Until Dawn: The Light in the Darkness

Chapter 15 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 15

ASHLEY POV

Chris and I walked through the darkened lodge, with our only light being the lit candlestick I held. We began making our way to the staircase which would lead down to the library.

"Do you really think the girls were communicating with us?" Chris asked at last, breaking the tense silence.

I shook my head, groaning, "I don't know. I don't know if I wish they were or I wish they weren't."

Chris sighed, but then shrugged. "I guess we should find out."

We began to head down the stairs. As we did, I bit my lip, looking around, just in case we ran into Josh. I still felt the need to apologize to him. I still couldn't believe what had happened and Josh's reaction scared me more than anything. I felt horribly guilty and wondered if it had been a mistake.

"Josh looked so freaked out at the seance." I commented.

Chris nodded. "Yeah, I mean, he looked like he was keeping it together, but..."

I bowed my head guiltily and asked. "Do you think we shouldn't have mentioned his sisters?"

"I mean, it's why we came back up here." Chris replied, apparently trying to reassure me.

"Yeah..." I agreed before pointing out, "But not to, like, have a seance. Maybe we went too far."

In the room before the library, something caught my eye. I thought I saw light. The floorboard was on a hinge, so I lifted it up. Beneath it was a vent with light coming through; electric lighting, despite the power being cut. Chris and I both agreed something was seriously wrong with that and quickly left it. Now more nervous than before, I approached the door and along with Chris, soon entered the library and began looking around for the proof that was apparently there.

This lead to a close call as we passed a bookshelf which suddenly seemed to launch a couple of books at our heads, narrowly missing us.

"Jesus, look out!" Chris yelled, doing his best to shield me.

Meanwhile, I completely freaked out. "Ah, Chris! Holy crap..."

"Are you okay?"

"I think so." I replied, before looking at the bookshelf and pointing. "Look-"

"What?" Chris turned and noticed something, too.

"There was something behind the books, what is that?" I wondered aloud as we began to move closer.

"Is it a button?" Chris wondered aloud.

We got close enough to see that it was indeed a button and I narrowed my eyes, tilting my head in confusion.

"Why would there be a button?"

Chris shrugged. "That's a good question."

Sadly, that did not ease my nerves in any way.

Sighing, I turned to him. "Well, should I push it?"

"That's what buttons are for, I guess." Chris replied warily.

Nodding slowly, I reached out and then pressed the button, stepping back in shock as the bookcase and wall behind it began to move to reveal a secret passage.

"Whoa." Chris gasped, amazed. "Panel opens, head explodes."

I had to admit, however, that I was more frustrated than amazed. "What the, are we, like, in a movie right now!?"

Shifting a little, clearly recalling all of the spooks so far, Chris replied, "If we are, I hope it's a rom-com."

Smiling a little at that, I privately agreed with those hopes before remarking, "Leave it to the Washington's to have secret passages in their house."

"Maybe they didn't even know." Chris pointed out. "This place is super old."

We both stood on the threshold, unsure, and feeling unnerved. Finally, I decided to voice what I guessed we were both wondering.

"So...should we take a look?"

Chris gestured. "After you."

"No." I replied at once. "No, nonono...you go."

I practically thrust the candlestick into his hand.

"Gee, thanks." he replied sarcastically.

Nevertheless, he entered the passage. I admit, I felt bad doing that, but I couldn't help it, I was scared. I waited until suddenly, I heard Chris speak up.

"Whoa, is this..?"

"What did you find?" I asked quickly.

"Holy cow..." Chris gasped. There was a pause before he spoke again. "Now, Ash...I don't want to freak you out, but...but look at this."

As he spoke, he emerged from the passage to join me again.

"WHAT?" I asked. Just hearing him say that freaked me out. "CHRIS, what IS that?"

"I...I think this might be what the spirit board wanted us to find." he admitted.

"The clue?"

"Yeah, it's a letter." he explained.

I reached out, asking to see it. I read it as Chris explained about it being a threat. He wasn't lying, the object was a portrait photo of Hannah and Beth. On the back was a threatening message, promising harm to the twins.

"Chris, this is serious." I burst out. "We need to find Josh right now."

Nodding, Chris followed me as we left the library, only to be freaked out by a door that had been locked previously, opening, with nobody there to open it. Despite my nerves now practically being on a hair trigger, Chris likely the same, we followed the new path, which, if our memories of the lodge served us right, would lead to the kitchen eventually.

"Do you think someone was actually after Hannah and Beth?" I asked worriedly.

"If so, that would be...really messed up." Chris replied, even sounding a little unsure himself.

We continued on our path, stopping in the last room before the kitchen. Chris turned to me, and I stopped, worried all over again upon seeing his expression.

"So um..." he began, before finally spilling it. "I've just been thinking about something I saw earlier with Sam..."

"What?"

He explained, "There was this wanted poster, like, full on western-style, you know?"

I shrugged. "So?"

"And Sam really thought there was someone following her around..."

"So...so what?" I replied, suddenly getting nervous again. "You're saying that there's some criminal up on the mountain with us?"

Chris nodded. Clearly, that was just what he was thinking, there was more to come, too.

He must have remembered more as he quickly told me, "There was a message... on this answering machine I found and it – it was from this Sergeant saying there was this guy who had just gotten out of prison and there was nothing he could do-"

"What do you mean?" I asked, panic beginning to creep into my voice.

"He was saying it like...like a warning." Chris finished, before realizing, "I mean, maybe that was whoever was down in the basement before, remember, under the floorboards in the library, the light...That guy I told you about..."

I wracked my brain, Chris had told me a lot of things as we prepared to go to the kitchen.

"Wait, wait, wait." I insisted. I couldn't put my finger on it. "What guy!?"

"The guy who threatened the Washingtons...He said he wanted to take revenge by burning the whole place down." Chris explained. "And I found that crazy psycho letter..."

I groaned and turned away, wrapping my arms around myself. "Chris, if this is your way of trying to make me feel better... you're fired." I said bluntly.

Chris was about to reply when the door to the kitchen banged and we suddenly heard a scream.

"You hear that?" Chris gasped, turning at once.

I recognized it and cried out, "That was Josh!"

Chris hurried forwards. "Coming from the kitchen!"

We called out to him, Chris telling him to hold on as I opened the kitchen door.

Suddenly, I felt someone or something grab my arm and yank me into the kitchen, the door slamming shut behind me. I cried out, only for something to hit me hard. I could hear the sound of Chris banging on the door, crying out to me. But then I felt something hit me again and I blacked out.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.