You know what? Though, the next chapter WILL be a little late, so I'm apologizing in advance.
Do you bloody know what?
You guys are awesome.
Thank you so much for supporting this story!
Tomorrow and Monday are mine and my daughter's birthdays! So, we have alot going on.
But, I will begin the next chapter Tuesday! But please do continue commenting with your input on this story!
It's truly appreciated!
xxxxxx "Hard times will always reveal true friends."
xxxxxx
He couldn't tell if the person in front of him was just another hallucination, but it made him feel some relief after being mercilessly taunted and tortured by his own emotional manifestations. Seeing this beautiful image that smiled at him with so much happiness and sincerity, it almost instantly calmed him. Her light hopeful blue eyes locked on to his tired, bloodshot hazel ones. His heart started slowing down, no longer feeling threatened by this new image. "Okay, I trust you. I trust you."
His voice felt so dry and horse from his screams... Thirsty.
"Josh..." Her voice sounded so soothing. So relieved. So familiar... Like Sam's when they had their short heart-to-heart conversation in the basement. He squinted to try and see her image clearer as she slowly started moving towards him. Her light complextion was radiated by the moonlight that flooded from the hole above them, her eyes shined like newly polished gems, that sincere smile graced her lips... this image was his little bathing bird. "Sam..." He wispered to himself in surprise and awe. Her smile grew wider. Beautiful.
Next thing he knew, he feels something hard striking his left cheek. It had so much force and emotion behind it... What the hell hit him!? It couldn't have been his hallucinations... Could it?
He staggered back a few feet, holding his now bruising cheek. Looking up, he could see three familiar faces standing in front of him. They're not real... They're not real... He was starting to shake, fight or flight reflex was started kicking into his system. "Mike!" Sam glared at the bruised and bloodied man. Did he just punch him...? Again? Confusion and fear started to set in again as he began walking back slowly, staring at the trio with wild and fearful eyes. "Uh, sorry man. You were in full mental jacket. Kinda needed to snap you out it." He gave Josh a forced apologetic smile, while scratching the back of his head. But he knew he still hated him, that punched said it all. "Well you didn't need to try and break his face." Chris retorted disapprovingly as he shoved the still flaming torch into Mike's bloodied hands. Chris... His best friend. His bro.
"M-Mike? Chris?" What were they doing here anyways? Josh looked around and could see he was in a old cave. How did he get down here? "Josh." His little bird called for his attention, he glanced at her again. Her face was full of concern. Was it for him? Most likely not... Did she pity him? Probably. "I'm happy you're okay." Her smile was so warm, even though she looked so beat up... What happened to her? What happened to everyone? Did he do this...?
I-I didn't...?
"Wh-wh-whats going on? Where are we?" He sounded strained, confused and panicked. Chris moved closer toward him. "Easy there buddy. We're here to save you, you crazy asshole." Chris did his best to joke with him, but it was hard ever since the prank. But after learning that Josh was off his meds, he couldn't hold it against him too much. Chris grabbed Josh's shoulder reassuringly, tiredly smiling. Josh stared at the shotgun he had in his hand but did his best to smile back. Soon, guilt and shame started setting in, downcasting his gaze to the ground. "I'm so sorry... I-I... Oh god..." He was starting to get all choked up again. He didn't deserve to be saved... I don't deserve them... I'm so sorry...
Before he could resubmerge into his dark misting thoughts, something tightly wrapped its small arms around him. Securing him in warmth and reassurance. Looking down, Sam's soft dirty blonde hair tickled his chin and neck as she held him in her arms. Sammy. He returned her embrace. It was tight, strong, desperate, but he made sure he wasn't crushing her as he nuzzeled his face into the crook of her neck. The guilt weighing down on his heart for petrifying her... Sam pulled away to look him in the eyes. He could get lost in them, drown in them... "Josh. We need to save the apologies for later. Right now, we need to get out of here..." Her voice was starting to get shakey. He just numbly nodded. Sam wonders over to the hole that was allowing the moonlight and wisps of snowfall to flood in. It made her seem so angelic in his eyes. So perfect.
Chris and Mike looked up curiously. "You think we can all climb up there?" Mike asked. As he looked at Josh and Chris, he had a feeling that his answer would be a no. "I don't think so. I'm not much of a climber and Josh isn't in good condition to even attempt to climb." Chris answered back. He glanced over at Josh, he was still wearing that heavy stuffed psycho costume which wouldn't help him with the climb anyways... "So, the only way back would be through the caves again..."
"Sam?" Mike wanted to hear what the lone female had to say. She glanced back at them, then up the hole. She knew she could climb back up there with ease but, she couldn't let them go back alone. She had to make sure everyone ended up back safe. I'm not losing another... Not again. She closed her eyes, inhaled and exhaled. "We're going back through the caves." You gotta do, what you gotta do Samantha.
When she looked at them, her jaw was clenched with determination. She wasn't going to lose anyone else, not while she was alive and kicking. "It's the only way through." Mike sighed, just as he predicted. He gave Josh an irritated glare, as if warning him to not fuck this up. "Alright. Lets get you out of here you psychotic son of a bitch." He turned and lead the way through, his torch still proudly burning, flickering sparks and ashes into the cold, mildewed air.
Psychotic... Psycho... That's me. Chris and Sam stood by him and helped him start walking before he started drifting back into his mental torture chamber. Once they entered the first doorway, something heinously pungent invades Josh's senses, causing him to fall to his knees. It was so foul, so putride... Luckily, the two blondes caught him, supporting him on his feet. The smell was overriding his senses, causing involuntary tears to prick at his eyes and lightheadedness.
I think I'm gunna be sick... As they staggered through the room, a shadow loomed over the trio, causing Josh to look up. His eyes grew wide in grotesque horror and bewilderment. He wished he didn't look up, he wished he could erase that burned image of the decapitated, bloody body that hung on a rusted meat hook, eerily swaying above them. The source of the stench... "No... No no no no no no!" He began to panic. He didn't want anyone to get hurt, let alone die! "I-I didn't want anyone to die! It was just a prank! A stupid prank..." He began breaking down into a hysterical mess. "No one was suppose to die!"
"Come on Josh, keep it together man!" Mike kept his eyes in front of him, watching for any movement in the darkness that awaited them just through that final doorway. His stance was tense and at the ready.
"Josh. Joshua!" Sam held onto Josh's face firmly and made him look up to face her. Sam gave him a sypathetic smile, trying her best to calm him. They were only inches apart... She could feel his erratic panting on her face. "It's okay Josh. This isn't your fault. Just look at me, okay? It's going to be okay." He slowly nodded his head in understanding. "Now, just keep looking at me. We're almost out, just stay calm. For me." Chris held onto Josh's shoulders, helping him steer through as Sam held on to Josh's hands, leading him out of the slaughter room while keeping his attention on her. Once they were out, Josh felt like he could breathe again.
So many questions ran through his mind. How did a single, elaborate prank lead up to this... this... hell?!
He could feel sweat running down his face and soaking through his costume. He felt so exhausted. He could feel the aches and pains shooting through his body. Just how long was he down here for? He stared at Sam, silently pleading with her to tell her what was going on. She just gave him a sad smile, her eyes told him nothing.
Damnit...
A sound of splashing water took him away from his thoughts, causing him to internally panic. "Alright, let's get out of here." Mike whispered loud enough for only them to hear. Chris held up the gun above his head as he jumped in. Turning around, he ushered for Josh to follow behind him. Josh nods, doing his best to lower his quickened heartrate as he closed his eyes. Something queezes his hand making him look down to see his and Sam's fingers still intertwined with one another. How long were they holding hands? Sam gives him a reassuring nod, and much to his displeasure, detangles her fingers from his. Josh inches closer to the edge, looking down into the dark rippling waters. "Come on, man." Chris whispers to him.
Josh jumps in, the feeling of the icy cold water submerging half of his body made his body tense and shiver. "Oh god..." He wasn't prepared with how cold the water would be. As they start wadding through, another splash was heard behind him, but he knew who it was. He looks behind him he could see she was darting her eyes around their surroundings, her jaw was clenched and she looked tense. What was she looking for? In her hands he can see a spray can in her left and a lighter in her right. Why would she have those things?
He knew they were all scared. But of what...? His thoughts divert his attention from his surroundings, undergoing his actions into autopilot.
Sam continues surveying the surrounding. She was beginning to think this was too easy. As she scans the water, she sees a small wave ripple through the waters surface. She stopped and watched the water for any movement.
The three men stop and look back.
She looks back at them with terror and dread in her eyes.
Mike and Chris could feel their throats begin to clench up, the same dreadful thought racing through their minds; Oh shit...
Her voice was cracking. "It's in the water..."