Sorry that this one is quite short guys! I had a lack of inspiration, but I wanted to get it out there! It was originally going to be longer, but I felt I should leave it on some happiness for once!


12. Scream

Okay! Going well so far! Just keep smiling along! Jess' cheeks ached with her smile, paining her so that they could fall back into their usual frown.

Jessica had been preparing herself for the journey for a week or so now, unable to soothe the gnawing sensation of dread stirring in her stomach. Coming here was the last thing she had wanted to do, but her family, as well as Dr North, had believed it would do her good. She was less sure. They hadn't been there to experience what she had. They didn't know

But these were people that did. People all around her; Sam, Ashley, Chris and Mike, they all shared the horror. They were all bound by it. And, oh, how much she wished they weren't. Could any of them be trusted? Michael had been there for her, only when it suited him, dropping her like a used toy when he needed her no more. And she had heard how Chris had betrayed Ashley. If someone so kind could do something like that, was there hope for anyone? Sam and Ashley, they were kind...but who could say what the pair would do when backed into a corner? That's when you find out someone's true nature; when they're backed up into a corner, struggling for survival. That's when you see their priorities.

Jessica shook her head, washing away the thoughts that always clawed at the back of her mind - they were a long winding road that would only lead to a spiral from which she would never escape. Fortunately, there was some happiness to be found in the journey. Emily and Matt would come to the lodge. She wouldn't be alone through her journeys. The trio's meetings were few and far between thanks to the distance between their residences, and so moments together were savoured. The journey would provide them more time together, Jess was comforted by that.

The beginning of her journey had been less than pleasant, however. She had travelled to the foot of Mount Madahee with Dr North, who, thankfully, was a quiet companion who much preferred to drive rather than talk. That suited Jess perfectly. It was when she found her second companion that things predictably began to go awry.

The mere sight of Mike left a sour taste in her mouth. All the sadness that had built up over the months that she was alone turned to anger in a moment. All of the pain he had caused, all of the damage he had done, he was sure to feel it at the hands of Jessica's words.

From the off, the two had been sparring, throwing insults and put-downs as though they were snowballs. The fights only became worse in the cable car. Turns out being trapped in a confined space with someone you hate really wears on you. Although, Jessica had to admit she felt sorry for Dr North who had had to sit through the snide comments and childish bickering for a decent amount of time, but to be fair, the psychiatrist didn't do anything to stop it either.

The rage had kept her warm as she stormed up the hill, kicking up snow into Mike's face whilst he walked behind her. That inevitably led into him taking a pretty decent lead of the group, staying far away from Jess' kicking.

The boiling hatred that Jessica built up over the walk made her practically exude confidence, reminding her of how she had been last year. But as the group settled down again, the crushing weight of reality fell again onto her shoulders, forcing a sigh out of her raw throat. The brimming confidence faded away into a small spark held in her heart, dimming into almost nothing, the heat of anger fading away. And for the first time that night, the cold winter breeze chilled her skin.


Jessica had to admit she was impressed.

She had been told that the Washington family had fixed up the lodge after the fire. Boy they did not mess around.

The whole lower floor of the lodge had been almost completely destroyed by the explosion, only the thick supporting beams still standing. The second story had been missing a section of wall where the flames had risen up, and furniture had fallen through holes in the floor where the boards had been charred by fire. The under dwelling was the least damaged, only the stairs leading down had crumbled in the heat.

But now, well, the whole house looked practically unscathed. The floors had been completely stripped and replaced with dark wooden boards, finished with a sleek varnish. The damaged timber walls had been fixed up so they blended seamlessly with the remaining supports. Jess was most impressed with the pure sense of style that the house had. Everything was perfectly colour co-ordinated, and the Washington's had followed a very warm theme – a stark contrast to the weather outside.

"Huh," Sam followed in behind her, closely tailed by Ashley, "It's really not changed, has it?"

"Mmm…" Jessica murmured her agreement, "But it still feels…weird." No matter how much the place had changed cosmetically, there was still the deep-rooted sense of death that crawled over the place.

"Yeah, but I don't think any paintjob will ever get rid of that." Sam mused, flashing a quick smile to Jessica before walking off with Ashley, hand in hand.

She glanced over to Mike who was conversing with Chris and, judging by the vicious glares he shot in her general direction, he was talking about their arguments and how 'impossible' she was. Thankfully, Chris didn't appear to be listening, instead staring off at Ashley. A blind man could see that he was missing her, and Jess couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. She knew all too well how that longing felt.

Refusing to be defeated by her encroaching thoughts, Jessica cast her eyes over to Dr North who was staring around the lodge in wonder, as if she couldn't believe that the lodge had sustained damage. Dr Hill was the pure opposite; instead he was buried into his notebook, scribbling furiously with the occasional glance at the gathered people.

She sighed, her breath still visible even inside of the house, rising up to the rafters. Jessica moved to sit down before there was a small bang as the door in the foyer was swung open, colliding with the wall. A bright smile formed on Jess' face. She knew who it was.

"Em! Matt!" Jess trotted back to the foyer, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of her friends; Emily seemed to be shivering in her designer clothes, which evidently were not meant for warmth, and Matt was laden with both his and Emily's bags, but none the less seemed content.

She practically flung herself at the pair, wrapping her arms around Emily first; burying her face into the other's hair, instantly feeling calmed by the familiar scent of perfume her friend wore. Emily seemed rather taken aback by the sudden outburst, but laughed anyway, clearly pleased to see Jessica again.

After finally untangling herself from Emily, Jessica turned to Matt, her heart lifting at the sight of him. There was a moment of silence between the pair. Matt's eyes were so full of hope and love, Jessica felt all of her problems melt away in a moment. Pushing herself up onto her tiptoes, Jess gently embraced Matt, exhaling slowly as his broad arms wrapped around her back, pressing her closer to him. If Jess could choose a moment to stay in forever, it would be here. In comfort and in warmth. Together. Safe.