"It's about Josh."

"About Josh? Wait up, did something happen!?" You asked Sam at once, now immediately worried about your other close friend's safety - Josh Washington. He was the brother of the two sisters you were still grieving over, so you knew it would be even harder for him, considering he'd lost two siblings.

"No, no! Nothing like that." Sam reassured you as quickly as she could, unlocking her phone before passing you the phone itself. "Here, it'll be easier to show you rather than try to explain. It's like an invitation of sorts."

"An...invitation...?" You echoed in bemusement - puzzled as you pressed the play button on the small, pulled-up video.

"Hello friends and fans! It's beyond awesome to have you guys all back this year. First off, I gotta say I am super excited to welcome all my pals back to the annual Blackwood winter getaway!" You softly smiled to yourself after seeing Josh for the first time in a year - a slight laugh slipping through your lips as he did a cute, little, childish cheer.

"So, um...Let me just let you know, let's take a moment to address the "elephant in the room" for a second..." You bit your lip, knowing what he was about to bring up. His sisters...It had to be. What else could possibly be the elephant in the room? "I know you're all probably worried about me...and I know it's gonna be tough on all of us going back after what happened last year..."

"-but - I just want you all to know...um, it means...it means so much to me that we're doing this. And I...I know it would mean so much to Hannah and Beth that we're all still here...together, y'know? Thinking of them." More tears pricked at the corner of your eyes, your emotions now scattered while you continued to watch the small screen.

"I really want to spend some quality time with each and every one of you, and um, share some moments that we'll never forget...for the sake of my sisters, you know?" Josh's tone was half-happy and half-sorrowful, causing you to feel even more emotional. "Okay...so! Let's party like we're fucking porn stars, okay?"

"And make this one a trip we will never forget, alright? Yes!" After throwing his arms up with a warm smile, Josh disappeared - the video ending as you handed the phone back to Sam.

"So..." Sam trailed off hesitantly.

"So what...?" You frowned, wiping the edges of your eyes whilst trying to cling onto the tiny piece of composure you had left.

"Are you going to go?" She questioned with a curious expression, "Back to lodge I mean. Y'know, the one that Josh's family own on Blackwood Mountain."

"I...I don't know Sam." You mumbled uncertainly, "I mean, I don't know if I'm ready yet. To...To go back."

"I know what Mike and the others did was ridiculously cruel - not to mention way over-the-top - but I'm sure Josh could really use our company and comfort right about now. Don't you think?" Sam pointed out; softening her voice towards the end of her reply.

"Yeah...y'know what? I think he needs more support than any of us at the moment." A spark of courage swirled around your stomach whilst you spoke, deciding on the spot to go. "He's one of my best friends. Sure we haven't spoken in a while, but yes, I'll go."

Sam shot you a warm smile and gave your hand a gentle squeeze, obviously happy to hear you say that. "Guess I'll see you this weekend sometime then. I'll text you the details."

"Thanks Sam." You replied with gratitude, squeezing her hand back and even going as far as to give her a light hug in return.

After giving each other a friendly wave, you both went your separate ways for the day; you deciding to go back home and Sam...well, you had no idea what she had planned. Hours passed before it was time to sleep again - the thing you hated to do the most. Yeah, you could escape reality for a bit...but at what cost? Indulging yourself in the horrifying world of nightmares? Reliving last year's tragedy and feeling the guilt wash through you like a wave of woeful water? Was staying up even worth it? That wouldn't stop the guilt. That would just make you more tired. So you got ready for bed and fell asleep as soon as you could - now feeling undeniably uneasy.

"Hey Hannah." You raised your hand as a friendly gesture and paused your music as your best friend; Hannah Washington, walked past. "Where are you off to?"

"Oh, um...nowhere in particular." She shyly answered, stopping for a split second. "Mike just wanted to um...see me in the Guest Room...alone. I'm so happy!"

"Aw, you're such a sweetheart, Han." You shot her a sweet smile and tried to show her some support - knowing how much she adored and crushed on Mike.

"Speak in a bit, (Y/n)!" After another smile, Hannah left the top of the stairs and moved towards the hallway, the brown-haired girl glowing with innocent joy.

But something didn't seem right to you. You knew Mike and Jess were about to become a thing, so why...why did he want to suddenly see Hannah in the Guest Room? And alone? No...No, you had a bad feeling about this. You felt bad about sneaking after her and lowkey snooping - but you were worried about her. And wanting to protect someone you care about's feelings was a good thing to do, wasn't it? Besides, Mike did strike you as a bit of a playboy. He messed around, flirted with all the girls in the lodge - specifically Jessica - and it had definitely gotten worse tonight, considering he'd been drinking.

"What...? Oh my god!" You heard Hannah's voice exclaim from inside the Guest Room, sounding both betrayed and shocked.

"Matt!?" She called out Matt's - one of the people in the lodge with you - name with horror; stunned by his sudden appearance. "What are you doing here?!"

Sam rushed up to where you were standing and you placed your hand on the doorknob, opening it up before you both hurried in. "God I'm so sorry, Hannah, this must've gotten outta hand, but..." Sam tried to console the upset girl as fast as possible. "Oh, honey... please don't cry...it looks like it was just a..."

"Just a prank?" You interrupted Sam sharply, feeling bad on Hannah's behalf. "This doesn't look like "just a prank" to me, Sam. This is straight up bullying!"

"Mike...!" Hannah cried his name with a betrayed face before buttoning up her shirt and racing out of the room; flinging the door shut behind her.

"Fuck all of you." You swore at them with the utmost of loathing, "That was way over the line and what's worse is that you all know it too!" After reprimanding the group, you hurried after Hannah quickly - wanting to comfort the crying teenager.

"You guys are jerks. You know that?" You heard Sam insult them too, her voice floating downwards while you noticed her following you. "HANNAH!!"

You and Sam opened the front door roughly and stepped into the snow, looking around for Hannah anxiously. "Hannah!" Sam cupped her mouth with her hands and called her name a second time - definitely unhappy.

"Hannah! Please, oh please, answer us!" You cupped your mouth as well, your voice wobbly due to you being undoubtedly upset. "Where have you gone!?"

"What's going on?" You whirled around to see Beth push her way in front of all of you - the whole group of backstabbing friends being there by this point. "Where's my sister going?"

"Ugh, it's fine...she just can't take a joke..."
"It was just a prank, Han!" Jessica and Emily loudly huffed - hiding their concern.

"What did you do?!?" Beth snapped at them furiously, glancing around instead of looking at them.

"We were just messing around, Beth..." Mike tried to worm his way out of the cruel prank, "It wasn't serious-"

"You JERKS!" Beth raised her voice at them before running off into the snowing woods. "Hannah! HANNAH!"

"So...should we go after her?" Mike awkwardly asked, looking around.

"Is that a trick question, you son of a bitch?" You took a few steps towards the dark-haired male and then slapped him with the utmost of force - your temper dying down slightly.

"Y'know, I kinda think you're the LAST person she wants to see right now, Mike." Sam disagreed and shook her head, not scolding you for the sudden violence.

"Apart from Sam, you guys all disgust me!" You hissed venomously, making up your mind. "I'm going after the two of them."

"Beth! Wait up!" You sprinted after her, stumbling from time to time because of the stray bits of branches and large stones.

"Oh shit." You narrowly avoided a log by jumping over it, your breathing growing heavy due to the fast running.

"Where are you?" You spotted Beth speaking to herself in an fretful tone, looking left and right - two ways to go on ahead.

"Beth!" You caught up to her and held your knees for a moment, catching your breath and making sure your fellow friend was a-okay.

"(Y/n)!" Beth breathed a sigh of relief and gave you a quick hug, "Have you seen any signs of Hannah or where she might have gone? At all?"

"Not yet. But I'll help in any way I can." You told her kindly, "I'll go left, you go right. She can't have gotten that far."

"Thanks, (Y/n)." She weakly smiled, nodding as she followed your advice and went right.