Notes: I started rewriting this chapter halfway through because I decided I didn't like the way I was writing Eric in it so hopefully this is ok.
Also, as with most of my writing, I'm Welsh so if I slip up and use Welsh English I'm sorry. I had a bit of an internal debate over whether to use 'trunk' or 'boot' and I had to research driving ages and high school ages because they are all high schoolers in this, not that it matters because I'm pretty sure Stan has driven before on the actual show, but there you go.
"In other news, it's been three months since the Broflovski siblings went missing and so far all efforts to find them have still been unsuccessful, we're going to speak to the person in charge of the search to find out what he has to say on the situat-"
Stan reached over without taking his eyes off the road and jabbed the radio's power button with his index finger before letting his hand settle back on the wheel again. Cartman glared at him from the passenger's seat. "What the fuck was that for, asshole?" he questioned. "That could have been important!"
Stan sighed. "Why are we doing this?" he inquired. "Why are we going back there? What's the point?"
His hands were tight on the steering wheel as they passed through town, all of their familiar hangouts blurring into the background. Cartman didn't respond right away, staring at Stan as if he was trying to figure out if those had been trick questions. Kenny and Butters observed from the back seat, frowns on their faces as they prepared themselves for the same argument they'd been hearing every day for the past week.
Things had been pretty uncomfortable and distant between them ever since Kyle hadn't returned. It wasn't just their small group either, Kyle's absence seemed to have a domino effect on the majority of their year group.
The night Kyle disappeared, Cartman had searched the snow enveloped mountain until the cold set into his bones and turned his hands and feet numb. Stan and Kenny had intervened in the end and dragged him back to the warmth of the house, but that hadn't stopped him from getting ill. At least that was his excuse, Kenny wasn't entirely sure if it was true though or if Cartman just hadn't wanted to see anyone. In any case, he didn't show up at school for at least two weeks after that. When he eventually did turn up again, he was hardly ever around that often, only hanging out with the others when it was completely unavoidable.
As for Stan, he really hadn't dealt with things well either. It was pretty obvious that he was beating himself up for stepping out of the party with Wendy and it was even more obvious that Cartman kind of resented him for it too. The problem was that neither of them would actually approach the issue, so the atmosphere between the group was always strained. Sometimes it felt as if they were only still hanging out together because it was all they knew.
"All of the reports so far have said that they're missing, not dead," Cartman answered eventually. "So Kyle might still be out there somewhere and we stand a better chance of finding something than the fucking useless as shit adults in this town do."
"It's been months, Cartman," Stan stressed, exasperation evident in his voice. "I hate to break it to you, but if no one has found any signs of either of them by now, they aren't going to. We all miss Kyle, but at some point we're going to have to just accept that he's probably not coming back and move on."
"What? Like you have?" he retorted sarcastically. "What happened to the Stan who convinced the whole town to buy new cars just because he thought it would bring Kyle back?"
Hurt flashed across the other boy's expression. "He was in a different state with his family back then, not lost and probably dead in the woods somewhere on a freezing cold, snow covered mountain." Cartman was about to respond when Stan continued. "At least I'm not dragging everyone back to the scene of the crime with the false hope that he's going to magically return like this is some kind of fucking disney movie where everything is going to be ok in the end! That's not how life works and the sooner you realise that the sooner we can all stop wasting our goddamn time chasing after miracles that aren't going to happen!"
Kenny tried to stay out of it, but he couldn't fight the irritation bubbling up inside him, settling just underneath the surface. "What would be a better option Stan?" he snapped. "Sitting around, waiting to hear whether one of our best friends is dead or not? Watching everyone fall apart? Pretending you aren't considering drinking yourself to an early grave?" He saw Stan's grip tighten on the wheel and his shoulders tense ever so slightly.
Cartman looked back at Kenny in shock, not expecting him to snap like that. "Damn, Ken," he mumbled.
"Don't think I'm taking your fucking side on this either," Kenny added. "You can't just fucking shut yourself away from the world for months on end without saying a word to anyone and then come barging back in with some master plan and expect us all to just drop everything and follow you up a fucking mountain like you haven't been ignoring us this whole time."
Both boys were silent for a few minutes. Kenny briefly wondered if he'd overstepped a line, but decided that it was all stuff that had needed to be said at some point. If Kyle wasn't here to call them out on their bullshit then he guessed he'd just have to step in as substitute for now.
"I wasn't ignoring anyone," Cartman denied. "I was trying to come up with a plan."
Kenny sighed. "I know it's hard not to feel like you could have done more," he sympathised, "but you have to realise that we all feel like that. You're not alone. You did everything you possibly could and you need to stop shutting everyone out and treating them like shit because at this point most of us are just really fucking worried about you dude."
"I'm fucking fine, it's not me who was left stranded in the mountains."
"Why are you so determined to find Kyle anyway?" Stan questioned. "I thought you hated him."
"Look, I know we always argued a lot, but Kyle's important to me," Cartman confessed. "He always challenged me and called me out on my bullshit, even when everyone else just let me get on with things because they didn't think I would ever change. He never gave up on me, so I'm not gonna give up on him this time."
Kenny and Butters shared a look, they had known for a while that what Cartman felt for Kyle wasn't actually animosity, but they hadn't expected him to acknowledge it even to himself let alone in front of all of them. The car was silent for a few tense moments apart from the sounds of the engine. Cartman stared out of the window next to him, refusing to look anywhere else.
"I still don't completely trust your motives," Stan mumbled suddenly, "but you're right… I'm sorry."
"What was that?" Cartman questioned.
"I said you're right and I'm sorry, ok?" he snapped. "Can we just put some crappy music on and forget this conversation happened until we get there?"
"Yeah, sure."
Kenny and Butters glanced at each other again, relieved that the others seemed to have reached a truce for now. It had mostly fallen on their shoulders to try and pick up the pieces lately, which wasn't easy when both Stan and Cartman could be too stubborn for their own good at the best of times. They had managed to keep Stan from picking up the bottle again and got Cartman to leave his room a couple of times so there had been some small victories. It was hard trying to stay optimistic though when it was so obvious that the mood between the group had changed.
It seemed ridiculous to keep hoping that they'd find Kyle, to keep a place for him in their lives when he had been gone for quite a while now, but it seemed no one was really ready let go yet either. That's why they hoped that returning to the mountain would at least result in something, even if it was just closure. This would be good for all of them, at least that's what they had been telling themselves when they agreed to go along with it.
They were well into their ascent, approaching the area where Token's house was when Stan finally broke the silence. "Woah look at that," he said. The others looked up to see what had caught his attention and Butters let out a gasp when the boys set eyes on the sign up ahead.
The last time they had passed this sign, it had been a simple, unassuming welcome sign. Now it was covered in missing persons posters, but that wasn't what had grabbed their attention. Scrawled across the papers in red were the words 'TURN BACK NOW'. A chill crawled up Stan's spine the closer he drove to it and he slowed his speed a little without realising it.
"Who do you think did that?" Kenny inquired, ignoring the unsettling sensation he got from looking at it.
"You don't think that's actually… blood, do you?" Butters added.
"It was probably just a bunch of kids fucking around with red paint because they heard about what happened up here and wanted to mess with people," Cartman dismissed, exhaustion evident in his tone.
"Yeah, let's just ignore it and keep going," Stan suggested, speeding up again.
It looked like a sign just outside Token's place had received the same treatment because they could see him and Clyde ripping posters off it as they approached. Craig and Tweek were stood to the side of them, Tweek talking rapidly and gesturing frantically at the other boy as he attempted to calm him down. Clyde and Token turned upon hearing the car, Token nodding in acknowledgement and Clyde offering them an awkward wave, but the other two boys paid them no attention.
"This is going to be such a productive day," Stan muttered sarcastically, as he drove past and pulled up next to the building.
"That's the spirit!" Butters replied, either oblivious to the tone or just ignoring it.
Tweek still seemed to be stressed out as the group walked over to greet them, talking to Craig in hushed tones at the back of the group with a deep frown on his face. The boys caught the end of their conversation as they stepped out of the car. "I get why we're doing this, but I swear to god-"
"I don't really want to be here right now either," Craig admitted, "but it's going to be fine, Tweek," he assured him, reaching out to take his hand. "All of us are here together and we'll all be leaving before nightfall. We can't stay here any longer than that anyway because the house is still technically a potential crime scene."
"That last part really doesn't make me feel better," Tweek noted, "but fine."
"Hey guys!" Kenny called, interrupting them before anyone else could get involved. "What's up?"
"Well, we weren't expecting those creative messages on the signs back there and I'm pretty sure my parents would lose it if they saw them, but they've only been here once since they bought the place so I doubt that's gonna be a problem any time soon," said Token.
"Eric said it was probably just a bunch of kids fucking around," Butters mentioned.
Tweek scoffed at that, but before anyone could question what that was about Cartman spoke up. "Did you guys bring the things I asked you to bring?" he asked.
"Token brought maps, compasses and a fancy gps watch he won't let any of us touch and I brought enough food and water that we won't have to come back up here for breaks that often," Clyde responded.
"Ok, good," Cartman approved.
"So what's the plan?"
"What do you mean?" Stan queried. "I thought we were just going to search everywhere we could and see if we can find anything."
"Typical," Craig commented.
"What?"
"You guys always do this. You come up with these ideas, but you don't bother to plan ahead and then you end up in some ridiculous and dangerous situation that has escalated beyond your control."
"Yeah well, what are you bringing to the table Craig? Your sparkling personality?" Cartman quipped.
"I brought this, actually," he said, pulling a handful of material out of his pocket.
"How the fuck is that helpful? It just looks like a bunch of pieces of cloth."
"That's because it is 'a bunch of pieces of cloth'. Congrats on being so observant." Craig said. "They're for tying around trees and shit so that we know where we've already been and don't waste our time looking in the same place twice."
"Ok, that's actually pretty smart, I wasn't expecting that," Cartman conceded.
"You're welcome," Craig replied. "I also brought a shovel in case we end up having to dig anything up," he added, not realising how it could have come across as insensitive.
Tweek bit his lip nervously as he observed the others expressions following Craig's statement. "Um, I also brought some stuff that we might need," he said quickly before any arguments could break out, "just in case."
"Oh, cool," Kenny commented, thankful for the distraction, "what is it?"
"Ah, hang on, I'll show you." Tweek let go of Craig's hand and took off towards what seemed to be Craig's dad's car, turning back and motioning for them to follow when he realised they weren't behind him.
Craig sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets and starting to trail after the other boy. "I tried to him we didn't need it," he pointed out, "but he said he'd feel safer bringing it so I didn't try to stop him."
The other's followed as Tweek approached the vehicle, their curiosity piqued by what Craig had said. They tried to peer over his shoulder as he pressed the button on the hood, wondering what could possibly be under it to cause such a reaction. He lifted it to reveal that the trunk was stocked with enough weapons to supply a small army.
"Ok, so basically you can take whatever you want," Tweek stated, "but the stuff at the back is only for if shit gets really bad and we need a backup plan so I would advise you not to touch it. Also, there aren't enough flare guns here for everyone to have one so if we split up it has to be at least in pairs, although I hope it doesn't come to that because we all know that only bad things happen when people split up in situations like this. I also have a first aid kit and spare gloves in case anyone needs some."
His speech was met with complete silence and he whipped around to see the others staring at the contents of the trunk with slack-jawed expressions. "What is it?" he questioned anxiously. "Did I not bring enough?"
"Holy shit Tweek!" Kenny exclaimed. "Where the hell did you get all of this?"
"It looks like you took the entirety of my uncle's shop and just dumped it into the trunk of a car," Stan observed.
Tweek shrugged. "Well, it's always good to be prepared for the worst, right?"
"Tweek, this isn't an episode of Stranger Things," Clyde pointed out. "We're not hunting the fucking demogorgon."
"How do you know for sure that we're not?" Tweek questioned.
Clyde turned to Token with a look of concern. "Are we?"
Token sighed. "No Clyde, we're not."
"Are those actual bear traps?" Butters inquired, looking more than a little concerned.
"Yep," Craig replied, seemingly unfazed at the amount of weapons Tweek had just happened to get a hold of and bring with them.
"I thought I'd bring those just in case," Tweek explained.
"Just in case of what?!" Stan exclaimed.
Tweek shot an irritated look at him. "Just in case of fucking bears," he answered as if it was obvious. "Or aliens, or monsters or any other kind of wild animal or dangerous person that might be out for blood," he listed off, counting each one on his fingers for emphasis. "I mean look around you! We're in a secluded area of the mountains not far from the craziest town in America! What the fuck makes you think we wouldn't need to bring a bear trap or two?"
"Things do escalate pretty quickly around here," Craig supplied. "Especially when you guys are involved." Tweek smiled at him warmly, silently thanking the boy for backing him up and not treating him as if he was being irrational like the others were.
"It's not like we go looking for danger," Stan protested. "Things just happen sometimes, you already know that."
"Which is why it's a good idea to prepare for the worst," Tweek concluded.
Stan was about to argue when Cartman brushed past him, peering into the trunk to get a better look at some of the guns, Kenny following behind him. "Is that a flamethrower?" Cartman questioned, pointing at something a little further back. Tweek nodded. "Sweet."
"Ok I guess we're taking weapons now," Stan mumbled. "This couldn't possibly go wrong at all."
"Chill out, Stan. Stop being so cynical," Kenny admonished, grabbing a pistol from the trunk and pocketing it. "We're not actually going to use any of this unless we need to."
"It's not you I don't trust," Stan frowned.
"Yeah, I'm not comfortable with all of us having guns either," Token disclosed, nodding not-so-subtly in Cartman's direction.
Cartman sighed loudly and turned to face the rest of the group. "Ok, I get it. You don't trust me with a gun," he acknowledged, rolling his eyes at the silence and awkward body language his statement was met with. "Fine. I'll just take this then," he compromised, pulling a small dagger out and making a point of holding it up to show the others that was all he was taking.
"Actually, that's mine," said Craig.
"So take something else!" Cartman snapped. "It's not like you're short on options here."
Craig flipped a middle finger at him, but didn't protest any further. He picked up a bat that had nails hammered into the end of it and weighed it in his hand, making a face and deciding it would do for now. This seemed to be the deciding factor for Clyde and Butters, who stepped forward to claim their own weapons.
Token and Stan watched for a second, before shrugging and joining the others. "Ok, we'll take them," Token gave in, "but only one each and if the girls ask questions when they turn up, I'm not gonna be the one to explain."
"The girls?" Cartman questioned. "You invited girls? What the fuck?"
"Wendy and Bebe overheard us talking about it at lunch yesterday and wanted to help and then Red was all like 'someone's got to make sure my cousin doesn't do something stupid and get himself killed out in the wilderness'," Clyde said, ignoring the glare Craig sent his way when he imitated his cousin. "So we said they could tag along."
Stan flinched, dropping the gun he'd been inspecting and causing Tweek to let out a high pitched noise as it clattered loudly against some of the other weapons. "Wendy's coming?"
"Well shit, now you've fucking done it."
