Disclaimer: I don't own Until Dawn, its plot/story or characters. Those rights go to Supermassive Games and Sony Computer Entertainment.

Hey guys! Here's the next chapter! Thanks to all you guys for being patient and enjoying the story. Special thanks to those awesome people for the reviews. They really keep me motivated to write!

"So let me get this straight…", Beth said as she cautiously walked through the so-called Sanatorium. "The monsters out there are actually Wendigos that are here because of a spirit that possesses someone if they resort to cannibalism in the mountains."

"That's right.", the stranger replied as he led them, along with his wolves further down. He had told her the history of the miners and the Sanatorium and how the mountain had been infested with Wendigos for years. Over time, he had learned everything he would need to know about them and would use this knowledge to contain the threat and protect the mountain.

Beth couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had come to this mountain many times with her family and friends but never knew a curse infested the mountain. Then she thought about the flamethrower guy. He said that he'd been hunting those things for years without anyone noticing. If it wasn't for him battling them in the shadows, she would've been dead before that night.

She scratched her head trying to process and understand the information thrown at her. "But… if you knew about the monsters then… why didn't you tell anyone?"

He turned to look at Beth over his shoulder. "Listen kid, if I'd told you last week that this mountain carried a curse, would you have believed me?" Beth scratched her head again, understanding that the man had a point. If he had told her then she would've thought he was crazy. "Besides I tried warning your family about building on the mountain but they wouldn't listen. Nothing I could do after that."

She couldn't think of a response to that. She knew that someone did have some vendetta against building on the mountain but cursed creatures wasn't exactly the first thing that came to mind. Maybe if someone had listened she wouldn't be in this messed up situation.

Out of nowhere, the two wolves beside them began to growl ferociously as if they sensed something before them. The stranger calmed them down and silently gestured for Beth to stay close.

"Walk slow and follow my every move.", he commanded quietly. Beth nodded her head and scurried closer towards him when she heard the familiar shrill of screams. She hoped that the Wendigos were somewhat contained as she wasn't ready to go head to head with them.

They turned to walk around a corner and Beth could see a line of several cells against each side of the corridor. Echoing from each of them were the growls of the Wendigo, waiting in the darkness to snatch up its next victim. Despite the surrounding darkness, Beth could see the creature's claws wrapped tightly around the bars like a snake.

She placed a fist to her chest as if it were doing something to ease her rapidly beating heart. She wanted to squeeze her eyes shut so that she wouldn't be able to look at those things in the eye, but shot the idea down since one wrong step could mean her demise.

The eerie sense of safety came to a close when a Wendigo jumped out and tried to snatch Beth. This time the bars were her saviour, putting her at arms length. She jumped back in fear and backed away, completely forgetting about the cell directly behind her.

Her heart felt like it was going to explode out of her chest when she felt the Wendigo snag her ankle. She yelped at its sickly and inhuman touch. She was brought back as the stranger tightly gripped her wrist and dragged her away from the creature. The two came across one cell where the monster was shackled by a chain that would pull it away from its prey whenever it came close. Beth heaved a somewhat sigh of relief at that extra measure.

The stranger led her to a good enough place for the two of them to stand and get a good look at all the Wendigos. They all glared at Beth with the same blood-hungry expression which made her inch away almost bumping into the old man.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It scared her half to death to think that these remorseless creatures were once innocent human beings. Any shred of humanity left in them was gone like it was nothing. These were the things that took Hannah and now that she saw them this clearly, she began to have doubts if she ever escaped.

No., she thought. She is alive. She has to be. Beth knew she was only getting her hopes up but right now hope was the only keeping her going.

"This is all of them?", she asked looking at Wendigos back and forth.

"Well-", he replied. "More or less. There's still a couple of them roaming the mountains and mines, not counting the one that almost got you."

"The one chasing me…" She squeezed her eyes shut. "Me and Hannah?"

The stranger shook his head. "No. That was the Makkapitew." He continued before Beth could answer as if he knew what she was going to ask next. "The most powerful of all the Wendigos. For years I tried hunting down it just like my grandfather. It wasn't until tonight I was able to track it down. But what I didn't account for was you. The Makkapitew was hunting the two of you and drove you off the cliff. Once I caught up, I doused the Wendigo with flames making sure it was gone for good."

"Wow." That was all Beth could say in response. It astonished her as to what dark secrets lied in the mountain and the terrifying history of the curse. This was definitely bigger than her and the stranger.

After he finished reminiscing, the old man shook his head. "So… Are you still willing to stay here? To hunt these monsters down?"

For a moment, Beth began to reconsider. If she stayed here, it would mean throwing her whole life away for a new one when for all she knew she could be dead any second. It would mean abandoning her friends and family who would have to live thinking she was dead.

But her sister was still out there. And if she left knowing she had the chance to save her, the pain would be more than crushing. She was going to save her sister and she couldn't do it alone.

"Yes.", she replied firmly, with a sense of determination that she didn't know she had. "I know Hannah's out there and I'm gonna find her."

The stranger grinned slightly at her determination but was still confused by decision. He was stuck here, bound to this lifestyle with no sense of escaping the nightmare. But Beth had the chance to go in the blink of an eye and refused. Sure it was for her sister but she could be risking her life for someone that may not be alive anymore. If she was going to help him she would need a bit of experience.

"Suit yourself.", he said. He walked away from the Wendigos back to where they came from. Beth followed suit now being more aware of the Wendigos' claws and a little more confident than before, but still a little jittery.

Once the inhuman cries were out of hearing distance, the stranger picked something up from a nearby table.

A shotgun!

Beth's eyes widened at the sight and almost screamed when he handed the weapon to her. It felt unnatural in her hands. She never thought she would one day shoot someone with her own hands. But these weren't people, they were monsters that took Hannah away. Beth had to accept that if she was going to fulfil her promise.

"You ever shot one of these before?", the stranger asked.

Beth raised an eyebrow like he was telling a really bad joke. "Of course not. Guns are the last thing I want right now."

"Too bad. We're gonna catch one of the Wendigos but you're gonna need some form of defence."

Beth let out a shaky sigh. "Okay."

He looked at her sternly. "You sure you wanna do this."

She felt the touch of the shotgun for a moment and imagined the face of all the Wendigos and then the memory of Hannah's shrieks.

"Yeah. Let's do this.", she said. As the stranger began leading her up the nearby stairway, she paused. "You know, you never told me your name."

Thanks for reading! Next chapter should have some action in it!

XXX