ONE HOUR UNTIL DAWN

CORA; MINES; 06:00

MY HAND WAS still trembling from the encounter with the Wendigo. The way I could feel the pipe doing no damage to its skin haunts my mind.

''So... you still want to find Josh, after all that?'' Mike questioned, glancing sideways at me, eyebrows raised slightly.

I shrugged. ''I'm surprised myself.''

Mike nodded, looking at me with a faint smile. ''That's admirable. I'll give you that.''

I forced a small, tight smile. ''I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy to be stuck down there with that... thing,'' I muttered, glancing around as though I could still feel the Wendigo's presence.

''I was not prepared for how ugly that thing would be up close,'' Sam shuddered.

Mike gave a nod. ''Yeah...'' he whispered, lost in thought. ''But I noticed something kind of weird about it.''

Sam looked at him, eyebrows knitting together. ''Uh... what?''

''The Wendigo,'' he continued. ''It had a scar.''

''So?'' Sam questioned.

''I've seen it before,'' he replied.

She tilted her head. ''What are you talking about?''

Mike drew in a deep breath. ''I saw these old pictures of some guy with that same scar. He was...'' he paused, hesitating over the word. ''Transforming into a Wendigo.''

Sam's eyes widened. ''You're kidding.''

''It was one of those miners,'' Mike went on. ''They were trapped back in the 50s, after the cave-in. Which means that thing...'' he trailed off. ''It's at least 80 years old.''

''Spunky for an old timer,'' Sam quipped.

Mike offered a dry smile, but it faded as he looked around, as if to confirm we were still alone. ''They cleaned this place out... killed a lot of people.''

Sam's face fell. ''They? You mean there're more of them?''

''Oh, yeah,'' Mike confirmed darkly.

''How many?'' I asked, though I dreaded the answer.

''Too many,'' he replied.

As we walked on, Sam glanced up, her steps slowing as she glanced around. ''I think we're close. To the lair.''

Mike gave her a look. ''How can you tell?''

''I don't know,'' she replied. ''I just... feel really terrible all of a sudden.''

Mike's shoulders tensed. ''Ditto,'' 

''I really don't want to go in there...'' Sam admitted.

''There's no other way through,'' Mike replied.

I looked over at her. ''You can always back away,'' I offered.

''I'm not leaving without you,'' Sam countered. ''After all we did to get here.''

I rolled my eyes, mimicking Mike's earlier tone, '''That's admirable. I'll give you that.'''

Mike shot me a look, feigning offence. ''If that was supposed to be me, just know you messed up big time,'' he teased.

I stifled a laugh. ''Oh, really? Then how do you sound?''

With a sudden exaggerated drawl, Mike put on a mockingly suave tone. '''Oh, my lady, I think it's quite an admirable thing to achieve,''' he said, voice smooth, leaning in as though I'd actually swoon.

I couldn't help but scoff, shaking my head. ''Alright, keep dreaming.''

We turned a corner, and Sam stopped short, her face paling as she looked at something on the ground. ''Is that what I think it is?'' she asked, her voice barely audible.

Mike stepped closer. ''Shit... looks like a grave.''

Kneeling down, I brushed away some dirt and unearthed a small, worn object, my breath catching in my throat. ''That's Beth's watch...'' I whispered. I held it up, showing it to Sam and Mike.

''What? Let me see...'' Mike said, taking the watch gently from my hand.

''That was a gift from Josh,'' I added, my voice breaking slightly as I pictured Josh giving it to her, a sister he had once loved so deeply.

Mike sighed, looking at the makeshift grave with a heavy frown. ''So this is where she was buried...''

Sam stared at the disturbed earth. ''But... who dug her up?''

After a long pause, Mike cleared his throat. ''Let's keep moving.''

Sam's mouth tightened as she took a deep breath, steeling herself before stepping forward. ''Fine. I'm going in.''

She hesitated, glancing down at the murky water in front of us.

''Come on,'' he urged. ''It's okay.''

I narrowed my eyes at him. ''You sure?'' I asked, not entirely convinced.

He smirked, unfazed. ''You already fell into the water tonight, why not do it again?''

''What will it take for you to stop bringing it up?'' I replied.

The cold crept up my legs the moment I plunged into the water. It was like stepping into liquid ice. Mike, ahead of me, glanced back and grinned.

''See?'' he pointed out smugly, gesturing around. ''You're not dead yet.''

I huffed, rolling my eyes as I took a step deeper, shivering as the water lapped at my waist.

Sam gave a weak laugh, wincing as she followed us into the icy depths. ''Famous last words.''

The water only seemed to get colder the further we went. ''It's freezing,'' Sam whispered, hugging herself. ''I can't feel my fingers.''

''Holy shit,'' Mike whispered, glancing around.

Sam grumbled, shivering harder now. ''Wait a minute. I thought you said we'd already hit the deepest part.''

Mike raised an eyebrow. ''I didn't say that,'' he pointed out, smirking slightly. ''I said it was okay... meaning, you know, there weren't any sharks or anything in here.''

I shot him a glare, shaking my head. ''Oh, fuck you, Michael.''

Eventually, we found a way to the left and came upon an old, weathered journal half-buried in debris. Sam picked it up gingerly, brushing off the grime, flipping open the cover to the first few crumbling pages. I could see her face as she read: curiosity giving way to shock, and then horror.

''I'm sorry Beth...'' she read with a soft voice. ''I have no choice. It's the only way I can survive anymore. If someone finds this, I'm sorry. I had to... I had no choice.''

Mike leaned in. ''What does it mean... Jesus...''

Sam turned to the next page, her fingers trembling. ''Oh god... It makes sense...'' She looked up, wide-eyed. ''I think... Hannah dug up Beth. It was Hannah!''

Mike shook his head immediately, refusing to believe it. ''No, that's— that's ridiculous.''

''Michael... it has to be,'' Sam countered. ''It's the only thing that makes sense— Beth died in the fall.''

Mike's face tightened, struggling to process. ''So what... what does that mean—''

I spoke quietly. ''So Hannah must have buried her.''

''Goddammit... God-dammit,'' Mike swore, running a hand through his hair, as though he was desperately trying to shake off the idea.

''Hannah was down here... for...'' Sam whispered.

Mike shook his head. ''I don't believe any of this!''

Sam pressed on, as though unable to stop the thought. ''She would have been starving... she would have been desperate—''

''Fuck!'' Mike snapped.

Sam took a deep breath, her expression resolute. ''We need to find Josh. Right now.''

Back in the freezing water, it felt even colder, somehow heavier with what we'd just discovered. Mike trudged forward. He was showing signs of remorse... At least I think so. It was also my fault. Hannah had to eat her own sister because I couldn't reach her in time. I didn't stop the prank.

''It's getting deeper,'' he noted pulling me out of my thoughts.

''Yeah, uhm...'' Sam hesitated, casting a nervous glance at the dark water surrounding us.

''Okay—okay—'' Mike's voice softened, almost reassuring as he squinted ahead. ''Hey, it's sloping up again. We're gonna make it.''

''Oh my god,'' Sam breathed. ''Don't jinx it!''

We reached the edge, pulling ourselves out of the water. I can't imagine how cold they must be if I'm freezing to death and I'm dressed in my winter coat while they... well, look like they are on a summer trip.

''Come on, come on,'' Mike urged, holding his hand out to steady me as I stumbled, shivering. ''We made it.''

Sam moved ahead, finding an old metal door embedded into the wall. She reached out and turned the handle, and it gave way with a sudden, violent gush. Water flooded through, and before we could react, a decomposing head, bloated and unrecognisable, came surging out with the rush of water. We stumbled back, tripping over each other as we gasped in shock and disgust.

''Whoa... whoa!'' Mike exclaimed, nearly losing his footing as he caught himself.

Just as we moved past the door, a strange sensation crept over me, like an invisible presence watching us. My heart thudded as I looked around, my skin prickling under an unseen gaze.

''You see that...?'' Sam whispered, pointing towards a dark corner.

''Yeah...'' Mike answered.

I peered ahead. ''...bodies...''

Mike swallowed hard. ''Yeah. Yeah, a lot of them. Oh... Oh my god...''

''Noooo...!'' Sam's voice broke.

''I'm gonna be sick,'' Mike muttered, turning away.

The rotting stench hit me and my stomach lurched. I barely managed to stagger over to a corner, retching, my entire body shaking. Sam quickly knelt beside me, one hand reaching out to gather my hair back, holding it gently until I finished. She didn't say anything, but as I looked up, she handed me a hair tie. I took it, securing my hair in a tight ponytail.

Suddenly, Mike raised a hand, stopping us in our tracks.

''Wait, wait, wait!'' he whispered urgently, eyes fixed on something in the distance. ''Hold on. I think I saw something...''

Through a gap in the wooden boards, I caught a glimpse of movement. There, slumped against the wall, was Josh. His figure was hunched, and he was muttering to himself.

''No... no, no... I don't... I don't take orders from you...'' His voice wavered, cracking as he shook his head, as if fighting off invisible chains.

''Josh!'' I called out instinctively.

We quickly found a door and hurried through it, stepping cautiously as we approached him. Josh's eyes darted around, his hands shaking. ''I don't take orders from you... you can't tell me what to do...'' His voice grew louder.

''Hey... Hey, Josh!'' Mike tried again.

''You can't tell me what to do anymore!'' he yelled, his eyes wild with defiance and fear. ''Okay... okay... I trust you... I trust you... I trust you...''

''Josh? Buddy?'' Mike's tone was softer, almost pleading. He took a step closer. We all knew Josh had been through hell, but seeing him like this was unsettling in a way that twisted my stomach.

Sam frowned, whispering to us, ''What's the matter with him?''

''He's... tripping or something,'' Mike replied, his brows furrowed as he watched Josh's erratic movements. Then, with a sudden resolve, he raised his hand and delivered a sharp slap to Josh's face.

''Josh?'' I tried again, hoping he'd recognise us now after the slap.

The impact snapped Josh out of his daze, his eyes finally focusing on us. ''M... Mike?'' he stammered, looking utterly lost.

''Josh... Hey, man—'' Mike's voice softened, trying to anchor him.

Josh's expression crumpled. ''Don't h-hit me... please,'' he whispered, his voice broken.

Mike's face softened. ''You were deep in it, man. Full mental jacket.''

Sam let out a shaky breath. ''We didn't think we'd get you back,'' she admitted quietly, glancing at me.

She hesitated before speaking again, looking at Josh. ''Josh... Hannah was down here for... weeks... maybe even a month. She... she dug Beth up.''

''Samantha!'' I hissed, the words slipping out before I could stop them, the shock of her revelation squeezing my heart like a vice. I hadn't known she'd share that so bluntly.

Mike, sensing the tension, gestured forward. ''Let's just get the fuck out of here.''

Sam's gaze flicked to him, and she nodded. ''Okay... Josh, do you have the key for the cable car?''

Josh blinked, seeming to come back to himself. ''Uh... Y-yeah... Here.'' He reached into his pocket, his fingers trembling as he handed Sam the keys.

''Oh, good,'' she exhaled. She pointed to a rock wall on the far side of the room, where a narrow path sloped upwards. ''See that over there? That means there's a direct way out. C'mon.''

Mike shook his head, glancing at Josh with a hint of scepticism. ''There's no way Josh is gonna make it up there.''

''Okay,'' Sam conceded, glancing between us. ''If you can help me up, I'll go back to tell the others we're okay.''

Mike nodded, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. ''Yeah... Yeah, good.''

''You two bring Josh back the way we came, and we'll all meet at the lodge,'' Sam instructed.

''Be careful,'' Mike added, his eyes lingering on her before he gave her a slight nod.

She offered a faint smile. ''You too.'' With that, she climbed up, disappearing over the ledge with.

As we turned back, Josh's gaze settled on me. I looked away, uncomfortable, not entirely sure how to respond. There were so many things unsaid between us, words I hadn't been able to say—words I thought we'd have time to talk through later, back at the lodge. But even now, I couldn't bring myself to speak, like something was keeping my mouth shut.

''Alright,'' Mike said, gesturing to Josh. ''Let's go, you fucked-up son of a bitch.''

We made our way back, moving with as much speed as Josh's dazed state allowed. He stumbled confused. ''You didn't... you didn't have to hit me so much, man,'' 

Mike's jaw tightened. ''Ah, yeah... I'm sorry about before, man. I thought you killed Jess... I was wrong.''

We stepped into the room where the bodies lay scattered, filling the air with the stench of rot and decay. Josh's face paled, his eyes going wide as he took it all in.

''No... no!'' he gasped, stumbling back, as if trying to deny the sight before him.

I reached out instinctively, my hand resting on his shoulder. ''Josh, c'mon,'' I murmured, steering him forward.

We waded through the icy cold waterwater. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Mike was yanked forward, disappearing under the surface with a strangled yell.

''Oh fu—!'' he shouted, before the Wendigo burst out of the water, its shriek echoing off the walls. I barely had time to react as the thing clawed toward us, its vision locked on movement.

I launched myself at Josh, clamping a hand over his mouth, my other hand pressing over his eyes, forcing him to stay silent, stay still. My heart pounded against my ribcage, each beat feeling like it would give us away. The Wendigo thrashed in the water, its shrill scream filling the cavern as it searched for prey.

But Josh couldn't help it. He flinched, his entire body trembling in my grip, and that was enough. The Wendigo turned, its twisted face zeroing in on him. In one quick motion, it lunged, grabbing him around the waist and dragging him away, his screams piercing the darkness as he disappeared into the depths of the mine while I didn't move a muscle.

I stayed frozen, my mind racing as I forced myself to remain still. Guilt twisted in my stomach, heavier than the fear, realising I'd missed my chance to speak with him, to offer some form of comfort. I had thought there'd be time later—time to say something, anything—but now the chance was gone, swept away.

When the Wendigo's screams faded into silence, I glanced up to see Mike hiding behind a rock, his entire body shaking as he stared at me with wide eyes.

I nodded to him, barely able to bring myself to move. He met my gaze and without a word, we pushed forward, each of us haunted by what we'd left behind.

If I just held him tighter, the Wendigo wouldn't notice him.

I have to keep moving. I have to stop thinking about this.

The icy night air hit me as we made it outside. We moved towards the lodge, but before we even reached the door, Sam's voice cut through the quiet.

''HEY! HEY!'' she yelled, banging on the door. ''COME ON, OPEN UP! GUYS, COME ON, ARE YOU IN THERE?! LET ME IN!''

''Sam,'' Mike called out, but before he could get another word in, Sam spun around to face us.

''Shit! Oh, gosh,'' she gasped, her eyes widening as she took us in. ''You two look terrible—''

Mike scoffed, glancing around quickly. ''Gonna look worse if we stay out here. Come on.''

Without hesitation, Sam grabbed a rock off the ground, hefting it in her hand before smashing it against the door's glass panel. In one swift move, she reached through the hole to unlock the door from the inside. We hurried in.

Inside, there was a weird silence, as if something was about to go down.

''Okay,'' Sam started, looking at both of us. ''What happened to Josh?''

Mike's expression darkened. ''It got him.''

Sam's face fell. ''Oh, God, what an awful way to go...''

She flicked the light on, but Mike moved swiftly, reaching out to shut it off. ''Not good,'' he stated, casting a wary glance towards the windows and corners as if expecting something to leap out at us.

Sam hesitated. ''What do you think we should do?''

''We should check the basement. Might be someone left down there.''

I nodded. My heartbeat was pounding loud in my ears and the image of Josh was still haunting my mind.

As we reached the basement corridor, Sam's voice cut through the silence. ''How do you rate our chances of survival?''

Mike's mouth twisted in a smirk. ''I'm trying not to think about it.''

Just then, Emily and Ashley came barrelling out of the hallway with Chris running close behind them.

''Go, we gotta go!'' Emily shouted, shoving Ashley forward before darting past us.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a Wendigo creeping into the hallway.

''Sam, run!'' I yelled, grabbing her by the arm and propelling her forward as the Wendigo charged into the lodge.

In the chaos, we bolted up the stairs, all of us moving quicker due to adrenaline. My heart was hammering as we reached the main floor. Ashley, Emily, and Chris were already there, their eyes wide as they stared up at the Wendigo clinging to the ceiling, its claws digging into the wood. I froze, glancing to see Mike doing the same.

Sam arrived just behind us, her gaze glued to the creature above us.

''Don't... move. Don't fucking move a muscle.''

I held my breath, every fibre of my body tensed as the Wendigo snarled looking around the lodge, as if deciding who to target first. 

Then, another Wendigo came into view, its movements drawing the first one's attention. With a guttural snarl, the Wendigo on the ceiling leapt at the newcomer, and in a blur of claws and teeth, they clashed in a violent fight. The second Wendigo was thrown back, smashing into the staircase, then tumbling into the fireplace