Chapter 4
Seebe County Noon
Samantha Bajic
I closed my eyes but opened them again. I could still hear Hannah's screech in my ear. That smell of rotting flesh...oh God...
I threw myself to the waste basket again and heaved. There was nothing left in my stomach. The police tried giving us breakfast but not a lot of us finished it...or kept it down. I saw Ashley stare at me disgusted. Give me a break.
"I'm sorry but it's just so gross." Ash apologized.
A few of us were sitting in the common room with a vending machine, a few tables, a tv, and some couches. The police contacted our parents and siblings to let us know we were alright and to pick us up. Most of us are from Calgary while mine are from Edmonton. My father specifically. Since Mom and my sister were on a cruise, it was my dad that was going to have to pick me up. I'm not looking forward to that car ride home.
My thoughts wandered to everyone. Thank God all of us made it out alive...Except for Josh but there is a chance he could have gotten away from the Wendigo. Could he?
I felt sick again. Josh...he was this tortured soul and we never notice afterwards just how messed up he was. All those meds he was taking...those talks to Dr. Hill. I found that medical history in the folder and could not believe Hannah did not tell me any of this. I suppose it was not my business but if we had known...this could have been prevented.
I remember telling the Mounties about the mines. They had to go down there to really understand what we saw. What we heard, felt, smelled. Those creatures, the dead body of the stranger that told us everything...I felt sick again.
"Sam"
I looked at Mike who walked into the room. He gave a wave to the others and sat down with me.
"Hey Mike," I gave a sad smile and crossed my arms.
"How ya holding up?
"You have a fucked up sense of humour. You know that right?" I replied leaning my head back against the wall. Room stopped spinning at least.
"My bad." Mike replied. "I think you are handling this well. The police grill you?"
I looked around. Just our group. Ash and Chris were talking and Em was on the phone again. No cops in sight.
"They think I'm nuts." I closed my eyes and let out a puff of air. "Hell, they probably think we are all nuts."
"But it's the god damn truth Sam. That we all came here to help Josh grieve. He was this psychopath that put Ash and Chris through that hell, trying to drug you, fucking sending me and Jess to that cabin. Then, the creatures attacked and that we to shit and next thing we know, Emily and Matt are falling off a radio tower, Jess is in the mines, I'm following this stranger through the mental hospital. All Josh got to reap the benefits and stay in his psychotic little world."
"Then Hannah got him." I interrupted him darkly. "And I think we know either she dragged him off to be eaten or probably worse."
"Worse?"
"He was not in his right mind...what if he...it's stupid."
I had this theory going for a bit now. If Mike was right and took Josh instead of killing him right away, maybe there was good reason for Hannah doing that. Maybe deep down there was something of her that wanted him to be with her. Hell, after thirty days of starving and turning into a monster I would want someone to be beside with. Maybe she wanted Josh...
"He would be crazy to do it. And that weird fire guy is probably down in the mines." Mike ran a hand through his dark hair. I love it when he does that.
"Either way...the odds of Josh getting out are not looking well." I finished. When I told the police to go down in the mines. I have no idea what they would find. Probably Beth's head...probably Hannah's diary...What if they run DNA tests on that Wendigo body? Hannah's name will come up. And finally...what happens when they find Josh?
I wish deep down I could go back to liking Josh. I really want to. I want to remember coming over to his place and having a cup of coffee and talking about Hannah and Beth. Such as the prom night, or some parties we went to, Beth's track meets, or Hannah's piano recitals. It was nice spending time with him. His crooked smile, his perfect teeth, his rich family having me over for dinner that left me rolling out of his house (and cooked amazing vegetarian meals).
But I couldn't get pass the whole terror he brought upon us. Someone who was so hungry for revenge, that just is not the type of guy for me.
Mike was so strong through this. Even after losing Jessica. I could have thought he snapped but somehow...he pulled through. I lost faith a few times when he pulled that gun on Emily but I think me being there helped him. Somehow.
He would tell me what he was thinking. That was important because in the end, it was the only way we got out alive. At all.
"Hey." I felt Mike put a arm around me. "You are doing it again."
I scoffed. "What?"
"The whole zoning out thing. I thought we talked about that." Mike joked. I casually brushed him off.
"Pft. Me? Daydream? Wouldn't dream of it." I winked and gave a small smile.
"So, what's next for you?" Mike asked. I pursed my lips.
"Well, I want to stick around and see what the police is going to do. There is still the whole 'Josh is missing' problem. Maybe I can help with the search."
Mike gave a look and took his arm off of me. He stood up with a stone faced look and seemed calmly steady on his feet. He was still feeling bad about leaving him.
"You don't have to help look Mike. You are not obligated. Go to Jess. She's been through hell."
"I want to help." Mike frowned. His body twisted and turned into knots trying to make up it's mind. It seemed to me like he wanted to leave this room but something planted him here. "I just...need to understand that he needed help. He was not in his right mind doing any of this."
"He was sick Mike." I pleaded. "I told you he had so many meds in his body that I'm surprised he acted so normal at first. This Dr. Hill could have maybe prescribed the wrong dose, or kind of drug."
"But that does not justify him torturing us." Mike argued loudly. He caught the attention of Chris and Ash who stared at him. Ashley curled into Chris and sobbed. I felt a slight shiver when Chris glared at Mike with his icy blue eyes. "Whatever, I'm going to see Jess."
I watch Mike leave the room shoving his hands in his jeans. We are tired, hungry, sick, and just tired. Not just the sleepy tired but emotionally tired. I feel like years have drained out of me just from the past 24 hours.
"So...his name was Dr. Hill?"
I looked at Chris. He came over and stood over me with a questionable look on his face. I geuss I got his attention at the name of Josh's doctor.
"Um, yeah. When I was down in the basement, I saw this file and all the drugs that Josh was taking. It was linked to a Dr. Alan Hill. Also, there was this phone conversation between them...and texting. Something about coming back to the office to get his med's redone. I think something was wrong with them."
"We should talk to this Dr. Alan." Chris said. I gave a look of surprise. Chris wants to do something? That was a new one. He usually chilled and went with any other plans that people made. "Maybe it can provide closure for us some how. We are all still upset with what he did. You know that Sam."
"You think we could?" I asked. "Those are confidential..."
"We just need to get into his office." Chris replied giving a little glint in his eye. "And we just went through a traumatic event...I think that requires some 'professional' help doesn't it?"
I was getting the hint. It was a good chance that everyone would want us to get some psychological help so we don't turn out into a Josh. But, I felt a gnawing feeling in my stomach-and it was not just the bile bubbling to come back it. It was the feeling of dread just like when I was seeing Hannah after a year of her missing.
