SIX HOURS UNTIL DAWN

CORA; WASHINGTON LODGE; 01:11

I SAT THERE, my face buried in my hands, tears hot against my palms. Everything—the screams, the blood, the figure dragging Jessica—blurred together in my mind until it felt like I couldn't breathe. But sitting there, crumbling under the weight of fear, wasn't going to help. Taking a shuddering breath, I pushed myself up, glancing toward the stairs.

I forced my legs to move as I headed upstairs. I needed a moment, maybe to grab my things, maybe to call the police—though the chance of a signal up here felt like a long shot. I hadn't even reached the top when a voice floated down the hallway. 

''Chris? Mike? Emily? This is really getting out of hand, okay?'' It was Sam, her voice echoing through the lodge. ''It was all very funny, ha ha, look at Sam walking around in a towel, but now I just really want this to be over, alright? Had enough?''

Hearing her was like a sudden, grounding relief. I spotted her, wrapped in nothing but a towel, wandering around. I rushed toward her, grabbing her in a hug before I could think twice.

Sam stiffened, surprised, then returned my hug hesitantly. "Oh. Cora—wait, what happened?'' She pulled back slightly, her eyes scanning my face. ''Are you okay? Feeling bad for stealing my clothes or something?''

I met her eyes, my voice a whisper. ''No, Sam... it's Josh... he's...''

Her face shifted, the teasing smile fading as worry filled her gaze. ''What do you mean?''

I drew in a shaky breath. ''He's dead, Sam.''

She stared at me, her face blank with shock. ''What?''

Before I could say anything else, a loud crackle filled the room. Both of us whipped around to see the television flickering on, displaying nothing but static. 

''They said there's a maniac,'' I managed, barely able to keep my voice steady. ''And I saw someone—someone pulled Jessica into the mines...''

Sam's expression shifted from shock to determination, and she grabbed a flashlight from the drawer. She kept the light steady as we moved down the hall. We barely made it into the cinema room when the door behind us slammed shut. We both shrieked, spinning around to see nothing but the closed doors.

Sam stepped forward, her voice trembling with anger as she called out, ''Hey! Guys, come on! We're DONE with this! I really don't appreciate the silent treatment here!''

She hammered on the door, but the room remained still and silent. Then, a low, distorted voice filled the room.

''Hello, Samantha... Cora. I didn't expect you both here. Were you looking for me?'' The Psycho's voice was laced with a mocking amusement that made my stomach twist. ''I don't think you'll have much luck by looking.''

Sam froze, her eyes darting around the room as the voice continued. ''You're only going to see what I want you to see... And I have quite a lot to show you.''

''What the hell...?'' Sam murmured.

''Open your eyes,'' the Psycho coaxed. The screen in front of us flickered, and the image sharpened, showing... Sam. There she was, vulnerable and unaware, sitting in the bathtub from earlier.

Sam's mouth fell open. ''Oh my God...''

''She's quite peaceful here, don't you think?'' The Psycho's voice had a twisted calmness, as if he were discussing a piece of art. ''Do you think she has any idea what lies ahead? Do you think these were the last happy moments of this creature's life?''

''Why are you showing this to us?'' Sam demanded.

''Why are you watching?'' The voice replied and the screen abruptly shifted. I gasped, recoiling as the video showed... Josh. The horrible image replayed before our eyes, the saw, the moment everything changed forever.

''Josh!'' I cried out, unable to stop myself, the scene tearing into me all over again.

The Psycho's voice was cold, clinical. ''How does it make you feel?''

Sam and I screamed as Josh's body was sliced apart.

Sam clutched her head. ''OH MY GOD, WHAT DID YOU DO?!''

The Psycho ignored her. ''I'm going to give you ten seconds... Nine.''

''No, no, no, no...'' Sam stammered, her breaths coming in short, panicked bursts.

''Eight. Seven,'' he continued the countdown.

''Please, no,'' I whispered, my voice breaking as terror gripped me.

Suddenly, the Psycho burst into the room. Sam let out a strangled scream, backing away as he took a step toward us, his laughter echoing off the walls. My eyes darted around the room, desperate for anything we could use, and my hand closed around a nearby vase. Without thinking, I hurled it at him, the ceramic smashing against his arm with a loud crash.

''Fuck you!'' I spat.

Sam grabbed my arm, and together we sprinted toward the door, bursting out into the guest room. ''Shit! Shit shit shit!'' Sam muttered as we vaulted over the bed, stumbling forward into the hall.

Our footsteps echoed down the corridor as we dashed toward the cellar, plunging into the dark, narrow space and hiding behind a pillar. I could hear my own heart pounding, drowning out everything but the Psycho's approaching footsteps.

''Sam... Coco?'' His voice drifted down. ''Why are you hiding? Why prolong the inevitable?''

I tried to steady my breathing, clutching Sam's hand tightly, my heart hammering as the Psycho drew closer. His shadow loomed near, and in a burst of panic, I reached out, grabbing Joshua's old baseball bat lying nearby. As he stepped into view, I swung with everything I had. The Psycho stumbled, and I pulled Sam along as we bolted toward the far end of the cellar.

We reached a door, only to find it was handleless. ''Are you kidding me? No HANDLE?!'' Sam cried.

Thinking quickly, she pulled at a small wine rack, revealing a hidden handle underneath. She yanked it open, and we both tumbled through the door, slamming it shut behind us just as his hand punched through the small window in the door. Sam gasped, pressing her weight against it, while I pushed a metal barrier down to lock it in place.

''Get out!'' she screamed, shoving back against the Psycho's hand as it clawed through the opening. I forced the barrier into place, finally securing the door shut.

Breathing hard, we stumbled down the hall, the Psycho's pounding against the door echoing behind us. Sam forced open another door and nearly fell through it, grabbing onto me for balance as I helped her up.

We ran through the dark corridors of the lodge. Just as I thought we might escape, he suddenly appeared in front of us. His fist connected with Sam's face, and she stumbled back, dazed. Before I could react, his hand was around my throat.

''I'm so sorry,'' he whispered.

I struggled, trying to pry his hand away as he held a cloth to my mouth. I fought against it, every fibre of me screaming to stay awake, to stay conscious, but my vision began to blur, darkness creeping in until I could no longer fight it.

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