FOUR HOURS UNTIL DAWN

CORA; WASHINGTON LODGE BASEMENT; 03:05

I WOKE WITH A START, Josh's voice fading like sand slipping through my fingers. For a moment, I thought I could still feel the warm breeze from the beach party. But reality sank in, and the warm memory was replaced by the cold reality. I blinked, realising tears were streaking down my cheeks. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ground myself in the present, but the ache in my chest lingered.

As I took in my surroundings, I noticed Sam slumped in front of me, her head hanging down, her hands bound tightly with tape. She was seated in a worn-out spinning chair, looking completely out of it. My heart hammered as I scrambled over to her, nudging her shoulder, desperate to wake her up.

"Sam," I whispered, shaking her lightly, my voice hoarse. "Sam, come on. Wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around groggily. I quickly began peeling off the tape around her wrists, my hands shaking as I worked.

"Where the hell are we?" she murmured.

"I don't know, Sam..." I swallowed, trying to steady myself. The walls seemed to close in and I couldn't catch my breath. Memories of Josh's lifeless body flashed behind my eyes, and I choked back a sob.

Seeing my distress, Sam leaned in and wrapped her arms around me tightly. "Hey, hey," she whispered. "It's going to be okay, Cora. We'll find a way out of this... together. You're not alone. We'll make it."

I took a shaky breath, nodding against her shoulder. She pulled back and gave me a determined look before focusing on our surroundings. She spotted a vent overhead and immediately went into action, kicking at the lid until it finally gave way. She gestured for me to follow, and together, we crawled out of the confined room.

The hallway was silent. The space had an unsettling, industrial feel. We crept along cautiously, sticking close together. Sam's hand suddenly brushed over something, and she stiffened, holding up a series of large, twisted plans.

"This is..." she murmured, her eyes scanning the papers, her voice barely a whisper. "This can't be right—"

I felt my stomach churn, but I couldn't bring myself to look. My mind was trapped, replaying every horrifying detail I'd seen in the dark lodge, of Josh, of Jessica's body getting dragged away. Everything was still fresh, brutal, like I was living through it all over again. Sam called my name, but I barely registered it, staring at nothing.

"Cora?" She gently placed a hand on my shoulder, but when I didn't respond, she sighed and continued ahead. I heard her rustling through the scattered items and flipping through pages.

Then her voice cut through the silence. "Holy shit..."

Glancing up, I saw her holding something—Josh's phone. She frowned at the screen, a mix of confusion and worry in her eyes.

"What was that about?" she whispered, her voice trailing off as she shook her head. I didn't respond, feeling an ache so deep it was almost numb. 

We moved through the room, Sam leading the way, her eyes darting from object to object, her disgust growing with every twisted artefact we found. She stopped at a board filled with photos and scribbled notes—obsessive, unsettling images of Hannah and Beth. She grimaced, stepping back. "Ugh... creep city."

"Underestimated," I whispered back.

Sam gave me a quick glance, brows furrowed, before continuing forward. Then, she froze, eyes wide, looking at something tucked in a dark corner. I followed her gaze to a mannequin dressed in Sam's clothes, standing stiffly and lifelessly in the shadows. Her face drained of colour, and she whispered, "Jesus..."

I stayed close to her, feeling small and vulnerable, hoping with everything in me that we'd get out of here alive.

Just then, Sam paused near a wall grate, about to step forward, when a hand shot out from the darkness and grabbed her ankle. She gasped and bent down, peering through the grate.

"Mike!" she shouted. "What are you doing down there? There's a g—"

"Thank God you found us," she breathed out, her face softening as she looked at him.

Mike pushed his hand through the grate, and Sam clasped it tightly, steadying herself. "It's okay. You're okay," he reassured her.

Sam tilted her head, still slightly shaken. "I don't understand... How did you get here? How did you find us?"

"There's some fucking maniac up here on the mountain," he growled, his jaw clenched.

Sam nodded grimly. "Yeah, I've noticed"

Mike glanced around the dank space. "He lives in this... like, web of tunnels. I was trying to find a way out, and then I spotted this grate and saw you both."

I swallowed, my voice barely holding steady as I asked, "Where's—where's Jessica? She's not with you?"

Mike's expression darkened, his shoulders stiffening as he shook his head. "Jessica is dead."

Sam's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening in shock. "What?!"

"He killed her. He's trying to kill us—all of us." Mike's fists clenched. "And I swear to God, when everyone is safe, I am going to hunt that fucker down and rip his nuts off one at a goddamn time."

"Whoa," I breathed, more out of disbelief than humour.

Sam shook her head. "Listen, this guy you're talking about... he attacked us. He showed us these... these videos, and in one of them, he had Josh. I don't even know how to describe it, Mike. He just... ripped him apart with this massive sawblade..."

Mike's face paled. "Jesus Christ."

"And I think..." Sam hesitated, "I think he's living down here. And whoever he is, he's obsessed with Hannah and Beth."

"God damn."

''I found these plans, like, blueprints for a crazy machine just like the one Josh was in, but it's fake... it was for a dummy.'' Sam explained quickly.

''Sam, slow down...'' Mike whispered.

I stared at Sam, barely processing her words. Plans for a machine, blueprints, all fake? 

''Josh might not be dead!'' she blurted out.

''Wait, what?'' I barely recognised my own voice.

Sam took a shaky breath, glancing at Mike. ''I didn't want to say anything about this to you Cora, but.. I think somehow Josh is involved in all of this.''

''What? How?'' Mike looked as bewildered as I felt.

''I don't know,'' Sam stammered, rubbing her forehead. ''But there was a message from his doctor, something about a plan being a bad idea... and now he's dead—or at least, we thought he was!''

Mike exhaled sharply, shaking his head. ''What the fuck is going on around here...? There's a door here that won't budge. Can you unlock it from your side?''

Sam nodded, heading toward the door where her backpack was hanging from the doorknob. I followed. As she left the room to circle around to Mike's side, I stepped up and yanked a wooden plank loose, finally pushing the door open.

Mike stood there, looking worn, his face shadowed with bruises and exhaustion. His hair was messy, eyes hollow, yet he managed a weary smile.

''Hey...'' he greeted.

I sighed, managing a faint smile despite everything. ''Jeez, you look like hell.''

''Nice to see you too,'' he replied dryly, but I saw the relief in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Sam walked across the room, dropping her backpack onto a dusty bench. She turned, catching Mike's puzzled look.

''What are you doing?'' he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sam glanced down at her towel and chuckled wryly. ''Well, actually, this wasn't exactly the best outfit for fighting off killer maniacs, you know? Do you mind? Mike?''

Mike coughed, turning away quickly. ''Oh. Right. My bad.'' He gave me an awkward nod, and I turned with him, averting my gaze to give Sam a bit of privacy. We stood there in silence, neither of us daring to look back until Sam gave a soft cough.

''Alright. Done.'' She adjusted her outfit. ''Let's put this thing to bed.''

''Amen to that,'' Mike murmured.

Before I could say anything, a faint cry echoed through the walls, one that sent a chill down my spine.

''Please!'' 

''That's Ashley,'' I whispered, my heart pounding. I could feel the panic twisting in my chest.

Sam didn't hesitate; she threw herself at the door across the room, and Mike and I followed, shoving against it until it gave way. We burst into the next room, my heart racing as I spotted Ashley and Chris strapped to a table with a saw coming out of the ceiling. Across the room, a figure loomed in the shadows—the Psycho. The cold, polished steel glint of his mask stared back at us.

Ashley's voice broke through. ''No! No no no! Get away!!!'' Her scream tore through the air.

Chris raised the gun, firing three quick shots at the Psycho's chest. Each one hit him, but the figure didn't even flinch. He looked down at his chest, almost disappointed.

The Psycho cocked his head. ''Oh, Chris... Oh, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris,'' he drawled, his voice mocking.

''What the fuck?!''

The Psycho chuckled. ''Oh, you've heard of blanks before, haven't you?'' He tilted his head. ''I mean really?''

And then, with a deliberate, calculated motion, he reached up and slowly pulled the mask away.

My heart stopped. Time seemed to freeze around me.

Standing there, alive, with a twisted smile, was Josh.

The room spun, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I'd been mourning him, remembering him, convincing myself he was gone forever... yet here he was, looking at us with an expression that made my stomach twist. It wasn't the Josh I remembered, the boy who used to joke and smile, who had hugged me so tightly at that party. This Josh looked... hollow, almost unrecognisable.

''Josh...'' I whispered, the word barely escaping my lips.

It felt like everything I knew, every emotion I'd felt, shattered in that instant. I had mourned him and now... it had all been some kind of sick, twisted game.

I saw Josh's gaze flick to me, his expression unreadable, as if he couldn't understand the betrayal and devastation written all over my face. He'd been alive this whole time, orchestrating this nightmare, watching us suffer.

I wanted to scream, to yell, to reach out and shake him, demand answers. But I could only stand there, staring, as my mind struggled to process the reality before me.

Josh's laugh echoed through the room. He grinned at each of us, eyes wild with some twisted satisfaction.

''Josh?'' Chris managed, his voice choked with disbelief.

Josh only laughed harder. ''Oh, very good! Every one of you! Got my name!'' He laughed as if it was the punchline to some elaborate joke. ''After all you've been through! Good-good-good. I mean, how does that feel?''

My legs felt like they were going to give out, but I forced myself to stand there, watching in silent horror as Sam rushed to untie Ashley and Mike set Chris free. I didn't move, rooted in place, frozen as everything shattered around me.

''Right? How does it feel? Do you enjoy feeling terrorised? Humiliated? I mean, panicked?'' His words were spat out like venom, like he was finally getting revenge he thought he deserved. ''All those emotions my sisters got to feel one year ago! But guess what? They didn't get to laugh it off! No! They're gone!'' 

Mike's face hardened, his voice cold and steady. ''I don't know if you noticed this, Josh, but none of us are laughing.''

''Oh, come on, come on,'' Josh scoffed, feigning disappointment. ''Why the long faces? It's good to get the heart racing every now and then, right? And race they did!'' He let out another wild laugh. ''Pitter-pat, pitter-pat! I hope you appreciated my little phantasmagorical spectacle!''

Clips flickered across the screens he'd set up around the room—the candle lighting, Ashley screaming, the ghostly apparitions he'd staged to frighten us all. My stomach churned as it became clear how far he'd gone to orchestrate every horrifying detail.

''And all that gore?'' he continued. ''Gore galore! Fake bodies, blood, and that sawblade? God, that was expensive!'' He almost sounded proud, as though he were a director talking about his masterpiece.

''Josh... Your fingerprints were all over this. It was obviously you. You're begging for Help, Josh'' Sam spoke up.

''Oh really? Really really?'' Josh mocked, feigning an innocent tone. He spun on his heel, pretending to plead. ''Help me! Oh help me! Help help!'' His voice turned cold, his gaze locking onto each of us. ''Come on! It was just for fun! I mean, a little bit of egg on your faces, right? Nobody got hurt—''

Mike exploded. ''What are you talking about, you asshat? Jessica is fucking dead.''

Josh froze, the smile fading from his face as if the words had finally punctured his delusion. ''What?''

''Did you hear me? Jessica is dead, and you are gonna fucking pay, you dick!'' With those words, Mike slammed his gun across Josh's head, and he collapsed, the smug look on his face gone in an instant. I gasped, covering my mouth.

With Chris and Mike struggling to get Josh upstairs, I followed in a daze, my legs moving almost on their own. None of us spoke until we reached the main room.

''We need somewhere to lock him up,'' Chris stated.

I took a shaky breath, trying to push down the ache of betrayal. ''The shed,'' I offered quietly. ''At least until we can figure out what to do with him.''

Chris and Mike exchanged a glance before nodding. Mike turned to the others. ''Alright. The rest of you stay here. Cora, you're coming with us.''

I fell in step behind them. I barely registered the biting wind, my mind still trapped in the room we'd left behind, replaying Josh's words over and over.

CORA; WASHINGTON LODGE SHED; 04:23

JOSH WAS WRITHING against his binds. ''Guys! Come on... seriously, this is crazy, you know?''

Mike's face was like stone. ''Shut up.''

Josh glanced towards Chris, his voice softening. ''Chris... Bro...''

Chris barely glanced at him. ''I'm not your bro...''

Josh's voice wavered, becoming pleading, almost childlike. ''Where are we going? Where are you taking me?''

''Locking you up.'' Mike replied.

''What?!''

''So you can't do anything stupid before we call the police in the morning.''

Josh twisted his head back to look at them. ''Come on! I didn't do anything—''

''Are you serious, bro?'' Chris shot back, his voice cracking with disbelief.

''You're a goddamned murderer, that's what you are,'' Mike growled.

Josh's eyes filled with frustration. ''I didn't do it, Michael, please! Just listen to me, man! I did not hurt Jessica—''

''Are you insane?'' Chris demanded. ''Do you not understand what you've done?''

Josh's voice softened again, turning strange and almost serene. ''I'm a healer, man. I bring people together. Not like you assholes.''

''That's enough,'' Mike barked.

But Josh's twisted smile returned, and his voice turned condescending. ''You only see what you want to see... You're blind.'' He tugged at his restraints, gritting his teeth. ''It's not my fault you suckers can't take a joke.''

Mike let out a cold laugh as he pushed Josh into the snow. ''Oh, did I hurt you? A little bit of pain? Right now I am so... so... sorry.''

Josh screamed, the pain evident in his voice as he writhed in the snow. ''Stop it...!''

''Mike!'' I blurted out, my voice sharper than I intended. I wasn't sure how far this was going, and the anger in Mike's face made me uneasy.

Chris glanced at Josh, his expression softer but still pained. ''Jesus, dude...''

Josh looked back. ''Stop... Michael... I'm sorry, man... I can't tell you how sorry I am that something happened to Jessica, but I swear... I swear to you, I have no idea what happened to her...''

Chris took a slow, trembling breath, his gaze locking onto Josh's. ''Josh? Be honest with me.'' He paused, a note of pleading in his voice. ''Do you really expect us to trust you, for a single goddamn second, after all the shit you put us through?''

I stepped forward, hoping my voice would reach them both. ''Mike, wait,'' I urged. ''Just think this through.''

''What's there to think through?!'' he demanded. ''He killed Jessica!''

I felt a surge of frustration rise in my chest. This wasn't adding up, not the way Mike thought. ''No, Mike! I've seen the same thing as you, and guess what? That thing also chased me down, and it sure as hell wasn't Josh!'' I swallowed, trying to make sense of it myself. ''The timeline doesn't make sense!''

Mike's eyes narrowed. ''Oh, then what did?!''

My mind raced, coming up empty. ''I don't fucking know,'' I admitted. ''But it couldn't have been Josh!''

Mike's expression hardened as he took a step closer to me, pointing to his bloodstained hands. ''We saw what he did to her. With our own eyes, Cora. This... this...'' he struggled to keep his voice steady. ''This is her blood, Cora. I know your mind might be a bit foggy, but don't lose your head on me right now.''

Before I could respond, Josh interrupted, snapping us back to the strange reality at hand. ''Hey, can't we all just get along?'' He smirked, but the crazed look in his eyes turned the words into something mocking. ''Ow! Dammit!'' he cried as Mike shoved him roughly onto a nearby stool, securing him to the pole.

Mike's face tightened with disgust. ''We're not dicking around.''

Josh glanced at him, smirking, as though he found the whole thing amusing. ''It's not right... nope... this is not how it's supposed to go down...'' His voice wavered. ''You're just a bunch of bullies... can't hang a guy out to dry like this, not like... not like you've got the guts to really do anything about it anyway!''

Chris, standing a few feet away, looked as though he was barely holding back his anger. ''Oh, stuff it, Josh. You're the biggest coward there is.''

Josh laughed. ''Uh huh? I did something! I made you believe in the world I created. I showed you parts of yourself you were too afraid to visit.''

Chris looked at him with pure contempt. ''You manipulated us, you tricked us, you hurt your friends, and you did it all while you hid in the shadows. You're a coward, Josh. That's all you are.''

With a rough shove, Mike forced Josh to sit back down, ensuring he stayed tied to the stool. Josh's laughter continued, but there was an edge of something unsettling, something lost, in his eyes.

''Okay... tying me up now... okay...'' Josh whispered.

''Stay still, man,'' Mike