I groan, shifting to push myself on my elbows as I feel a weight pressing into my shoulders. My hand lifts to rub my head, the touch sparking pain throughout my system. I hiss, pulling my hand back and opening my eyes to see a light layer of blood on my fingertips.

   I must have hit my head in the explosion. 

    Instinctively, my head turns back to try and get a view of the small explosion, only for my vision to be blocked by Mike as he practically lays over me in protection. 

    I tap his arm, pushing him slightly away from me as he opens his eyes, blinking rapidly. 

    His eyes snap to me, moving upwards to my hairline where I'm sure a scrape stares back at him, "You alright?"

    Nodding, I pull my knees up and begin to stand, "Just a cut," 

    My bones click and crack into place as I stand up, Mike joins me as we look behind us at the now open doorway, fire lining the oil spills around it.

   "Well, guess we have to go this way," I comment, pointing a finger behind me as I keep my eyes on the firey scene. 

    "Let's get going," he nods in agreement. We turn our backs to the fire as we move through the tunnels, Mike stopping only to pick up the lantern. 

    "If there's some killer on the mountains, we should get to the others before he does," I suggest, turning to Mike as he nods his head once again. 

   Everything falls silent besides the sound of our footsteps. It's been a long time since I've spoken to Mike, mostly out of choice. The circumstances now only bring out the heavy emotions I've kept buried inside. 

    A memory from that night that I can't forget. The warmth on my face from the flames and the screech that has echoed in my ears for a year. Maybe, I should tell him. he's the one person who isn't allowed to judge me.

    "I saw something that night when I ran after... Beth," Her name feels like burning liquor on my tongue, the syllables like razor blades cutting my pallet. I don't want to talk about her, not yet. But, the thought of her being forgotten by anyone hurts more. I glance up at him, his face fallen in guilt and worry as he waits for me to continue, "I saw a burst of flames over the hill and...and I heard some kind of animal screeching. I've never heard an animal like it before. I spent weeks listening to animal sounds trying to match but... nothing,"

    "Why didn't you tell anyone?" He asks gently, more curiosity than any type of blame.

    "Tell who? Josh? Half of his family just went missing. No one would have believed me, I'm not even sure I do. I was drunk and high, it could have been anything," I laugh bitterly, looking down at my feet as we continue to move through the tunnels. "But, when I heard it, I just had this...sinking feeling that I was never going to see the girls again. I was right, obviously,"

    "Maybe the sound was just your brains way of coping with what happened," He stumbles over his words, his suggestion sounding unnatural and forced. Mike isn't an emotional person, he's always seemed uncomfortable by anyone feeling anything big, especially himself. 

    "Maybe you're right," I cough, wanting to accept his explanation no matter how unsure he sounds of himself. I mean, what's the other possibility? There's some kind of undiscovered animal living on the mountain? 

   No, that's unrealistic. What is realistic is the trauma of losing two people I've grown up with in one night, warping my reality. The mind is a very powerful thing. 

    "If it makes you feel... a little less crazy, I swear I saw them after they went missing. I even chased down these poor women like a wack job," He laughs at his behaviours, my chest tightening at the thought of him being affected by what happened. "It wasn't them, y'know, for obvious... reasons,"

   "Do you regret the prank-"

    "Every damn day," He cuts me off, his words like boots on concrete, loud and clear. "It was... It was stupid,"

    A beat of silence, my eyes flickering from the path ahead and back to him, "Beth hated drinking, weed, all of it. That's why she never joined in when we had our little parties. She was fun in other ways, she didn't need to join. If I wasn't so drunk, I could have found them when they ran off. It's why I don't drink anymore, haven't touched it since," 

    "It's not your fault, Ruby," He reminds, that single phrase tossed around between all of us these past twelve months.

    "I know," I admit, letting out a breath of air, "Truthfully, I don't think it's any of our faults, not entirely. Yes, it wouldn't have happened without the prank but, Hannah could have chosen not to run out into the snow and Beth could have chosen not to run after her. Every action leads to a reaction. Butterfly effect and all that,"

    He doesn't say anything, instead, looking ahead with the gun tight in his hands.

    "I shouldn't blame you and the others, it won't change anything. Zac always says-" I cut myself off, my brain bringing me back to the sight of my brother as he fell to his death, the ghost of touch as his fingers slip from the grasp of my fruitless reach. "Zac always said anger is the anchor of the soul. Among a bunch of other hippie bullshit," 

    "Y'know, once he started growing his hair out, It was only a matter of time before he lived in a van," Mike gently nudges my shoulder with his elbow, a smile overcoming my face at his redirection. 

    "I just hope we're not too late to save the others,"

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AUTHORS NOTE

short chapter because this little original filler section between the little explosion and mike getting back to the lodge has drained me off life and inspiration so let's just get that out of the way.

also had to build the relationship a bit more yk?

its been a month but hopefully I'll be updating this more often.

anyways, a day early but, happy new year everyone!! 

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