Egads! I apparently did something wrong (story of my life) and had to fix this real quick. Anyway, I had intended for this to be done, but, you'll just have to bear with me. At least I got it posted on Halloween, so there's that :) After watching one too many bad horror movies this year, and every year really, I decided to write one of my own, with some of our favorites...so please please please, tell me what you think!

As always, so many thank yous to my fabulous beta and friend, Bond, whom I would be a wreck without. Literally.

And to irma66, for her beta skills as well as the encouragement and conversation that was really the catalyst to this, thank you.

Thursday

"This is it?" Logan's haughty voice reverberated off the windows as the car came to stop in front of a large, ramshackle building. Veronica looked at him incredulously, pinching the bridge of her nose as she watched him deflate. This man, who could live on floating, tin can with thousands of other people couldn't stomach the idea of anything under four stars whilst vacationing.

You can take the rich boy out of SoCal… She pushed open the door and hopped down, eyes rolling at her boyfriend and his dramatic antics.

"According to the GPS, yes, this is the place." The fallen leaves crunched under her boots as she moved closer to the building. Logan leaned against the passenger door of their rented Acura, looking unimpressed.

The once white lodge was now the farthest thing from. Various stages of decay marred the facade; chipping paint, missing shingles, shutters hung askew from nearly every window. When the wind blew the house creaked and moaned. The house alone was enough to make Veronica question everything about her decision to take this job.

"I can't believe Dick wants to buy this place," Logan said, suddenly at her shoulder; she jumped as his breath hit her neck.

"Dammit, Logan!" she rasped. He chuckled low, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist.

"Seriously though, this place is The Overlook meets the actual Stanley Hotel meets Bates Motel." He shuddered dramatically against her. "There's no way Dick thinks this is a smart investment—it's just, creepy." His voice shook as a chill ran through him and trailed off as his hands slid from her waist, down her hips, pulling her flush against him.

She pulled away, a wry grin on her face as she turned to face him. "Aw, cold Echolls? Think I can keep you warm tonight?"

"If you think, for one second, that I am sleeping in that...you are the fuck out your mind."

"Moi?" Splaying her hand across her chest, she batted her lashes and mirrored naiveté like an art. His nose scrunched as he smiled warmly at her, she couldn't help but reciprocate in kind enjoying the moments of pure ease that always seemed to evade them in their youth. "What happened to my sexy, brave, naval-aviating boyfriend? He's not scared of the empty old hotel, is he?"

"Yes. Yes, he is. Come on, Veronica, you made me watch way too many cheesy horror movies to think this could be a good idea. Besides, I know that beneath that rough-and-tumble exterior is a girl who jumped every time Samuel L. Jackson got eaten by that shark." She narrowed her eyes and his smirk only grew.

"Yes, because genetically engineered sharks are actually scary. Old, abandoned buildings in the middle of the woods on the far side of Appalachia," she paused, shaking off the feeling that someone was watching as she climbed the porch steps, the wood creaking, giving far more than it should with her light gait. "Not scary at all."

Reaching for the doorknob, she felt Logan hit the porch behind her. "If you think I'm staying out here alone, you really are crazy. Although, it might actually be me if I'm going into this tomb willingly."

"What if I can make it worth your while?" Before he could form a response, she was inside the building, hips sashaying with every step further away.

"Don't make promises you don't intend to keep, Mars." He rushed in behind her, his speed indicative of refusal to be left alone in the woods. It's not like he could be scared or anything; Logan Echolls is a damned Naval officer, the kind who flies fighter jets over enemy lands, who had lived through the scariest things any imagination could drum up. She'd seen it. Lived on its periphery until the implosion swallowed them all. No, not scared. Just, unnerved. We both are.

Veronica shook her head, attempting to clear whatever tried to be settling behind her eyes."Jeez, Echolls, you're moving like molasses in January, come on! We're burning daylight, there's a whole lot of creepy and kooky and all-together-spooky we still have to check out."

"You're really building the case for me to go back into that podunk hamlet and find a room at the not-slasher inn. A single."

She rolled her eyes, pulling a flashlight from her bag she walked through the first set of doors on her right. Logan was only a few steps behind her, incessantly muttering under his breath about having not agreed to this. It didn't help that she still felt like someone was watching them; she'd see a flurry of movement in a window or a shadow that shouldn't quite be there, but she never seemed to find where they came from. Logan's nerves were starting to wear hers. Not that being on the edge of mountain country at the Wrong Turn Inn was something she actually wanted to do per se, but Dick had asked nicely and offered to pay her handsomely to help him research the properties, document anything that may be untoward, convince him that it's a worthwhile investment. Something about prices being too...everything was just 'too' he had 'mostly good vibes' but it seemed just a shade off. So when he'd offered a long weekend away for everyone, she folded. The mountains in autumn, friends, best friends, loves—yeah, she'd been looking forward to it.

"What kind of person wants to vacation somewhere that's this fucking cold in October?" He ran his hands up and down his arms, as if to emphasize his point. Veronica just rolled her eyes.

"This could be someone's dream destination. A glass of brandy next to the hearth. Enjoying a fancy, imported cigar in the smoking lounge. Gourmet meals delivered to your own, private cabin on the mountainside, sigh. To be fabulously wealthy." He smirked and shared a small, secret smile with her. She turned away, flashlight shining down a long hallway lined with doors, most barely hanging on their frames, flapping open with the slightest movements as they made their way through.

There were quite a few times she was sure she'd seen things in the rooms but she'd sufficiently talked herself out of it. Like she had in the foyer. Just a trick of her eyes, that Logan also seemed to be reacting to. She could feel the tension roll off him as she rounded back to the front of the house, the stairs daunting and bleak as they stood at the bottom.

"Ready to pick our room?" She winked and started up the stairs swiftly, not wanting to be stuck on them too long. Three, or maybe four, steps from the top she felt a hand close around her ankle, abruptly stopping her ascent. She froze, Logan on the step beside her looked concerned.

"Hey, what is it?" He took her by the elbow and helped her the rest of the way up. She shook off the feeling of fingers wrapping around her skin, nails biting her flesh and allowed Logan to support her as they made their way into the first room at the top of the stairs.

It was presumably a bedroom. The furniture was skeletal—a few chairs, a bed frame, what was left of a vanity were scattered around the room. She swore she could still feel something on her, even as Logan held her close she couldn't quite shake it. And she knew he had been affected too, shaking himself as he tried to keep her calm.

"We're not sleeping here tonight," she blurted out when her brain was able to form words again.

"No shit, we're going back into…"

"No, like, that was never the plan. This is just ONE of many buildings Dick is interested in buying, and personally, I'll feel a lot better checking this place out with reinforcements."

"Oh thank God, Veronica," he sighed, relief flooding his features. "Because, you know I would do anything for you, right? But this was pushing it." She laughed and kissed him, explaining the cabins Dick was also possibly acquiring and how they'd be staying in one of them. Logan's renewed enthusiasm for their weekend away literally carried them back down the stairs and out the door. With her legs wrapped around his waist, he struggled to get her into the car, both too preoccupied with each other to notice the two sets of eyes watching from the room they just vacated.

"This is much more my speed," Logan said as the large wooden door swung open to reveal the interior of the posh hunting cabin. There were two bedrooms on the first floor, bathrooms for each, a kitchen, small office and a great room, with a vaulted ceiling and a stone fireplace that nearly took up the entire back wall. Veronica ran up the stairs, jubilant, as she spun around in the middle of the expansive loft. Windows from floor to ceiling, even skylights, it was like being in the middle of the forest without having to actually be outside. Logan had followed her up the stairs and gone into the master suite, falling onto the plush bed thoroughly tired from the day. Veronica poked her head in to tell him she was going to make something to eat, and he nodded against the pillows.

He heard her walk back down the stairs and forced himself up. The bathroom in the master suite had a magnificent shower with walls he couldn't wait to press Veronica up against. Or just use. His lips quirked up into a smile as he thought about how she'd acted on the plane that morning, how she had relented her fight against first class when she realized how much more accommodating their bathrooms were for lascivious activity. Feeling the need to cool down, Logan bent over the sink turning the faucet full blast, water splashing against his face. He caught a reflection in the mirror that wasn't his.

Only it had to be his. He was the only one up there. Counting to ten with his eyes closed, he wiped away any vestiges of water from his face before looking back at the mirror. Only him. With one last attempt to shake off whatever was lingering in his bones, he went to join Veronica for dinner. It dawned on him, he'd never done well in the woods, maybe that's all it was. In reality, he had always found his peace in the ocean, not so much on terra firma. Not until Veronica had come back but it had, of course, taken a fucking nightmare for that to happen. Couple that with his subsequent deployment and all they seemed to have were scant months, trying to learn how to be together without actually getting to be.

It had been too long since they'd spent any time alone. In Neptune, they were always splitting their time with her dad and friends, and since he had started his shore duty in San Diego, that time also included his Navy buddies. The thinly veiled innuendo was stripped down to its bare bones, both pushing the envelope, testing and teasing to see how far they could go without either breaking and taking the other right there on the table.

Somehow they made it through the meal, and as far as getting the dishes to the sink before Veronica dragged Logan into the living room, pushing him against the back of the sofa, her knees sliding down on either side of his hips. Her lips trailed scorching kisses down his neck, fingers aflame running over every inch of his body. His eyes threatened to roll back in his head but before he could lose himself in sensation something caught his attention. Was that a face? Is this just a feeling? Fuck the woods.

Regardless of where his head was, Logan's body reacted appropriately, his nimble fingers sliding under the hem of Veronica's shirt, removing it so quickly their bodies barely separated. He had his hand on the clasp of her bra when—

"Dude!? What the hell?" Logan pushed the Great Dane off the couch, but not before the aptly named Harlequin licked a slobbery trail up his face. Veronica's eyes, saucer-wide and mortified, scanned the room for her discarded shirt.

"Now, now Ronnie-kins, don't cover up on my account."

"Dick, why did I think you wouldn't be joining us for this endeavor? Oh, right, you told me you wouldn't. I had kind of banked on that fact for my enjoyment." She barely got the fabric over her head before Dude was back, trying to settle between Logan and Veronica.

"Play nice, Bobcat, he is a paying customer." Logan breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"That's right, Rons. Not that I don't know you totally love the D," he paused and winked at Logan. "I just figured you were taking all the cool people out of Neptune; I should be along for the ride."

He clapped his hands together as he stood in front of the frustrated couple. Logan couldn't help but smile, and when he peeked at Veronica, she looked as though she was having a hard time keeping the smile from her face. It almost seemed as though Dick was breaking through Veronica's walls, and even just one iota of warming up to him, well…that was a miracle in and of itself. Maybe this weekend wouldn't be so bad.

"Time to party like it's…"

"Dick," she warned.

"No need for such hostility. We're just a bunch of friends—"

She stopped scratching Dude's head and looked up. "A bunch of my friends…" Both Logan and Dick raised an eyebrow at her.

"Pretty sure Logan here is my hombre. And Wally and I get along just fine, we've even gotten drinks and watched basketball together. Surprise face! Sometimes guys just need guy friends, and as butch as you are, Ronnie, you're not an actual guy."

"Thank God for that," Logan stage-whispered at her, pushing Dude off the couch and pulling his girlfriend against him.

"You know, Wallace isn't single anymore. He's got a girlfriend. Reagan's coming with him tomorrow." Enunciating each sentence, Veronica was so focused on Dick that she didn't notice Logan blanching, trying to shake off whatever seemed to be affecting him so.

"And Mac?" Dick asked casually. Logan saw Veronica's eyes narrow on Dick, who was failing to maintain the unaffected air of indifference he put out. His voice was unusually shaky and he seemed to have developed a thin sheen of sweat that clung to his brow. He snuck a glance in her direction from the corner of his eye while he tried to maintain focus on Dude, who was pawing at the humans doing their best to ignore him. Logan couldn't hold back the chuckle that erupted.

Veronica's focus shifted suddenly when her eyes made it back to Logan, his dropped, the tell-tale sign that he knew more about that particular topic than he'd let on. With pursed lips, he picked at the sleeve of his henley while desperately avoiding making eye contact with her.

"What about Mac, Dick?"

"Uh...well, she's coming, right?"

"Uh-huh. Any particular reason you're so interested? Is she the person you think is the coolest in Neptune?" Her voice bordered the Amber one she'd used for many a case, and the utter confusion his face wore proved he was thrown.

Dick was caught. Logan knew it. Especially since his girlfriend had gotten off the couch and was closing in on his friend, her finger aimed for the dead center of his chest.

"Maybe?" he squeaked out before she jabbed her index finger into Dick's solar plexus. He mouthed an exaggerated 'ow' to Logan. Then she did it again, harder.

"This is hardly a maybe situation, Richard. You either like Mac or—"

"Alright, Ronnie!" He stepped away from her overactive pointer finger and fell back on the couch, Dude following his human, lay across him and Logan. "You got me. I got the hots for Mac. And she never, ever gives me the time of day. I just thought maybe out here she'd see there's more to me, that I'm an actual adult."

Veronica mimed gagging and Logan amended. "You're more man-child than actual adult, my friend."

"Business savvy, risk-taking, determined adult. Come on, man, you know how long I've liked her."

"This is an actual, genuine like? Not just an 'I wanna sex you up' kind of like?"

"Well, no one said that, Veronica. I'm human after all." Finding no humor in Veronica's eyes, he quickly added, "But yes. I, for real, dig Cindy Mackenzie. Have for years. And I'm sure you'll take great pleasure in knowing that she rejects me constantly, but I don't know, something tells me not to give up. If she could see me out of Neptune, away from all the bullshit, she could see me for who I really am." His voice had dropped to a whisper. Dude whimpered, clearly familiar with this version of Dick who Veronica hadn't ever seen.

"A pod person?"

"Veronica," Logan chastised in his best grown-up voice. He stood and crossed the room to her, running his hands up and down her arms. "Just let him have this. Please?" She nodded.

His lips pressed against her forehead. As he went to stand by her side, something caught his eye. It was as if something were on the other side of the wall, peeking from the doorway, watching. He stiffened momentarily, deciding it was the time change and all around weirdness of the day playing tricks on his eyes. The eyes that were deemed safe, nay, trusted to fly multi-million dollar machines on a regular basis. He shook his head, seemingly cleared of whatever infiltrated, and turned his attention back to Veronica and Dick.

"She didn't say for sure if she was bringing anyone, so, it's still a possibility. If there is someone, I doubt it's serious. She hasn't really talked boys in a while; the last one did a number on her, I think," she shrugged. Logan felt the muscles in his back tense, his spine seemed fused in place as his fingers furiously tapped a staccato beat against his thigh.

"I'll be back in a minute," he mumbled as he walked toward whatever it was he thought he'd seen. Fortunately, it was next to a bathroom. Maybe the water would work this time. A few splashes later the faucet turned off with a groan, he shook his head and opened the door. He heard Veronica's voice carrying down the hall, the short clipped tone that signaled she was at the end of her tether.

"Well, Dick, as fun as this has been, I think it's time I put your friend to bed," Logan crept back toward the great room, casually leaning against the wall to observe his best friend and best girl, unawares.

"He's awfully jumpy tonight," Dick mused. "It's this place. The woods, I mean. Logan's always had a deep-seated Crystal Lake fear, like Jason or are going to jump down from the roof of wherever we are. If it's surrounded by woods, especially when it snows, Logan gets antsy...and angsty as fuck. Try not to break him, Ronnie. I kinda like having him back."

The fuck, Dick? Before he could make himself known Veronica said, "Not nearly as much as I do, Dick. Night, Dude." She scratched behind the dog's enormous ears and was rewarded with a sloppy kiss on her arm. Dick groaned as she wiped the drool off on his shirt. Logan couldn't help but laugh, giving away his position as Veronica beelined toward him, and promptly dragged him up the stairs.

"Finally," Veronica all but groaned as she launched herself at her boyfriend. He laughed against her lips as he backed her up toward the bed.

"I think all this fresh air is short circuiting your brain, darlin'."

She pulled away just the slightest bit, confusion furrowing her brow. "Huh?" And while her mind paused to ponder what he'd meant, her hands hadn't left Logan's torso, quickly divesting him of...one shirt. "Jesus, Logan, how many Henleys did you think you needed to wear?" He sighed, shaking his head and pushed her back onto the bed, a sinister smile forming that spread to his eyes. Dark, molten orbs burned through her as he grabbed the bottom of his shirt and slowly, achingly slowly, he pulled it off, throwing it on a chair across the room.

"You know, Veronica, you keep looking at me like that and I'll think you only want me for my body."

"I'm sorry that you are positively drool-worthy, Lo. And, unfortunately, I don't get to see your body nearly enough to get fully used to it...but as hot as this is." She ran her hand down his pecs and his abs, stopping just above the waistband of his jeans before abruptly cupping his face to tap his temple. "What's in here is sooooo much hotter."

"Is that so?" he whispered against her lips.

"Uh-huh. Now use that sexy fucking mind of yours to think of all the things you want to do to me and then do them with this fucking amazing body of yours."

She growled, he thought, as he pinned her body against the bed. Then he heard it again, farther from her mouth, behind him maybe. He pulled away abruptly, leaving them both panting.

She reached to pull him down to her but he was distracted, his eyes darting back to the still closed door.

"What?"

"You didn't hear that?" Logan sat back on his haunches, hands on hips as he tried to determine where the sound was coming from. His exceedingly frustrated girlfriend propped up on her elbows, eyes alight with confusion and no small amount of annoyance.

The noise interrupted again. Her eyes lazily swept toward the door then back to Logan. "That noise?" He nodded. "I'm pretty sure that it's Dude. Or Dick watching something. Or a coyote, or a bear or fucking Manbearpig for all I know, because we're in the fucking woods, Logan."

He was momentarily taken aback by her tone, exasperation tinged with lust while she was spread out wantonly before him. A pang of longing shot through him, how easy to reach out and smother out all the voices in his head by losing himself in her.

And yet. A niggling in the back of his mind brought his attention back to the growling. Or whatever it was. It was faint, distant, but lingering. Something about warning bells tripping, whatever it was he tuned in to pooled like dread in his stomach. He swallowed hard, catching Veronica's eyes, noting the way she bit her lip Logan softened, making his way to kiss her soundly.

"C'mon, flip over," he commanded, breaking this kiss before he got too carried away to stop himself again. She raised her eyebrow at him, trying to pull his hands back to cover her breasts, but he merely used the change in position to pull her up to him, on her knees, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. "Tonight I just want to take care of you."

She pointed down at her half naked body, the answer to how she wanted him to do that vividly displayed in her eyes. When he wouldn't cave she heaved a sigh and flopped onto her stomach.

"This had better be good, Echolls." Her threat was effectively obscured by the pillows she was currently face-down in.

"Has it never not been good, Mars?" The only reply he got came in the form of a loud grunt as his fingers worked their magic along her spine. His large hands traced the well known trail across her back and shoulders, working out knots, erasing tensions and putting her soundly to sleep. Kissing her temple and tucking her under the covers, he crept out of the bedroom feeling no better about his decision to keep their interaction PG-13.

"Fucking Scream, really?" he muttered to himself as he walked down the stairs. Was that what all this was about? Okay, so yes, maybe he had been creeped out while they were at the lodge earlier, but who could blame him? This had all the markings of a horror movie.

Creepy, old hotel in the mountains...check. Remotely located...check. Endearing locals...double check. He'd been expecting it to have some ridiculously unbelievable backstory, star-crossed lovers in a suicide pact, unhinged jealously, cursed grounds, anything else that filled the cliche quota, but it didn't. The fact that the previous owners of the hotel were just bad business men whose habits, from blowing their profits up their noses or blowing of other kinds in all sorts of unsavory places, did much to assuage his concerns earlier. When they'd made their way up to the cabin he hadn't thought twice of divesting Veronica of her top in the living room, the need for her overcame all of his senses. Dudes poorly— perfectly— timed entrance was enough to put him into overdrive.

Something wasn't right. More so here than at the main building. Perhaps a nightcap was necessary to quell his overactive imagination. He veered into the kitchen, producing a flask from the rucksack he'd thrown in there earlier. Swallowing down the warm liquid, he was drawn to light flickering in the living room. He came up behind Dick, who was intently watching something on his laptop.

"Dick!" Logan's hands clapped on his shoulders, causing Dick to jump, snatching his laptop from the air seconds before it hit the ground. Dude's ear twitched, one eye popping open lazily and upon recognizing Logan, closed, seemingly back in doggy dreamland within seconds.

"What the hell, man?! I should be the one calling you that," Logan smirked, hopping over the back of the couch he held out his flask which Dick received happily.

"What are you watching?" Dick placed the laptop on the coffee table, laughing quietly.

"Mr. Robot."

Logan offered his flask again but this time Dick declined. "Is Mac, perchance, a fan?" Dick nodded. "Do you like it?"

"Oh yeah, it's good. Kinda all over the place, and it takes a ridiculous amount of sobriety to follow, but, it's worth it," Dick smiled shyly, clearly thinking of more than just the show.

"If it makes you happy, my friend."

"Speaking of happy, why are you down here with me and not up there with your minx of a girlfriend?" The chill Logan had spent the better part of the day trying to ward off reemerged at that very moment, running it's icy fingers up his spine. "What did she do now? Did she—"

"No, Dick, it's nothing like that. Veronica and I are good. Really, really good," he smiled, believing every word he said, for once. He looked at his friend, whose face wore the classic '...and?' expression, still curious as to why Logan was downstairs. "I don't know, man. On any day, in any year, anywhere on this planet, I would rather be with up there doing less than savory things with her. Except here. Something about this whole place man, just fucking sets my teeth on edge."

"Well, considering…" Confusion stole over Logan's face faster than the words fell from Dick's mouth. "Ohhh, she didn't tell you, haha, well, I suppose she has some big reveal planned for everyone."

"No, she told me about the lodge and all that. It's just, I really don't know how to explain it except," he took a deep breath and tried to make it as simple as he could. For his own sanity, if he dwelled on the eyes he thought he saw peeking at him from around the corners of the cabin, Dick'd really think he was going crazy. "I trust my instincts. Always have. They've always been good enough to keep me alive, at the very least, and the Navy has only helped me hone it. And there's just something off about this place, man."

"So, you and Ronnie aren't knocking boots because you're taking the advice of a twenty-year-old horror movie that says sexy times equal death?" Leave it to Dick to see through all the bullshit posturing he was trying to build up in his head and cut him down to the thirteen-year-old boy scared of Wes Craven movies. He had lived worse since then. Psycho killers didn't wear masks and kill the homecoming queen in his reality, they were called Dad, and the victims who suffered at his hands were all the women he'd ever loved.

"Well, when you say it like that…"

"You sound like a fucking idiot?"

Logan jumped off the couch, pushing Dicks shoulder playfully. "I get it though. Not wanting to jeopardize it, doing everything in your power to keep things good. If your feelings say no lovings, don't let your body tell you otherwise. Stay strong." Logan lifted his fist in solidarity, walking backward toward the stairs.

"Hey, has Dude been acting weird since you've been here? Growling or anything?"

Dick scoffed. "He barely picked his head up when you scared the shit out of me, he's not so much reactionary."

Logan nodded, smiling tightly before bounding back up the stairs. Crawling into bed, he wrapped himself around Veronica as delicately as he could.

"You okay, baby?" she whispered sleepily. He pulled her close to his chest, kissing her forehead, smoothing the hair away from her face.

"Just perfect if you're in my arms," he replied sincerely and he felt her smile against his chest.

"Love you." He fell asleep with her words ringing in his ears.

Three a.m.

Veronica woke with a gasp. She stumbled from the bed to the bathroom, her ankle burned, blazing-white hot where the phantom fingers had grabbed her.

She looked down expecting to find nothing, since it was only her imagination she tried, failingly, to convince herself. But there they were, angry bruises, purple and black around the entirety of her lower leg. She swallowed thickly and tried the breathing exercises she'd learned to control her anxiety when it threatened to overwhelm her. After several iterations, she felt calm enough to go back to bed. With a final appraisal of herself in the mirror she nodded and turned to face the door.

That's when she saw it.

The long hair swept away from the doorframe, into the bedroom…

And then she heard it.

"Veronica…" it called, the sound of something being scraped on the wall trailed away with the voice.

"Logan!" His name spilled from her lips tremulously as she burst from the bathroom, the ethereal trail still in her periphery escaping to the loft. Giggling. Childish and high it set her teeth on edge. And in the same breath, gone. The room was instantly nebulous. Even the shadows seemed disquieted. With a shuddering breath, she threw herself back into bed, burrowing as deeply under the covers and into Logan as she could, waiting desperately for sleep to take her.