Disclaimer: I do not own Until Dawn, its characters or plot. I DO however own my OC, changes to the plot (that obviously aren't part of the game since there are technically diff. plot choices).
norapotter. head: Thanks! I'm always worried that I won't properly write a character.
Artemis' hunters: Thanks you. I watched H20 Delirious play two parts but now I'm back to jacksepticeye since he uploaded a third part. GUYS CHECK OUT Artemis' hunters's STORY "Take Me to Church".
So I'm working on chapter 7 already ^_^ I'll probably post another chapter tomorrow.
Josh walked up to the cable car station and saw Maxine sitting on the bench with her legs drawn to her chest and her head down; a black backpack sat beside her. At first he thought of sneaking up on her but then noticed she was still wearing the same clothes, without a coat.
"Max, are you insane?" Josh asked as he rushed over. Maxine lifted her head and looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"What?" she asked. Josh put down the bag he was carrying and his backpack before he took off his coat.
"You must be freezing." Josh said as he put his coat around her.
"I'm fine." Maxine said. Josh's hand brushed Maxine's and his eyes widened. He quickly kneeled in front of her.
"You're ice cold, Max." Josh said as he held her hands between his and tried to warm them by rubbing them.
"I feel fine, really." Maxine said.
"Can you feel your fingers?" Josh asked as he looked up at her.
"Yeah. Josh, I'm fine." she said wiggling her fingers. "I'm always cold, I've just gotten used to it." she said with a shrug. Maxine tried to take the jacket off but Josh held it closed before he zipped it up. Maxine sighed as she had to put her arms through to use her hands.
"I'd feel better if you kept this on." he said as before he took her hands in his again.
"A-alright." she said as she glanced away. Josh pulled his backpack back on.
"Come on." he stood before he pulled her up before grabbing his other bag. "We can't turn on the heat at the lodge since no one is supposed to have been up there until next weekend… but I'm sure I can find some blankets for us." Maxine nodded and pulled her backpack on one shoulder. The two walked over to the door. Maxine stared at their still joined hands as Josh got the key out of his pants pocket and unlocked the door.
"I almost forgot about the cable car." Maxine said quietly.
"Don't worry, I'm right here, you'll be fine." Josh said as he gave her hand a squeeze and smiled. She gave him a small smile back as they walked into the station. Josh used the key and started it up. "Alright, let's go." The two stepped into the cable car and sat down. It started to move and Maxine's other hand grabbed Josh's arm. "Hey, we're okay." He put his hand over hers. "So, fear of heights huh?"
"Um… well more of a fear of…" Maxine swallowed. "falling." she said as she peeked up at him.
"Hey," Josh moved his arm to put it around her and pull her against him. "there will be no falling on my watch." he said as he rubbed her arm up and down slowly. "Just relax and try to keep warm."
"Are you getting cold?" Maxine asked.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." he said.
"Okay, if you're sure." Maxine said. Josh nodded with a smile and gave her hand another squeeze.
"Alright, it's still a pretty long walk to the lodge. You sure you're warm enough?" Josh asked as the two walked.
"Josh, I'm fine. I really wish you would take your jacket back, you must be cold."
"Max, I told you that I'm fine." Josh said. "We'll get up to the lodge and you can bury me in blankets." he added with a chuckle. "Ya know, I never did ask you, why are you wearing the same clothes from yesterday?"
"Well you've only seen me in these clothes." Maxine said with a shrug. "I thought it might be weird otherwise."
"So you washed your clothes to wear them again today?" Josh asked with an amused smile.
"Mhm." Maxine said with a nod.
"Wow." Josh said with a chuckle. Maxine smirked slightly.
"What? Do you not like my clothes?" she asked.
"No your clothes are fine." Josh said. "I'm just staying you're pretty dedicated to only letting me see you in one thing."
"I like this outfit." Maxine said. "I have a lot of pockets, pockets can be really handy." she said looking down at her pants. Josh rolled his eyes with a smirk.
"C'mon, we're almost there." Josh said.
…
The two reached the lodge and instead of going up to the front door Josh turned and started walking down a path.
"Uh Josh?" Maxine asked as she stopped walking.
"We can't go in through the front door." Josh said glancing back at her. "It's frozen over. I uh… I came here last weekend to set up a few things before hand."
"Frozen over?" Maxine asked. Josh nodded.
"It's going to work to our advantage though." Josh said with a smirk. "Follow me." The two walked around back and found a row of high windows. "We go in through here." Josh said as he pointed to one of them.
"I'm not sure if your bag will fit." Maxine said.
"Sure it will."
"Let me rephrase that: I don't think we're gunna be able to get it up to get through the window." Maxine said.
"Don't worry. We can do it." Josh said. "Here help me move this."Josh said as he put his bags down. Maxine put hers down as well and walked over to him. She put her back against the metal container and started to push as Josh put his hands on either side of her to push. He flashed a smile down at her when she looked up at him. They moved it under the window before standing up. "Ladies first?" Maxine glanced up at the window before she nodded.
"Alright." she said before climbing up.
"Be careful." Josh said holding up his hands to catch her should she fall.
"I'm good." Maxine said with a nod as she lifted the window open before she swung her leg inside. She swung her other leg in and slowly lowered herself. Her foot hit the edge of a counter and slipped off. She let out a yelp as she fell but landed on her feet, her hands slammed the counter as she caught herself.
"Max! Are you alright?" Josh asked as he climbed up to look inside.
"I'm fine." she said as looked up at him. "Pass me the bags."
"Alright." Josh said before he got down to get them.
…
"So I'll have someone do what we just did to get the door open." Josh said as the two picked up their bags and walked through the room. "I already set up a few… hints… for whoever I have get the door." Maxine nodded.
"So what do we need to set up?" she asked.
"Well there's a few things I have to do." Josh said. "But I need you to put more hints around so everyone thinks there's a maniac up here with us." He said with a chuckle. "Well that and I need you to familiarize yourself with the place."
"Alright."
"We'll need to set up the fake ghost, figure out how to move the spirit board on our own…"
"I can handle that." Maxine said. Josh looked at her. "The spirit board part." Josh nodded.
"Alright. Um… we also have to set up a few recordings.." Josh said.
"Okay."
"Um... you can stay in my room." Josh said. "I'll say in my parent's." Maxine nodded. "If you're tired you could go lay down, I know it was a long walk."
"I'm fine." Maxine said with a smile.
"Alright, if you're sure." Josh said as he returned the smile.
"It's pretty freaky down here."
"Don't worry, I'll protect ya." Josh said with a smirk and a wink. Maxine rolled her eyes as she tried to ignore the colour that came to her cheeks.
"Can we light some of these candles or something?" Maxine asked as she noticed the candles on a few tables.
"Ah, a little mood lighting?" Josh teased.
"You know what I mean." Maxine said as she lightly hit his arm. Josh chuckled.
"Yeah, here." Josh reached into his pocket then handed her a lighter.
"This place is huge." Maxine said after she lit a few of the candles.
"I'll go get us some blankets." Josh said before he jogged up the stairs.
…
A few minutes later Josh came back down the stairs with an armful of blankets.
"I'm sorry I can't light a fire for you." he said as he walked over to Maxine who sat on the couch.
"It's alright." Maxine gave him a smile. Josh put the blankets down before he grabbed one and flicked it open above Maxine, bringing it down around her.
"There ya go." Josh said with a smile as he fixed the blanket around her. She smiled shyly at him as he rubbed her shoulders briefly.
"Thanks." Maxine said quietly. Josh stood with a smile and grabbed a blanket for himself. He pulled it around himself before he sat next to Maxine and put his arm, as well as half his blanket, around her.
"After we get you warmed up we'll head down to the basement to set up. Kay?" Josh asked. Maxine nodded.
Maxine put the dollhouse key up on the hook before she put the painting up to cover it. Maxine headed back to where Josh had been drilling holes in the pipes and found the drill on the table but no Josh in sight.
"Josh?" she called. "W-Where'd you go?" There was a thud behind her. She whirled around with a gasp but nothing was there. Maxine took a step back and her back hit something hard. She let out a scream as she turned around.
"Max!" Josh grabbed her shoulders. "It's only me!" Maxine put a hand on her chest as she closed her eyes. "You alright?" Maxine hit Josh's arm.
"You scared me!" she said with a frown as she looked up at him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Josh said with a small smile. "There's nothing down here but you and me."
"I know." Maxine said as she looked down. Josh gently held her chin and lifted her head.
"Hey, I said I'd protect you, didn't I?" he asked as he tilted his head. Maxine started to smile which made Josh grin. "That'a girl." he said as he patted her shoulder.
"It's getting pretty late." Josh said as the two headed upstairs. "Guess it's time we hit the hay. I'll show you to my room." Maxine nodded and followed him. "Here we are." Josh opened the door and gestured into the room.
"Where will you be?" Maxine asked.
"I'll be in my parents room." He turned and pointed down the hallway at a door. "Through that door and a little further down there's another set of doors."
"That far away?" Maxine asked with a frown. Josh looked down at her.
"Yeah. You… you gunna be okay?" he asked. Maxine started to wring her wrists. "You want… uh… you want me to stay with you?"
"Would you?" Maxine looked up at him. The look on her face reminded him of a lost child. "Please?"
"Yeah, sure, of course." Josh said with a nod.
"Just until I fall asleep." Maxine said quickly. "Then you can go if you want…"
"I'll stay, don't worry." Josh said with a soft smile. "Come on." he said before going into the room. "Do you want me to get more blankets?"
"I'm not that cold." Maxine said with a smile. Josh nodded.
"Alright." he said. Maxine sat on the edge of the bed and took her boots off. Josh stood awkwardly until she turned to look at him. "Uh…" Josh blinked and pulled off one of his boots before he ended up falling over. Maxine started to giggle as Josh ran a hand through his hair. "Smooth, Josh…" he mumbled to himself.
"Are you okay?" Maxine asked as she moved to look down at him.
"I'm fine." Josh said before he took off his boots and put them aside. "Scoot over." he said as he got up. Maxine moved under the covers and Josh hesitantly joined her. "You warm enough?" he asked after a moment.
"Mhm." Maxine hummed. "Thank you for staying with me." she whispered.
"Of course." Josh said. "Get some sleep, Max."
"Goodnight." Maxine whispered. Josh closed his eyes only to open them wide when he felt Maxine's lips on his cheek. He turned his head to see her nuzzling her head against the pillow with her eyes closed. A small smile pulled at Josh's lips as he closed his eyes again.
Josh woke and immediately smiled at the weight on his chest. He looked down to see Maxine's red and black hat. He could feel the weight of her hand on his stomach as her hand lightly gripped his shirt. His hand rested on her back and he tried his hardest not to move it. Maxine shifted slightly before she looked up at him.
"Morning." he whispered as he tried and failed to hide his smile.
"Good morning." she whispered back. Josh's hand started to trace circles on Maxine's back subconsciously.
"You uh… sleep well?" he asked. Maxine nodded.
"Mhm." she hummed. "Any more we need to set up today?" she asked.
"I just need to set up all the cameras and the video to send to everyone. You gunna help me out?" he asked.
"What else would I do?" Maxine asked as she rolled her eyes. Josh smirked.
Like I said above I'll probably post another chapter tomorrow.