Penumbra
[Josh/Wendigo!Josh x Reader]
Chapter 8
A/N: Thanks again to everyone who left reviews and faves on Penumbra, it's truly awesome to get so much support for my work! I'm planning about 10 chapters total, so things are definitely starting to ramp up ;)
"Oh...isn't that sweet..."
Your eyes flashed open. Your back was wet. You were staring at a cloudy grey sky, and when you sat up, you saw that you were surrounded by solid black trees. It wasn't daytime, but everywhere was white, obnoxiously luminescent. It almost stung your eyes to look, and you were tempted to close them, and lay back down again.
So you did.
You heard and felt something by your right ear. Then your left. Something that sounded like a boot, crunching down through the top layer of the thick snow.
Your eyes opened again.
She stood over you with her hands stuffed snugly in Beth's pink parka. Her feet rested either side of your head, and she wore a smug expression. Pulling one hand out of its cosy confines, Hannah raised it to her glasses, and adjusted them on her nose.
"I'm truly touched."
Your hand was warm. You looked over to your left.
A boy lay there. His tan face, dusted with the lightest sprinkling of natural freckles- almost indiscernible unless you got this close- was resting in a perfect picture of tranquillity. His eyes were closed, the lashes giving him an almost feminine look. His lips were slightly parted as he gently breathed in the cold air, and huffed out warmth. His soft black hair was slightly dishevelled, making it look like he had been sleeping for a while.
And maybe he had.
You didn't know how long you had been here.
But you didn't want to leave.
You looked up again.
Hannah was gone.
You liked it better that way.
Good riddance.
…
"JOSH!"
You jolted upwards in a flash, and the boy next to you jumped to his feet, scrambling backwards away from you and cowering by the wall. Blinking, you registered your surroundings again. Dark. Cold. A lantern flickered by your feet, but it did little to illuminate the shack you were lying in.
After wetting your sleep-dried lips a few times, you looked up at the guy whose name you had screamed. He looked understandably alarmed.
"...How...how long have I been asleep?"
Josh fidgeted a bit, then pointed to a small clock on the desk, tapping his nail around the 6 o'clock mark.
"Half an hour?" You asked, and he nodded. Sighing, you got to your feet, and immediately groaned, hand going to your back and rubbing it. "Agh...fuck...remind me not to take a nap on any more cave floors, okay?"
Josh simply stared at you blankly.
-Before suddenly taking your wrist, and pulling you over to the desk. You gasped and staggered over, still feeling rather woozy from your dream, but your eyes quickly adjusted and focussed when you saw him pointing at the ragged map. His long nail was circling around one particular spot, somewhere in the mine. After observing for a longer moment, you realized that it wasn't far from 'YOU ARE HERE'. And the word 'elevator', inked neatly above the area, was even more promising.
"Then that's our ticket out of here, right?" You looked to Josh hopefully. He shrugged, and nodded, to which you responded with a happy beam.
"Nice one, Josh-"
Without thinking, you pulled him into a hug, gently resting your face in the crook of his neck.
He tensed immediately.
When he shoved you back, this time it was a lot harder than before, and the wind was knocked out of you as you slammed back up against the makeshift wooden wall.
"AH-! Hahh!" You coughed, and glanced at him weakly, slowly pushing away from the splintered surface.
Josh was doubled over. His hands were clamped around his head, nails digging into his temples, and he was letting out a dull grumble, occasionally punctured by frightened whimpers. Edging towards him, you slowly reached out with your right hand.
"Josh...-"
Your wrist was snatched, and the world lurched as he hauled you towards him. Again, you found your face in his chest, but this time he was the one hugging you. And that hug only got tighter and tighter, until you couldn't breathe, and your ribs felt like they might snap.
"J-o...sh!"
Choking, you used what little space you had to try and push back against him, to try and sever yourself from his embrace. He flinched when you touched his chest, and his arms loosened slightly around you, enough to let you move back a bit and look up at his face.
Those [E/C] eyes of yours widened, and your pupils shrank to pinpricks.
He was smiling. But it wasn't joking or gentle or teasing. His lips were pulled wide into a sinister grin, baring his sharp, shark-like teeth. His clouded eyes were wide at first, but slowly narrowed, and his tongue drew a line along the bottom of his mouth.
You realized that your arms were bleeding. His nails had dug in so deep to the flesh that rivulets of scarlet now trickled down the length of it, oozing between your limp fingers. Tearing up, you let out a soft whimper, as you looked up at the boy you had loved, and now failed to recognise.
"N-...no...don't..."
It was so pathetic, to hear yourself beg like that, and it was suddenly like Hannah all over again. Your heart pounded faster and faster like a frantic drum in your chest. Josh was going to kill you. Why else would he look at you that way? Why else would he be leaning down, closer to your neck, jaw opening wide around your jugular?
His warm breath tickled your delicate skin, and you shut your eyes tight, letting one final plea taint the air.
"...Don't..."
…
"DON'T! NO!"
"Hahahaha! HAHAHA!"
"[Y/N]!"
Maniacal laughter resounded around you, as a firm hand clamped round your ankle, and started pulling you from underneath the bed. The wooden floor slipped through your fingers, and in your desperation you reached out and clung to the nearest thing. Your arms ended up wrapping themselves round the leg as best as they could, and you clung to the pole like it was a long lost family member.
Your own leg was yanked harder, and you yelped as you were nearly forced to let go of your lifeline. Towering over you, the Psycho cackled to himself as he toyed with you. It would probably be easy for him to just grab both your legs and overpower you, but he wanted to give you a chance, a fleeting hope that you might get away safely.
Slender fingers quickly reached for you, as she cried your name.
You tried to think back to where it had all gone to shit.
Maybe when you'd watched one of your best friends get torn apart by a bloody saw?
Or maybe when you and Sam had been cornered by the biggest nutjob on Blackwood Mountain?
Sam and you had been standing there in the cinema room, and you had both watched that frightening film. The maniac was sick. Sam in the bathtub...you on the couch watching TV, and then...
...Josh.
At first you had screamed. Then you had got angry.
When the Psycho burst in, you didn't want to run away so much as you wanted to run him through, and it was only Sam's quick-thinking that got you out of there, with her deftly thrown vase catching him off guard and giving you both just the slightest chance of escaping.
You both ran from him, through the side door and into one of the guest bedrooms. Obviously unused, given how many dust laden boxes were crowding it, but both you and Sam could quickly see that those boxes wouldn't provide much camouflage.
"Under the bed, quick!" Sam urged, and you dropped to your knees, crawling under with her. The wooden floor burned while you frantically pulled yourself along it, but you ignored the pain and curled up, pressing your chest down as flat as it would go.
Sam joined you there, and you both held your breath and bided your time. That was until you nearly let it out in a frightened gasp, when the door slammed open all of a sudden. Someone large and terrifying trudged into the room, and although the moments silence briefly gave you hope, the laughter that broke it took it away just as quickly.
And there you found yourself, crying and screaming as you desperately tried to connect your grip with Sam's. She was stretching out for you as she tried to manoeuvre out from under the bed, but the tight space made it hard for her to reach back that far.
The bedframe slipped from your hand, and for a second, you thought you were done. As your legs were pulled to his, you wondered if you might have stood a chance, had you chosen differently.
I'm such a coward.
Why didn't I run?
Yet something suddenly pulled you back. There was a hefty grunt, as two firm hands gripped your wrists hard enough to bruise, and pulled you forwards with admirable force, yanking you from the Psycho's grip. Sam had managed to reach you, and just in time too. Immediately, the blonde girl forced herself out from under the bed, emerging on the other side with you in tow. You scrambled to your feet, and followed her, hearing what sounded like an irritated scoff sounding from behind you. Sam's efforts had saved you, and had given you both enough time to run down into the basement.
But it was in the basement that you had lost her.
"Don't move..."
She had whispered to you, one arm held out protectively, the other hand quickly clicking the flashlight off before the Psycho entered the room. The two of you stood there behind that wall for what felt like an eternity, listening to him taunt you, even going as far as to bastardize some of your favourite movies in the process.
And you swore, you swore you didn't move, neither of you did. But his head still snapped round, and he still laughed and grinned behind that mask as he pursued you both. Sam was lithe on her feet and she rushed forward with you, but was obviously too preoccupied with your safety as supposed to her own. The Psycho caught her round the waist before she could realize, and your hand slipped from hers.
Stumbling back against some boxes, you watched in horror as your friend had her mouth muzzled by a translucent mask, and her eyes rolled up inside her head. She dropped to the floor, bath-towel and all, and the Psycho then turned to you, purring out his words.
"No escape now..."
As he lunged for you, your trembling hand brushed against something smooth, and without thinking, you grabbed the solid object and swung it forth with all your might. The baseball bat cracked against the side of his head before flying from your grasp and clattering against the ground a little ways from you.
The man let out a horrible, distorted scream, and you wasted no time. You ran, silently apologizing to Sam for leaving her behind, but also silently swearing that you would avenge her. She still stood a chance. It was better to lure the Psycho away and give both of you a chance of surviving, than to simply stand there and sacrifice yourself. Her efforts couldn't be for naught. She'd want you to run.
Your body slammed against the thick wooden door, and you gasped out, desperately pushing your whole weight against it. Behind you, you could hear him closing in. Heavy footsteps. The clang of metal on metal. Frantically, you scanned the area for a handle, since the one for the door was inexplicably missing. Probably another twisted trap.
Spotting something atop a wine cabinet beside you, you decided that it was better to act than do nothing. With rapidly trembling hands, you snatched the sides of the fine oak piece, and yanked backwards with every ounce of might in your body.
Closing in...
He'd catch you soon, you had to be quick.
"Don't try to run."
His voice was cruel and callous, and it practically froze your spine. Yet you still managed, successfully tipping the shelf over. There was a loud smash as glass and wood met concrete, but you didn't care for the mess you'd made. Your wide and startled eyes tailed the doorknob that was rolling across the floor, and you immediately snatched the ornate piece for yourself, before running to the door and slamming it haphazardly into the gap. Miraculously, it fit, and with a firm turn you forced your way through.
Shatters and snaps rushed up behind you, as the maniac trod quickly forward through the broken furniture, and hurried to catch you. In the briefest moment, you turned, and your throat went numb.
He was there. Right there. Twisted mask and tattered gloves reaching for you.
Thankfully the door cut him off before you could be snatched, and you locked it.
BANG.
Suddenly, the door reverberated with a loud boom of noise, and you squeaked, looking up to see a cloaked hand shoving its way through the peep slot, fingers scrabbling across the wood as they tried to reach for you, or the lock, or anything. Though you didn't even want to get close, you reached up and grabbed the cover, and with a hefty heave you yanked it to the side, forcing his invading arm to retreat-
...Then, silence.
Your heart had never beat so fast. Your tongue was dry and swollen, and your knees twitched and trembled as you took hesitant steps backwards. The sight of the door shrank, until you were a good few metres away. Still, he hadn't broken through, and you couldn't hear a sound.
Did he give up?
No...he's probably planning something.
You were smart enough to realise that at least. Your eyes frantically scanned the area even as you calmed down some, soothing your breathing as you walked through the musty storage room and over to another door. At first, you held back. Was he waiting on the other side?
No...if the layout of this house made any sense at all, he wouldn't be able to get there.
Yet when you pushed the door open, and you tripped, and you fell, and your knees were pierced by broken splinters of rotten wood, you realized how wrong you had been. Whimpering and groaning as you struggled to your feet again, you surveyed your surroundings, and saw something you didn't expect.
What had once been the Washington basement, had now turned into a long and ruined corridor, clouded with dust motes and littered with broken structures. There was a sour smell in the air, probably mould. Did Josh know this was here? The door opened easily enough...but what was this doing down here? This place...
Gulping, you forced onwards anyway, not wanting to take chances. Careful to watch your step and avoid any more injuries, you stared ahead with torch in hand. The hallway stretched off into the deepest darkness you had ever seen. You couldn't make out a single thing. Honestly, you didn't really want to go that way...even if there was a killer coming after you.
Wait...what the fuck were you saying?
"I must be out of my mind..." You whispered ever so lowly to yourself, your voice so raspy that it wouldn't carry far anyway. It was just the dark. Only children were afraid of the dark.
Yet, like a timely gift, you came across a grate in the wall, that looked like it led into some kind of elevator shaft. It seemed like it was the only viable place to hide, at least, if you didn't want to get crushed by falling debris or anything. And you would take any alternative to the shadows ahead of you...
Swallowing thickly, you crouched by the edge and looked inside. The floor was low enough that you could curl up there and avoid being seen. If you turned off your torch, it would probably be too dark for him to see you too. Though you hated to take the coward's way again, you concluded that it was the best option you had.
So you lowered yourself inside and pressed your back to the inner wall, switching off your torch and pulling your knees to your chest. And there you sat, and waited, and wondered.
This place is so creepy. Is it like a hotel or something? I think I remember Chris mentioning something like that...
No noise yet, but you knew he had to be coming...
I hope Sam is okay. Maybe I shouldn't have run. What if he...kills her...like he did with Josh?
But then again, he video-taped her in the bath...so maybe...
Oh Jesus...I really hope that's not what he's after...
You shut your eyes tight and scrunched up your forehead.
Sam...I'm so sorry...
Footsteps. Getting closer. Metal on metal, again.
"Here kitty kitty..."
You grit your teeth behind your lips, and kept your eyes closed. You couldn't see anything anyway. But you could hear everything...
His muffled breathing, like he was wearing some toy Vader mask. The sound of his ridged heels kicking up dust while they took calm steps to your location. Judging by how close he sounded, he was probably right above you.
"Here pussy pussy..."
And if he chose to peek in now...he would probably spot you.
Tears welled behind your eyelids. You had never been so scared by silence in your life. Had he found you? Was he reaching down for you right now, ready to snatch you up by your scalp?
Was this it?
"URGH!"
A loud grunt of frustration, and the footsteps walked away. You waited until they trailed off completely, before letting out the air from your lungs in a massive wheeze. Your eyes opened wide, and the tears trickled freely, as you clutched your heart and tried to calm yourself. You seriously felt as if you might have a heart attack or something.
But there was no time to lose.
Maybe this shaft lead somewhere. Maybe not.
All you knew...was that had to find some way to stop him. Find some way to save your friends.
And find some way...to avenge Josh...
…
Yet how could you 'avenge' the boy who had been behind it all from the start?
How could you stand in defence of a monster?
Josh was frozen. His arms still held you tight, and his maw was still hovering over your jugular, yet he had been seized solid. The reality of the situation seeped its way inside his head, and with slow and methodical movements, he removed his arms from you, snapped his jaw shut, and staggered backwards. Looking up at him, you saw how wide and pale his eyes looked. How petrified he was.
No. He's not a monster.
He's just someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Just like his sisters...
"...Oh...oh no...no..."
He slowly raised a clawed hand to his mouth, eyes fixated on you as it finally registered. What he had really been about to do to you. So hungry, so desperate, so enthralled by the way you looked and smelt and probably tasted. In those few minutes that he had been possessed, you had been nothing but meat in his eyes.
And he was horrified.
How could he even come close to hurting you? After all you had done for him...after you had stood by him...tried to understand...
Even back then, in the torture room, where Chris and Ashley were strapped down with tear soaked faces, and you had stood there and spoken in that calm tone of voice, as if you could never judge him;
"Josh...I know the truth. I saw the texts, I saw the medical records, the plans you drew up. You had this planned from the beginning..."
"Just be honest with us Josh, please!"
"Be honest with me..."
But he couldn't bear to be. Josh knew now what a fool he'd been. He had even sat there in that shed and threatened you. Made false claims that he would hurt you if you even dared to piss him off.
And maybe they weren't even false. That was what scared him the most.
Because when he thought of you getting all cozy with Chris or Matt or Mike, his mind turned to ash and all he could taste was bile.
Normally, he would think it was just because he needed you, like any other clingy, desperate person. Yet just moments ago he tried to kill you.
You were coming closer. Reaching out for him. Trying yet again to understand his fucked up mind and his fucked up ways, as if you could somehow justify them. And the closer you got, the more he could smell your scent, and the temptation rose again...
That voice returned. It echoed inside his head like white noise, horrendously ruthless in tone and talk.
"...Josh..."
"No...no no no..."
"Kill her. Avenge me. She's ruining you..."
"I...I can't...no..."
"You can. And you want to...I know it. I see it Josh..."
"N-no...no..."
"Look at yourself...LOOK!"
His head turned sharply to the left, and his eyes settled on a broken, dirt-encrusted mirror that must have been left by the miner that used this little shack. As filthy as the glass was, he saw himself clear as day within it.
He saw the sharp teeth that were pushing his lips back, the thin, stretched skin that had turned a wretched grey hue, the ash-coated claws that tugged at his temples, and those startling blue eyes, that had already lost all semblance of humanity.
Monster. A monster.
That was all he saw.
"That's right...because that's exactly what you are..."
"Josh-"
No sooner had your hand gently met his cheek, than he bolted out of the room. You were left reeling in his wake as he ran off at an inhuman speed, abandoning you there in that piece of preserved history. Blinking, it took you a few moments to adjust to what had happened.
And then you were off too, racing after him with determination.
A determination to bring him back safe to his friends, to help him return to normalcy and live happily again.
And a rising fear...that it was already too late.
