THREE HOURS UNTIL DAWN

CORA; WASHINGTON LODGE SHED; 04:32

I SAW A CREATURE, unlike anything I'd ever imagined, materialising in the doorway. I froze in fear. It was monstrous, twisted, with emaciated limbs stretched longer than seemed possible, claws sharp and gleaming in the light. Its skin was a ghostly shade, stretched tight over its bones, and its eyes... looked human, but so unhuman at the same time.

My breathing hitched as the creature lurched towards Josh. I lifted the gun, firing at it, hoping to drive it back. But the bullet seemed to have little effect.

Before I could fire again, the creature lunged, clawing at my shoulders with a grip as solid as steel. Pain flared as it threw me hard against the wall. I felt my head throb with a sudden, sharp ache. My vision blurred for a second, but I blinked it away, just in time to see the creature grab Josh, dragging him away, his scream echoed as he reached out for me.

''Cora!'' he yelled.

But by the time I forced myself to stand, they were already gone, vanished into the night. I staggered to the doorway, desperate to catch some glimpse of where they had gone, but I couldn't see a thing.

I couldn't stay there, helpless. I needed to get help, needed to get back to the others before something worse happened. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I ran to the lodge.

When I burst into the main room, everyone was gathered, tense and on edge. And there, holding a flamethrower, stood a stranger, keeping them all in place. His expression was hardened, as if he'd seen the worst of the world.

''I don't know what the fuck is going on,'' I began, voice shaky, ignoring the stranger in the lodge, holding everyone against gun hold. ''but something just took Josh!''

Emily's eyes widened as she took in my appearance. ''Coco... you're bleeding!''

I reached up, feeling the warm stickiness at my temple. A gash, from when that thing had thrown me against the wall. ''Yeah,'' I muttered, voice grim. ''That thing threw me across the shed.''

The stranger's gaze flicked over to me, assessing, before he let out a dry, humourless chuckle. ''Like I said, I don't take kindly to you kids coming up here to my mountain—''

Mike cut him off, jaw clenched as he crossed his arms. ''Your mountain? I'm sure the Washingtons would be very surprised to hear that.''

The stranger's eyes glinted, unfazed. ''Heh, well, this mountain don't belong to me, it's true. But it don't belong to the Washingtons, either.'' He paused. ''This mountain belongs to the Wendigo.''

Chris shifted uncomfortably, his brow furrowing. ''Who?''

Mike's tone was sceptical. ''What the hell's a Wendigo?''

Sam turned to Mike. ''Let's hear him out.''

Mike let out a resigned sigh. ''Not like we have a choice.''

The stranger's gaze settled on each of us in turn, his voice dropping as he continued. ''Now, I'm only going to tell you this once. Doesn't matter if you believe it or not, but I got my reasons for wanting to... get it off my chest.''

Mike crossed his arms tighter. ''See? I told you! He's guilty as hell. Guilty of something!''

''Mike just hear him out!'' I snapped, shooting him a glare. There was something in these woods and it sure as hell wasn't a bear.

The stranger ignored our side arguments and kept speaking. ''There is a curse... that dwells in these mountains. Should any man or woman resort to cannibalism in these woods, the spirit of the Wendigo shall be unleashed.''

Mike muttered under his breath, eyes wide. ''Oh crap.''

The stranger kept his gaze steady. ''You're going to need to find somewhere safe.''

Sam took a step forward, looking at each of us. ''The basement might be okay...''

The stranger nodded. ''Okay. Get down there, now. All of you. And wait.''

Sam's voice cracked slightly. ''What? Why? For how long?''

The question was burning in my mind as well, but a different panic seized me. ''What about Josh?''

The stranger's gaze turned to me. ''Where did you leave him?''

My stomach twisted at the memory. ''In the shed... but that thing dragged him out.''

His expression didn't change. ''Your friend will already be dead.''

''No...'' Chris whispered. ''I mean, Cora is still here!''

The stranger's tone was grim. ''That means she's lucky the wendigo got a hold of another prey.''

''But he must be alive!'' I argued. ''He was! It just dragged him! It's like Jess, right, Mike? She was still alive when we found her?!''

Mike looked over at me, uncertain but nodding. ''Yeah... I guess.''

Chris's hands balled into fists. ''No. I'm going to go get him.''

Ashley stepped forward, pleading. ''You can't go out there, Chris!''

Chris turned to her, his voice shaking. ''I'm supposed to be his best friend, and I let him down.''

Ashley's voice cracked as she tried to reason with him. ''No... he let you down, Chris. He let all of us down.''

Chris shook his head. ''I don't care. I'm going to get him.''

The stranger's eyes narrowed. ''Then I'll go with you.''

Chris squared his shoulders. ''I don't need your help.''

The stranger's voice turned sharp, almost scolding. ''Going alone is suicide.''

After a pause, Chris let out a heavy breath. ''Fine.''

The stranger looked around at the rest of us. ''The rest of you—get down to the basement. Be safe. Don't go outside again until we're back.''

I took a step forward. ''I'm not going anywhere without Josh.''

The stranger's gaze met mine. ''Trust me, kid. Your gun doesn't stand a chance against them. If you care about your friend, the best you can do for him is stay alive.''

His words struck me hard, I knew he was right, but it didn't make it any easier to let them go.

The stranger turned back to Chris. ''You don't seem to understand the magnitude of the situation.''

Chris clenched his jaw. ''Well, I'm going to get Josh, aren't I?''

''No. I'm going to get Josh. You're going to help me. Do you understand?''

Chris nodded. ''Uh... yeah... I think so.''

The stranger took one last look at us before turning away. ''You need to follow me and do everything I tell you.''

With that, the two of them headed towards the door, Chris following reluctantly. The rest of us lingered, watching them go before Sam ushered us down towards the basement. I could only hope we'd all make it out of here.

CORA; OLD HOTEL; 04:47

THE BASEMENT FELT STIFLING, as we all sat in silence. My mind replayed the last few hours, each horrifying moment clearer than the one before. I could feel my hands trembling slightly, and I clenched them into fists, forcing myself to stay steady.

Emily, who had been sitting across from me, noticed my silence and edged closer, her face softening with concern. She placed a hand on my shoulder. 

"You okay, Coco?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I met her gaze, struggling to hold back the wave of emotions building inside. I hadn't fully registered everything myself, let alone tried to explain it to anyone. "I just... can't believe any of this is real," I managed. "Josh... he's gone, Em. And it's my fault for not getting to him sooner..."

Emily shook her head firmly. "It's not your fault," she assured me. She slid her arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. "This isn't on you. None of us could've stopped any of this."

We sat there quietly. I looked at her more closely then, noticing the dark shadows under her eyes. Emily wasn't herself tonight, and I could feel a weight behind her gaze too.

"What happened to you?" I asked gently, knowing something wasn't right.

She glanced away, her eyes flickering with something I hadn't seen in her before—vulnerability. "It was Matt," she began, her voice soft but unsteady. "He... he tried to save me when the tower fell. But I slipped, and... and he didn't come back for me. I was alone in those mines for hours."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. For all the tough front she put on, I could see just how much that had shaken her. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her as she trembled against me, feeling her pain echoing my own.

After a moment, we pulled back slightly, leaning against the edge of an old table. It was cold and uncomfortable, but at least we were together. We sat in silence, both lost in our own thoughts, until the door creaked open and the others hurried in.

"Oh, my God, guys!" Emily exclaimed, relief flooding her voice. "Thank God you're back!"

I crossed my arms, looking at them accusingly. "What took you so long?"

Chris's face was pale. "It's... not so good up there right now..."

Mike scoffed, rubbing his hands over his face. ''Understatement of the night.''

Sam's gaze flicked to Chris. ''Chris, where's the flamethrower guy?''

Chris looked away. ''Uh... he, uh...'' His voice cracked, and he swallowed hard, unable to finish.

Ashley's voice quivered. ''He didn't make it?''

Chris looked back at her, regret clouding his face. ''The thing... it tore him apart. Right in front of me.''

''Oh, God...'' Sam whispered.

Mike shook himself, straightening up. ''Alright. Are these all the doors to the basement?'' he asked glancing around.

Sam nodded, looking at him curiously. ''Yeah, why?''

''What are you looking for?'' I asked.

Mike glanced around the room. ''Another way out.''

Sam frowned, crossing her arms as if to protect herself from the idea. ''Mike... I really don't think that's a good idea. We should stay put, right here, until dawn. At least we're safe down here—''

''Oh, yeah? Wrapped up like a nice little present for that thing to tear us apart on Christmas morning?'' he retorted.

Sam's jaw tightened. ''People will come for us. In the morning.''

''You don't sound so sure,'' Mike replied.

''That's what'll happen, right, Em?'' Sam asked, her gaze flicking to Emily, almost begging for reassurance.

Emily hesitated, her eyes darting between all of us. ''Yeah... I mean, right?''

Mike wasn't satisfied, though. He took a step toward the stairs. ''Well, you can wait if you want, but I'm leaving.''

Emily's voice broke in. ''Mike, there's no key for the cable car—''

''Josh. He's got to have it,'' he replied without missing a beat.

I couldn't keep the disbelief from my voice. ''Josh?''

''One of his dirty little tricks,'' Mike muttered, his eyes darkening.

''Great. Great!'' Sam scoffed, rolling her eyes.

''If that thing got a hold of Josh, then... we're shit outta luck.''

Emily's eyes flashed with sudden clarity, like she'd remembered something. ''I don't know, Mike, it's possible...''

I perked up, looking between the two of them. ''What's possible?''

Emily took a breath, looking pained as she glanced at us. ''It might've taken him down to the mines.''

I stared at her, trying to process what she'd just said. ''What?''

Emily's voice was quieter now. ''I saw some... horrible stuff down there. I think it's where that thing lives...''

I watched her carefull. ''Em? What?''

But before she could answer, Mike clenched his fists and squared his shoulders. ''Screw it. I'm gonna get that key. Right from that thing's goddamned bedroom, and then I'm getting us all out of here.''

I pushed myself up from where I was slumped against the wall, ignoring the lightheadedness that washed over me.

''Mike,'' I started ''I'm coming with you. Josh is—''

''No.'' Mike's voice was firm, cutting me off before I could finish. He didn't even look at me at first, his jaw clenching as he paced like he was psyching himself up.

''Let me help,'' I insisted. ''You can't do this alone—''

''Cora.'' He stepped closer, his expression softening. ''You've got a head injury. You can barely stand up right now. If you come with me and something happens to you, I won't be able to live with that.''

''But Josh—'' I tried again, my throat tightening.

''I'll get him.'' Mike's voice was steel, his hand gripping my shoulder firmly. ''I promise you, I'll get him, and I'll bring him back here. But I need you to stay. Stay safe, Cora. Please.''

I opened my mouth to argue again, but the look in his eyes stopped me. It wasn't fear exactly—it was something deeper. He wasn't asking. He was begging.

I sank back against the wall. ''Fine,'' I muttered, my voice barely audible. ''But if you're not back in one piece, I'm never letting you live it down.''

Mike huffed a breath that might have been a laugh if the stakes weren't so high. ''Deal,'' he said, giving my shoulder one last squeeze before turning and grabbing the shotgun.

Sam's gaze drifted to a bag lying on the table, left by the stranger. ''Em, what is all that?''

Emily turned, eyeing it with unease. ''It's... it's that old guy's bag.''

Mike rifled through it, his eyes lighting up. ''Is that a map?''

"The guy was prepared for anything," Sam commented.

''Not quite,'' Mike replied pulling.

''What is this place?''

''Oh, my God...'' Mike's face paled as he scanned the map with his eyes.

Sam leaned over, her brow furrowed. ''Wait, wait. What is that?''

Mike's voice dropped to a grim murmur. ''I was down there... It was horrible.''

Sam looked at him, surprised. ''You were?''

He nodded. ''Some of them survived... but, like... fifteen of 'em didn't make it.''

''There was this reporter,'' Mike continued, ''and I think he figured out there had been some... big cover-up going on. I found these plans – they knew the mines were a death trap, but they let the miners keep working anyway.''

Emily's eyebrows drew together, irritation sparking in her eyes. ''Michael, can we maybe focus on how we're going to get the hell out of here?'' she interrupted, clearly unwilling to entertain any more horror stories.

Ashley's gaze flicked to Emily's arm, her face suddenly blanching as she noticed something unusual. ''Em...? Em, what is that?'' she asked pointing.

Emily turned, following Ashley's gaze. ''Huh?'' she asked.

Ashley backed up slightly, horror widening her eyes as she took in the sight of the faint bite marks. ''What is that?'' she repeated, her voice rising.

''Nothing,'' Emily replied, waving her hand dismissively. ''It bit me, and—''

''It bit you?!'' Ashley's voice cracked with panic. ''What bit you?!''

Emily hesitated. ''The... the Wendigo.''

Mike's head jerked up at this. ''The what?''

''It's nothing, really,'' Emily replied, trying to brush it off. ''It's not a big deal.''

I stepped forward, catching her eye. ''Are you okay?'' 

''Shit,'' Mike muttered, raking his fingers through his hair.

Emily glanced at me, a small smile meant to reassure me crossing her face. ''It doesn't hurt anymore. Really. It's not that bad.''

But Mike's frown deepened. ''Em, if that thing bit you...''

She met his stare. ''I know what you're thinking, and I'm fine.''

''Are you?'' he pressed.

''Yes!'' she shot back.

I held up a hand. ''Em, at least let us check it out. You might need bandages.''

Mike's shoulders tensed, and I could feel the worry in his gaze as he kept looking between her and the bite. ''Emily, if the Wendigo bit you... you could turn into one of those things.''

I crossed my arms. ''That's ridiculous!''

Ashley's face was still pale. ''He said it was from eating each other. Remember, he said that!''

Sam looked over. ''Wait... is that how it worked?''

''Yes!'' Ashley cried. ''It happens if it bit you! You're going to turn into one of them, and then you're going to turn on us!'' Her voice cracked with panic as her gaze locked onto Emily. ''Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God!''

I felt a surge of anger at Ashley's spiraling fear. ''Well, it didn't eat her whole, alright? It's just a bite!''

Mike stepped forward her. ''You can't be down here with us.''

Emily's face blanched. ''What?!''

Sam's voice cut through. ''Mike!''

But Mike didn't budge. ''You gotta go.''

Emily's face twisted with betrayal, her voice rising. ''Are you kidding me?!''

''You're putting us all in danger!'' he growled.

''Like hell I am!'' Emily shouted back, fire blazing in her eyes as she took a step closer to him.

''Emily, you can't stay here!''

I shook my head, refusing to accept this nonsense. ''We don't know if it works like that! She doesn't look like a Wendigo to me!''

Chris piped up. ''I've seen what these fuckers can do. I don't want to see it again.''

Emily's voice broke slightly, her eyes darting around the room as she looked to each of us for support. ''What is this? Guys, what are you doing?''

Mike pointed to the door, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. ''Door's right here. I'm letting you do this voluntarily.''

Emily looked at him. ''Oh, no, you're just making yourself feel better about sending me to my death, aren't you? Since you know there's a Wendigo out there, ready to rip me to pieces like it did to...''

Ashley's voice sliced through the air. ''Oh, my God, will you just go?! Go! Get out of here!''

And before I could blink, Mike snatched up the gun, raising it in Emily's direction. My heart pounded as I took in the scene, Sam and Ashley both freezing in shock, while Emily stood still with wide eyes.

Sam's voice cut through. ''Whoa!''

Emily's voice softened. ''You're going to shoot me? Mike... me?''

''This is the safe room, Em!'' he shouted.

''Please,'' she begged.

''It's not safe as long as you're in it! Not for us!'' Mike's grip on the gun tightened.

Emily's voice broke. ''No, don't do this!''

Mike's expression softened for a split second. ''I'm really sorry.''

Without thinking, I stepped in front of Emily, my arms stretched out in a defensive stance, staring him down with a glare. ''I'm not going to let you shoot her over something so minor when you don't even know if it's real! If the bite doesn't work the way you think it does, you'll be adding your ex to your kill count. Is that what you want?!''

He faltered, his gaze dropping to the floor. ''Fuck, I can't do this.'' His voice cracked, and the gun lowered slowly.

Emily let out a shaky breath, relief flooding her face. ''Oh... my God...''

I took a small step back, watching Mike's expression waver. He looked over at Sam, who gave him a quiet nod.

''You did the right thing,'' she said.

Ashley, though, stood