"There was Beth's head!"

"Wait, what!?" Josh retaliated with wide eyes, the mentally-insane brother not being able to believe his ears. "Are you serious!?"

"YES, I'm serious!" Emily shouted at him in frustration, stamping her foot like a child would. "I can't make this shit up!"

"What the fuck?" You mumbled miserably, hugging your knees even tighter than before. "I can't believe it. I just...can't. Oh my god..."

"I think...I think they fell down there. But the worst part is that I don't think Hannah died, like, from the fall, not right away..." Emily wiped more tears from her eyes and sniffed - now extremely upset.

"What? What do you mean!?" Mike joined the conversation firmly, his face one of misery. "How could she—?"

"I don't know...I feel like she was down there...like, starving to death...for weeks...when we were all up here looking for her...we had no idea!" Em dissolved into more tears and so did you, the two of you unable to hold back your sobs by this point.

"Jesus, that's absolutely horrible." Mike sighed in disgust, shaking his head as he struggled to contain how he felt.

"Did you find anything else? C'mon, Em." Josh begged desperately, clearly hoping to hear more news about either sister. "Don't leave a guy hangin' in the dark."

Before she could open her mouth and answer, a bang sounded on the door and made all four of you jump; not expecting such a violent noise to go down. "Who the hell—?"

"Whoever that was, wasn't invited." Mike cut you off defensively, grabbing the gun once more as he approached the shed door.

"I've got your back." You quickly told him, throwing him a warm nod and earning a grateful smile in response.

"Same here." Em chipped in fiercely.

"Wait, (Y/n)—!" Josh's sudden cry caused you to stop for a second - not expecting him to call your name. "Don't! Just...Just don't!"

"You don't need to worry about me." You flashed him a friendly smile and moved towards the door, opening it a few moments later. "See? There's nothing to—"

You didn't even get to finish; someone shoving past you and sending you flying to the floor. "Shit! Shit! Mike!" Emily panicked, freaking out like before. "Do something!"

"Ah! Ho-Hold on there! Hold on there, mister." Mike aimed the gun at the uninvited stranger and went to shoot - only for the stranger to snatch the gun away from him. "Freeze—Ahh! What the—Alright, alright, just take it easy grandpa—"

"Ok. Everybody just calm down." The random person demanded, pushing past you all and dropping the gun as a sign of trust. "Now just move over there. Go on, move! Let me say what I came to say. I'm here to tell you what you're up against being back on this mountain."

"You should never have returned. I don't know why you did after what happened last year." He dropped his bag next to the shed's door and shook his head, rolling his eyes straight afterwards.

"You mean with Hannah and Beth?" You spoke suspiciously, standing in front of Josh to protect him. "But how could you even know without being involved—"

"Or responsible—!?" Emily agreed darkly, distrust dripping from her tone while she glared straight at him.

"You hold on to your horses. I don't take kindly to you kids coming up here to my mountain—"

"Your mountain? I'm sure my family would be very surprised to hear that." Josh sharply retorted, returning to his senses a little bit.

"Hehheh. Well, this mountain don't belong to me, it's true." This Stranger released a raspy laugh and leaned against the door with his arms crossed, clearly amused. "But it don't belong to the Washingtons. This mountain belongs to the Wendigo."

"Who...?" You faintly questioned - curious as to what he meant. "What's he talking about?"

"And what the hell's a Wendigo?" Mike demanded to know, picking the gun back up and gripping it tightly. "You'd better not be making this shit up, mate."

"Hang on, let's hear him out." You quickly gave him the benefit of the doubt and immediately pushed the weapon down, wondering what the mysterious person wanted.

"Not like we have a choice." Emily muttered stubbornly, leaning against the wall as she tried her best to recollect her thoughts.

"Now I'm only going to tell you this once. It doesn't matter to me if you believe it or not. I got reasons I want to...Get it off my chest..." The Stranger roughly informed, angering Mike out of nowhere.

"See? I told you! He's guilty as shit! Guilty of something!"

"Shh. Shut up Mike!" You snapped at him - worried about this stranger, Em, and Josh.

"There is a curse. One that dwells in these mountains. Should any man or woman resort to cannibalism in these woods, the spirit of the Wendigo shall be unleashed." The Stranger explained gravely.

"Oh Crap." Mike unhappily murmured.

"You four are going to need to find somewhere safe." The Stranger told you all whilst picking up his bag again. "And fast."

"Would the main house be okay...?" You suggested awkwardly, shifting from foot-to-foot and falling silent once more.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever. Get down there, now. All of you. And wait." He dipped his head as a nod and turned around - his plan being to reopen the door and defend you all.

"What? Why? For how long?" You nervously asked, chills running down your spine as you faced him with fake confidence.

"Until dawn." Emily bitterly remarked, reminding you about the tower that had fallen down and how she'd called for help.

"A lot can happen quickly on this mountain. Now untie that guy there and GO." The Stranger pointed at Josh and then opened the shed door, wishing for nothing but safety.

"We...We shouldn't help him!" Mike stopped you from untying him and instead guided you and Em towards the door. "He's not right in the head, after all. That psychotic little prank of his quite frankly proved it!"

"You're supposed to be his best friend!" You broke out of his hold and ignored his argument - wanting nothing but the best for Josh. "Don't you think you're letting him down...?"

"No...he let all of us down." Emily wearily argued - wanting to assist you guys.

"I'll untie him. You, Em and Mike head back to the lodge while I help Josh." You decided in a light tone of voice; trying to keep the situation level and steady. "I'll be fine, I promise."

"You sure about that? Because being alone in the woods with an unstable teenager and some monstrous Wendigo is suicide, missy." The Stranger spoke to you in an extremely sassy manner, shaking his head a little bit as he breathed out.

"Trust me." You softened your voice and knelt down next to Josh, using a small blade to cut through the rope. "I'll look after him."

"Just be careful. And follow my lead." The Stranger hid his concern but you could sense the slight worry he had for you - the older male waiting by the door as he watched you hoist Josh up. "Otherwise you'll die."

"So, the Lodge, then." Emily casually commented, brushing past the stranger and moving out into the open.

"Come on, Josh. You'll die if you don't come with us." You warned him in a worried tone while supporting him as best you could.

"God, I love you, (Y/n)!" Josh flung his arms around you out of nowhere - his sudden acts of affection throwing you off and making your cheeks blush bright pink.

"Wait! Don't...move..." The Stranger shouted at you all sternly, Josh's erratic behaviour setting off several of the creepy creatures. "Forget it, just RUN! GO! NOW! NOW!"

"HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK!?!" Mike yelled in distress, jumping back at this grotesque-looking thing and holding up the small gun as a means of defence.

The Stranger shot his flamethrower at the Wendigo and set a few of them on fire - obviously trying to destroy some whilst he protected you, Josh, Mike, and Emily. "BACK! BACK! We're right out in the open, we gotta GET OUT OF HERE!"

Though a scream slipped through your lips when a Wendigo managed to swipe its hand across the Stranger's neck and slice his head off. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!!" You cried aloud, covering your mouth while you shook with fright. "Oh shit..."