[ TW: There is a mentioning of a planned suicide in this chapter. It's when Feliciano starts telling his story so if you don't want to read that, skip until you see ** ]

I need to leave. I need to get out of here.

Arthur, who was now leaning against a rather damp boulder, looked around weakly for someplace to go. His vision started to blur in and out of focus like an old camera. Everywhere on his body was in either immense pain or numb from his injuries. With a raspy breath, Arthur got a grip on the rock, furrowing his brows in concentration.

"Okay... you can do this, Arthur. You can do this. You just have to stand. Stand and walk. It-It can't be that bad."

Inhaling deeply, Arthur made a quick push off of the rock, getting to his feet. The moment he put all his weight onto his feet, he let out a sharp cry and fell harshly back down onto the floor. He grabbed his side with a bloodied and bruised hand, the dark purple blemishes on his hands matching the countless ones on his torso. Fuck. It was a dead end. He couldn't get up. Even if there was a way he found an exit, he wouldn't even be able to make it there on his own.

"Goddammit." Arthur hissed at the pain throughout his body, tears brimming his eyes.

Suddenly, there was a chilling tapping and scratching to the mine walls followed by a looming shadow. Arthur whimpered at the recognizable silouette of the wendigo.

Is it here to finish me off? Or, is it going to keep me here till I die from hypothermia or my untreated wounds.

What still perplexed Arthur was why the wendigo hadn't killed him. Ivan said that they were deadly and killed anyone and anything that lived. Yet, it never made any move to kill him. All it did was hurt him and beat him up then leave him till it wanted to continue on. Maybe this was their way of killing... torturing until their prey died on its own. How barbaric.

The wendigo crawled along the floor like a contorted monster, eyes narrowed as it moved. Arthur simply lied there, staring at it. He felt the hairs on his neck stand up as it drew closer and closer to him.

Please... just kill me. Kill me, please... I can't endure this anymore.

Arthur begged silently, frightened to even utter this out loud. The wendigo continued to stride closer to him, the features of its terrifying features coming more into a detailed view. The boy felt hot tears roll down his freezing cheeks, the thundering of his heart echoing in his ears.

To his surprise, the wendigo suddenly stopped. Arthur opened his eyes again, noticing that the wendigo wasn't focusing on him anymore. No... it was looking up. It was looking at the opening above them. Arthur looked up as well, wondering what exactly caught its attention. He prayed silently that it was some deer or squirrel so it could leave him and hunt that instead. However, it was not a random forest animal that caught its attention. It was something that made Arthur's face drain in color.

"-not Matthew. I promise I'm telling the truth! I didn't-"

Oh no... Is that... Kiku? And the others?

Arthur felt his breathing pick up as he began to panic. Shit. No. No. They didn't know what was down here. Were they all coming down here? Oh God, maybe they were coming down to save him... A small part of him was hoping that was true but a majority of himself was praying they weren't doing just that. If they were, then they would be risking their own lives for his and he did not want anyone to die let alone get hurt like how he was.

To his horror, the wendigo let out a short shriek before jumping up and climbing out of the mines towards the voices. Arthur felt his eyes water even more with tears— not out of pain but out of fright and anxiousness that now piled on top of him.

Oh God... Please no...

...

The journey back towards the mines seemed shorter than the journey it took to get away. Luckily, there were no signs of a wendigo or threatening noises nearby as they walked. It lessened the tension off of everyone's shoulders but only slightly. Ivan remained on high alert with his hand ready to fend off anything if needed. Even in the middle of an obviously peaceful forest, they were all dying with anxiety.

Feliciano walked right behind Ivan with Gilbert to his left. He frequently glanced over at him to see if there was anything concerning about the taller boy... like with what happened down in the basement. No one could really read Gilbert as well as how Feliciano could. Feliciano was Gilbert's closest friend out of the group. They were each others helping hands, practically two peas in a pod. This being said, Feliciano knew it was his job to make sure Gilbert was truly okay.

"Hey, Gil?" the Italian boy said as Gilbert turned to him silently, "Is everything okay?"

Gilbert continued to walk, lowering his head so his eyes simply trailed along the snowy path. His lips pursed together for a moment before he let out a gloomy sigh. "It was just like Ludwig."

Eyes softening in expression, Feliciano reached over to put his hand gently on his friend's shoulder. He had a feeling it had something to do with his brother. With how everything went down there in the basement to how it unraveled in the past, both events went hand in hand. Gilbert slouched just a tad at Feliciano's kind touch, knitting his brows together as a shine of tears curtained his eyesight.

"It would be my fault if you guys died. All I had to do was answer a fucking question. I didn't even give a guess. I just froze in fear while putting you all in danger."

"But, we weren't in any danger. It was just a stupid pra-"

"I know it was a prank." Gilbert said shortly, letting out a regretful sigh at his tone. "I'm sorry. It's just... if I couldn't save Ludwig back then or do anything helpful back there... what's to say I'll be any helpful down here in these mines. What I fail to save you again? What if someone dies because of my lack of courage and ability to actually do something right? I can't have another death on my hands."

A frown began to grow upon Feliciano's face as Gilbert continued to speak his regrets and insecurities of what he was capable to do.

"Stop saying that." The shorter boy said rather sternly. Gilbert looked over at his friend, a tad surprised at how serious he sounded. Feliciano continued, "You've saved my life, believe it or not. No, not back at the basement, but months ago..." He turned away and stared out at the white capped trees around them. "When I lost Lovino and the time around the incident were the darkest times in my life. I was completely and utterly broken. You remember how I was. I would sit in my bed and just stare at the opposite twin bed beside me for hours without moving or saying anything. My grandfather who was equally grieving couldn't even stay with me for a long period of time because I look just like Lovino. So, I was practically left to care for myself which was something I was definitely incapable of doing.

"Everyone gave me pity stares and repetitive apologies and condolences every time they saw me. Soon, they all started distancing themselves from me just like my grandfather, except it was simply because they didn't want to deal with my moping. Everyone ceased to visit me since I was the same every time- motionless, silent, depressed. They all just continued on with their lives with the self assuring thought that 'oh he'll move on soon'. At the time, I really needed someone to be there for me- someone to just shove reality in my face and help me move on and accept what happened.

"It had gotten to the point where I was simply too tired to keep going. My own grandfather couldn't even look at me. None of my friends answered my silent pleas. I thought that if I just... if I just end it all it would be okay... That's what I was going to do, you know. I spent a week planning and gathering stuff I needed." Feliciano fell silent for a moment, swallowing the lump in his throat. He never shared this with anyone before nor did he ever think back upon it. It was a shameful memory he tried to compress inside him, hoping if he forgot, it would mean it never happen.

He continued, "The day before I was supposed to die, you showed up at my doorstep. Remember that day? You practically dragged me out of my house just to get a bowl of ice cream... I didn't talk, but that didn't fend you off. You kept speaking to me despite my lack of conversation. From that day, you kept showing up at my doorstep and forcing me out and into the real world little by little everyday. No matter how many times I cried, I complained, I ignored you, you still stood by me. You never left my side... you were there when I needed someone most and when everyone else abandoned me. If it wasn't for you, Gilbert, I would be 6 feet into the ground with a bullet in my head. So don't ever say that you'll never be able to save our lives because you've already saved mine."

Gilbert was at a loss for words. The crunching of the snow beneath their feet was the only sound to fill up the air around them. He simply couldn't believe what the other enclosed. Memories of those grieving days with Feli flooded his mind but not once did he ever imagine that the boy was planning something as harsh as that. Even more so, he had no idea exactly the impact of his own actions. Nothing that Feli gave off back then could ever heed warning of what he wanted to do.

Hesitantly, Gilbert reached over and took Feliciano's hand as they walked. He held it tightly in his own. Feliciano's eyes widened just a bit, looking over at Gilbert to find the boy was still staring off at the trees and scenery around them. However, just slightly, he could see a slight gleam on his cheeks from a few tears sliding down his cheeks. Stepping closer to him, Feliciano wrapped an arm around Gilbert, pulling him into a comforting embrace as they walked.

Not too far behind them was Alfred and Kiku, walking silently. Kiku had his hands shoved to the bottom his pockets, dread hanging over his head. Alfred faced away from his best friend as they walked, a dazed facade painting his face. So many things happened in this night- not to mention in just a handful of hours- it was disorienting. Alfred kept hugging himself as if afraid of something to pop out from all angles. His feet kept fidgeting through the snow, causing his walking pattern to be slightly unbalanced.

"Alfred," Kiku spoke up, "please talk to me..."

Alfred flinched from the sudden voiced words, recoiling when he noticed it was Kiku who spoke him. He took a step away from the boy as if trying to distance himself, which didn't go too well since he was also afraid of straying from the group and witness anything horrifying in the forest.

Desperate to speak to his friend, Kiku stepped towards him, trying to lock eyes with him. This tension between the two was unbearable for Kiku. He knew Matthew probably convinced him back at the slaughterhouse that he chose Matthew over him. That fact pained him and the fact Alfred might even believe it made it even worse.

"Alfred- please, listen to me." Kiku pried further, despair lightly coating his words. "I chose to save you, not Matthew. I'm telling the truth! I didn't want you to die back there. I promise, I chose you. You're my best friend, Alfred. I-"

"Matthew said you all left me back there." Alfred interrupted, his voice hushed. He continued walking stiffly, facing away from Kiku, reluctant to even look at him. "He said when everything happen, you just left me there. So, if I did die back there, you would just leave me to fucking rot."

His words were laced with hurt and a hint of anger as he spoke, his expression hardening in the slightest. His hands tightened their grip on his arms till his fingertips turned a faint white. Kiku opened his mouth to speak but closed it as he found that he had no answer to give. It was true that after everything that happened they all just left the slaughterhouse, not even paying to mind Alfred.

"We thought you were dead- We didn't know what would happen to us if we stayed there." Kiku tried to explain, "We didn't know if we were going to die too and- and we left without thinking. We didn't know what was going on and-"

"Bullshit." Alfred spat, anger now overcoming the rest of his emotions. "If that was you back there, I wouldn't leave you to rot in a damn slaughterhouse. Nice to see you wouldn't do the same for me."

Kiku felt his stomach twist at the words thrown at him. Deep down, he knew if it were Alfred in his shoes, he would've made an effort to try and bring his body back to the cabin. Hell, he didn't even think twice about how he was leaving Alfred there.

"Alfred, please I didn't-"

"Did you even check to see if I was actually dead?" Alfred pressed on, his voice rising in the slightest but not too much to get the attention of Feliciano, Gilbert, and Ivan. "Did you even make sure I was actually dead as you thought? Or did you just assume and left me like how you did?" Kiku was about to answer but Alfred cut him off, "No, you didn't check. If you did check, you would've known I wasn't actually dead. You just left me there. You fucking left me, Kiku."

With that, Alfred sped up his walking, moving around Gilbert and Feliciano to stand more up towards the front where Ivan and Francis were. Kiku remained in the back, immense regret and guilt squeezing his heart. He knew what Alfred said was true. He did just leave him up there. Right when he thought Alfred 'died', he didn't even check to make sure. The first thing he did and said was they had to leave and rushed to get out. It was as if Matthew's prank and act of pretending to be sad and heartbroken was just mocking the lack of loyalty Kiku had in his friendship with Alfred.

The group of friends were falling apart little by little- whether it be by external conflicts with one another or internal ones that silently plagued the mind. A night that was meant to restore the hurt caused by the mysterious and unfortunate events from last year instead opened up new wounds that slowly began to unravel everyone by the minute.

Under the falling snow that pricked and prodded at his unnerved and tattered body, Francis remained close to Ivan as they made their way back towards the mines. His eyes flickered back and forth from random trees and objects that appeared around them. Lips trembled and mouthed silent words as countless thoughts rushed within his head in a disorderly matter like a glitch in a computer.

I'm so close, Arthur. We're coming... We're coming to get you.

"I know you want to save your friend." Ivan spoke, glancing to his side to look at Francis. "But, don't get your hopes up."

"We'll get him. Stop- Stop saying that we won't."

"You might save him, but you also might not. The latter is more likely in the current situation and the state I saw him in. Just make sure you're prepared to properly grieve if things don't go your way."

The teen knitted his brows together at the other's pessimistic words, his own hopeful ones increasing. No... he knew he was going to get Arthur out of there alive. Nothing was going to get in his way. Even if it came to risking his own life, he was determined to make that choice.

Ivan remained silent the rest of the way, knowing it best not to poke further at the poor boy's already distraught demeanor.

...

Surprisingly enough, the group got to the entrance of the mines in one piece. It was a shock to Ivan that nothing dangerous showed up in their short but risky journey over there. Maybe that was a sign that that one wendigo was still with Arthur. Maybe...

"Your friend is in there." Ivan said, with a nod of the head. "I would assume he can be found towards the bottom of the mines... that's where they like to stay. Make sure you keep track of where you're going so if you need to get out quickly you'll know where to go. Also, keep quiet. The wendigos' visions are by movement. If you move, they will see you. Same goes for how much noise you make. If you're cornered by one, stay perfectly still and silent until they go away."

They all took in every word he said carefully knowing it would be very important to remember when they're down there. Francis took even more care into what was said, knowing he was going to prove the man wrong with his doubt in saving Arthur.

"Ivan," Feliciano spoke up, eyes shifting from the steps leading down to the mines and the man, "is there no way you can, um, come with us? We-We don't know everything like you do. I-"

"This was your decision, not mine." Ivan interjected, raising both brows at the Italian. "You chose to come down here despite your ignorance. This is as far as I'm going to help."

The answer fueled the anxiety scratching at Feliciano's bones but he did not consult further. It was true with what Ivan said. They all did come down here and agree to go despite their lack of knowledge and with the knowledge Ivan would not come with them.

Clearing his throat with a shaky breath, Francis looked up at Ivan. "Thank you for taking us down here."

A rough smile appeared on Ivan's lips as his facade softened. "You shouldn't be thanking m-"

Ivan's words were suddenly stifled when a high pitched shriek broke through the air. Everyone jolted in surprise as they looked hastily around them to see where it was coming from and what it was. Francis, on the other hand, went pale.

In the middle of the path they just walked on, a bony, rigged wendigo stood; it hunched over in a menacing stance, baring its razor sharp teeth at the group. Its eyes were narrowed as it stared straight at the group. White, scarred limbs moved towards them slowly, needle-like fingers dragging on snowy floor. Ivan's eyes widened as his hands instinctively moved over the group of teens in a protective manner. There was no way they could just stay still till it went away. It already noticed them.

"Run." Ivan hissed over at the boys, eyes never moving off of the threatening wendigo.

"What?-"

"I said, run!"

Without even a second's hesitation, Ivan pushed the boys down the steps. The wendigo screeched and lunged towards them all, its deadly claws outstretched. Moving as fast as they could, the boys dashed down the steps. Through it all Francis grimaced at the pain in his side but focused more on the adrenaline pumping through him to keep his pace up. No, no. This wasn't good. Shit. They had to go somewhere- they had to hide.

Ivan moved behind them, fingers fumbling for the contents of his backpack. The wendigo locked its eyes onto him, its attention not even being focused on the group of boys. Right when Ivan got hold of the tank, it was too late. The wendigo reached forward and grabbed Ivan into its grasp, jerking him upwards.

Francis, leading the group, looked desperately for someplace that could give them potential protection from the wendigo if it followed where they went. Everywhere he looked appeared to swim before his eyes in a blurred manner. The sound of the shrieks behind him and frantic breathing of his friends and his own buzzing in his mind. It was all too much. It was too overwhelming. It was too-

"Quick, over here!" Gilbert pointed to an entrance to a tunnel that probably ventured further into the mines. He didn't know where it went but it went away from this area which seemed to be the best idea for now. The boys nodded and made a turn towards the entrance.

Feliciano, at the end of the group, slowed his run as he heard a scream behind them. It wasn't a monstrous one but a human one. Turning back, he saw Ivan being held up in the wendigo's grasp, struggling to get free. Ivan saw Feliciano standing there like a complete idiot.

"Run! I'll hold it back-" Ivan yelled, a pained scream interrupting his words as the wendigo tightened its grip.

Suddenly, the wendigo impaled Ivan's stomach with its sharp fingers. Ivan gasped, eyes widening in shock. A dark crimson began to drip from the corners of his mouth as a raspy cough escaped his lips. The previously stoic facade melted away into a terrified one, eyes cracking in fear. The entire time he kept his gaze on Feliciano, who was frozen where he stood.

"R-Run..." Ivan spluttered, his voice now desperate instead of commanding. The light behind his violet eyes dulled as his body slowly grew limp. Lifeless, his head lulled forward, beige hair curtaining his forever frozen expression of despair.

Biting his tongue to keep himself from crying, Feliciano backed away and ran to follow the rest of the group.

Ivan was dead. Their only hope of surviving in these mines was dead and in the hands of the main killer. The wendigo knew they were down here now. Everything was jeopardized. First steps down here and they were already running for their life.

They were vulnerable now, the chances of making it out alive with or without Arthur even slimmer than ever.