Until Dawn: The Light of Day

Chapter 3 of the Until Dawn self-insert, enjoy.

Reviews

Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, yeah :)
Holywoodunderfed: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Until Dawn or its characters.


Chapter 3: Isolation

Eight/Seven Hours Until Dawn

Mike
23:22

Looking around warily at the spot on the fallen tree trunk where Jess had been standing, I bit my lip worriedly.

"Jess?" I called out, wary having heard her scream.

She screamed again and I panicked. "Jess?"

I hurried over and began to climb over the tree trunk, nearly getting the wind knocked out of me in the process.

"OOOOF" I gasped before cringing. "FUCK NUGGETS!"

I clambered over and jumped down, following the path, looking around warily as I went, using my flashlight to find any clue.

"Jessica…?" I called out worriedly; continuing my calls as I searched. "Ah come on, Jess? Buddy?"

I stopped by an old abandoned tractor; one that had clearly been here for some time.

"You in there?" I whispered as I tried the door.

Suddenly a scarecrow mask popped up from within the vehicle making me leap back with a yelp.

"Ahh, whoa, Christ!" I took a deep breath, calming down. "That scared the blue outta my jeans. The hell is that doing in there anyway?"

Composing myself I continued my search. Calling out at various times as I went up the right hand path from the tractor.

"Jess? Hon? Light of my life?" Then, jokingly. "I totally promise I won't murder you when I find you."

Just then a figure with large antler like horns leapt from the shadow and I screamed; a very unmanly scream.

The figure burst out laughing, revealing themselves to be Jess, holding a pair of loose antlers to her head. She put them down.

"Oh my god!" She laughed.

"Oh my...no!" I cried out, shaking my head in dismay.

Jess couldn't hold back her laughter. "Haha, that was so good!"

"Not...no!"

Hurrying to where she had set her phone down she spoke to me.

"Wait, wait, wait, you have to see this...you have-"

"I'm not seeing anyth – no. No!" I groaned.

But Jess was insistent, holding out her phone to him. "Look, no, no, no. Mike, haha!"

"You recorded that?" I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Look at your face!" Jess insisted with glee.

"I was scared Jess!" I groaned. "You can't just jump out at somebody! I'm in the middle of the woods, it's scary!"

Laughing still Jess remarked sarcastically. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?"

"I-if you send that to anybody..." I warned.

"You'll what?" She challenged cheerfully.

"I'm...gonna...kill ya." I finished lamely, not convincing at all.

Smirking Jess jokingly teased me of course. "I didn't know you had such a cute little lady-like scream Michael. Guess you never really know someone unless you scare the pants off 'em!"

Rolling my eyes and regaining my composure, I replied.

I opted to respond with a casual witticism. "As far as I can tell, my pants are still on."

"Oh is that so?"

"Yeah, looks like you'll have to try harder." I quipped.

"A challenge 'ey?" She replied confidently. "Well I hope you're strapped in, cause you're about to feel the full force of my mind melting thrill skills."

With that, we reunited and continued on our way.

As we walked onwards we soon began crossing a bridge which overlooked a small waterfall; Jessica gasped in amazement, loving the surroundings.

"Waaaaaoooow...It's kind of like a real winter wonderland out here now..."

"Hey girl, you know I hook you up!" I responded cheerfully.

Jess nodded happily and we resumed our trek when we were interrupted by a rather disconcerting noise.

"The hell is that?" I whispered uneasily.

Jess was also worried. "Was it someone screaming?"

"Naw, no, probably just a squirrel or something." I replied, trying to be reassuring.

"Brr. Creep town."

We continued, now more than eager to reach the cabin. But I suddenly stopped, hearing something.

"Shh!"

"What?" Jess whispered.

"Did you hear that?" I replied quietly.

Jess shook her head and I warily lifted a snowball. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should throw it. In the end, my hesitance led to me dropping the snowball as both Jess and I cried out in surprise as a deer jumped out from the trees and tore past us. Both recovering from our close call we resumed their journey, I was certain we were almost there on. On the way we came across an abandoned shack.

"Charming."

Jess laughed at that and joking replied. "It's everything you described Michael."

"Wait, what?" I responded, confused.

"The cabin, I love it."

I rolled my eyes and responded with sarcastic 'yeah'. Still, I decided to check it out, while Jess cleaned up some mud from her coat from a nearby small pond, thankfully not completely frozen over.

A careful search of the old shack turned up nothing except an old miners mask. Curious about it, I decided to share this discovery with Jess.

"Hey, check out this mask." I said, as I emerged, showing it to her as she stood and turned.

"Ew, why?"

"It's so weird right?" I queried.

Jess shook her head, shuddering. "It creeps me out."

"I think you like it." I teased, before holding it in front of my face. "Wanna make out?"

Jess groaned. "Mike stop!"

"Alright, your loss." I replied, throwing it aside, muttering to myself. "This mask is cool."

We continued, I briefly wondering if we'd have any more distractions on the way. We soon got our answer as another deer leapt out in front of us and ran ahead, making both of us yelp. A short while later, we heard a high-pitched screech.

"What is that?" Jess shakily whispered.

"Not sure I wanna know."

It was shortly after that we found the dying deer. The poor creature lay on the ground, it's neck savaged, it's labored breathing spoke of it's agony.

"Damn..." I whispered.

Jess shook her head in dismay. "It's horrible."

Examining the deer I shook my head sadly. "I don't think it's gonna make it."

Deciding to at least ease it's final moments, I slowly approached it.

I knelt down, talking gently.

"Hey bud...hey buddy."

Jess did the same, talking softly. "Oh my god, the poor thing..."

I moved closer and gently stroked its head.

"It's okay...it's okay..."

"Mike, it's in so much pain." Jess said sadly.

I nodded before talking, again trying to be reassuring. "It'll be over soon, okay? It'll be over soon."

Suddenly we heard the high-pitched screech again and the deer was suddenly yanked away from us, into the shadows. We both cried out, terrified.

"AHHH!" Jess screamed.

"WHOA-" I looked around wildly before quickly calling out. "RUN! RUN!"

We fled for our lives as we heard the wet, crunching noise of the deer being slaughtered by whatever had grabbed it, something that was now right behind us.

As we ran, hearing the sounds of rapid pursuit, Jess screamed.

"Oh my god, what the hell was that!?"

"I don't know!" I yelled back.

Spotting a route, Jess cried out. "There's a bridge!" Over here! Over here Mike!"

She leapt over the gap of the fallen bridge, I was following close behind, also jumping the gap. We ran further, ducking and leaping over branches as we ran.

"It's a bear, it's gotta be a bear!" I cried out.

Hardly reassured Jess stopped, looking in dismay at the path splitting, a steep hill to our left offered a short cut, while the other was the actual path. I nodded to her and took off towards the short-cut, she followed at once and we began climbing the slope, I helped Jess up several times until we finally reached the top and began to run for the cabin, now right in front of us. We climbed the small set of steps onto the porch and I reached the door, Jess however tripped, dropping the key.

"Jess!" I turned sharply.

She struggled to her feet, gesturing to the key. Getting the message I grabbed the key and hurriedly tried to unlock the door, urging Jess on as she got up and joined me We managed to get inside and close the door behind us, locking it.

Fighting to catch our breath I saw Jess shake her head.

"Holy crap, I feel like I just ran a marathon!" She wheezed out.

I laughed lightly. "I think we kinda did."

"Was it a bear?"

I shrugged. "Yeah, gotta be, things are crazy fast."

Looking out the window worriedly Jess muttered. "I mean, I didn't see it."

Trying to calm her down I spoke confidently. "Hey, thing's not gonna come barging in, I promise."

Jess turned to me, clearly sceptical. "How can you be sure?"

"Cause I'm pretty sure bears don't know how to open cabin doors."

"I've seen them open car doors." Jess stated.

I was incredulous of that. "What, where?"

"On...the internet."

I nodded slowly. "Really? Okay... Well, this isn't the internet, Jess! Alright? This is real life! And I promise you that no bear or anything else is gonna open that cabin door."

Jess sighed. "I guess you're right. Okay. I'm almost feeling relaxed again. Almost."

She attempted to flick the lights on, but they didn't work, muttering to herself she moved to the sofa and sat down, rubbing her arms.

"Brr, this is not the cozy chalet I was promised, Mike."

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's a bit drafty or something, right?"

"Well, there is a fireplace." Jess stated, gesturing to it.

Smirking confidently I leaned on the back of the sofa. "We don't need a fire to heat things up."

"Michael." Jess admonished me. "I am a lady and a lady needs a proper romantic setting. A lady would like to cuddle up with her man by a nice cozy fire bathed in atmospheric mood lighting."

"It'll get plenty toasty once we're rubbing up against each other..."

"Mike?" Jess repeated, emphasizing her point. "Fire...and mood lighting."

With an indulgent sigh, I nodded. "Yes...M'lady."

I began to search for matches to help light the fire.

As I searched Jess checked her pockets and suddenly began to panic.

"Oh shit, fuck, I!"

"What."
"Ahhhhh, oh crap!" Jess complained.

"What?" I repeated.

"Where is it!?"

"What, what's wrong?" I tried to get her to tell me.

"Gone, it's gone okay." She groaned.

"Jess, slow down." He told her calmly. "What is gone?"

Jess wasn't for calming down however. "my freakin; phone, Sherlock!"

Immediately I checked under the sofa and around with the flashlight.

"You can't find it?"

"Crap, no!" She said, before realizing. "I must have dropped it outside."

"Ahh... shit..."

Jess turned to me. "I can't lose my phone, my parents will kill me."

"You can always get a new one..." I suggested.

"That's like, my fourth one this year."

Grimacing I nodded. "Okay, okay, well, I'll help you look for it."

"It's gotta be outside." Jess reiterated.

I sighed. "Yeah... I don't think we wanna go out there right now with the bear... or whatever-it-is..."

Jess conceded my point and sat back down while I resumed my search. I found a few interesting things in the cabin, a photo of Hannah and, most notably, a book on Native American beliefs, which explained the meaning of the carving we saw earlier.

"Looks like we weren't the only ones to meet the friendly neighborhood terror bears." I informed Jess.

She shook her head. "That does not make me feel any better."

I nodded, indicating I felt the same.

Finally I found the matches and grinned.

"Lookie-lookie, who's gonna fire up some nookie!"

Jess rolled her eyes. "You've been dying to use that line since we got here, haven't you?"

I just laughed and headed towards the fireplace, a small electric lantern was situated on the floor before it, I smirked and turned it on, taking care of the mood lighting. I then got to work, putting the wood in the fireplace and lighting it. Grinning I stood up, turning to Jess.

"Man on, fire zero."

Jess clapped her hands with a grin. "Very nice, bravo."

"Alright my lady, what comes next?" I queried.

With a suggestive grin, Jess stood and steered me until he was seated on the sofa. Casually humming a disco beat to which I grinned and settled back on the sofa to watch. It did not take long for her to start, playfully stripping off, as I did the same, interrupting said attempts mainly with impromptu make-out sessions.

Jess and I were soon on the sofa, deeply, passionately making out, Jess had, by now, stripped down to her white floral-patterned panties and matching bra, I was now down to just my jeans and white tank-top undershirt. It was then it happened and caught me completely off guard. We were making out, my hands moved, ready to remove her bra.

"Jess..." I murmured. "You're the only one for me..."

That was when she pushed me, making me back off, startled.

What startled me the most was the look of cold anger on her face. She forced me to move away from her, getting to her feet and standing in front of the sofa, arms crossed, glaring at me.

"Oh really." She snapped. "Then how do you explain your behavior earlier."

I shook my head. "What are you talking about. I…?"

She glowered. "I am done with this Michael. You lied to me, Matt was right, I saw you and Emily!"

I froze at that, horrified as I realized the terrible truth.

I shook my head and stood up. "Jess, please, just listen to me for a minute, I-"

"No, there is no excuse for this." She snapped. "Forget it Mike, it's quite clear that you aren't over Emily, so just forget it. You can stay here, don't even think of following me."

So, not even bothering to pick up her clothes, Jess stalked off in just her underwear towards the bedroom.

"Jess!"

She glared over her shoulder. "We're through Mike; it's over, you betrayed me and you know it, now, leave it!"

She entered the bedroom and slammed the door shut. I sank back into the sofa and shook my head in frustration.

'Fuck…Fuck!' I thought furiously.

I still couldn't process it; I don't understand what I was thinking and why this had to happen.

But then, it happened, I was startled by a scream from Jess, before there were sounds of a struggle, more screams from Jess but muffled this time. I simply reacted and rushed to the room. I tried to open the door but I couldn't, it was either locked or stuck.

Unable to take any more chances I simply kicked it open and burst in. To my horror I saw Jess, lying on the floor, out cold.

'But who, how...someone attacked her!?' I thought frantically.

But then, before I could react, I briefly spotted someone, a shadowy figure, before they grabbed me and a strange mask was forced over my mouth and nose. There was a hissing noise and a burst of gas before I blacked out.


Kyle
23:42

Once Sam and I finished our business in the boiler room, it was time to head upstairs. Sam had less than subtly mentioned that she couldn't wait to bathe. Like the gentleman I am, I decided to escort her to bathroom. Wouldn't want her to get lost now, would we?

As we climbed the stairs, I reached an arm up and over her shoulders. Sam smiled and leaned into my touch.

Walking up the old stairs reminded me of where we were.

"Strange to be back here after all that's happened," I wondered aloud.

Sam frowned, and I mentally kicked myself for killing the mood. "I suppose. Yeah, I agree. But it's been a year, a lot has happened."

As the last words escaped her mouth, we stepped past the last step of the stairs. We lazily walked our way down the hall to the bathroom. Sam took the opportunity to separate from me, her hand on the door knob.

"Besides," she decided to add. "We have gotten a lot closer over that time.

"Yeah," I beamed. "We have."

Sam returned the expression before she used her free hand to pull me close by my collar. She kissed me slowly on my lips. Her left hand remained on my collar while her right hand left the doorknob and found its way to my chest. She lightly pushed me away, just enough to break our lips apart. Our faces remained centimetres apart.
"Hey," her voice lowered an octave. "Since you've been so good to me lately, maybe I'll let you watch me... 'get ready' for my bath. What do you say?"

She was trying to be seductive, and, boy, was it working. My pants felt just a little tighter after hearing her tone.

I considered. I really wanted to, but I remembered I had an obligation. "You know I'd love to, Sam," I licked my lips. "But you know Chris and Ashley are waiting."

I pulled away from the fractional distance that separated us. Now the only parts of our bodies that were even close to touching were our hands.

"So?" Sam continued on, nonplussed. Slowly, she peeled of her jacket. Though I could tell she was trying to keep herself from bursting out laughing at her exaggeratedly stripper-esque antics.

I shook my head, clearly understanding she was just trying to mess with me. "Maybe later, Sam. We'll have plenty of time for that."

"Oh, all right," she pouted childishly. "Guess I'll enjoy my bath. Alone."

"That's the spirit!" I shouted enthusiastically. "Let me know when you're done soaking up those suds. And while you're at it, work on that strip technique while you're in there. You looked like you were doing a chicken dance!"

I turned away from Sam and snickered as I approached the stairs.

"Screw you!"

I laughed after I heard the door shut. I thought about how fun it was to mess with her as I descended down the stairs to meet our friends.


Mike

23:59

Recovering from the sudden attack on us I groaned and tried to get up. But then suddenly I remembered what had happened, my fight with Jess and then that strange man that attacked us both. I looked around sharply. I was still in the cabin, but he was gone and so was Jess.

"Oh fuck, oh fuck, what the fuck!" He cried out.

I quickly grabbed the electric lantern and, as an afterthought grabbed the hunting rifle I had spotted next to the door when we entered and darted outside the cabin, leaping down into the snow.

"JESSICA!" I yelled before noting the footprints and drag marks in the snow. "Oh my god, oh my god..."

I took off running, following the trail.

"JESS! Jess..." I cried out, listening, praying I could hear her respond, even if it was only a scream.

My heart was hammering, the blood pounded in my head, the wind rushed past my ears. All I could think about was saving Jess from whoever, had grabbed her. No matter our fight, no matter the reasons for it, I had to save her. As such, the cold barely affected me, not even when I stopped to contemplate my choices, for I saw two routes ahead. One was shorter but more risky, jumping over some fallen metal tubing to cross the river, or following the path around. For me, it was a no-brainer and I began to leap from metal tube to metal tube until I finally crossed the river and took off running again.

"JESS! JESSICA! JESSICAAA!" I cried out as I continued to run.

But my frantic searching was still getting no response. I stopped when I reached a ledge and looked around, it was dark, hard to see and the ground was some distance below. Gritting my teeth I set the lantern down and aimed the hunting rifle, trying to use the scope to see the path below.

I searched without any result and began to panic.

"Jesus, fuck...fuck..." I whispered but then stopped. "JESS, NO!"

I spotted Jess at last, still out cold and still, thankfully, dressed, even if it was in just her underwear. She was being carried by that strange freak from before. I leapt to my feet, picking up the lantern and shouldering the rifle again. I wasted no time and jumped down, sliding down the cliff.

"Holy SHIIIT! FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK! URGH!"

The whole way down I cried out, managing to grab a branch on the way down to slow my fall, it broke but allowed me to land on my feet. I quickly retrieved the rifle and lantern and kept running.

"Keep going, keep going." I told himself.

My adrenaline pounded, making me move faster, ducking under low hanging tree branches and leaping over protruding tree roots. I silently cursed, the tracks were getting fainter and fainter.

I stopped again briefly as I found myself at a chasm, there were two ways across, I could either shimmy across the edges, or use the rock platforms to jump across.

'Okay, c'mon...fuck it...Jess' life is at stake.' I told myself and threw caution to the wind.

It was a startling experience, but I managed to make the jumps, some of them only just, once on the other side I wasted no time and resumed pursuit, once more picking up the trail.

I shook my head as I pursued. 'This can't be happening; I can't let this happen, not to Jess. Shit, how could I face her parents that I let something happen to her.'

Growling and urging myself onwards I soon stopped again, I was standing at the top of a cliff, overlooking an old abandoned mine building. Looking at the path below, I made up my mind at once and began to slide down the ledge, taking care to arrest my fall and slowed my descent. Soon I reached the bottom, landing on my feet. He picked up my rifle and lantern again and began to make my way towards the mine building, the trail stopped here, which worried me, I looked around.

"HELP ME!" Jess suddenly screamed.

"Come, shit! Shit! Shit, shit!" I growled as I entered the mine building.

Following her screams I tried to find her.

"Oh no, Michael!"

"JESSICA!" I yelled back, trying to get her attention.

Her scream this time was more focused, telling him she had heard. "HELP ME!"

"JESSICA!" I called out again, but this time, no reply. "JESS!"

Instantly panic settled within me and I hurried through the building, descending a set of stairs when I found them.

My heart leapt into my mouth when I heard Jess shriek again.

"ARGH! NO! MICHAAEELLLL HELP ME! HELP ME!" She was pleading and she wasn't scared, no, she was clearly terrified.

"JESSICA, I'M COMING!" I called out, trying to reassure her, but she continued to scream. "JESSICA, JESSICA!"

Hearing me she cried out, pleading again. "HELP ME! Oh no Michael!"

"JESS!"

I reached the bottom of the steps and rounded a corner, slowly approaching the center for the room, his eyes widened in horror. An old elevator was stationed there and lying on it, was a tape recorder which was playing, as it played, Jess' voice issues from it. I had been following a tape recording all along, I suddenly recalled Jess screaming like that mere days after they started dating, after watching a scary movie that Josh had urged them to watch, one of his father's and it got too much for Jess.

"NO! OH GOD! Nooo... Jessica... Oh god!" I cried; I had been tricked and now I had lost her, and the man who had taken her.

The worst part was the blood; surrounding the tape recorder was a massive pool of blood. I had a nasty feeling about it and it nearly broke me.

Head bowed I nearly collapsed into tears, when I noticed a strange shape forming a shadow above me.

"Huh? What the fuck." I mumbled as I looked upwards.

I could see the shape now, it was clearly a person, a figure, looking down at me. A sudden rage gripped me then and a red mist descended, this had to be the person responsible for what happened to Jess. At that point, only one thing registered in my mind. Vengeance.


Jamie
00:05

I looked around, perplexed.

"What the hell, where did he…?" I muttered.

Brian shook his head. "Face it Jamie, we've lost this guy."

I sighed. "It looks like it; yeah...I don't believe this, where could he have gone?"

We had been following the strange man we had seen earlier, but after following him through several snow filled trails we had lost sight of him. Now, as a result, we had wandered, somewhat lost.

Biting my lip I explained. "Look, I'm sorry man, I got us lost. But..."

Brian just smiled. "It's cool. I was with you the whole time remember, I wanted to find out who that guy was, figure out why he was here, too."

Still I couldn't help but feel that I had acted rashly. Seeing this Brian shook his head and then spoke again.

"Look Jamie, we can't keep looking for this guy. We've lost him." He said. "The best thing we can do is go back to the others and warn them, let them know there's someone else up here and that he's creeping around."

I sighed but nodded. "Yeah, okay. You're right, but how do we find out way back; we're lost remember."

Brian laughed. "Not as lost as you think; see."

I followed where he was pointing and couldn't help but smirk. He had in fact been paying more attention to our surroundings than I had and there, ahead of us, was a familiar path. A path that would lead us back to the path near the shed. So, nodding in agreement with Brian I followed him as we made our way back; hoping to find and warn the others before it was too late.


Mike
00:12

Reacting at once in blind anger, I raised the rifle, taking aim at the figure above and firing. I wasn't sure exactly what happened, either I missed or the figure avoided the shot, either way I shouldered the rifle and began to run up stairs.

'Son of a bitch, you're not getting away from me!' I thought furiously.

Running up the stairs I very nearly fell through a hold in the ground but leapt over it at the last second. I stopped only when I reached the elevator shaft and began to climb it. Seeing a ledge above me I leapt up to it, only for it to break. I let out a yelp but quickly caught a lower ledge. Gritting my teeth I struggled upwards, climbing still, moving as quickly as possible.

'Shit, shit, c'mon!'

Urging myself onwards, although the adrenaline was slowly wearing out now, I began climbing up the right side of a wall, using various protruding bits of metal as hand and foot holds. Gritting my teeth I jumped over the gap and finally landed on the ledge the figure had been standing. Right away I saw it was the end of a tunnel. Towards the end of a tunnel was a male figure walking away.

I pulled out the rifle. 'It's him, that's gotta be the guy...for Jess...'

I pulled the trigger only for the gun to jam.

My anger gave way to dismay at that and I cursed angrily.

"What? Come on, come ON!" I growled throwing the now useless gun aside. "Piece of shit..."

Looking up I saw the man jumping down a hole and a gate beginning to close.

"Christ!" I yelled as I took off running. "Gotta make it!"

I dropped and slid along the ground, only just making it past the gate before it fully closed. Catching my breath I struggled upright.

'Dammit, gotta keep after him, can't let what happened to Jess...'

I shook my head, I had to focus on following and finding out who this guy was, then I'd get my revenge. Spotting an older style lantern I quickly claimed it, turning it on with my lighter before picking it up and following the path the figure took. I leapt down the hole and made my way out of the mines and into the snow.

"Oh fuck." I muttered as the cold finally bit at me.

But then I saw it, a strange large building in the distance, I could just make out the man I saw earlier, walking up the path towards it.

"Jesus..." I whispered to myself. "The fuck is that place?"

I slowly, carefully began to follow the path myself.


End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.