AN UPDATE?! WHOA
JOSH; BLACKWOOD STATION; 23:57
SEVENTEEN HOURS SINCE INCIDENT
"It is presently 2357 hours on February 2nd, 2015. Special Agent Marina Lennox along with Special Agent in Charge Finneas Bloom, currently at the Blackwood Station in Alberta, Canada to interview Joshua Washington. This is for BWS case number 2015-395. Now, Josh, I want to go ahead and get some basic information down here that we want to get ironed out for the report. Can you state your name for the record?"
Hey, friends. Missed me? I thought you would. I wasn't really listening much to the police officer. It's been crazy in the helicopter. They were kind enough to warm us up. Though, I'm guessing that they're just doing their job. They don't really give a fuck.
The minute we went down from the helicopter, we were brought to the medic. They needed to do a lot for Jess, and I'm not surprised. She looks like shit with all her wounds. They fixed my shoulder but it still stings. And then we were brought here.. I think Jess is in the other room somewhere. I wonder what they're talking about. Probably not much difference with what's happening in my room.
I know, logically, that there's only three people in this room. Me and the two cops at the other side of the table. But of course, since I'm the luckiest fucking bastard in the planet, I have my two dead sisters lingering behind them, staring at me with their skinless frowns. I should wear some crowns. Fuck, I'm scared of clowns. Uhhh, what was I saying?
"Josh?" the officer asks in front of me.
"Huh, what?" I ask like a stupid fucking useless piece of shit that I am.
"I said: can you state your name for the record?" he asks in a more annoyed tone.
"Ahhh, right, yeah. My name is Joshua Washington or just Josh."
"And for the record, are you speaking to me voluntarily?" he asks.
Do I really have a choice?
"I guess? Yes."
"Great. Thanks, Josh. Now, a few days ago, you invited your friends to go up Blackwood Mountain. But around seven o'clock, the lodge your family owns had an explosion, and your friends all suffered different kinds of injuries."
I know I punched Ashley. And that Jess looked like she got tortured. But I didn't know the others went through hell, too. Though, if my memory isn't shitty, I think Mike had a cast around his hand.
"They did?" I ask him.
"Yes. Now, we're looking into that incident, as you know, so I'm going to ask you some questions about some things we've found and about what you've been doing for the last few days, as well as what your friends had stated in the record. All right?"
Fuck. So, they probably know what I did in the lodge, too, huh? I mean I didn't hurt anyone, I think, right? Will I be jailed for this? Fuck, I hope not.
"Yeah, sure," I just say.
"Lie. Don't tell them anything!" not-Hannah yell-whispers behind the officer.
"No, it's your fault we're dead! Tell them it's your fault and serve time like you deserve!" Not-Beth yells.
"You'll be alone in a jail cell."
"All alone."
"And die alone."
"Like how we did!"
"STOP!" I yell.
Blinking, I find myself in the arms of two bigger officers, holding my arms and head steady. I feel a pain on my forehead. I guess I've been hitting my head on the table. Not the first time it's happened to me but I guess these officers haven't seen much of a deranged detainee before.
"Er, I'm okay now," I tell the two officers calmly.
After a while, they let me go. But they don't leave and instead, are now standing right on either side of me. Great. Just great.
"Can you tell us what just happened there?" the female officer asks softly.
I shake my head. "Nothing. It's nothing."
I didn't even tell Dr. Hill about this. What makes these stranger officers think I'll tell them anything about me?
"I'm just… not okay."
"Because?" she presses on.
What the fuck do I say?
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because it's the anniversary of my sisters' deaths?" I reply with an eye roll that would make Emily proud.
"So, you brought your friends here to commemorate their deaths?"
"Yeah…"
"Your friend, Ashley, says you put them through psychological trauma with saws, and the threat of death. Is that true?"
Is Ashley even still my friend at this point? Is Chris? Are any of them still my friends at this point? I guess Jess is. But that's only because we had to have each other back in the mines when we were alone. I don't think I even really forgive her. What's a sorry gonna do with my sisters' deaths?
"The saws…" I start before chuckling. "They're stupid. I was never gonna harm them. They were just props for my own film. It's not my fault they think they'd die from it."
"Why did you make them go through this, er, film of yours?"
"I wanted them to be famous. They're my friends," I say deadpan.
Because that's it right? Sam and Chris are my best friends. I wanted to give them the glory. Chris gets the girl and Sam gets to be the final girl. Chris gets to be the knight in shining armor for his perfect princess Ash and Sam gets to be the queen that wins in the end of a horror film.
Why them? That's what Jess has been asking me. Why them? I mean, they're my best friends.
Like… they didn't even do anything with the prank. Chris was dead drunk with me, right? He didn't do anything. He didn't lift a goddamn finger for anyone because he was blackout drunk. Like me. Who didn't do a fucking thing.
And Sam? Oh beautiful bathing bird Sam. Hannah's best friend. Hannah, who died. Hannah, who I was told ran to the woods from getting her heart broken. Sam should have had Hannah's back, right? And of course, since she wasn't able to stop the prank, Beth had to run after Hannah. I mean, they're twins. They have some sort of magic—some telepathy between twins. They have a special bond.
Of course, they were born into this world together. It was poetic how they also left the world with each other.
Mike, the bastard, of course, he's the one to truly blame. He broke my little sweet sister's heart. Toying with her feelings like the fucking asshole that he is. Em and Jess planning the prank. The masterminds that made the plan that would bring my family misery. Ash and Matt laughing with the latter filming the whole thing. Ash and Matt, the snakes, pretending to be all sweet and nice and gentle, when they were in on that prank, too. Just because Ash acts like an innocent and Matt acts like a gentleman, doesn't mean they are not accountable for their behavior, right?
But I don't give a fuck about them. They are dead to me. They're nothing more than assholes who killed my sisters. But Sam and Chris? I care about them. I want them to be happy. Sure, to make Chris happy, he needs Ash, so I brought her along in my film. Ha! He even chose her over me. We've been friends since the third grade. But of course, he chooses some girl over his best friend.
Now, I could let you in on what happened in the police station's room but it's all boring. There's really not much to say. You were there with me when all that shit happened. I didn't tell them the details of my deranged episodes but I tried to be as honest as possible without saying how crazy I am.
Long story, short. I'm not getting arrested.
I told them about the monsters in the mountain and they kinda went with it. I guess the peanut gallery already told them about it. And since I'm another witness even though I wasn't with them, it was probably easier to believe what I had to say.
But fuck, the things that went down. The officers asked me if I know anything of the events, and I was able to make out some things…
Em getting the fire tower to collapse. Chris shooting monsters which got our stalker killed. Mike almost killing Em. Sam and Mike burning down the lodge and the sanatorium. Of course, they told the officers what I did, but apparently, Sam, and even my parents, told them about my psychiatric report. That I'm unwell.
But since I found out my parents had been at the station, I just knew they bought my freedom.
I'm not surprised.
I'm tired. I'm so fucking tired.
I wish what I found out is real. That I'm actually in the Blackwood Police Station, and that I'm not just hallucinating all of this. It's been hard determining what's real or not.
It's one thing not to trust your mind. But it's another thing not to trust your eyes and ears.
It's been some time but at least I have some sort of peace and quiet while Jess and I sit here at the waiting area. Of course, if quiet doesn't include the laughter from the psycho in my mind. Funny how I tried to bring him to life just last night. It was a mistake. It made him even more real and vivid to me. I shouldn't make what's in my mind bleed through my reality. Even though, it already does. I shouldn't feed into it. But it's tempting.
If you can't beat them, join them.
That's a stupid saying, but I did exactly that, didn't I? Fuck, I'm so fucking stupid and useless. No wonder I got my sisters killed.
"How was your interrogation?"
I jump out of my skin at Jess's words.
She's covered in gauze, wearing warmer clothes and a blanket. I'm wearing a blanket, too, but I think it's more for the shock than the cold.
"It's… interesting."
"I can't believe everyone is alive," Jess whispers.
"You mean you can't believe Mike really is alive," I correct her. She doesn't answer. "Didn't I tell you he would be? You can stop worrying about him now."
"Josh—"
"No, no, I get it. You love him. It's understandable to be selfish when you're in love."
I see Jess cringe. "Look where that got us."
I don't reply after that. We stay in silence again with Dr. Hill's corpse talking to me, berating me for being an asshole to a victim of my crime. Yelling at me that I'm lying to myself for thinking that I'm glad everyone's alive. When really, I should be telling the truth that I wanted them dead.
"Josh, you're doing it again!" I hear Jess yell.
"Ah, right, sorry," I tell her, taking my fingernails away from my face.
I'm faced with some concerned officers around Jess who is kneeling in front of me.
"Hey, gorgeous," I say with a joking smile.
Jess chuckles and lightly punches me on my good shoulder. "Asshole, guess you're okay now?"
"As okay as I can ever be," I say, leaning back on my chair and resting my head on the wall behind the chair.
"I guess that answers my question," I hear Jess say to herself.
"To what question?" I ask.
Jess gives me a quick look. "If you're holding up okay."
I laugh. "Yeah, that really did answer my question."
"I can't wait to see Mike again. The things he did for me. I really am glad that he's okay."
It's good she's being more honest on who she wants to see alive.
I see Jess frown and look away.
Fuck, I said that out loud, didn't I? Yes, I did.
"Are you ready to see him again?" I ask her instead, to get our minds off of things.
"Of course, I am," she answers.
"Gonna give him a big wet kiss, huh?" I tease.
"You're so gross, Josh," she laughs. "I'm lucky to have him though. My Prince Charming."
Prince Charming, my ass. He even slapped me in the face when we were down in the mines. The amount of times that guy hurt me when they were gonna tie me up in that shed. He even pointed that gun on me. Not the same way he did to Em, though. Some Prince Charming he was. I guess Ash thinks that of Chris. He wanted to hurt me, too.
"What about you Josh?" Jess continues. Ah, I'm glad I didn't say all that in real life this time. "You ready to see Sam again?"
Fuck. I didn't really think about that. It's the middle of the night so we can't go exactly home. We have to stay in the Blackwood Bed and Breakfast where the others are. Where Sam is. I hope they're all asleep but that's probably not possible for all of us.
Am I ready to face Sam? To face any of them? Of course, I'm fucking not.
They were all ready to kill me. The guys tied me up. Wait. Did they know the monster was gonna come when it did? Did Chris and Mike plan for me to get taken by my sister's monstrous form?
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
They all want me dead. Of course, I should expect that. I scared them all shitless.
Mike hit me with a gun. Where did he even get a gun? He even tied me up too tight. He wanted me to be a Christmas present to those monsters. Not to mention: Chris. Punching me in the face. Because I hit her girlfriend. I was so angry. I wasn't thinking. She stabbed me with a pair of scissors. Who wouldn't be angry?
"Joshua! Joshua! Stop doing that!"
"Mom?" I ask.
I turn to see the deeply concerned look on my mom's face as she runs from the doors to me. Behind her, running, is my dad. Who looks just as concerned and terrified. I've never seen them so haggard and crazed.
"Oh my god, Joshua! I thought I lost you!" Mom exclaims, kneeling in front of me and pulling me into her embrace. "Joshua! My Joshua! What happened to you? Are you hurt? Is that a wound on your shoulder? Joshie, what happened to you?" she cries as she kisses my face all over.
I just lost it, man.
I don't know what happened. I just started sobbing. Sobbing on her shoulder. I guess it really got into me. I haven't been called "Joshie" since I was a child. Dad's hand is resting on my back, moving it up and down to comfort me. He hasn't been this comforting in a while, too.
It just reminded me how fucking terrified I was back in the lodge. In the mines. Seeing what happened to Jess. What the monster did to her. Seeing the stalker's corpse hanging on the ceiling. That it was Hannah who did that.
Was that really Hannah?
It was, right? The monster had the same tattoo on her arm. The exact same one Hannah had. How could she turn into that ugly killing monster? My beautiful sister getting so hungry she resorted into eating her own twin's corpse. Poor Beth. The officer said Em found Beth's head in the mines. Fuck, I'm so glad I didn't get to see that.
I wouldn't know what I'd do to myself if I see the severed head of my sister.
"Mom," I sob because I don't really know what else to say other than that.
"You're safe now, Joshie. You're okay. Your friends are okay. You're all okay. Oh I'm so glad you're here, Joshua. We were so scared we'd never see you again," mom reassures me.
" Mom ," I say, not really knowing what to say.
They continue to hug me. I look down to see that my hand is gripping Jess's hand tight, but she's not complaining. She's just not looking at the scene beside her. Good. Even though it feels good, it's kinda embarrassing to have anyone see me like this.
"Mr. and Mrs. Washington, you can take Mr. Washington and Ms. Riley with you to the Bed and Breakfast. We've processed all that's needed to be processed. You may go," an officer says behind them.
For a moment, I've forgotten how to stand up. It took both my parents to get me on my feet. I can feel Jess supporting me from behind.
"Just take a step," mom whispers beside me.
I honestly can't see clearly because of how much tears they are in my eyes. It's like… a full year of horror and misery came crashing down. My legs may have folded too many times as I struggle to walk up to the car in front of the station.
We all get in the car with my dad driving and my mom in the passenger seat beside him. Jess and I sit beside each other in silence. For once, I don't want to look out the window.
It's dark out, and who knows if those monsters come down the mountain to chase after us? Like how I chased Sam? As someone who tried to think like a murderous killer, I wouldn't stop until my prey is killed.
Wait, no.
I should stop thinking like that.
The Psycho is laughing in my head again. So are my sisters at the back seat. Dr. Hill, too. They're all saying the same thing:
"You don't deserve to live. You're a murderer!"
"Josh, buddy, you okay?" I heard my dad say.
I blink. Oh, I've put my hands on my ears again. I don't know why I keep doing that. Their voices are being sent in my brain like these monsters are telepaths. No matter how much I clog my ears, I will still hear them as if they're yelling beside my ears. It's a curse I've had for the past year.
"Yeah, sorry," I whisper.
"We should call Dr. Hill as soon as we get home tomorrow, so we can schedule your next appoint—"
"Dad, can we… can we not talk about that for now? About Dr. Hill. About the lodge. About anything. About everything. I just… I'm tired, okay? We can talk about this next time," I tell him.
"Yeah, sure, Josh. Whatever you need."
"Josh, we're here for you. Really. Whatever you need. We're all gonna get through this," Sam told me. It really did mean so much to me that she was there for me.
She has been there for me the past year. And what did I do to repay her? Humiliate her. Fuck, what the fuck is wrong with me?
"How about you, Jess? Are you okay? Did the medics manage to treat you right?" mom asks her, bringing me back to reality.
"Yes, Mrs. Washington, I'm okay. But I'm with Josh in this. Can we just… not talk? Please? I can't… I can't deal with anything right now."
"Sure, dear," mom replies.
And so we drive to the Bed and Breakfast in silence.