Until Dawn: The Light in the Darkness

Okay, first proper chapter of this story, going to be doing this story in first person, should help me put things in a bit more depth. Won't really see much in the first few chapters, but the characters thoughts and feelings really start to come out, starting next chapter. This is just settling in to begin the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Until Dawn or its characters.

Chapter 1

SAM POV

I sighed as I sat, looking out at the snow falling from the night sky. The dark forest outside loomed almost menacingly. I brushed a small strand of my blonde hair that had escaped my bun, back, tucking it under my hat. I returned my attention to my iPod, which was playing a radio show in which a local sheriff was talking.

They were talking about the horrible incident that had occurred a year ago. I, along with my friends, had been involved in that incident. We had gone to visit the Ski Lodge located on Blackwell Pines Mountain, owned by the Washington family, invited by our friend Josh, the eldest son of the film maker Bob Washington and his wife Melinda.

Following a cruel prank played by my friends on Josh's younger sister Hannah, she and her twin sister Beth had disappeared. That had been a full year ago.

'Now Josh has invited us back up to the lodge, on the anniversary of the disappearance too.' I noted to myself. 'I don't get it; I just, what's going on in his head...I'm worried about him still.'

I couldn't help it, Josh had been very despondent following his sister's disappearance; I had done what I could to try and help him, one of only two of the group that did.

With a sigh I switched off the radio talk and again played the message from Josh, the invite he had sent out.

"Hello friends and fans." Josh greeted on the video, before shaking his head. "Let's try that again."

He stepped forwards and adjusted the camera before stepping back into shot.

Smiling widely he spoke again. "Hello friends and fans. It is beyond awesome to have to have all you guys all back this year."

I bit my lip, watching carefully; something about Josh's attitude in the video made me feel worried for him.

"First of all, I've gotta say I am super excited to welcome back all my pals back to the annual Blackwood winter getaway." He explained before doing a mock cheer similar to a live audience in a TV show.

I continued to watch, glancing up to check where she was.

I had to admit, it still worried me that I couldn't be sure how Josh had been coping throughout the year; he had been saying he was fine, but it always felt, to me, that he was hiding something.

'It also doesn't help that Chris and I were the only ones to really stay in touch with Josh afterwards.' I reflected sadly.

The video was still ongoing and I listened more. "So um...let me just take a moment to address the 'elephant in the room' so to speak. I know you're probably all worried about me and I know it's gonna be tough on all of us going back; after what happened last year."

He pause for a moment before smiling again and continuing. "I know it would mean so much to Hannah and Beth that we're all still together. Thinking of them."

I knew that, officially, Hannah and Beth were still missing, but it was pretty obvious to all but the most optimistic they were dead.

"I really want to spend some quality time with each and every one of you and share some moments we'll never forget." He explained. "So, let's party like we're fucking pron stars, okay?"

He laughed and the video ended; I smiled lightly and put my iPhone away, removing the headphones before standing up and moving towards the front of the bus. I quickly spoke to the driver.

"This is my stop here." I said.

The driver nodded and stopped and I disembarked from the bus. With a sigh I looked around as the snow gently swirled around her.

I was grateful I had dressed for the weather; in a purple long-sleeved shirt, a black leather jacket wrapped with a lipstick-red thick scarf around her neck, gray boots with white trimmings, a fur hat and a red plaid skirt along with black tights.

As the bus pulled off I began to walk up the path heading for the cable car station which would take up the mountain, closer to the lodge, I knew the others would be arriving, or already here. As I began to take a step forwards, I heard a distinctive noise, it sounded like a twig snapping and I could swear I could hear heavy breathing.

"Hello?" I called out, looking around worried. "Someone there?"

No response, the noises stopped; shaking my head and feeling paranoid suddenly I began to walk up the path, my boots crunching through the snow. It did not take me long to reach the gate; I reached out a hand to open it but stopped.

'Huh, what's this?' I wondered, spotting a note attached to the gate.

I picked it up and read it. "The gate is busted, climb over. Chris."

I sighed and shook my head. "Oh man."

Looking around I finally spotted a possible section of wall I could scale to my left. I walked over and immediately began climbing, going as quickly as I could. I stopped for a moment, looking up and judging the distance.

Taking the risk I jumped up, grabbing the top edge of the wall. I pulled myself up with a grunt and once on top, deftly leapt down, bending my knees to absorb the impact. I straightened up, smiling once I was on the other side and resumed my walk.

I glanced around again, sure I heard something, I had a strange feeling that something, or someone was watching me. I brushed the feeling off however, stopping when I saw something else.

Smiling I squatted down, gently lifting up a small pile of nuts and holding out my hand, with the nuts on them.

"Hey, cute little squirrel." I said quietly. "C'mon, it's alright."

I stayed as still as possible until the squirrel came up and took the nuts from my hand before scampering off.

Straightening up I laughed softly. "Cutie."

"Yo Sam!"

I started and turned quickly; it was then I saw him approaching, a young man the same age as me, tall with messy medium length hair, dark brown in color usually but he had dyed it blue. He also had brown eyes, pale skin and a toned build.

While not visible due to his clothes; I also knew, as did just about everybody else in our group, that he had a tattoo of a bird of prey covering his entire back and down his arms.

He was dressed in dark jeans, a black T-shirt with a skull design on it, a dark gray hoodie and leather jacket, both unzipped; black snow boots and a black beanie covered his hair.

I recognized him at once as another friend of mine, Grant Hughes.

Grinning I approached him.

"Hey Grant, what's up?"

Grant shrugged nonchalant. "Ah, nothin' much, was out here...basking in nature's wonders."

I raised an eyebrow. "You mean toking up?"

Grant always portrayed himself as having a bad boy edge; something which I had come to accept as part of his personality, but that didn't mean I approved of his weed smoking. Although I didn't deny, there were worse things he could have done.

"Whoa, easy there girl; not this time." He replied earnestly. "Beside, saw you chatting with the squirrels."

Rolling my eyes I sighed. "Whatever, let's get going huh, we don't wanna be late, the others are probably already there."

"Yeah, right, right, right." Grant replied.

We resumed walking, heading up for the cable car station which was now in view. We looked for any sign of the others. The only other person I knew for certain would be around here was most likely Chris. When I looked around however and didn't see anybody.

"Chris? You here?" I called out to no reply.

I paused and spotted Chris's bag. "Your bag is here, so where are you?"

Looking around, I could see he wasn't here.

I jokingly called out. "You're not in the bag are you?"

Grant snickered at that. It was then she spotted something else.

Chris's bag had it's front pouch unzipped, his phone was slightly hanging out and the screen had just lit up, vibrating.

"What do we have here?" I wondered aloud.

Grant's eyebrows went up. "Oh, message for Chris...wanna peek?"

"What?" I gasped, shocked he'd even suggest that. "No!"

I quickly zipped the bag up. "That's private, it's not any of our business."

"Spoilsport." Grant chided playfully.

I was about to protest further when we heard Chris' voice behind us.

"Sam, Grant, you made it."

We turned and smiled when we saw him.

"Hi Chris." I greeted while Grant casually raised his hand in a sort of wave.

Chris was dressed for the weather too in a layered light blue jacket over a green commando-style sweater, blue collared shirt, and a white undershirt and simple jeans.

He paused briefly before grinning and going to pick up his bag. "Hey, c'mon, got something to show you."

"What?"

"I'm not saying, you gotta come see." He replied with a soft laugh. "Gonna blow your mind."

Rolling my eyes and laughing I followed Chris, Grant tagging along beside us. I couldn't deny I was curious, just what was Chris talking about, what did he have to show us so badly.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, as I said, next chapter is where things will pick up a bit, read and review please.