Sorry about last week and the lack of real update. Here is the chapter from last week. Two more should be posted, one as an I'm sorry and another as an update for this week.

Chapter Nine: Courage

When Jessica heard the door open, then heard the voices of Sam and Matt, she let out a sigh of relief. They were here. They were alive. Jess was the one to go to the living room as soon as she heard the voices. They hadn't been hiding out in the lodge for long. They were on their way to the basement, descending the stairs when the door opened. She noticed when Wolfie's ears perked up and when he let out a low growl. "It's okay, boy. Those are our friends." She went back up the stairs as fast as she could, her limp slightly hindering her, until she saw the two of them, enveloping them in a giant hug. Chris and Emily on her heels. "Oh my gosh, I am so glad you guys are here!"

Sam and Matt exchanged looks, a worried expression spreading across their faces. "Did you guys just get here?" Sam asked.

Emily spoke up. "Yeah, we were at the cabin. I'm glad we got here when we did. It's starting to get dark out."

Jessica then noticed something. Mike was missing, as was Ash. Chris seemed to notice this too. "Where are Ash and Mike?" He was cautious with his words. She could feel the emotion he wasn't trying to reveal. She knew worry was deep within him, it was all he could do not to scream out. She knew this because this is how she felt. "Have you seen them?"

Matt nodded. "Yeah, they actually went looking for you guys. They headed down the trail."

Jess looked at Chris in surprise, making a point to not make eye contact with Emily. She didn't feel like seeing a sneer. "We didn't see them?"

Chris shook his head. "No, we must have missed each other."

"Should we go out and look for them?" Jessica asked.

Sam objected to this. "They'll be back. They were going out to look. They'll make sure to be safe and to get back soon. It would be better if we wait right here."

Jessica noticed Matt shaking his head. "Dammit. I knew something would happen."

"What do you mean?" Her blue eyes were orbs of worry. She felt the scars on her chest starting to ache from memory. "You knew something would happen?"

Matt sighed. "I just wanted us all to be able to get in contact with each other, but none of us have service, so we just decided to split up. They said they would be back in twenty-four hours, or..." his voice trailed off. Jessica knew.

"Twenty-four hours or assume they are dead."

Matt froze, then nodded once, slowly. "Yeah. That."

There was an uncomfortable silence spreading in the cabin. Tension was thick in the air. It could have been cut with a knife. The light rapidly disappearing from the sky made everyone on edge. Wendigos. "We should just go to the basement. We can make a plan on what to do to get Mike and Ash," Sam's voice was logical, thoughtful. She wanted to keep everyone safe, get as many people out alive as she could.

"No need. I'm going out there." Jessica was surprised to hear a voice speak up, oppose Sam's leadership. She was even more surprised to find that the voice was her own. "I can't stay here. They're out looking for us. What if something happens just because they thought we were in danger? I cannot live with that."

"Then I'm going too." It was Chris' voice who rang out. "I can't just sit here when Ash is out there, risking her life for my sake."

Jessica was somewhere between surprised and concerned that Chris was coming along. She knew that he was loyal, heard of what he did to save Josh, risk going face to face with the wendigos, almost dying in the process. She shouldn't be surprised he would accompany her. The concern came from the fact it was the two of them. Neither were as athletic as Sam or Matt. Neither were as resourceful and cunning as Mike of Em. It would just come down to their wits and nerve if there was danger. "I'll go too, then." Sam said.

Jessica shook her head. "No, I appreciate it, but the fewer of us there are out there, the less likely we are to get caught. Stay here. We'll be back." Jessica made eye contact with Matt, who gave her a nod. They understood one another. Both needed to stay safe.

She and Chris walked towards the door, ready to disappear into the setting sun, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around, surprised to see Emily. "Come back, okay?"

This was once her best friend, the girl she could tell anything to. They were partners in crime, ready to take on the world. Perhaps this was the first step to getting back to the way things were. Jessica gave Emily a hug. It had been too long since they had hugged like this. "I will." She opened the door and she and Chris disappeared into the snow.

They were walking down the trail for several minutes before Chris finally noticed something. "Jess, look at this." She looked. Footprints. A pair of people walking away from the lodge. This had to be Mike and Ashley. They couldn't be too far ahead. "Do you think it's them?"

"Who else could it be?"

"Should we chase after them?"

There wasn't another word that needed to be spoken. They two of them broke out into a sprint, Jessica out-speeding Chris, as practice from going on daily jogs every morning, adrenaline coursing through their veins. It had to be them. It had to be. She saw their silhouette's in the distance, neither of them moving. She had to get to them. There was a small clearing in the trees, opening around into a little hollow. Jessica slowed down, being cautious, letting Chris catch up to her. She dropped her voice to a whisper. "Something's up there."

Chris squinted through his glasses making out the shapes. "We have to help them."

Jessica nodded. She looked around and found a reasonably sized rock. She and Chris darted around the trees, cautiously and quietly. They hadn't seen what was tormenting Mike and Ashley yet, so it was possible it had't seen them. They crept closer and closer until Jessica was able to throw the rock, making fly into the trees opposite of where Mike and Ashley were. She saw a figure, spider like, gray, thin, wearing ripped pieces of fabric that couldn't be recognized as clothing anymore. Wendigo.

She noticed Mike grab Ashley's arm and take this opportunity to run towards them. She was relieved when she felt Mike's arms around her, but they only had time for a short hug before Mike grabbed her forearm. "Run. Run run run run run run." They sprinted through the trees, making their way back to the lodge. They were in sight of the lodge, almost safe. She could make out Emily, Sam and Matt looking anxiously through the window. Then she felt herself fall, the coldness of the snow suddenly enveloping her. "Jess!"

"Mike!" She called out. Time froze. She recognized the feeling of the cold hands grabbing her, dragging her through the window, but these were different. No window. She was just brought up to the creature, staring it in the face. It's two hands were on her head. She tried to scream, get help- CRACK!

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