sound confident but her voice cracked, she gripped her hands together tight.
"Sam" John, the older one spoke "Thank you for taking your time to talk to us. We understand you must be very confused, so let me explain" he paused to briefly look at Lucas "we are from a very unique sector that studies paranormal and supernatural activity throughout the world. We were originally created to look at defence mechanisms for our country, how we could defend ourselves if an extra-terrestrial attacked. However the more we looked into it and studied activities, we've realised some of our bigger threats are right here on Earth with us." He looked at Lucas to continue.
"We heard of the 'Survivors of Blackwood', and we thought it might be worth investigating. As I'm sure you're aware, many tabloids simply put it to drugs – LSD, or cannabis, to where all 7 of you came up with your story" Lucas lightly put up his hand when Sam opened her mouth "We know you were all clean, you were tested for them anyway. So we delved further and watched the police interviews of you all, and what you seem to describe is something we've come across before, the Wen-"
"Don't say it" Sam cried, "I've just got past all this shit, and here you are reminding me about that fucking night!?" Sam doesn't swear, especially to strangers, but this was something else.
"Samantha" Lucas said firmly "This is so much more than you and me and this world we are in. There is something more going on than you realise" He stopped her interrupting again "We know and we believe everything, trust us. We're amazed at all 7 of you, you're all so resilient. But there is more that you should know, and something we want you to help us with"
Sam was cautious, and close to tears "What…do you…" she breathed "want help with?"
John's turn now "Sam, there has been an unusual amount of disappearances going on around Alberta, mainly near the mountains. Most women, with no reason for them to leave, but with no traces of their abduction, we also" he stopped, testing her reaction "have reports of heat and a bad odour around the place they disappeared. Does this sound like something those Wen-, those things, would do?"
Sam shook her head "Those things? They have no fucking mercy. They will hunt you down, and they will kill you right where you stand" She looked at Lucas right in his icey eyes "they don't hunt during the day, and they'll usually leave devastation in their tracks".
Lucas and John looked at each other "these women…they've disappeared during the day…with no signs of an attack".
"Well maybe they wanted to leave"
Lucas shook his head "No, one was going to get married in 5 days, another was about to go to university. They have no motive to leave"
"Well…I mean what makes you think it's supernatural?"
John put his hands together on the table and looked Sam kindly in the eyes "The location, Sam. The strange associations with the disappearances, and the fact that things just don't add up. CCTV, eyewitnesses…I mean there's nothing to go on here. That's why they called us"
Lucas, for the first time, had genuine sympathy in his eyes "Samantha. I know this is hard. But we have heard from Paul and Jean Washington, from your friends and your colleagues, even from your parents, about your integrity and bravery. We know of your 7 other friends and their ability to escape the situation you were in." He paused "We need the 7 of you to show us the way to the sanatorium near the Lodge – many people have tried to find it, but we've heard no reports back"
"I'm not going back" Sam said firmly.
"We know what we're asking" John said "So as a thank you we will pay you all handsomely for your time, and offer life long protection from the MI6, for you and your family" He smiled sadly "Your mother said that a concern of yours is that something will come for you or your family, I want to reassure you that you will always be protected. All you need to do is show us to the sanatorium, then that's it. Our specials team can lead you back down the mountain and you can go home."
"You think by paying me some dollar and offering me a gun for life will make me go back there?!" She stood up "you are fucking crazy. You have NO idea what is down there!" Her eyes filled with tears "I would give anything to unsee those things"
"Samantha" Lucas stood with her and put a hand on her shoulder "Like I said before, this isn't about you or your friends. This is about saving many, many people" His ice blue eyes cut through her "Please, Sam"
She breathed a long breath out "Okay".
x
Hope you like it guys! This is the first bit of writing I've done in a while, so please excuse any roughness in it! I recently completed Until Dawn and it was possibly one of the most in depth, interesting games I've played. Also I'm a huge Mike/Sam shipper, so be prepared for that. Also for anyone that likes to have people to imagine with the characters; John is based on Bryan Cranston, while Lucas is based on Richard Armitage. More coming soon, all constructive criticism welcome. Much love, Sophie x