Until Dawn: A New Path
Chapter 25 of my Until Dawn story, enjoy.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Until Dawn or its characters.
Chapter 25
After watching Sam climb up the cliff wall until she was too far away, Mike turned to Josh.
"Alright, let's go, you fucked up son of a bitch." Mike said as good-naturedly as he could.
Josh shuddered, but nodded, following Mike. He had almost lost hope, but now, here he was with one of his friends again. Or at least he hoped that he could still be considered a friend. At the very least, he was glad that they were guiding him out of this trap.
Rubbing his jaw, Josh spoke up, his voice slightly hoarse. "You didn't...you didn't have to hit me so much, man."
Mike grimaced. "Ah yeah, I'm sorry about that, man. I couldn't think of any other way to get you back."
There was an uneasy silence before Mike sighed. He took a moment to compose himself, getting ready to enter the room full of bodies again. He glanced back at Josh, worried, before entering.
As they entered, Josh's eyes went wide. "No... No!" he cried out in horror.
Mike urged him to keep moving and they did. As they walked, however, Josh started muttering.
"I know, I know, I know, I know... Okay..." He seemed to be talking to himself again.
Mike, however, was able to, at last, guide him out of the room and they reached the water's edge.
Josh looked over at Mike worriedly. Mike just nodded and hopped down into the water. Josh hesitantly followed and they began wading through the water, heading for the other side. Josh finally felt himself calming down as they progressed. Slowly but surely, things seemed to be getting better.
"Oh fu-!" Mike cried suddenly, before he was pulled under the water.
Josh froze, his heart hammering in his chest, mind racing. Then suddenly, a beastly creature leapt from the depths. It towered over him, sinewy and completely white, eyes apparently blind, razor sharp teeth and claws. It was the monster that he'd seen in his nightmare.
"NO!" he screamed, trying back away. "You're not real. No, you're not!"
He was cut off when the monster grabbed him. He screamed, and then, as it began to cruelly squeeze his head, he saw it: the butterfly tattoo on its left shoulder. But by then, it was too late. The Wendigo savagely crushed his head and dragged his corpse away.
Helpless and unable to save his friend, Mike remained covered behind the rock, seething at his own helplessness.
Gritting her teeth, Sam clambered up until she reached a ledge large enough to stand on. 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 that she had yet to climb.
She knew that 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 pull herself upwards. Looking around, she spotted an overhanging rock above her head. 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. She set her foot properly and then grabbed the ledge above. She hauled herself up and then, panting breathlessly, she stood. She was up in the surface, in the forest again, with the snow falling around her. Shivering, she blew on her hands, trying to warm them up.
'Pity that these clothes weren't suitable for this kind of weather. Still, just have to bear it. I'm nearly there.'
She knew the way back now. She could see the lodge in the distance and, closer by, the shed.
She immediately began walking. Standing still wouldn't help her here, she'd just freeze.
'Although, if a Wendigo comes along, it'll be my best defense...' she thought with a touch of dark humor. 'Don't think they'd like a Sam popsicle.'
She reached a brief divergence in the path, but both seemed to lead the same way, so she chose the right path and followed it. When they finally met, she stopped.
"Oh, man..." she groaned.
She was at a lake and she'd have to wade across. And just when she thought that she was done with that! Shaking her head, she dropped down into the lake and shrieked from the cold that instantly bit into her skin, soaking her clothes. She cringed and forced herself onwards, wading through the water towards the other end, when 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 reached the other end and climbed out. Shivering uncontrollably, she moved onwards, wrapping her arms around herself. She didn't dare stop until she reached a high ledge and 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. Groaning, she pushed herself upwards. She had to keep moving.
Her walk was interrupted by the screech of a Wendigo. Instantly, panic seized her. She was so close, since she was at the shed.
She quickly made up her mind. 'Crap, gotta take the risk.'
She immediately took off running, going straight for the lodge. She 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.
She quickly stopped, scoping out the area. She couldn't hear any more signs of pursuit, but she still had to get to the lodge quickly. She continued to run, jumping down the next ledge and over a broken jar in the path. The lodge was within sight now. She ran up the stairs and onto the porch and went straight for the door. But it was locked and 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!"
"Sam?"
She screamed and spun around.
"Shit, Mike!" she cried in relief, before really looking at him. "Oh gosh, you look terrible."
Mike shook his head. "Gonna look worse if we stay out here. Come on!"
Sam 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 Mike quickly entered the lodge, stopping to catch their collective breath.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.