Dawn of Nightmares
Chapter 28 of my crossover story, the final chapter, enjoy.
Reviews
Boris Yeltsin: Well, nearly :)
Marina Ka-Fai: Thanks.
Holywoodunderfed: Thanks and well, I'm afraid we won't exactly be seeing that, but, well...read on.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
thedarkpokemaster: Yup, they've made it; LOL nice one :) Now for the finale.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Until Dawn, Life is Strange or their characters.
Chapter 28
Gritting her teeth, Max clambered up until she reached a ledge large enough to stand on. Chloe stood by her and nodded, before climbing up. Max prepared to follow. She bent over, hands on her knees as she gasped for breath. Recovering she stood and looked upwards, biting her lip.
'Nearly there...just this...last wall, then I'm up.' She told herself as she examined the final portion of wall she was yet to climb.
She knew she couldn't delay any further; she had to get a move on. So, taking a risk she jumped to grab one of the higher rocks, she caught it, was able to catch her foot in a niche and then was able to grab another rock higher up and pulled herself upwards. Looking around she spotted an overhanging rock above her head. Chloe looked back, worried, but Max nodded.
Tensing her muscles she launched herself up again, grabbing onto it, she hauled herself upwards until she had a good grip on the surface of the wall, her feet now also secure, with one on top of the overhang.
"Ugh..." She grunted with the effort. "Come on."
She looked up, she was very nearly at the top; just a little further and she would be at the surface. She climbed around, grabbing a nearby branch, set her foot properly and then grabbed the ledge above, she hauled herself up and then, panting, breathless, she stood, up in the surface, in the forest again, the snow falling around her. Chloe had also pulled herself up and also stood, gasping for breath. She nodded to Max who was shivering as she blew on her hands, trying to warm them up.
She shook her head. 'Pity these clothes weren't suitable for this kind of weather; still; just have to bear it, nearly there.'
They knew the way back now, they could see the lodge in the distance and, closer by, the shed.
They immediately began walking; standing still wouldn't help them here, they'd just freeze.
'Although if a Wendigo comes along, it'll be my best defence...Freezing to death.' Max thought with a touch of dark humour. 'Don't think they'd like a Max popsicle.'
They reached a brief divergence in the path, but both seemed to lead the Maxe way, so they choose the right path and followed it. When they finally met they stopped.
"Oh man..." Max groaned.
They was at a lake, she'd have to wade across. Just when Max thought she was done with that, just when she had finally dried off. Shaking her head she dropped down into the lake and shrieked from the cold that instantly bit into her skin, soaking her clothes. Chloe did the Maxe but merely grimaced. Max cringed and forced herself onwards, wading through the water towards the other end, when suddenly she heard a loud noise. She paused and looked around, but nothing happened.
'Oh please don't say I'm getting paranoid now.' She thought worriedly.
Composing herself she continued until she and Chloe reached the other end and climbed out. Shivering uncontrollably, they moved onwards, Max wrapping her arms around herself. She didn't dare stop until she reached a high ledge, she saw only one way down. Taking a deep breath she began to slide down, but lost control.
"Whoa..." She cried out. "Oh shit!"
She grunted in pain as she reached the bottom, only to fall hard on the ground, on her stomach. Chloe had slid down too, only her landing was a little more graceful.
Groaning she pushed herself upwards, she had to keep moving. Their walk was interrupted by the screech of a Wendigo, loud, as if it was nearby. Instantly panic seized them, they was so close, they was at the shed.
She quickly made up her mind. 'Crap, gotta take the risk.'
Chloe nodded and they immediately took off running, going straight for the lodge. Max looked over her shoulder desperately, fearful of pursuit. Looking forwards again, she barely had any time to react before ducking under the tree log.
"Shit!" She cried at her close call.
They quickly stopped, scoping out the area. They couldn't hear any more signs of pursuit, but they still had to get to the lodge, quickly. They continued to run, jumping down the next ledge and over a broken jar in the path. The lodge was within sight now; Max ran up the stairs onto the porch and made straight for the door. But it was locked, she couldn't open it.
"HEY! HEY! COME ON OPEN UP!" She cried out in a panic. "GUYS COME ON ARE YOU IN THERE? LET ME IN!"
Chloe shook her head. "We don't have time Max."
Max looked around, there was no other way around it. She quickly picked up a rock from the ground and used it to smash one of the glass panes in the door. Through it she was able to reach in and unlock the door. She and Chloe quickly entered the lodge, stopping to catch their breath.
Once they did so, Max sighed.
"What now?"
We should...probably check the basement." Chloe replied.
Max agreed and acting automatically, flipped the lights on, but Chloe quickly turned them back off, shaking her head. Max quietly agreed and, after a brief discussion, they began making their way down to the basement, checking for the others.
"How do you rate our chances of survival?" Max asked nervously.
Chloe sighed. "I'm trying not to think about it."
It was then they heard the screams. The door to the basement was open and they could see the others, Warren in the lead, running towards them.
"GET OUTTA HERE, GO, GO, GO!" He cried out.
He quickly ran past them, Kate and Victoria were approaching rapidly too.
"GO, RUN!" Kate screamed.
At the same time, Victoria yelled out. "GO, GO, WE GOTTA GO!"
Kate let out a yelp as Victoria suddenly pushed her aside, knocking her into the wall and making her stumble. She quickly recovered however and ran out, just as the two Wendigos appeared and began approaching the door.
"Max..." Chloe called warning. "Run...RUN!"
She turned and ran, Max however quickly darted forwards and pulled the door shut, locking it. She heard the thumping as the Wendigos began striking at it. She just prayed it would buy them some time as she ran after the others.
As she reached the top of the stairs she stopped dead; the others were already standing, rigid and terrified.
"Don't...move..." Chloe whispered to her. "Don't fucking move a muscle."
Max had no intentions of moving. For there, hanging from the large chandelier decoration in the middle of the great room, was a Wendigo, one that looked just like the one Victoria described chased her in the mines. Max did her best not to move, no easy task after her trip through the icy lake. The Wendigo snarled and partially turned. It was then Max's sharp eyes caught it, she heard Chloe gasp and knew he had seen it too. She had been right all along, for there, on the Wendigo's right shoulder, was a birth mark, one that they had both seen once, by accident, but knew it had only been seen on one person known to them.
'Stella...'
Just then they heard the skittering and went tense all over again, the other two Wendigo were now here. Wendigo Stella saw their movements and growled. As one of the Wendigo leapt somewhere out of sight, the other approached the middle of the room, just as Stella leapt down and immediately tackled it. Soon the two were struggling for dominance and Max quickly glanced around, Chloe was a few feet to her right, the others were further away, near the door, but spaced out, there was no way they could all make it out together, not like this.
Suddenly the Wendigo screeched as Stella threw it into the stairs, breaking them and then against the fireplace. Chloe's eyes widened when she saw the damage, and also a chance. The Wendigo recovered and climbed the wall, Stella quickly followed, both of them screeching and snapping at each other. Chloe's eyes were fixed on the broken gas pipe however, leaking gas into the room, she remembered the information about the Wendigos fatal weakness being fire. Right now, killing them was the only option left. It wouldn't be easy, they'd need someone to ignite the gas and whoever did it would more than likely be incinerated too. Looking around she spotted a bare light bulb, if they could just break it, they'd have the means to make a spark. The light switch was right by the door.
'It's crazy but...but it's doable...' She told herself.
Glancing at Max, she saw she had been following the same line of thought; she nodded in agreement, they had a plan, now they just needed to put it into action.
The Wendigos resumed their fight until Stella threw the Wendigo she had been attacking away. The Wendigo that had disappeared from sight returned, leaping at her as she responded in kind. Both of them collided in mid air, fell to the ground and soon Stella recovered. Seizing the other Wendigo by the head she smashed him repeatedly into the ground before simply pulling his head off. Throughout this, Chloe had been slowly edging her way towards the light bulb. Meanwhile, Max stepped back, shocked and awed by the raw display of power, and terrified by it. She knew, if Stella, or any of the other Wendigos got a hold of her, or any of the others, it was over for them. There would be no wriggling free, no last minute reprieve, just a quick, messy and extremely painful death.
*CREAK*
Max froze as she stepped on the floorboard. 'Crap.'
She immediately went still as Stella turned to her and screeched. Max remained as still as possible, no easy task due to her recent cold swim, her muscles were aching to shiver, but she couldn't afford to. She resisted and resisted while Stella stalked towards her, snarling. Chloe took advantage of this moment to reach the light bulb and, grunting with effort, squeezed it until it broke. The sound made Stella screech again and spin around. Max looked over desperately to where the others were.
They were too spaced out, they couldn't all escape at once; the lodge was still filling with gas; the explosion would be dangerous enough without the rest of the group being in danger. Warren was nearest the door and, at the moment, had the best chance. Catching his eye she nodded and, taking the hint, he quickly darted for the door, making it out of the lodge and to safety she hoped.
'Just gotta, find a way to keep Stella distracted...so Victoria and Kate can escape, then it's just me and Chloe...and our plan.' She told herself.
Chloe cringed as she looked back from where she had broken the light bulb, thus readying it. Stella was approaching her, she had turned her attention to her. Max thought frantically, she had to act, before it was too late. With the light bulb broken they only needed to flick the switch and the building would explode. But she couldn't do that yet, not with three of her friends still inside, they'd be incinerated in the blast. She wasn't even sure she had a chance to survive it; much less anyone else.
She saw Stella closing in on Chloe. 'Got to do something, now...distract her, anything.'
She knew it was risky, it would allow more gas to fill the room, the explosion would be larger possibly; but that was a risk she had to take.
She could only see one option, she had to get the Wendigo's attention back on herself.
"HEY!" She cried out, as loud as she could.
With another screech Stella turned and stalked towards Max, she did her utmost to stay still, despite the chill that seeped through her skin. She also prayed the gas interfered with the Wendigo's sense of smell; it would be a bonus if it did. Out the corner of her eye she saw Victoria making her escape, now she just had to get Kate and Chloe to safety. Unfortunately, at that moment, Kate's foot made contact with another creaking floorboard. Stella turned and began to walk in Kate's direction. Acting purely on instinct, Max reacted, running to nearby pillar and pressing herself against it, making as much noise as possible.
'C'mon, c'mon, leave Kate and look for me, c'mon.' She found herself desperately thinking.
The things she did for her friends truly surprised her time to time. She heard the footsteps and felt the Wendigo's breath as it drew up alongside her. As it turned away, Max glanced out from behind the pillar and just saw Kate exiting. She was almost there now. She darted to another section of the wall and hid, Stella turned again and drew closer, closer than ever before, her face mere inches from the side of Max's. Max screwed her eyes shut tight, staying as rigid as she could despite the overwhelming desire to shiver; despite the rancid breath of the Wendigo as it screamed right in her ear. Despite everything; she remained where she was. Stella turned away and began to edge further into the room. Glancing out Max saw Chloe right by the door; she nodded to her and she slowly, hesitantly, exited. Now it was her turn.
Taking a deep breath she did the only thing she could, she ran straight for the light switch; she heard the screeching and knew that other Wendigo was chasing her. Desperation pumped massive amounts of adrenaline through her veins, she ran faster, everything pounding through her body, the beast behind her screeched louder. She didn't dare look, but she caught a flicker of movement out the corner of her eye, where Stella had been and then heard the fighting, Stella had attacked the other Wendigo.
'Now or never!'
With a yell she leapt forwards, hitting the light switch and propelling herself out the door. The explosion was deafening and made her grunt as the force of it hit her, causing her to be thrown back. Inside the Wendigos were incinerated. Outside, Max groaned and slowly picked herself up from where she had landed in the snow. Chloe slowly stood too, Kate and Warren were seated nearby, Victoria standing just behind them. They stood, watching the lodge burn in silence; as the sun rose, bringing daylight at last and with it, the sound of helicopters approaching.
End of chapter and of story, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
