"I promise. Even if...Even if it's definitely weird being back here...I think it'll help us all put everything behind us."

"Couldn't agree more." He dipped his head as a light nod and pulled you into an affectionate embrace - your cheeks switching to a soft shade of pink while you tried to contain your shyness. "Still, sorry about the arguing."

"O-Oh, you don't have to apologise-!" You quickly exclaimed, shaking your head in alarm. "It was bound to happen anyway. So don't worry about it. I...I'm fine!"

"You've always been a terrible liar." An amused chuckle left his lips before Josh became extremely serious, looking down at you with a concerned expression. "But something tells me that Emily wasn't lying back there."

"She wasn't..." You shamefully sighed, suddenly feeling strangely defensive. "So what if I've been seeing a therapist? I've cancelled said appointments now anyway."

"Who said you had to cancel them?" Josh now sounded curious, holding your shoulders as he gave them a gentle squeeze.

"I did." You responded simply, shifting from foot-to-foot and trying to seem casual. "One of his therapy tactics were offensive and way off the mark, so I...so I just left."

"What did he—"

"Hey Josh. No hot water's kinda major oversight doncha think...?" The two of you spun around to see Sam standing there with a light smile, shooting him an amused look.

"Yeah yeah, just gotta fire up the boiler. It's in the basement." Josh informed her with a blasé tone of voice before turning round to face you once more. "You up for a ride-along?"

"Um, y'know what? I don't really feel like being around people right now." You flashed them both a soft smile and shook your head - taking a tiny step backwards into your room. "But you guys have fun with whatever it is you have planned. I mean, isn't that why we're here?"

"Oh...Yeah, I guess." You felt bad when you saw Josh's disappointed face, guilt randomly washing through you like it always did. "Just remember; you can always join in again if you feel like it."

"I think Ash and Chris are hunting for a spirit board actually." Sam mused aloud - hoping to interest you slightly. "So if you wanna join in with that, feel free to go downstairs."

"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind." You tried to brighten your smile whilst you nodded, wanting to seem calm. "You're not joining in with this 'spirit board' business Sam?"

"Nah." She rolled her eyes at Josh before answering your question, obviously a little exasperated by something. "In fact, once we've got the hot water running, you know what I see? I see a hot bath in my crystal ball."

"Is that right?" You laughed a little at her joke and waved at the two as they walked down the hallway, leaving you by yourself.

Hmm...what should you do now though? It was true, you didn't want to be around people right now - but at the same time, being alone wasn't exactly your cup of tea either. "You never tell people how you feel." Dr. Hill's words echoed around your brain, making you feel somewhat bad. Should you have told Josh the truth about how you felt before? Should you have tried harder to interact with the others downstairs? Dammit, your own mindset was puzzling you. Being back at Blackwood Mountain...it stung. Grief flooded your veins as you saw Hannah's shattered and hurt expression almost right in front of you; Beth's betrayed and furious face flickering into view too.

"I'm sorry..." You whispered whilst you shut your door and turned around, holding the sides of your arms sorrowfully, "...I'm so sorry." You decided to distract yourself and pass the time by writing some poetry. Sure, it may be cringey or cheesy or whatever - but it was said to be an emotional outlet, so...

Snow drifted down from the skies that night,
Trying to show us some support.
But snow cannot stop the sickening bite,
Due to its support falling a tad bit short.

Heavy fog surrounded us too,
Wanting to protect us all.
But silvery mist definitely knew,
It couldn't save two girls from a fall.

Grief and guilt both have me trapped,
And there's nothing I can do.
But accept feeling handicapped,
As I grasp for a new point-of-view.

Thirty minutes passed before you stopped writing, jumping slightly due to hearing Ashley sob from downstairs. Hurrying into the hallway, you skidded to the top of the stairs and grew worried. "We didn't KILL them! It was just a prank!" She cried out, glancing first at Josh and then Chris.

"Ash, calm down, okay?! Just— we need to find out more." Chris tried his best to console his crush, but his words weren't getting through - the dark-haired girl panicking too much.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!!" Ashley wept with the utmost despair; hanging her head as you saw remorse completely control her mindset.

"Guys, guys... what do they mean?" Josh asked slowly, looking a little hurt.

"Ask them what happened. It's the only way to know! Ask them, Ash!!" Chris pushed Ashley desperately - obviously wanting to know about some kind of event that took place.

"Okay. Okay. How...How did you die?" Ashley tearfully inquired, "Hannah, what happened to you?" Upon hearing her name, you froze; both of your feet glued to the floor as you were too stunned to comprehend what was going on.

"L-- I-- B--" Ashley weakly spoke, clearly uncomfortable by the spirit board.

"Library!" Maybe there's something in the library here-" Chris finished loudly.

"P-- R-- O-- O--"

"Proof," there's...proof." He completed the word once again, the tension in the atmosphere rising at an unbelievable pace.

"In the...In the library?" Ashley looked at Chris for clarification - fear filling her facial features while she tried to stay calm.

All of a sudden the spirit board shook and flew off the table; causing the three of them to jump back. "Watch out!!"

"WHOA!"
"Holy shit. Chris."

"What's going on here?" You raced down the stairs and approached the trio by the table, "Is everything alright?"

"You know what? No, this is bullshit. This isn't real—" Josh cautiously stood up and stared the two down; definitely upset by what had just happened.

"Josh— I...I don't know what's going on..." Ashley attempted to defend herself and Chris, but she didn't seem to have any words - tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Listen," Josh's tone switched to a dangerous one, hurt by their actions. "I don't know... I don't know if you think messing with me is somehow going to help me with my grief or whatever but this...this is not cool."

"Josh no! You wanted to use the spirit board—"
"Hey calm down, it's not Ash's fault!"

"I don't need this right now, okay?!! You guys are full of it!" He shouted at them in frustration, clenching his fists and flouncing away from the table.

"Josh, wait!" You called after him worriedly, holding one hand out and hoping the sound of your voice would be somewhat soothing. "Please! I...I just want to know what happened and if...if you're okay—!"

Before you could finish, Josh left the room - causing you to grow angry at the others as you clutched your chest with both hands. "Sh-Should we go after him?" Ashley questioned shakily, standing up and looking at Chris with scared eyes. What a bitch, pulling a stunt like that. Pretending to be scared after purposely hurting Josh. That was inhuman.

"Ah man...I mean, he'll be okay. Let's...Let's just give him some time." He comforted Ash as quick as he could, barely giving any thought towards his supposed 'friend'.

"I don't blame him... that was crazy... The pointer flew right off the table!"
"I mean if- if you were faking it you were doing one hell of a job-"
"I wasn't faking anything...!"