"Em" Mike "Can I speak to you quickly?

Emily was pleased for the distraction, and for an excuse to leave Lucas. Something about him felt cold and harsh and that was her job.

"Sure"

They walked over to the side of the room, away from ears.

"Em" Mike started "I am so sorry, I literally haven't forgiven myself for even thinking about – you know. I've had nightmares about it, I'm so sorry, I was so scared"

Emily softened for a second, then stiffened again "Whatever Mike. I'm surprised they didn't lock you up. We were fucking boyfriend and girlfriend for 2 years, does that not mean anything to you?"

"Of course it does!" Mike held her hand without thinking, then let go like he touched something hot "I wasn't thinking, and I'll regret it for the rest of my life"

"At least you didn't do it I suppose" she sneered at him "just try and avoid me and we'll get along fine"

She walked away before he could say anything else, for fuck sake Em, will you ever give him a break?


Emily

6:19pm

Cable car

Being back here was tormenting. Everyone was quiet, even Chris wasn't attempting to fill the silence. Sam and Mike looked at each other and Emily swore she saw Sam reach for his hand and squeeze it. Ashley was clinging on to Chris's arm and just wasn't letting go, burying her face into his elbow. And Emily was…being Emily. Quiet and aloof.

"Team, please come in" Lucas spoke into the walkie talkie. The radio crackled back as a reply. "Team Blackwood, please reply". Nothing.

"Is…everything…okay?" Sam asked.

"Of course" John reassured her "Bad connection"

Emily's heart was beating faster it's getting dark.

"Blackwood" Lucas repeated "Georgia, Dean, Edward" he spoke their names into the radio "please respond"

Nothing.

This isn't good.

The cable car finally stopped at the top of the mountain. The air was so crisp and cold and the surroundings were beautiful. The noise of the cable car disturbed the peace and made a few animals make themselves aware. A couple of crows squawked and flew away, fluttering from the trees. A squirrel ran out from the station into the darkness of the trees. Something moved in the woods…was it an elk?

Lucas and John left the car and looked at the main station, nothing. There was absolutely no sign of anyone. Nothing.

"What's going on!?" Emily demanded "Where the fuck is everyone?" she stepped and looked at the two men.

John opened his mouth but Lucas interrupted him "I don't know. They're supposed to meet us here"

John put his hand out "Let's go to the cabin and wait for them there"

The group nodded, all of them too scared to speak.

Lucas reached into the black bag he was carrying, once he put it on the floor. Three handguns were pulled out, with three ammo holders and a couple of small machetes. He was not just carrying his sleeping bag.

He handed the three guns to Ashley, Mike and Emily.

"Thanks"

"This makes me feel better"

"Why me?" Ashley questioned.

"We heard Chris isn't the best with a gun" John smiled.

The two machetes went to Chris and Sam.

Sam held it up and looked at her reflection on the blade. Emily saw it reflecting fear and uncertainness, and felt herself mirroring the same.

They set off for the cabin, not without passing the Lodge first. The place still had remnants of police tape splattered around it. All that was left was a pile of rubble; the wood singed from the fire, all of the Washington belongings just burnt particles floating in the air. There were a couple things they recognised, the head of a deer that took its pride of place on the wall. A couple trophies that Paul won for his movies, and pieces of glass, clothing, and-

Sam gasped, and ran over to part of the rubble. She reached down and grabbed something. Was it a photo? Whatever it was Sam put it in her pocket and said nothing, and no one questioned her.

They kept moving, the light fading from the sky and a charcoal sky replaced the sun. The forest was beautiful; there was no denying that. It looked like a Christmas card; the pine trees lined with soft snow, the long untouched perfect pathways, and the silence broken by the occasional noise of an elk or a squirrel.

They were finally coming up to the cabin, the relief washed through the 5 friends as they saw their safeness getting closer and closer. Emily looked at Mike, I'm going to make it up with you, maybe we can start again? She almost blushed at saying something like that, but she promised herself she would do it later.

"You shall not commit adultery" a small voice said.

Emily stopped "Uh, sorry, what?"

The other 6 turned round to look at her, confusion splashed across their faces.

"What Em?" Mike said.

She almost dropped her gun "Please tell me you all heard that" Emily replied, her stomach sinking into a pit.

"Heard what?" Ashley said, her voice a whine with fright.

Emily looked at the ground. Did she hear that? It sounded like someone said it to her face, the breath tickling her skin and the warmth of their body reaching to her. How could she imagine that?

"Maybe I just heard nothing" Emily said, trying to convince herself and the others.

Lucas and John were now looking scared.

They kept going.

"Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death"

It was that voice again, louder and harsher, almost angry at her.

"Okay, PLEASE tell me you guys heard that!" she felt her eyes fill with tears and fear engulfed her. She looked round, trying to identify the voice.

"What can you hear Emily?" John asked her.

"I don't know" she said, panicked, "some bible crap" at least that's what it sounded like.

"John"

"Lucas!"

"John" Lucas looked at his colleague with panic in his eyes "What. Is. That. Smell"

The smell was a mix of faeces and rotten egg and it came upon them within seconds.

Then it was warm, but an uncomfortable warmth that made their skin crawl and their eyes sting. It was like standing next to a fire.

"Lucas, shit, we've got to run!"

Before any of them could do anything, Emily felt the heat come up like a fire from her feet. She looked across to her friends. Chris, the joker, the kind one who is friends with everyone. Ashley, so sweet and gentle, she never meant any one any harm and was a lot braver than she gave herself credit for. Sam, the naturist, the pacifist, and possibly the most genuine person Emily knew. And Mike, the jock who proved himself to sacrifice himself for his friends, the person she'd loved.

They were all there looking at her, when she was engulfed in flames and pulled away from the light by a darkness none of them have ever seen before.


Hope you enjoyed this, guys! I wasn't planning on writing from Emily's perspective for the whole chapter, but she was a lot of fun to write. Plus I wasn't her biggest fan so wanted to try and make her seem a bit more kind then what she's like in the game! As always, comments and critiscm welcome J