⸻Sam woke to a nightmare. Her soul felt strained, as if it were trying to escape her body, but the immediate reality was far worse. She was tied to a rolling chair, her wrists and ankles bound tightly. A sharp pain throbbed on her forehead, and she felt something warm trickling down her face. Blood, she realized, but she couldn't reach up to confirm it.
She blinked, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The room was dimly lit, filled with shadows and unfamiliar shapes. Panic surged through her as she struggled to remember how she had ended up here.
It all came flooding back in a rush of clarity. She had been in the midst of taking a bath, the soothing strains of classical music setting the mood for what she had hoped would be a peaceful and relaxing evening. The warmth of the water, the soft glow of the candles—everything had been perfect. But then she felt it: the unmistakable sensation of being watched. She had cursed herself for not locking the door.
Her clothes, the ones she had arrived at the mountain retreat in, were gone. At first, she thought it was a prank by Josh or Chris. She planned to ask Kida for spare clothes since they were sharing a guest room, but Kida wasn't around. Sam had decided to take matters into her own hands, stepping out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. That's when she saw them: balloons and candles, eerie in their placement, with arrows pointing the way to the media room.
She had followed the trail, her curiosity mixed with growing apprehension, until she found herself locked in the media room. The psycho's trap had sprung, his voice echoing through the theater room while footage of her vulnerable state in the bathroom played on the screen. She watched in horror as the scene shifted to Josh being killed by a saw blade, the grisly sight breaking her heart.
The memory of the cat-and-mouse chase that ensued was vivid. The psycho, carrying a gas tank, had pursued her through the house. She had run, desperate and terrified, but he had finally caught up with her, knocking her unconscious. Now she was here, wherever here was, and she feared she would be the next to receive a visit from him.
Sam strained against her bonds, the ropes biting into her skin. She looked around, her eyes scanning the room for anything that might help her escape. Her thoughts turned to her friends: Chris, Ash, and Kida. She wondered if the psycho had gotten to Emily and Matt as well. The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she knew she couldn't give in to despair.
Suddenly, a voice whispered urgently to her, cutting through the oppressive silence.
"Sam... Sam, wake up!" It was Mike, his voice hoarse and urgent.
Sam's eyes darted around until she spotted him through a wall grate in the adjacent room. Relief and confusion washed over her.
"Mike! Is that you?!" she whispered back, her voice tinged with desperation.
"Shhh!" Mike cautioned, glancing around nervously. "Get over here!"
With all her remaining strength, Sam pushed her weight on the rolling chair, inching her way towards the grate. Her heart pounded in her chest, both from the exertion and the fear that the psycho could return at any moment.
Once she reached the grate, Mike pulled out a lighter, the small flame flickering in the dim room. He carefully burned through the ties binding her wrists, freeing her hands. He then passed the lighter to her, and she did the same for her ankles, wincing as the ropes fell away, leaving raw, red marks on her skin.
As she stood up, massaging her sore wrists, Sam's mind raced with questions. "I don't understand... How did you get here? How did you find me?"
Mike's face was strained, his eyes dark with worry. "There's some fucking maniac up here on the mountain—"
"Yeah, I've noticed," Sam interjected, her voice sharp with bitterness.
"He lives in this, like, web of tunnels," Mike explained, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting the psycho to appear at any moment. "I was down there trying to get out and then I found this grate and saw you."
Sam's heart skipped a beat as she remembered their friends. "Where's—where's Jessica? She's not with you?"
Mike's expression darkened, his eyes filling with grief that made Sam's blood run cold. "Jessica is dead."
"What!?" Sam's voice was a mix of shock and horror, her mind reeling. "No, no, that can't be..."
"He killed her," Mike said, his voice shaking with a mix of rage and sorrow. "There's some maniac on the mountain who is trying to kill us. All of us. And I swear to God, when everyone is safe and accounted for, I am gonna hunt that fucker down and rip his nuts off one at a goddamn time."
Sam stared at him, her heart pounding. "Whoa."
"Listen," Sam continued, her voice urgent. "This guy you're talking about... he attacked me. He showed me these videos, too, and one of them showed Josh being killed... just... ripped apart by this huge fucking sawblade..."
"Jesus Christ!" Mike's face paled, his eyes wide with horror. "Where's everyone else?"
Sam shook her head, her expression filled with fear and confusion. "No clue. From what I remember, Matt and Emily went to find her bags shortly after you and Jess had left. Kida went to the guest room where I stayed, too. And Chris and Ash were going to mess with that stupid spirit board with Josh. But if Josh and Jessica are gone... there's no guarantee that the psycho isn't after the rest of us."
Mike ran a hand through his hair, his frustration and fear evident. "What the fuck is going on around here... There's a door here, it won't open. Can you unlock it from your side?"
Sam grabbed her backpack, which was hanging on the doorknob, and made her way outside to Mike's door. She removed the wooden plank that was barring the door and pushed it open. As the door swung wide, she took in Mike's appearance. He was bruised, and his clothes were different from the last time she had seen him. He wore a dingy tank top, and a green jacket, and held a pistol in his hand. Her eyes trailed down to his hand, wrapped in bandages.
"Hey," Mike greeted her, his voice weary but relieved.
"Jeez. You look like hell," Sam replied, concern etched in her voice.
"Nice to see you too," Mike said with a wry smile.
Sam crossed the room and put her backpack down on the floor, her mind already racing with their next steps. She could feel Mike's eyes on her, curious and concerned.
"What are you doing?" Mike asked, watching her.
"Well, actually, the towel didn't turn out to be the best outfit for fighting off killer maniacs, you know? Do you mind? Mike?" Sam replied, gesturing to her towel.
"Oh. Right. My bad," Mike said, quickly turning around to give her some privacy.
Sam quickly rummaged through her backpack, pulling out a pair of yoga pants, a white t-shirt with a red jacket, and sneakers. She slipped out of the towel and dressed in the more practical outfit, feeling slightly more secure once she was fully clothed.
"Okay. Done," Sam said, placing a headband flashlight on her head. "Let's put this thing to bed."
"Amen to that," Mike agreed, turning back around to face her.
"Please!"
"I can't! I can't decide!"
Sam's ears perked up, catching the desperate cries from nearby. "What was that?"
Mike's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he strained to listen. "Is that crying?"
Without hesitation, Mike and Sam rushed across the room, forcing open the heavy door that separated them from the source of the noise. As the door swung open, they were met with a chaotic scene.
Ashley and Chris were strapped to a table, looking around in panic as the saw blades above them slowly turned off. The room was dimly lit, and the air was thick with tension. Approaching them was the Psycho, his presence looming and menacing.
"Noo! No no no! Get away!!!!" Ashley screamed, her voice filled with terror.
Chris, driven by a desperate need to protect Ashley, pulled out his gun and fired three shots at the Psycho. The bullets hit their mark, but to Chris's horror, the Psycho looked down at his chest and found nothing.
"Oh, Chris... Oh, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris," the Psycho taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.
"What the fuck?!" Chris yelled, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The Psycho chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Oh, you've heard of blanks before. I mean really?"
In one swift motion, the Psycho reached up and pulled off his mask, revealing his true identity. It was Josh. The room fell into stunned silence, the realization crashing over them like a wave. Josh, who they all believed to be dead, stood before them, very much alive.
Chris stared at Josh in disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper. "Josh?"
Josh responded with a maniacal laugh that echoed through the room. "Hahahahahaha!"
"Josh!" Sam called out, her voice a mix of shock and confusion.
"Josh..." Mike added, his tone wary and filled with uncertainty.
Josh's laughter subsided, and he looked at them with a twisted smile. "Oh, oh very good! Every one of you! Got my name! And after all you've been through! Good, good-good-good. I mean, how does that feel?"
Sam quickly moved to untie Ashley, her hands shaking slightly. Mike hurried over to Chris, working to free him as well.
Josh continued, his voice rising with intensity. "Right? How does it feel? Do you enjoy feeling terrorized? Humiliated? I mean, panicked? All those emotions that my sisters got to feel once one year ago! Only guess what? They didn't get to laugh it off! No! Nope! No no no! They're gone!"
Mike's jaw tightened, anger simmering beneath the surface. "I don't know if you noticed this, Josh, but none of us are laughing."
Josh's expression shifted, a crazed gleam in his eyes. "Oh come, come-come-come-come. Why the long faces? Come on! It's good to get the heart racing every now and then, right? And race they did, I mean, every one of you, just pitter-pat, pitter-pat! I hope you appreciated my little phantasmagorical spectacle!"
Chris finally stood up, rubbing his wrists where the ropes had bitten into his skin. His voice was filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "Josh, this isn't you. What happened to you?"
Josh's smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. But he quickly masked it with another laugh. "What happened to me? What happened to me is that I lost my sisters because of that stupid prank. And now you get to feel what they felt. It's poetic justice."
Sam stepped forward, her eyes pleading. "Josh, we were your friends. We are your friends. We never meant for any of this to happen."
Josh's eyes softened slightly, but his resolve remained. "Friends? Friends don't humiliate each other. Friends don't drive each other's family to their deaths."
Josh's grin widened as he stepped back, revealing a projector screen behind him. He clicked a remote, and the screen flickered to life, displaying a montage of footage showing him meticulously setting up everything that had led them to this moment.
"I mean, no detail too small! No opportunity missed! It was such a delight to play the puppet master to all of your Pavlovian panic!" Josh announced, his voice dripping with manic glee.
The screen showed clips of fake bodies being assembled, elaborate traps being set, and the various pranks that had terrorized them. Blood splatters, screaming faces, and moments of sheer terror played out in front of their eyes.
"And all that gore? I mean, gore, there was gore galore!!! Fake bodies... I mean, God that shit was expensive!" Josh continued, his tone almost admiring. "And no retakes! Nope, nope, nope, only double takes! You should have seen your faces. Hook, line, and sinker, for every little stinker!"
With a flourish, Josh turned off the projector, leaving the room in stunned silence. The friends stared at him, their faces a mix of shock, horror, and betrayal.
"Josh... Why are you doing this?" Sam's voice trembled, filled with confusion and hurt.
"Don't even ask this squirrelly little runt. He's got no clue. He's out of his fucking tree," Mike interjected angrily.
"Well, he's definitely off his meds," Chris added, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and pity.
Josh's expression darkened momentarily before he forced a smile. "Aw, come on, you guys. Revenge is the best medicine!"
"You're done," Mike said, stepping forward, his fists clenched.
Chris tried to reason, "Mike, he's sick--"
But Josh cut him off, his voice rising in excitement. "What? Come on, you guys are all going to thank me when you guys become internet sensations!"
Chris blinked, confused. "Wait, what...?"
Josh's eyes gleamed with manic energy. "Oh, you better believe this little puppy is going viral, ladies and germs. I mean, we got unrequited love, we got... we got blood! I don't think there's enough hard drives in China to count all the views we're gonna get, you guys."
Mike's anger boiled over. "What are you talking about, you ass hat? Jessica IS FUCKING DEAD."
Josh's face faltered. "What?"
"Did you hear me?! Jessica is dead, and YOU ARE GONNA FUCKING PAY YOU DICK!!!!" Mike roared, raising his gun, his hand trembling with fury.
Before Mike could hit Josh, Sam's voice rang out, cutting through the tension. "And where are the others, Josh?!"
Josh looked genuinely confused. "What are you talking about?"
Chris stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "What have you done to Matt, Kida, and Emily??"
Josh blinked, his bravado slipping for a moment. "I didn't do anything to them. I swear."
Mike's grip on the gun tightened. "Bullshit. You expect us to believe that after everything you've done?"
As the group caught their breath, Josh's face took on a look of dawning realization.
His earlier bravado had faded, and a mixture of guilt and regret flickered in his eyes. He took a deep breath and began to speak, his voice trembling slightly.
"Fine," Josh said, his voice low. "When Jessica and Emily were arguing in the lodge earlier, I seized the opportunity to take Emily's bag. Everyone was so caught up in the fight that no one noticed. I hid it... and I took the cable car keys too."
The group exchanged shocked glances.
"Why, Josh?" Sam asked, her voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "What were you trying to do?"
Josh swallowed hard, his guilt evident. "I wanted Emily and Matt to run into the woods in desperation and realize they were trapped on the mountain. The plan was to lure them to where we are standing now, but... I lost track of them. I didn't know where they were."
"You're a sick bastard," Mike muttered, his hands clenching into fists.
Sam's eyes narrowed as another thought struck her. "And what about Kida? Where is she?"
Josh's face twisted with pain and guilt. "I... I buried her alive."
The room exploded with shocked gasps.
Chris and Mike surged forward, grabbing Josh and pressing him against the wall. Chris's eyes were wild with fury. "Where is she, Josh?!"
Josh winced, the pressure from their grip making it hard to breathe. "I buried her by the cable car station," he confessed, his voice cracking. "I didn't mean for it to go this far. I just wanted you all to understand the fear and helplessness."
Mike's expression hardened. "Sam, Ashley, go find Kida. We'll handle Josh. He has consequences to pay."
Sam nodded, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. She grabbed Ashley's hand, and they rushed out of the room, driven by the urgency of their mission.
As Sam and Ashley hurriedly left the room, Mike and Chris remained, their attention fixed on Josh. The raw anger and betrayal simmering in the room was palpable.
"Chris, grab some rope. We need to tie this bastard up before he tries anything else," Mike instructed, his voice low and commanding.
Chris nodded, his expression grim, and quickly moved to find some rope.
Meanwhile, Mike kept a close eye on Josh, his eyes filled with a mix of fury and disbelief. "You really fucked up, Josh," Mike said, shaking his head. "Do you have any idea what you've done? The fear, the pain...Jessica is dead. People are dead because of you."
Josh looked down, unable to meet Mike's gaze. "I didn't know... I swear I didn't know she was dead. I just wanted you to understand what I felt."
Mike's grip tightened on the gun in his hand, the desire to lash out almost overwhelming. But he forced himself to stay calm. "You went too far, Josh. This isn't some game. Real people are dead. And you can't take that back."
Chris returned with the rope, and Mike grabbed Josh, roughly forcing him to turn around. "Hold still," Mike growled.
Josh struggled slightly, panic evident in his voice. "You don't understand! I didn't mean for this to happen! I just wanted you to feel what I felt!"
"Shut up, Josh," Mike snapped. "You don't get to justify this."
Chris quickly and tightly bound Josh's wrists, ensuring he couldn't escape. The rope cut into Josh's skin, but Chris showed no mercy.
"We're taking you to the shed," Mike said, his voice hard. "We'll hold you there until we figure out what to do with you. And if you try anything, you won't live to regret it."
Josh's eyes widened with panic as Chris and Mike started moving him towards the door. "You don't understand! I didn't mean for anyone to die! I just wanted you to understand!"
Mike's anger flared, and he shoved Josh hard. "Get to walking!"
⸻"And we were in this old hotel and I saw dead pigs and the projector—"
Sam listened to Ashley's rambles, trying her best to comprehend the chaotic events her friend was recounting. The flood of disjointed memories mixed with raw emotion made it hard to follow, but Sam's main concern was the black eye staring back at her. She gently grasped Ashley's hands, trying to calm her down as she moved hysterically, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.
"Ashley, calm down, okay?" Sam said softly, her voice steady. "We can talk about your journey once we find Kida. But I need to know why he hit you."
Ashley took a shaky breath, tears welling up in her eyes. "Because... I stabbed him."
Sam's eyes widened in shock, but she held her tongue, letting Ashley continue.
"It was only because he was going to attack Chris and me," Ashley explained, her voice quivering. "He knocked Chris out with a gas mask."
The memory of that horrible device resurfaced in Sam's mind. She remembered the terror of running for her life in the basement, the psycho chasing her relentlessly. It all clicked into place—the reason the psycho lured her down there, was the familiarity with the layout of the lodge. Josh knew every corner, every hiding spot.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through this, Ash. I really am," Sam said, her voice filled with genuine remorse.
Ashley sniffled, wiping at her tears. "I just want to get away, Sam. Away from Josh!"
"He won't hurt us again," Sam assured her. "Mike and Chris will make sure of that."
A shadow of doubt crossed Ashley's face. "Do you think he killed Jessica?"
Sam hesitated, her heart heavy with uncertainty. "I-I don't know. I never knew that he had a... different side."
The weight of their situation pressed down on them, the realization of how little they truly knew about Josh and the depths of his torment. The lodge, which once felt like a sanctuary, was now a place filled with dread and uncertainty.
It took only moments until they reached their destination. Sam stood still, taking a moment to observe the surroundings, trying to figure out where Josh might have buried her best friend.
Ashley pointed to the broken door of the cable car station. "The door is busted open. I'll check in there."
"Okay," Sam replied, turning her attention to the outside area as she began her search.
She walked around the perimeter, her eyes scanning for any signs. She came across a bucket of red paint that had been spilled, its contents staining the snow along with scattered wooden planks. Her heart pounded with a mix of hope and fear.
"Seems that I'm getting close," Sam muttered to herself, her voice barely audible.
"Kida! Kida, if you hear me, please give me a sign!" Sam called out, her voice echoing in the stillness.
There was no answer, just the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. She continued trailing along the edge of the station until she found a disturbed patch of snow that looked like it had been dug up recently. She hurried over, her breath catching in her throat.
"ASH! ASH! I found her!" Sam shouted, her voice filled with urgency.
Ashley ran out of the station, rushing to Sam's side. But as they looked into the dug-up spot, their hearts sank. There was nothing there—just an empty space and a tape recorder lying at the bottom. Ashley picked it up, her hands trembling.
She tampered with the tape recorder, trying to see if it held any clues. As she pressed play, the device crackled to life, replaying the same chilling message that Kida had once heard. The cold, calculated voice sent shivers down their spines.
"Oh my God..." Sam whispered, her voice filled with horror.
Ashley's eyes were wide with fear and revulsion. "This is horrible! Josh was actually going to kill her."
Sam's face remained unreadable, her emotions tightly controlled. She took the tape recorder from Ashley, pausing Josh's deranged speech. She exhaled slowly, trying to make sense of it all. "I don't understand... how did she escape?"
Ashley tried to piece together the fragments of what they knew. "Remember, Josh said he sent Emily and Matt to the cable cars to seek help after... that. Maybe they found her."
"Yeah, but they should've been back at the lodge by now," Sam replied, her voice tinged with worry.
Ashley glanced around nervously. "What if they are?"
"I hope so. Come on, let's head back," Sam said, her resolve firm.
Just as they turned to leave, the sound of cluttering came from inside the cable car station. Alarmed, they both looked towards the source of the noise, the sounds growing louder and more frantic.
Sam grabbed a nearby shovel, ready to defend herself and Ashley at any cost. Ashley stood behind her, eyes wide with fear.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the shadows. As the person came into view, relief washed over them.
"Matt!" Ashley exclaimed, running up to him.
Matt looked up, his face a mask of exhaustion and despair. "Sam? Ash?" he mumbled, stumbling forward.
Sam and Ashley caught him as he fell, their arms supporting him. The usually cheerful jock was now a shadow of his former self, his body bruised and his clothes filthy. His eyes were swollen and red from crying.
"Oh, Matt. What happened to you?" Sam asked, her voice soft with concern.
Ashley rubbed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We should get to the lodge. He looks exhausted. He can tell us what happened there."
Matt's voice broke as he spoke. "I-I was too late."
Sam's heart sank. "What are you talking about? Where are Emily and Kida?"
Matt let out an agonizing cry, his pain evident. "I couldn't save them. I was too late."
Ashley hugged him tightly, her own tears falling. "Are you saying that they...?"
Matt's cries were answered enough. He clung to Ashley, his body shaking with sobs. Sam stood by, her own tears threatening to fall.
"No..." Sam whispered, the weight of the loss pressing down on her.
Ashley continued to hold Matt, her own sobs mixing with his. "We'll get through this, Matt. I promise."
"Come on," Sam said, putting a supportive arm around Matt. "We need to get back to the lodge."
The three of them walked slowly towards the path to the lodge, the weight of their grief and fear heavy on their shoulders.
⸻Sam handed Matt a blanket and one of her protein bars, which he took with trembling hands. Despite the gnawing hunger from hours without food, he couldn't bring himself to eat. The events of the night weighed heavily on him, and he didn't know how to explain the horrors he had witnessed to his two concerned friends.
"Matt... you can tell us whenever you're ready, okay?" Sam said gently, her eyes filled with compassion.
Ashley hugged him tightly, trying to share her warmth and comfort. She couldn't imagine how long he had been out in the cold, enduring both physical and emotional torment. She swallowed hard, pushing back thoughts of her own trauma to be there for Matt.
"I'm going to try and find something for your wounds," Sam said, standing up to search the lodge for a first aid kit.
As Sam left the room, Ashley looked at Matt, who was staring blankly into space. The only sound was the soft crinkle of the protein bar wrapper as he absentmindedly rubbed his thumb against it.
Matt swallowed hard and placed the protein bar beside him, his hands moving to clutch his chest as if trying to hold himself together.
"It was Josh," Ashley said softly, breaking the silence.
Matt turned to her, confusion etched on his face. "W-what are you talking about?"
"Everything that has happened tonight. It was because of him," Ashley explained, her voice trembling.
Matt shook his head, trying to make sense of her words. "I don't understand. He's dead."
Ashley shook her head, her expression pained. "I thought that too until he revealed himself as the psycho. He gave me this." She pointed to her black eye, the bruise stark against her pale skin.
Matt's eyes widened in shock and anger. "How the fuck is he alive? Are you okay, Ash?!"
" No... I'm not. I know that I'm supposed to make you feel better but—"
Matt interrupted, his voice raw with pain and anger. "There's nothing that could make me feel better after the shit I had gone through!"
Ashley's heart pounded as she saw Matt's outrage boiling over. His fists clenched as he stood up abruptly, his body trembling with rage. She could see the storm of emotions in his eyes. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place—Kida's story about Josh's subtle note, the claustrophobia Kida had mentioned that made her uncomfortable. Josh had been toying with them, exploiting their fears and vulnerabilities.
"Where the fuck is he?!" Matt shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
"Matt... calm down," Ashley pleaded, her voice shaking.
"No, Ash! He took this too fucking far! I lost not only Emily but Kida too!" Matt's voice cracked with the weight of his grief and anger.
"Please, calm down," Ashley repeated, her own fear rising.
"Don't protect him, Ash. Where the fuck is he?!" Matt demanded, his eyes wild with desperation.
Just then, Sam rushed down the stairs, her arms full of cotton balls, peroxide, and gauze tapes. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice edged with concern.
Ashley's voice faltered as she tried to explain. "I—"
"Please tell me that Josh isn't alive, Sam!" Matt interrupted, his eyes searching hers for some kind of solace.
Sam took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "He is," she confirmed softly.
"Where the fuck are you, you son of a bitch!!" He stormed around the room hoping Josh would show his face.
Sam tried to calm him down, stepping closer. "Matt—"
But Matt wasn't listening. His rage boiled over, his voice a raw, anguished roar. "YOU GAVE HER HELL! You fucking gave her hell!! And after all the times that she cared for you! This is how you fucking repay her!"
In his fury, Matt stumbled over a table, knocking objects over and causing some to shatter. The noise echoed through the room, a physical manifestation of his internal chaos.
Sam followed after him, her heart aching for her friend. "Matt, please stop!"
He turned to her, his eyes wild. "Sam, you saw that coffin! You could imagine her losing every bit of oxygen. Her—"
"I know. I know," Sam said, her voice soft but firm. "Everything is going to be—"
"Look around, Sam!" Matt interrupted, gesturing wildly. "Do you see Emily? Do you see Kida? Hell, fucking Jessica and Mike!"
Sam stood speechless, her eyes welling with tears as Matt continued his tirade, not giving her a chance to speak.
"Take a look at Ashley for example. He put her and Chris through torment, and I'm sure he did the same to you. He must pay!" Matt's voice broke, and he held his head in his hands, his anger turning to despair.
He sighed deeply, trying to calm himself. "You don't understand the hell that we had went through trying to find help, only for it to be a fucking prank. The cable car keys were gone, so we had to travel all the way to the fire tower while freezing our asses off. Almost getting killed by a herd of deer, and then the moment we called for help... the tower collapsed."
"Shit..." Sam muttered, her heart breaking at his words.
"We fell into those goddamn mines," Matt continued, his voice raw with emotion. "I lost Emily trying to save her while the fire tower was dropping."
"And Kida... she was losing pieces of herself along the way. Having these panic attacks... and..." His voice trailed off, filled with pain.
Sam stepped closer and grabbed his hand supportively. Matt allowed it, needing the comfort more than he could express.
"We came across this creature," Matt said, his voice barely a whisper.
"Creature?" Sam repeated, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"I'd give anything to unsee it," Matt said, his voice trembling. "Sam, when I tell you that the creature looked inhuman and scary... I'm sure even you wouldn't want to see it."
"And is this where you lost her?"
Matt nodded, his voice choked with emotion. "She sacrificed herself. She sacrificed herself when I should've been the one to do it. I told her I loved her, Sam! I told her."
Sam pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly as he continued to cry, his body shaking with grief.
"He must pay... I'll never forgive him," Matt said, his voice raw and filled with a burning resolve.
"I know... I know," Sam whispered, her heart breaking for him.
Suddenly, the door of the back patio opened, and Chris hurried inside, his eyes wide with urgency. "Sam? Ash?"
"We're in here!" Ashley called out, her voice trembling.
Chris trailed into the living room, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw Matt. "Matt—you're okay!"
Matt looked up at him, his face etched with anguish.
"Holy hell! You don't look so good. Are you al—" Chris began, but Sam cut him off gently.
"He needs a moment, Chris..." she said softly, her eyes pleading for understanding.
Chris looked around, seeing only Sam, Ashley, and Matt. He then glanced at Matt, who had buried his head into Sam's shoulder, and back at the slightly empty room, the weight of their losses palpable.
Chris trailed over to Ashley, noticing the tears in her eyes. He sighed somberly, putting everything together. He pulled Ashley close, holding her as sobs escaped her.
They sat in a mournful silence, the only sound being the soft echoes of Matt and Ashley's sobs. Chris held her tightly, his own heart aching for their friends. The room was filled with the heavy weight of grief and loss, but also a shared sense of determination to see justice done and to find a way out of this nightmare.