this is a happy house. we're happy here.
in a happy house.
As Kida stepped away from the curb, the fading tail lights of her father's car melded with the winter dusk. The blare of music through her did little to shield her from the internal chaos that surged anew with the turn of the school year. Each note resonated with the echo of her parents' bitter divorce, the looming custody battle over her sister Kimmi, and the unresolved grief for her lost friends, Hannah and Beth. The weight of these troubles bore down on her, heavy and unyielding.
It wasn't merely the present that haunted Kida; the past clung to her steps, a ghostly shroud. The memory of the disastrous prank that led to Hannah and Beth's disappearance lingered like a stubborn fog, coloring her every interaction with remorse and unresolved anguish. Josh, her friend and now a brother grieving for his sisters, was a constant reminder of the collective pain they all shared. His visible torment, fueled by the unresolved fates of his siblings, often made Kida revisit that harrowing night with a shudder.
Matt's distance only deepened her sense of isolation. He had been more than a friend—her anchor in the stormy seas of adolescence. Now, with their friendship in tatters, she felt adrift, unable to find solace in the routines that once brought her joy.
Despite her struggles, Kida had channeled her energy into her studies and a newfound passion for theater, seeking distraction in the applause and the bright stage lights. Yet, academic accolades did little to mute the whisper of disquiet that followed her. She felt aimless, a spectator in her own life, haunted by the specter of unresolved past and an uncertain future.
The invitation from Josh to return to the mountain lodge—ground zero of their last happy memories and greatest sorrows—stirred a tempest of conflicting emotions. Fear mingled with an undeniable curiosity about what awaited them at that secluded retreat. Could they ever recapture the innocence lost to that night's folly? Or was this merely a path back into a labyrinth of old wounds?
With each step toward the bus station, Kida's mind replayed the past year's ordeals, the images as vivid as the day they occurred. She had found an unlikely ally in kickboxing, where the physical exertion helped temper her turbulent emotions. Yet, even as she jabbed and kicked against padded barriers, she couldn't shake the fear that returning to the lodge might reopen scars that had barely begun to heal.
Now, standing at the threshold of her journey back, Kida's fingers hesitated above her phone. She needed to message Sam, to signal that despite her doubts, she was coming. But uncertainty clawed at her resolve.
Drawing a deep breath, she pressed the call button. The dial tone seemed to echo her heartbeat—rapid, insistent, a prelude to steps she wasn't sure she was ready to take. Yet as she waited for Sam to pick up, Kida recognized the sliver of hope threading through her apprehension. Maybe, just maybe, this return could offer them all a chance at reconciliation and a moment of peace amidst the shards of their fractured past.
"Hello?" Sam's voice came through the phone, slightly muffled.
"I'm here. Where are you?" Kida asked, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she scanned the crowded bus station.
"I'm in the bathroom. I should be out soon," Sam replied, her tone rushed.
"Try not to blow it up," Kida teased, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Hardy har. I'll be out in two minutes," Sam shot back with mock irritation.
"Alright, Sammy." Kida ended the call, slipping the phone back into her jacket pocket.
As she waited, Kida watched the throng of civilians bustling through the station, each absorbed in their own hurried worlds. She checked her phone again; the digital display read 6:33 PM. A long ride awaited her, punctuated by the bus's frequent stops.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached from behind. Kida turned to see Sam hurrying towards her, a relieved grin spreading across her face.
"Did we miss the bus?" she panted, catching her breath.
"Nah, you're just in time," Kida replied, her voice warm. They shared a quick, comforting hug.
Impressed, Kida gestured at Sam's attire. "Nice outfit. Is that real fur?" she inquired, nodding toward the fluffy Russian hat perched on Sam's head.
"Absolutely not. Everything about this outfit is faux," Sam declared proudly.
"Hey, I got a nice snakeskin purse that would go great with that outfit," Kida teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Such a bitch," Sam retorted, though her eyes shone with humor. They both giggled, the sound mingling with the ambient noise of the station.
"You know," Sam began, her expression turning serious, "I'm glad that you and everyone decided to come back to see Josh. It's been so long since we've all been together, despite everything that has happened."
Kida's smile faltered, her gaze dropping. "I'm only doing this for Josh's sake. I didn't come to rekindle friendships," she admitted bluntly.
"I understand, but you have to face them," Sam insisted gently.
"Easier said than done," Kida muttered, her voice thick with emotion. "I still have nightmares about that night. I spent a year beating myself up for falling asleep and not stopping that stupid prank."
"Yeah... I feel that way, too. I should've pushed them harder to rethink their decision," Sam confessed, her shoulders sagging.
"It's unfair that they get to live normal lives while Hannah and Beth are still missing. And those goddamn police officers aren't doing a hell of a job finding them," Kida added, her anger simmering just below the surface.
"Well, let's just go and be there for Josh. We all know he needs our support," Sam said, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder reassuringly.
"I wish everyone could be as strong as you, Samantha," Kida sighed, her eyes meeting Sam's.
"We all are, some just choose not to show it," Sam replied, her voice low.
"There goes our ride," Kida pointed out as the bus rolled into view. They gathered their things, stepping forward with a mix of trepidation and resolve, ready to confront the past and support their friend, no matter the personal cost.
As the bus pulled up, aligning perfectly with the route number displayed on its front, a familiar tension eased within Kida. They stepped aboard, weaving their way through the narrow aisle to find seats in the relatively crowded middle section of the bus. Other passengers continued to shuffle on, each absorbed in their own little worlds.
Sam hoisted her luggage into the overhead compartment with practiced ease and took the window seat, while Kida did the same before settling herself into the aisle seat.
"Jeez, so many people on here," Kida murmured, eyeing the influx of passengers.
"That's public transportation for ya," Sam replied with a wry smile, settling into her seat and glancing out the window.
Kida groaned. "I'm gonna miss Mildred. Sad that we lost her to a deer."
Sam sighed, her fingers paused over the screen of her phone. "Tell me about it. I wished I hadn't taken that backroad home that night."
"Goddamn deer," Kida muttered, shaking her head in shared frustration.
Sam nudged Kida gently, catching her attention. "Kida," she said softly.
"What?" Kida turned to look at her friend.
Sam's expression was serious, her voice lower. "Blackwood Radio is about to broadcast something about Hannah and Beth."
Kida's eyes widened. "Holy shit."
Sam nodded, already pulling out her earbuds. "Should we?"
"Uh, yeah!" Kida replied quickly, though her tone held a hint of skepticism. "But I doubt it's gonna be anything serious. Just them blabbing bullshit like they've been doing for months."
"Well, there's only one way to find out." Sam inserted one earbud into her left ear and extended the other towards Kida.
With a resigned sigh, Kida accepted the earbud, placing it carefully in her ear. Together, they leaned back, the buzz of the bus fading into the background as they tuned in, waiting for the broadcast that might shed new light on the dark uncertainties still haunting their past.
Static crackled through the earbuds as the bus trundled down the highway, occasionally swallowing the words of the radio host in bursts of interference.
"Today is the one-year anniversary of the dreadful tragedy that took place on Mount Washington..." the host's voice emerged from the static, solemn and a touch grave.
"...Sheriff Annie Cline, who was in charge of the investigation..." the voice continued, before being momentarily lost to a hiss of white noise.
Kida rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath, "who's also doing a shitty job."
Static cleared just as a new voice came on. "Thanks for having me, Marty," said Sheriff Cline, her tone formal yet fatigued.
"Listeners, an update on Hannah and Beth Washington," the host resumed, his voice now tinged with a speculative edge, "the twins who are still missing..."
"One year ago tonight, the Washington girls left the safety of their parents' lodge and headed out into a snowstorm..." Sheriff Cline's narrative was punctuated by another wave of static that made her words jumble into the sound of the moving bus.
"Foul play?..." probed the host.
"Not officially, no. There is one individual we're considering as a person of interest, but his..." Sheriff Cline's voice faded into a fuzz of distortion, then sharpened again, "...whereabouts are currently unknown. He has an interesting history with the Washington family..."
"He had warned them against pursuing their construction project..." continued the Sheriff, her words briefly masked by a surge of static, "...and claimed the land was sacred to his forefathers."
Kida leaned closer to Sam, her brow furrowed in thought. "I wonder who they're talking about?"
"I'm not sure," Sam replied, her voice low, her gaze fixed on the window, reflecting the passing lights.
"You know, there is still the old Sanatorium on the mountain," the host interjected, a hint of intrigue lacing his tone.
"Could he be hiding there?..." he speculated.
"My officers did search the ground, but..." Sheriff Cline's response was muffled, the signal struggling against the geographical challenges. "The girls themselves couldn't have made it that far..."
"Something about that mountain seems to breed tragic events," the host mused, his voice finally clear as the static momentarily subsided.
"More than you know, Marty," Sheriff Cline agreed, a heavy sigh audible even through the patchy reception.
"Well, thank you for joining us, Annie," the host concluded, a formal nod in his tone. "...to all the Washingtons tonight... their son Josh on this, the anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of Hannah and Beth Washington."
As the broadcast ended, the line filled with a soft hum of static, Kida and Sam pulled out their earbuds, the weight of the broadcast hanging between them, mingling with the low murmur of the bus and the soft whir of the road beneath them. The past wasn't letting go, and the mountain still held its secrets, casting a long shadow over their journey back.
Kida's voice trembled with unease as she voiced her thoughts, "Sanatorium?"
Sam nodded solemnly, "I remember Beth mentioning it a few times. It's an old, abandoned place, shrouded in creepiness. They used to confine the mentally unstable there, shackled up like animals."
Kida shivered, "That's unsettling. I hope whoever's involved with Hannah and Beth isn't connected to that place. If they are, I swear I'll hunt them down."
Sam's expression mirrored Kida's concern, "Let's hope not."
A heavy silence hung between them before Kida broke it, her tone softer, "I wonder how their parents are coping with the loss of their daughters."
Sam's eyes clouded with empathy, "It must be unimaginably difficult for them."
After a moment of contemplation, Kida shifted the conversation, "You know, Sam, I'm grateful that despite everything, we're still close friends."
Sam offered a small smile, "It takes more than just trauma to tear us apart."
Kida chuckled, noting the similarity to Matt's attitude, "You sound just like him."
Concern etched Sam's features as she broached the subject, "Have you spoken to him yet?"
Kida's response was a somber shake of her head.
Sam gently urged, "You have to forgive him, Kida."
With a heavy sigh, Kida admitted, "I know, I know. It's just... after everything, I've questioned if I did the right thing. Everyone was complicit in that prank, and if they had just apologized to Hannah afterward..."
Sam nodded in understanding, "I get it. But holding on to that won't change the past. We can't control what's already happened. All we can do is learn from it and grow. I felt just as angry as you did. Losing one of my closest friends hurt like hell. I took time to reflect and heal because I refuse to let the past hold me back."
Kida nodded, her resolve firming, "It's going to be hard, but I'll try."
Sam's faith in her friend was unwavering, "I believe in you."
Kida smirked, "You really are a pacifist."
"Damn straight." The blonde responded proudly.
A lighthearted moment broke the tension as they shared a laugh, finding solace in each other's company as the bus carried them closer to the mountain.
As Matt navigated the curves leading to Blackwood Mountain, he couldn't help but think about the complexities of his interactions over the past year, particularly with Emily. After the fracture with Kida, Emily had become an unexpected constant in his life. Their connection, initially just an extension of their mutual grief and remorse, had gradually morphed into something more intimate.
They weren't officially a couple, but there had been moments—quiet, desperate moments—that crossed the lines of mere friendship. They'd found comfort in each other's arms on more than one occasion, a physical solace that neither fully understood nor questioned in the moment. It was an arrangement uncharacteristic for Matt, who valued commitment and often dreamed of a future devoted entirely to one person.
This casual, undefined relationship with Emily was new territory for him. He valued deep, meaningful connections, and the transient nature of their encounters left him feeling unmoored. Despite this, there was a part of him that appreciated the lack of labels; it was less pressure in a year already weighed down by guilt and loss.
"Hello! Earth to Matt!" Emily's voice cut sharply through the car, her fingers snapping in rhythm to each word. Startled, Matt snapped back to reality just in time to see his car veering into oncoming traffic. An approaching vehicle honked furiously as it swerved to avoid a collision.
"Oh shit!" Matt exclaimed, wrenching the steering wheel to guide the car back into the correct lane. The other driver sped past, horn still blaring in a fading protest.
Shaking his head in shock, Matt gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Shit, I'm sorry, Em."
Emily, who had been poring over her economics textbook in preparation for an upcoming exam, looked at him with a mix of disbelief and irritation. "Jeez, Matt, kill us why don't you!" she snapped, her voice laced with annoyance.
"Right, I'm sorry. I'm just a bit out of my element," Matt muttered, his voice tinged with guilt.
"When are you not?" Emily retorted sharply, her words edged with a snarky humor typical of her character.
Realizing that reading was impossible given the circumstances, Emily slammed her book shut and tossed it onto the floor by her feet, turning to face Matt with a resigned expression. She was ready to set her studies aside and focus on the more immediate issue—making sure they both remained safe on the road.
"Are you going to be sober enough to get us to this godforsaken place safely?" she asked, her tone sharp.
"Yeah... it's just," Matt started, hesitating as he tried to keep any hint of annoyance from his voice.
"Just what?" Emily pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"It's just weird that we're coming back here, you know? It makes me feel weird," Matt confessed, his voice low.
"Ugh, tell me about it. Honestly, I don't even know why I agreed to show up," Emily grumbled, her discontent clear.
"Sam's pretty convincing. Plus, I feel like we should catch up with everyone... and for Josh, we owe it to him," Matt reasoned, trying to find some justification for their return.
"I guess," Emily conceded reluctantly.
"Although we are not responsible for Hannah's choice to go cry her feelings out in the woods."
"Yeah, but Em. Didn't we push her too far? Was it really necessary to pull a prank just because she had a crush on Mike?" Matt argued, his voice filled with regret.
"First off, Jessica was the mastermind behind that plan. Secondly, she needed to be put in her place—that Mike was mine. Thirdly, you chose to be part of that prank!" Emily shot back, her voice rising slightly.
Matt sat in silence, bewildered by Emily's hypocrisy. She had been the one urging him and Ashley to join the prank for a laugh. Now, she was flipping the script, making it seem like it was his own decision. Arguing with Emily was futile; she always had to have the last word.
"I just wish we hadn't done that stupid prank. Hannah and Beth might still be here if..." Matt's voice trailed off, filled with remorse.
Emily softened, reaching over to hold his hand firmly. "Matt. It. Is. Not. Our. Fault," she stated clearly, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.
Matt remained silent, comforted slightly by her gesture.
"Let's just focus on getting this over with, and then we can go back to our normal lives and focus on the future. Besides, if you ever feel stressed out at the lodge, you can always take it out on me," Emily offered, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Oh yeah?" Matt perked up, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"Of course, you bad boy," Emily teased, smiling back.
"Hey, Em," Matt began again as Emily reopened her textbook.
"What?" she replied, not looking up.
"Do you think it's gonna be awkward when we meet up with everyone?" Matt's words hung in the air, laden with uncertainty.
Emily sighed, a weary sound that echoed the weight of their past. "Matt..."
"I'm just asking... it's been awhile since we've all hung out together," Matt persisted, hoping for a glimmer of reassurance.
"You mean everyone but adding Kida and Josh," Emily's tone was matter-of-fact, her gaze returning to her book.
"Y-yeah. I mean obviously, Josh is letting us into his life again, and Kida..." Matt's voice faltered, the weight of unspoken worries pressing down on him.
"She'll be fine. She's just using this prank aftermath as a scapegoat for her parents' divorce. Trust me, I know," Emily asserted, her confidence tinged with a hint of defensiveness.
"How did you—" Matt began, but Emily cut him off with a knowing look.
"Oh come on, word gets around quickly and walls can talk in their own way. You think that I don't pay attention to everything around me?" Emily's words were sharp, slicing through Matt's attempts at evasion.
"I don't think that's the actual reason, Em," Matt countered gently, unwilling to accept Emily's dismissive explanation.
"Don't be so dumb, I know that I'm right." Emily flipped a page of her textbook, her eyes scanning the text with feigned indifference.
"And speaking of reuniting... I haven't heard from Jess in two months." Emily's voice softened, a note of concern creeping in. "She's been acting quite weird. Short with conversations, not really engaging with me. Hella distant. And it's like ever since she's been with this guy who remains anonymous in her photos, she's been fading away from me."
"It's probably just a honeymoon phase. People are like that when they're in love, they fall from the face of the earth," Matt offered, trying to inject some optimism into the conversation.
"Hmm, well I don't care. She better not come crying to me, expecting open arms, if it doesn't work out," Emily replied coolly, her walls firmly in place.
"Hey... what about us?" Matt's voice was hesitant, his gaze searching Emily's face for any sign of reciprocation.
"What do you mean?" Emily's expression softened slightly, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes."We've been doing casual "activities" for a few months and went on dates... I was thinking that what if we make it official?" Matt's words spilled out in a rush, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Emily sighed, her resolve faltering for a moment. "Matt, we've talked about this."
"I know, I know. But Em, I like you, you like me. So what the hell, why not? I wouldn't do anything to hurt you." Matt's words were earnest, his desperation evident.
"I'm just not ready." Emily's voice was gentle but firm, her gaze meeting Matt's with empathy.
"I can treat you so much better than what Mike has done for you. I proved it to you so many times with my actions," Matt pleaded, his voice tinged with frustration.
"I appreciate that Matt. But I do need a bit more time." Emily's words were a gentle rejection, but Matt's heart sank nonetheless.
"Okay. Okay." Matt forced a smile, his disappointment hidden behind a facade of acceptance.
"Okay." Emily's smile was small but genuine, a silent acknowledgment of their shared connection. She leaned in to kiss his cheek, a brief moment of warmth amidst the chilly silence of the car interior. "Now shut up. I want to continue my studies."
Matt nodded, a heaviness settling in his chest as he turned his attention back to the road. The familiar ache of unrequited longing gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
The Mustang rumbled on, the engine's steady hum filling the silence between them. Matt stole a glance at Emily, her brow furrowed in concentration as she buried herself in her textbooks once more. He admired her dedication, her unwavering commitment to her studies even in the midst of their complicated relationship.
As the miles stretched on, Matt found himself lost in thought, his mind drifting back to their conversation. He couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment, of longing for something more than the casual arrangement they had settled into. But Emily's words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of her hesitation, her need for more time.
Despite the ache in his heart, Matt forced a smile, determined not to let his feelings overshadow their trip. He reached over to adjust the radio, the familiar strains of a song filling the car as he tried to lighten the mood.
Emily glanced up at him, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Matt," she said softly, her gaze meeting his for a fleeting moment before returning to her books.
Matt nodded, a sense of resignation settling over him. He may not have gotten the answer he wanted, but he was grateful for the moments they shared together, however fleeting they may be.
As they neared their destination, Matt's mind was filled with conflicting emotions. He couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty, the lingering doubts about their future together. But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the road ahead as they journeyed towards the reunion that awaited them.