Alright guys, warning, this chapter is graphic and sad. It's also the longest one so far.
The Butterfly Effect
Beth watched from the window as her sister fled into the snowstorm. Hannah was always sensitive, and Beth knew it didn't take much to get her upset. The way she ran out without even saying anything, without even a jacket, Beth knew something was wrong.
"Hannah?" Beth broke away from the window, running to get her brother, who was still passed out at the bar.
"Josh! Josh?" Beth said, pulling at her brother to try to get him up, but it was no use, Josh was slumped over, out cold. "Dammit Josh, shit!" Beth gave up, she knew there wasn't time to waste. Hannah wasn't used to being out in the woods by herself, she could get hurt, or lost. Beth bolted out of the room and out the front door of the cabin, where her friends the pranksters had gathered outside to see where Hannah had run off to.
"Hannah?" Sam yelled out, but she was long gone.
Beth pushed by Matt, who was standing in her way. "What's going on, where's my sister going?" she demanded, knowing something was wrong.
"Ugh, its fine, she just can't take a joke," said Jess, brushing it off.
"It was just a prank Han!" yelled Emily after Hannah, who was already far out of sight into the woods.
Beth stared out into the snowstorm, trying to find some trace of her sister, but it was no use. Visibility was next to nothing. Hannah had vanished into a sea of trees, surrounded by a white, dense cloud. Beth whipped around back to the others, clenching her fists. She could just about punch one of them.
"What did you guys do?!"
"We were just messing around Beth," said Mike, trying to calm her down, "It wasn't serious."
"You jerks!" Beth screamed, turning to run after her sister. "Hannah, Hannah!" she called out, running to the forest. Beth had been through these woods plenty of times when she was hunting with her brother and father, but Hannah? Hannah couldn't find her way through if her life depended on it, and in this snowstorm, that may have very well been the case. What was she thinking, running out here all alone? If Beth could just find Hannah, she could guide her sister out before she hurt herself.
"Beth, Beth!" came Sam's voice, running up to her.
"What do you want?" Beth narrowed her eyes, thinking she was in on whatever happened.
"I'm coming with you."
"I don't need your help Sam, you'll just slow me down," Beth said, turning away.
"I had nothing to do with that, I would never do that to Hannah. She's my best friend."
"Did you know about it?" Beth asked, turning her head back, her eyes gleaming.
Sam hesitated, holding her arm. "Well…"
Beth pushed Sam away, visibly upset. Sam stumbled, managing to catch herself before she fell into the snow. "Then you had something to do with it! You had a chance to stop it and you didn't! You know my sister can't take a joke! You know she's sensitive! Do you have any idea how dangerous this mountain is, how many cliffs and caves there are? Because Hannah sure doesn't, and now she's out there, all alone!"
"I'm sorry! I know it's partly my fault! I wanna help," Sam said. "I hike all the time, I can help you. I won't slow you down, I swear!"
Beth eyed her, "Fine, we don't have time to argue. Don't fall behind, I'm not going to wait up," Beth said, taking off further into the woods. Sam followed, wanting to make this right.
They ran for a while, following Hannah's footprints through the snow. The snowstorm was picking up, Beth could hardly see in front of her. They came to a fork in the path, Hannah's footprints led one way. Beth instantly took the other way.
"Hey, where are you going? Hannah went this way!" yelled Sam after her. Beth stopped briefly to turn back to her.
"These trails meet up! This way's shorter, if I go this way I can cut her off!" Beth yelled.
Sam trusted Beth, but she didn't want to take chances. "If I go this way, we can't miss her! I'll meet up with you!" Sam replied, following the footprints.
Beth nodded, it wasn't the worst idea. She went her way, trying to keep a fast pace without tripping over a stone or a tree root. Sure enough, she saw a shadow pass by in front of her. It had to be Hannah.
"Hannah! Hannah!" Beth yelled, picking up speed. The figure didn't stop, and kept running.
Beth came to the end of her trail and turned sharply, trying to catch up. She couldn't see Sam, she hoped she didn't end up getting lost. As she kept going, she heard crying. Beth followed the sound, eventually coming to a small opening in the woods. In the center, sat Hannah, on her knees.
"Hannah!"
Hannah turned, "Hello? Beth?"
Beth ran up to her, "Hannah! Oh my God you must be freezing," she said, unzipping her coat and putting it around her. "Here, take this."
"I'm such an idiot! I'm so dumb..."
Beth crouched down to comfort her sister, "It's ok, I'm here sis. Sam's on her way, I think." Then they heard shuffling behind them, something moving. "Ah, that must be her," Beth said, looking up with a smile. It soon dropped when she realized it was not Sam.
A large wolf emerged from the trees, snarling and baring its teeth. Beth knew that wolves hunted in packs, and sure enough, two more came into sight to join the leader.
"Oh shit...shit," Beth said. This was bad. This was really, really bad.
"Beth? What's wrong?" Hannah asked, turning her head. When she laid eyes on the vicious wolves, she acted naturally, but stupidly. She screamed. The wolves' ears' twitched, and they charged at the two sisters.
Beth grabbed her sister by the arm. "Run! RUN!" she yelled, pulling her.
"Oh god! Oh my god!" Hannah yelled, trying to keep up with Beth, if not her arm would be torn off by her sister. Beth was a lot stronger than she looked.
Wolves are faster than humans, and these ones were no exception. The girls wouldn't be able to get very far, and Beth knew that. This wasn't looking good.
"I'm so sorry Beth! We're gonna die and it's all my fault!" Hannah cried.
Beth didn't know what to say. Running out into the woods alone was stupid, but it was her friends who had put this whole thing into motion. "You're not gonna die Hannah, neither of us are! Just keep running, and don't let go!"
The two sisters came to a dead end. A cliff.
"Jesus Christ," Beth said, out of breath.
With nowhere to go, they turned to face the wolves, who were slowly advancing, covering all angles of escape.
"Oh god, oh god..." Hannah sobbed, backing up.
"No, Hannah don't!" Beth warned, seeing she was getting too close to the ledge, holding her back.
Then a gunshot rang out close by. The wolves shifted their heads to the sound. Two figures came running into view, one Beth recognized as Sam, the other she didn't know, but he had a gun. A hunter, she guessed. What luck, Sam had found help. The hunter fired into the air again, scattering the wolves.
"Oh thank Christ," Beth sighed, relieved.
Sam had really come through. After this, Beth would never get mad at people for hunting on Washington property again.
"Beth! Hannah!" Sam yelled, smiling to see them.
It all seemed like it'd be okay, but Hannah had wandered too close to the ledge. The weak ground gave out from underneath her, and she went over, taking Beth along for the ride.
"No!" came Sam's terrified voice. Both girls screamed as Beth tried to find something to hold onto, grasping onto a tree root sticking out of the cliff. Beth hung on for dear life, her sister dangling under her as Beth held onto her arm.
"Oh god, Hannah don't let go!" Beth cried.
"I-I can't hold on!"
Beth looked up to see the hunter come to the ledge, reaching his hand out. "Hey, come on!"
Beth couldn't take his hand, not while holding Hannah, but if she didn't try, soon her hand would slip, and they'd both fall. Beth didn't know what to do, she couldn't make a decision. She couldn't drop her sister, there's no way.
"Beth... just let me go," Hannah said weakly.
"What? No, No!" Beth shook her head. "I can't!"
"Beth, if you don't let go, we're both gonna die. This is all my fault, all of it. I'm not strong like you, I'm worthless. I just wanna die..."
"Hannah...no," Beth started, tearing up.
The root gave a bit, it wouldn't last much longer.
"Drop me! You shouldn't have to die because of me!"
Beth looked at her sister hopelessly. She was right, there was no way they would both make it out of this. Hannah was trying to save Beth. As pathetic as Hannah seemed, this was the bravest thing she could do. It was what she wanted. Beth closed her eyes, feeling her grip begin to loosen.
"Do it!"
"...I'm so sorry Hannah."
Beth let go of her sister's arm, letting her plummet. Hannah screamed as she disappeared into the white abyss. Beth felt like killing herself right then, but this was Hannah's decision. She wanted her sister to live. That's what Beth would have to tell herself. She lifted herself to try to grab the hunter's hand.
Then the root broke, and Beth fell down the same hole she had just dropped her sister. Beth had only seconds to try to brace herself. The only thing she could hope for was to break her fall with her shoulder. Beth slammed into a rock, if she was falling the wrong way it would have shattered her spine. She tumbled into a cavern, rolling fast. She managed to slow herself down enough to avoid flying off the ledge, she was still going to fall, but it wouldn't be as hard. Beth finally came to a stop, bruised and battered, but she was alive, and conscious. She moaned, trying to get to her feet. Only by pure, blind luck was her arm not broken when she hit the rock, although she was pretty sure she dislocated her shoulder. All things considered, she was going to have to consider this a good outcome.
Hannah wasn't so lucky. Beth heard crying and moaning to her side. She turned to see her sister lying a few feet away from her, sprawled on her back, her leg twisted in ways a human body should never go.
"Hannah! Hannah!" Beth stumbled over to her fallen sister.
"Beth...you're not supposed to be here. You were supposed to be safe," she said dismayed at the sight of her sister.
"The root broke Hannah, I never wanted to drop you. I can't believe you made me do that."
Hannah shifted her gaze to the ceiling, whimpering in pain. "I can't do anything right, I can't even save my sister. I'm such a fuckup!"
"Hannah, don't worry, help will come, but we gotta try to find a way out of here."
"I can't move Beth, I hurt my back, my leg is broken. My glasses broke, I'm fucked. Just leave me."
"No! No!" Beth yelled at her, "Don't make me do this again! I won't!" Beth grabbed onto her sister, dragging her while she moaned in agony. She managed to sit Hannah up against the wall.
"Oh god, shit!" Hannah screamed, her whole body in terrible pain. "I feel like I'm gonna die."
"You're not gonna die Hannah, you're hurt. You're hurt bad, but you're not gonna die." Beth took one look at her leg. She wasn't in any shape to move.
"Shit."
"I told you, I'm dead weight."
"Shut up Hannah! You have to be strong! We can get through this!"
"You can, you're strong. I'm weak, I'm pathetic," Hannah said, shaking her head. She had already given up.
"You're not weak Hannah, you tried to sacrifice yourself, for me. I was the weak one for letting you go! I'll regret that for the rest of my life. I swear, I won't ever abandon you again," Beth assured her, trying in any way to help Hannah. "Twins are supposed to look out for each other, always! I'm sorry I forgot that. It won't happen again."
"Beth, you're a great sister, but you're wasting your time," Hannah sighed. Nothing Beth could say could bring her out of this. Hannah was defeated.
"Hannah, you can't lose hope. I can't help you if you don't try."
Hannah remained silent. She had nothing more to say.
Beth rose to her feet, holding her throbbing arm. "I'm gonna go scout ahead, try and see if I can find a path or something."
"I'm not going anywhere." Hannah said, her voice drained of any life.
"Be strong Hannah, I'll be back soon," Beth started down the cave, hoping to find, well, anything.
She didn't have to go very far before she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps. Someone was in there with them. Beth's face lit up.
"Hey! Is someone there! We're trapped down here! My sister's really hurt! Hello?!"
She listened, and the footsteps sped up. Whoever was done here, they had heard her. A great relief came over her. She didn't know who would be down here, maybe spelunkers? She didn't care. Help was help.
A figure turned the corner, coming into her view, half shrouded by the cave's darkness. Beth couldn't make out his features, but his clothes were odd, they looked like animal skins, and ragged pieces of cloth stitched together.
"Hey little lady, are you lost?" came his voice, approaching her.
This man immediately creeped Beth out, but she was in no position to be picky. He didn't look like a spelunker, he didn't have any gear, maybe he was a hermit living in the mountains? It weirded her out, but this man was their best shot.
"Me and my sister fell down here, do you know the way out?"
"Why yes, indeed I do."
"Well, that's great!" Beth smiled, "Can you help us?"
"Oh, I'll help you," the man said, coming closer.
Beth's smile immediately faded. "What are you doing?"
She saw the man pull something out from behind him, seeing the gleam of the knife against the light from a hole in the cave ceiling. The man took a swing at her, Beth managed to dodge out of the way, backing up.
"Hey! What's your problem asshole?!"
"Oh, you're a feisty one huh? That's alright, I'll take you bloody if you like. I like my meat rare."
"What the fuck..." Beth took a step back, horrified.
The man came at her again. Beth knew how to fight, she had taken some courses on self-defense. She had been taught how to disarm someone with a knife, but this guy looked like he knew what he was doing. She managed to dodge the first strike, but then he came up high with the knife descending down on her. She caught his arm, trying to hold him back, but this man was strong. The knife ended up going through her shoulder. Beth screamed in pain but kept pushing, fighting for her life.
The knife got stuck in Beth's arm, and she managed to push him back, sending him stumbling. The creep lost his balance, falling down a nearby ledge deeper into the cavern. Beth, not thinking, went to the ledge to look over. She saw him, climbing to his feet. Ahead of him, lights in the cave, coming closer.
"Hey! There's someone up there! Don't let her get away!" screamed her assailant at the approaching figures.
There were more of them. There was a whole group of these freaks. She didn't understand who they were or what was going on, but she needed to run. She grabbed hold of the knife in her arm, crying as she tried pull it out as fast as she could. Her arm was bleeding bad, but she had no time to worry about that. She kept the knife, trying to find her way back to Hannah.
Hannah was right where she left her, hunched up against the wall, motionless. "Hannah! Hannah!" Beth yelled as she ran to her. "Hannah, we need to leave, now. There's some crazy fuckers in this cave! I don't know what's going on, but one of them tried to kill me!"
"It just goes from bad to worse," Hannah said weakly.
"Come on, I have to move you!" Beth said, bending down.
Hannah cried in pain as Beth tried to lift her. It was no use, Hannah couldn't stand.
"Put me down! Put me down!"
Beth released her, letting her slump back against the wall.
"Fuck, shit, shit!" Beth cried.
"I'm done for Beth. I'm already dead, just go. They'll waste time killing me. You can get away."
"No! I won't leave you again!"
"There's no other way!" Hannah shouted, but even shouting proved to be too much for body to handle, coughing up blood.
Beth, once again, looked hopelessly at her crippled sister. There was nothing she could do. Hannah was broken mentally and physically.
"The bitch came from this way!" echoed the voice of the creep she had pushed.
"Shit! Fuck, they're coming! Oh god!" Beth paced back and forth, they didn't have much time.
"Beth, please, go. Before it's too late. If you stay, you'll die. I don't see wanna see my sister killed in front of me. Don't do that to me. Please..."
"Hannah, I, I..." Beth stood shaking her head, tears rolling down her face. "I can't do this again! Don't make me do this again!"
"You're not killing me Beth! I'm already dead!"
The footsteps were getting closer. Beth could see the light coming down the cavern. She took one more look at her sister.
"I'm so sorry Hannah, I couldn't save you..."
"No one could save me. You did your best." Beth bent down, giving Hannah the knife with her blood still on it. "It won't do me any good. You should keep it," said Hannah.
"Just take it. It's the only thing I can do for you!"
Beth hugged her sister, squeezing as hard as she could.
"Promise me you'll make it out of here Beth,"
Beth nodded, "I promise. I promise," Beth broke away from her sister now, backing away. She turned, seeing another passage go the other way. That was her best bet. "I love you big sister."
And then she turned to leave Hannah. She ran as fast as she could down the passage, tears dripping down onto the cave floor as well as her blood. The guilt she felt was damning. Twice she was forced to abandon her sister, twice she was forced to endure that pain. She just had to get far, far away.
A blood chilling scream stopped her in her tracks. She looked behind her, knowing they had found Hannah. She could hear sounds of a struggle, Hannah was trying at least, trying to buy her sister some time.
"I'm so sorry Hannah," Beth turned away to run again, the screaming never fading in her head as she descended deeper and deeper.
