...10 hours until dawn...

memento mori
εϊз

Natalie sat on the bus next to her brother, listening to the radio.

'One year ago was the disappearance of Beth and Hannah Washington. The sisters left the safety of their lodge.'

Natalie sighed and took out the headphones, not wanting to listen to what happened last year. She opened her messages and looked at Chris, "Josh sent a video did you get it?" She asked.

Chris looked down at his phone and nodded "Yeah I did." He responded.

Natalie clicked on the video "Well hello friends and fam!" He said excitedly, "Wait no let's do that again." The video turned off, zooming in on his face "Well hello friends and fam! It's beyond awesome to have you all back this year. Um, first I gotta say I'm super stoked to have all my pals back to the annual Blackwood winter getaway Ahh! So um let me just let you know let's take a moment to address the elephant in the room. For a second. I know you're all probably worried about me and it's gonna be tough on all of us going back after what happened last year. I just want you to know this would all mean a lot to Hannah and Beth. That we're thinking of them. So let's party like fucking porn stars!"

Natalie smiled at Josh's excitement, feeling a little relief. She sat there the rest of the way until finally, they arrived and made their way to the gate. ''God it's weird being back.'' She confessed. The familiar breeze of the mountain stroked across her face; and for an odd reason, she felt a feeling of warmth.

Chris frowned at Natalie's remark, ''Of course it'll feel a little weird at first. But Josh wants us up here so.'' He defended, not finishing his sentence. Chris was all about this being all for Josh. They had been best friends since the third grade, the only reason Natalie was a part of the group.

Chris didn't understand what she felt, he wasn't a part of the prank. "I know Chris but," she sighed, "Forget it."

Chris rattled the gate, "Shit." He said under his breath, "The gate's busted."

Chris made his way to the rock wall, "Well here we go." He grumbled and made his way to the rocks that stacked like a wall. He attempted to climb it, but ultimately just stumbled.

Natalie grinned and pushed past him "I got it." She said and climbed the rocks then pulled her brother up. The two siblings hopped down. Natalie shook the snow off of her and the two made their way to the cable car station.

"I wonder if anyone else is here." Chris inquired quietly.

I shrugged "I dunno, hopefully. You still have the cable car key right?" Natalie asked.

Chris nodded "Yeah I do." He replied and shook his pocket to show her. At that moment they arrived at the cable car station and Chris set his backpack down on the bench. "I'm gonna wait for Sam. She said she'd be here soon. You can go if you want."

Natalie shook her head "I'll stay here." She said, setting her bag down next to Chris's. Natalie again felt uneasy being back but chose to not say anything. She decided to enjoy the weekend she had ahead of her with her friends.

Chris and Natalie walked around the station until they ran into a shooting range "Oh look at this!" Chris exclaimed, scrambling over it and picking up the gun.

Natalie rolled her eyes "Wowwww it's a gun!" She cheered sarcastically. Chris rolled his eyes and placed the gun down.

"Chris?" They could hear Sam call from around the cabin.

The two exchanged looks before Chris finally said "Let's go." And the two walked to where Sam was. "Hey." He said and she turned around quickly.

She looked frightened but shook it off "Heyyy!" She exclaimed, immediately pulling the two of them in a tight embrace.

Once she let go Chris and Natalie smiled "Oh I have to show you something!" Chris said and led Sam towards the shooting range but she stopped, Natalie stopped with her.

"Woah- it's a wanted poster. All the way up here?" Sam questioned curiously.

Chris stepped towards the girl "Think we'll get a visit from him?" Chris joked.

Natalie saw the slightly frightened expression drawn on Sam's face, "Don't worry the mountain has been abandoned since our last visit." Natalie reassured.

Sam nodded and Chris kept walking "Ta-da!" He exclaimed, signaling his hands to the shooting range.

Sam tilted her head, "What is a shooting range doing at the bottom of a ski lodge?" Sam asked.

"Have you met Josh's dad?" Chris asked and she nodded "There's your answer."

Sam shrugged, "We'll give it a go." She suggested.

Natalie watched her brother pick up the gun and start shooting the bottles. "Not bad." Natalie complimented.

"Yeah, I'm a badass!" Chris joked, doing a stupid dance.

"Beginners luck!" Sam said, teasing.

Chris rolled his eyes playfully and shot another one. Sam, Chris, and Natalie all walked back around the station. Sam pushed herself into the door "Shit! It's locked." She told them.

Chris looked at her "Josh gave me a key. He said he found people sleeping in the station so he wants to keep it locked." Chris explained and unlocked the door. He pushed the door open.

Nothing had changed, the cable car was about halfway to arrival. Sam and Natalie walked to the balcony leaning against it. "It feels- weird don't you agree?" Sam asked.

Natalie glanced over at her and nodded slowly, "Yeah it does. But Chris doesn't think so, he's all this is for Josh! Josh is still grieving it's the least you can do for him, shit." She ranted.

Sam sighed, "Sounds like Chris alright." Sam agreed. The cable car stopped and Sam looked towards where Chris was "Chris you coming?"

"No no, I thought I would just stay and catch some zzz's." Chris teased and walked over to the two girls. "Ladies first."

Sam smiled at him and stepped inside the car, Natalie going after then finally Chris. The three took a seat and the car started moving. Natalie stared out the window of the cable car, completely ignoring Sam and Chris's conversation. Before she knew it they arrived and stepped out.

Sam approached the door and it was locked "Shit!" Sam groaned, "You don't so happen to have a key?"

Chris bit his lip, "Uh no... Josh said this one would be unlocked." Chris explained.

Sam sighed and pounded on the door, Natalie watched her. "What the hell?" You could hear a voice say and the person appeared in the window of the door. Jessica Riley.

"Jess!" Natalie shouted so she could hear, "Could you please well? Open the door!"

Jessica sighed, pressing the button and the door unlocked. The three pushed their way out. "Holy crap! If I spent another minute in there I would have eaten my own leg!" He joked.

"Sick Chris," Sam mumbled.

"What I got a lot of meat on my bones." Chris teased and snatched a piece of paper from Jessica, and read it.

"Hey give that back!" Jessica cried.

"Ooh seems someone has a crush on our class president Michael Munroe." Chris teased, grinning.

Jessica rolled her eyes "Mike and I are dating." She explained.

"Woah drama," Chris muttered.

"No not really, Em's out I'm in," Jess explained.

Natalie stood there awkwardly, "So is she dating anyone?" Natalie asked, assuming Jessica would be the one to know.

"How would I know." She said annoyed, "She blocked me on literally everything after Mike and I started dating. Last I knew she was hanging with Matt a lot."

Natalie fiddled with her fingers nervously, "Well alright, it was uh nice seeing you." Natalie said, leaving Chris and Sam with Jessica and she made her way in the direction of the lodge. It wasn't a long walk but once she got there she started looking for her friends. But while she walked she wondered if Matt and Emily were dating. Cause Natalie, the shy, bookworm, small and short girl was no competition against the athletic, tall, muscular body of Matt Taylor. She knew that. Anyone in the right mind would agree. Natalie didn't even know if Emily liked girls like at all.

But that didn't matter, Natalie was over Emily. Right? Natalie approached the cabin's front door and didn't see anyone there. "Anyone here?" She questioned, looking around.

"Hey." Someone said behind her.

Natalie turned quickly and saw Matt and Ashley "For fuck sakes you nearly gave me a heart attack." Natalie breathed out, then she smiled.

Matt grinned, "Uh sorry about that." Matt said.

Ashley looked at Natalie, "Where's Chris?" She asked softly.

"Uh, he was with Sam and Jess at the cable car station." Natalie answered, "I'm sure he's on his way."

Ashley and Chris both liked each other, but both of them were too scared to do anything about it.

Ashley nodded and took a seat on the steps, and Natalie sat next to her. Matt just leaned against the railing. "So uh." Natalie said awkwardly, "How is everything going?"

Ashley shrugged "You know." She answered quickly. Of course, Natalie knew, not like she'd see Ashley every week for the past year. But it was always for Chris.

"I've just been playing football and such," Matt responded. The three stayed silent until Sam and Chris arrived.

"Hey, Chris," Ashley said sweetly.

"Hey," Chris said nervously.

Ashley was about to say something else before Josh came around "My friends!" He said excitedly, approaching the group, giving them each a hug. Lastly, he pulled Natalie into an embrace and she hugged him back. "Chris you come with me." The two boys walked up the front porch steps. Sam took a seat next to Ashley and Natalie.