The lodge was ablaze, Chris was never a fan of the heat, especially when he forgets to apply sunblock in summer, but with a blazing inferno forcing sheer heat pass the blizzard and right onto his face, Chris couldn't feel any more humbled by it as he is now.
It was over. The nightmare was over. He didn't know what to feel, after everything that has happen in the past hours, no more life or death decisions. It was over, the Wendingos are gone, nothing can hurt them anymore. The cuts and bruises felt non-existent, and even his flaring sprained ankle seemed to have subsided.
It's finally over, and everyone's fine. Chris should be feeling ecstatic, but he isn't.
Then it hit him.
Josh.
But Sam beat him to it.
"Mike, where's Josh?" She spluttered between breaths.
Mike turned away from the blaze, he couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye.
"He'd um. The Wendingo, I couldn't do anythi-"
"YOU LEFT HIM DOWN THERE?"
Everyone was taken aback, they've never seen Sam flare up like this before.
"There was nothing I could've done Sam! The Wendingo got him and I was alone by myself, I didn't want to leave that nut job too okay! I-, I just couldn't have done anything."
Sam snapped. She clenched her knuckles so hard her nails drew blood, but she didn't care, she has had enough of it, she already lost 2 people to this godforsaken mountain, and this was the only thing Mike could muster.
"That's it? So you're a broken recorder now? First Hannah and Beth, and now JOSH? Every single fucking time you said it wasn't your fault, you said you couldn't do anything. I am sick of it Mike, I am thoroughly sick of it. IS THAT THE ONLY THING YOU CAN SAY WITH YOUR FUCKED UP MOUTH?"
"Sam, stop it okay, everything is over, can we please just stop!" Ashley pleaded.
Over the distance the roar of helicopter blades pierced the skies over the sound of the crackling inferno. Even then, the only thing the they could feel was the delicate tension that threaten to shatter from their shallow uneven breaths.
All the while, the light of dawn gently pours over the 5 survivors.
"I'm going back."
Mike could not believe what he just heard. After cheating death within a day in a world record manner, which included getting fucked by your friend, and then raped repeatedly by fairy tales, someone still had humongous balls to go through it all over again.
And Mike was a firm believer of the right for people to do whatever the fuck they wanted, but this wasn't free will, it was lunacy, and after going shit, Mike isn't in the mood raise the body count.
"Sam, you are NOT going to do anything stupid, you are going stay put and wait for help, do you hear me?"
A threatening growl creeping into his tone.
Sound, sight, taste and the smell of death bombarded Sam from all sides, but all she could feel was numbness. She looked around, Mike's eyes barring down on hers along with everyone's concerned faces. She felt like she was autopilot, with the only thing keeping her grounded was her unsteady breathing.
Suddenly, and unwillingly, tears began to cloud her vision.
"I was there." She croaked. "I was offered a chance to help her, to save Hannah... And Beth. I was right there, all these while I thought I wasn't involved in it, that it wasn't my fault, but it was. I could've save them, if only I've done a little more."
Tears flooded her eyes, as Sam wiped them furiously. She clenched her fist once more, took a deep breath and steadied herself.
"Which is why I'm going back down to the mines. Right here right now, I have a choice, I have a chance to make amends for last year."
There Chris was, standing there while the words stung his every self. His cuts and bruises felt fresh again, along with his ankle throbbing with not pain, but sheer guilt. All the words he should be saying, but instead it was produced by the petite frame of Samantha.
"You are officially out of your FUCKING MIND SAM!" Mike bellowed.
"Sam, this is suicide, that jerk is not worth it!" Emily scolded.
"Please don't do this Sam, I can't bare to see another one us die!"Ashely begged.
"I know you have something with Josh, but you need to know when to stop and let go, please trust me Sam, I've been though this before, just trust me."
Emily looked at Sam apologetically before shooting a look of disgust at Mike.
" I-, I "
Before she could even respond properly, Ashley walks up to Sam and puts her hands in hers, seeking a different approach.
"Sam you're tired, and you're not thinking straight, we all are. Just wait a little longer so we can get you properly patched up and before you know it we'll be back home. Please don't do this."
"But –"
"Sam, Enough! Let's say Jesus blesses the shit out of you and you do manage to find that psycho, and then what? How are you going to get him out huh? It took 2 of us just to pull that whack job back into reality. Second, the Wendingo comes back and sees you walking away with it's meal, and you're dead Sam. DEAD!"
Words and vulgarities were thrown all over the place, but to Chris, it was just sounds.
Josh was like a brother to him. Chris failed Josh. He failed to console him when Beth and Hannah were missing. He failed save him from the Wendingos. He failed to be at his side when Josh needed him most.
"Man, you're gonna need to stop being a pussy, I can't save your ass every time okay, I have strict heroing hours."
Josh snorted and held out his hand to a bruised up Chris.
"Shut up, I had it okay. When they get a look at my flappy bird high score, they'll be running with their pants down."
Chris retorted as he grabbed josh's hand and hauled himself up, which gained a "dafuq" look from Josh.
"In a totally non-sexual way."
"Touché."
Chris still hasn't figured out the people's fetish with beating up handsome 4-eyed blonds. Josh would probably nag him to the gym again to, as Chris quotes: "Build up his manhood". After getting sucker punch by meat head jocks, Chris figured heading to washroom to clean up is much better choice than having "Man" talks with Josh.
"I'm waiting."
Chris stops in his tracks, sighs in defeat, and does a mock curtsy at his "saviour".
"Fine, thank you almighty Josh, for thy grace has blessed me with the truest form of manliness and chased away my demons. Long live Josh Josh.
Josh walks up to him punched him on the shoulder.
"Jokes bro, it's fine man. We're Brochachos, no matter what happens, I got your back man. You fix my computers, and I save your ass from idiots, AND embarrassing the crap out of yourself in front of Ashley."
"I fucking hate you."
"Love ya! In a totally bro-ish way!"
His eyes stung from the memory. But for all that it was worth, Chris finally made up his mind.
"I'm going with Sam."
Words and curses continued to spill out. Chris took a shaky breath, raised his voice, and tried to sound as firm as he could.
"I said, I am going with Sam."
The argument ceased and suddenly Chris was at the mercy of everyone.
Mike threw his hands up in exasperation.
"Great, does anyone have the CDC's hotline? Josh's lunacy is spreading."
"You said it was suicide for Sam to go alone right? So I'm going with her. With these guns, the Wendingo won't even know what hit him, or her. Do Wendingos have penises?"
Chris walks up them and puts a hand on Sam's shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze, and "flexing" his other arm, but Sam brushes off his hand and turns around to face the taller blond.
"Chris, stop. I appreciate it, but this is my responsibility and mine to bear only. Your ankle's busted and Ashley needs you."
Chris knew what his decision would do to Ashley. He mentally slapped himself for being such a insensitive selfish jerk. Chris locked eyes with Ashley and he could see her trembling with the effort of holding in her tears.
"Chris, I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose any one of you. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?"
And without warning, a thunderous strike latched onto Chris's face, leaving a mark of raw unmitigated emotion on the blond. An effort that puts Emily's to shame.
No one dared to move nor speak, this was something not to be intervened, but to only be resolved by the two.
"Ash, I-"
"Just go away, just go!"
Tears streaked down her face. All she ever wanted was for it to end, this unforgiving nightmare. Her hazel brown eyes scanned his blue ones for any change of heart. But found none.
No one needed to mention it, but it was felt by all. The bonds they forged over the years in high school crumbling right before their very eyes. Each and everyone felt their relationships straining towards the breaking point, like the camel's back on the verge of failure. The fate of the placement of the last straw lies in the next word Chris chooses.
Chris gently place his hand onto her shoulder and whispered to her.
"I'm sorry Ash…"
Ashley tensed upon his touch and moved away. Her eyes filled with betrayal and disbelief.
"Don't touch me!"
Mike couldn't stand this scene any longer. He stomped his way towards Chris, each step bursting with rage, and grabbed Chris by the collar.
"Chris, stop this madness. He screwed every single one of us up and made this into a living hell, just come to your bloody senses! In case you haven't realised, you and Sam are further screwing everything up. Just what the FUCK are you TRYING TO PROVE HERE?"
With that, the second physical act of the day was let loose. As organic Calcium collided with a fist fueled with unadulterated emotion in an unforgiving manner. The two males who established themselves as the humor of the group were reduced to nothing but raw anger and resentment.
"I am NOT trying to prove ANYTHING. ALL THESE WHILE JOSH WAS THERE FOR ME, helping me, encouraging me, and DEALING WITH ALL MY FUCKING SHIT!"
Tears surged through his eyes, everything that he had been holding in since the start was gushed in an endless flow of regret and bitterness.
"Now he's down there because I wasn't strong enough…" He muttered with a volume that was barely audible.
Chris felt exposed. His façade of the everyday goofball finally gave way. Everyone saw Christopher for who he is. An insecure boy held down by his own resentment towards himself.
Without hesitation, Sam embraced him in a hug, comforting him the best way she knew. Chris would curse himself later, but right now, he couldn't find it in him to return the gesture. Instead he parted himself from Sam.
"We need to get going, the longer we linger here the lower our chances of finding Joshua."
"Yeah, you're right. We should get a move on."
Sam knew Chris wasn't feeling like himself. But at this state, he wouldn't appreciate it if she pressed on about it. It best for Chris to sort himself out.
"You're gonna need this"
Mike picked up the shotgun, that somehow survived the explosion, and hands it to Chris.
As much as he hated the idea to it's very core, Mike knows when someone has truly made up their mind. It was something he could understand and relate to.
Chris muttered a soft thanks before taking the gun, he couldn't bring himself to face his freshest mistake. Not now.
Emily and Sam gave each other one last hug before handing Sam an extra flare that was originally given by the man with the flamethrower. Who she was ashamed for not knowing the name of her saviour.
"We await your good news."
Emily's voiced cracked with her words, but she quickly turned her face away, determined not to show her shattered armor.
Ashley denied Sam's request for a goodbye hug, feeling it was too painful to know that this might be the last time she will see the blonde hair diplomat. Ashley knew she was in denial, but denying it was the only way she knew to keep herself from having a mental breakdown.
Despite this, Chris walks up to Ashley and gives an emotional embrace.
"We'll be fine, I promise."
As expected Chris felt no response from her, but one thing he does take away from his actions were the silent cry from Ashley echoing in his ears.
Sam and Chris took one last look at the people they once referred to as their "best friends" before embarking on their journey. Whether they'll come back alive with Josh is uncertain.
But one thing is certain, no matter what happens, things can never be the same again.
So this my first fan fic that's written in 3rd person and not consisting of an OC, it was difficult for me cause I was so paranoid that I would screw up and do the characters injustice. But Until Dawn's story line was so good that it made me fanboy to the point of writing out this fic, at the price of obliterating my social life... (Not that I had one in the 1st place *sobs*)
Ah the beauty of video games.
So let me know if I did, or did not do the characters justice, improvements, or whether if this should be left as an one-shot or continuous story, stuff like that. Reviews are welcome! thanks! :D
*Update, this did become a continuous story, so... On to the next chapteeeer -*