...3 hours until dawn...

revelation
εϊз

Natalie handed the bag to Emily, who opened it to reveal three flares. She lit one and the girls stood to their feet. Another loud screeching noise was heard. "What the hell?" Natalie said, just as she had earlier. The two girls continued walking.

Emily pointed "Let's go this way, we should be able to squeeze through." She suggested.

Natalie nodded "Okay." She agreed. The two girls squeezed through a crack at the end of the path. Suddenly a hand tried to scratch the girls making them rush off. "Run! Don't look back!"

Emily and Natalie jumped over some gaps in the bridge. "Left or right!?" Emily screamed.

"Right!" Natalie said quickly and the two went right. Natalie pulled a chain, making rubble collapse. Then Emily pushed over a barrel letting Natalie run in front of her. Emily tossed the flare on it and it lit up in flames. The girls ran up a conveyor belt. The girls jump-off, and ran into opened doors slamming them shut. Emily locked the door leaning up against it. "Holy fuck."

Emily winced in pain alerting Natalie. She was placing a hand on her shoulder "Ow- ouch. Fuck." She winced.

"What happened?" Natalie asked.

"Nothing just a scratch." Emily lied, Natalie nodded slowly and the two girls slid down a zip line quickly. Flying off at the end. They both screamed loudly and recognized where they were.

"Run!" Natalie screamed, "To the lodge!"

Natalie pulled Emily to her feet and the girls ran in the direction of the lodge. "Fuck fuck fuck." Emily said, speeding up her running.

"Shit." Natalie cursed, once they saw the lodge in a few Natalie started screaming "Open it quick! Quick quick!"

Emily ran to the door "Open!"

Sam, Ashley, and Chris rushed to open the door, Natalie and Emily collapsed inside. "Shut it! Shut it! Quick!" Natalie shouted.

"Hurry!" Emily yelled. Sam slammed the door shut.

Natalie laid down against the floor, covering her face. "Holy fucking shit." She mumbled. "Son of a bitch."

Natalie sat up, standing with Emily. The three of them helped the girls to the couch. "There was this monster! And it went after us!" Emily explained in panic.

"We got stuck in these fucking scary ass mines. We found Hannah's locker, her glasses," Natalie was cut off.

"Beth's head!" Emily finished.

"No no no no no no," Ashley mumbled and turned away.

"What? What kind of monster? Are you guys okay?" Chris asked.

Natalie sighed "We're so fine! Not like we almost just died!" She said sarcastically, hearing the door open.

"Nat," Chris started but was interrupted.

"Em!" Mike interrupted, the two hugged "Natalie." And those two hugged as well.

"Emily and Natalie were just explaining there was some type of monster," Sam explained.

Mike shook his head "No they're going crazy, Josh is the psycho! Guys snap out of it!" Mike insisted.

"Josh?" Natalie questioned.

"He uh, he was the psycho Nat." Chris said, "He faked his death, pulled all these fucked up tricks on us."

Natalie sat there for a moment "Well," she started "He's a fucking maniac!"

"No shit," Mike mumbled. Suddenly there was a knock on the door "Shit."

"Matt? Jess?" Chris questioned.

"It's not Jess." Mike corrected.

"Sorry it's just-" Chris sighed, and the boys went to check it out.

"What happened to Jess?" Emily asked.

Natalie looked over at Sam, "Mike said she died, said Josh killed her." Sam explained.

"Shit," Natalie said, burying her face in her hands.

Emily placed her hand on Natalie's knee in a way of reassurance. Mike and Chris came back with a stranger.

The stranger sighed "Okay everyone calm down!" The Stranger demanded, "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."

The Stranger sets his bag down, "You mean with Hannah and Beth?" Ashley asked.

"The twins?" Natalie asked at the same time.

"Yeah, how could you know without being involved?" Chris questioned.

"Or responsible?" Sam pointed out.

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

Mike chucked "Your mountain? Sure the Washington's would love to hear that." She joked.

The Stranger gave an unsettling laugh "Well, this mountain doesn't belong to me, it's true. But it doesn't belong to the Washingtons. This mountain belongs to the Wendigo." He explained.

"The what?" Ashley asked.

"Wendigo?" Chris questioned

"What are you talking about?" Natalie asked.

"Wendi what?" Mike questioned.

Emily just sighed "Let him speak!" She told them.

The Stranger sighed, "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..." he said slowly.

"See I told you!" Mike announced, "He's guilty as shit! Guilty of something!"

"Shh! Shut up, Mike!" Sam snapped.

The Stranger exchanged looks with the group, "There is a curse. That dwells in these mountains. Should any man or woman resort to cannibalism in these woods the spirit of the Wendigo shall be unleashed," He explained.

"Oh shit," Mike said, his face going blank. "Jess..."

"You need to find somewhere safe!" He demanded.

Sam looked around "The basement might be safe." She suggested.

"Okay her down there. All of you. And stay there!" The Stranger said.

"How long?" Sam asked.

"Until dawn." Emily and Natalie both said, looking at each other.

"Shit guys." Mike said, "I left Josh when I heard Em and Nat screaming."

"Where's he at?" The Stranger asked.

"The shed" Chris answered.

"Your friend will already be dead." The Stranger admitted.

"No, I'm going to get him," Chris said.

Natalie leaned forward "Chris you can't!" Ashley told him.

"I'm supposed to be his best friend!" Chris cried "I let him down!"

"No, Chris! He let you down- he let all of us down!" Ashley added.

"I'll go with you." The Stranger said.

"No, I'm fine," Chris said.

"Going alone is a suicide mission." The stranger said.

Chris sighed "Fine!" He agreed. Chris and the Stranger walked to the door, Ashley got up following them and so did Natalie.

"Chris?" Ashley asked walking up to him. She kissed him. "Come back safe."

Natalie smiled "Finally." She mumbled to herself. Ashley stepped away. "Chris wait."

Chris turned to his sister "Natalie we have to her Josh." He told her.

Natalie hugged him "Please be safe." She remarked. Chris hugged her back, surprised.

"I'll try." He told her.

"Promise me," Natalie demanded.

"I promise." He said and left. Ashley stayed upstairs to wait for Chris, while Natalie went into the basement with the others. Mike carried the Stranger stuff down.

Natalie took a seat, her leg bouncing up and down. Emily walked over to Natalie "Nat, are you okay." She asked, then looked down "That's a dumb question- I'm sorry."

Natalie sighed "I'm fine just worried about Chris." She admitted.

Emily sat next to her "He'll be fine. He's strong then you realize." She comforted.

Natalie nodded "Thanks Em." She said, Emily grabbed her hand gently and the two girls sat there. Natalie was still until she heard the door slam upstairs. She jumped up quickly and rushed up the stairs. "Chris!"

Chris looked up "Natalie," he said, she hugged him tightly, he held her close. "I kept my promise,"

Natalie smiled, letting her eyes fill with tears "Thank you." She said.

Ashley and Natalie helped a limping Chris to the basement. Sam looked up "Where's the flamethrower dude?" She asked.

Chris took a seat, "Uh the Wendigo thing it tore him apart right in front of me." He explained.

"Oh god-" Sam said, covering her mouth.

"Thank god for your okay," Emily assured.

Mike sighed "All the doors are locked right?" He asked, looking around.

"Yeah." Natalie told him "All locked tight."

Mike sighed "Okay good. I need to find another way out." He explained.

"What?" Sam asked. "No Mike bad idea. Stay here until dawn."

"Oh like a little present with a bow ready for that fucking thing to tear open?" He snapped.

"Mike the cable car keys are gone," Natalie told him.

"Josh!" Mike exclaimed, "He's gotta have them, one of his dirty little tricks!"

"Josh?" Sam asked.

"The thing could have taken him down into the mines, Mike." Emily pointed out.

Mike sighed "What?"

"The mines." Emily explained, "Where Natalie and I were."

"I'll figure it out." Mike said, "You guys can stay, I'm leaving."

They continued arguing but Natalie saw Emily looking at something "Whats that Em?" She asked.

Emily turned around, everyone stopped arguing, "It's that old guy's stuff." She replied.

"Is that a map?" Ashley asked.

"I was down there," Mike said, pointing to something called a Sanatorium.

"Some of them survived but like fifteen of them didn't make it," Mike said blankly.

Natalie pointed to the mines "That's where we were." She said.

Emily sighed "I'd like to focus on how the fuck we're gonna get out of here!" She snapped. She looked at everyone and sighed "Sorry..."

"Em, what is that?" Ashley asked, backing away pointing to her shoulder.

Everyone turned to look at Em "What's what?" She asked.

"What is that?" Ashley repeated.

"Ash..." Emily said quietly.

"It's just a scratch... right Em?" Natalie asked, not so sure anymore.

"Em! Oh my god oh my god!" Ashley cried.

"Uh umm. It bit me." She said.

"Bit you what bit you?" Ashley asked, panic in her voice.

"The Wendigo..." she replied.

"Em..." Natalie mumbled.

"The Wendigo?" Mike questioned.

"It's nothing really not that big of a deal," Emily reassured.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked, concerned.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. It's really not that bad." Emily defended.

"Emily," Natalie said.

"Emily if the Wendigo bit you, you could." He started.

"I know what you're thinking! But I'm fine!" She shouted.

"Mike this is ridiculous!" Sam shouted.

"Remember he said you turn because of eating each other remember he said that! Now your gonna turn on us oh my god oh my god oh my god!" Ashley cried.

"Is that his it works?" Sam asked.

"Yes!" Ashley replied.

"You can't be down here with us." Mike said, "Leave!"

"Mike..." Emily whispered "Please."

"Mike this is going too far!" Natalie yelled.

"Shut up Nat!" Mike said, "Emily go!" Kike shouted me

"Leave Emily!" Ashley cried.

"This is the safe room!" Mike said, "I'm letting you leave voluntarily!"

"No, you just wanna make yourself better by sending me to my death. Because you know damn well that a wendigo is waiting up there to tear me apart."

"I've seen what these fuckers can do." Chris said blankly "And I don't wanna see it again."

"Chris!" Natalie cried, "No guys please!"

"Go! Just get out of here!" Ashley yelled.

Mike pulled a gone-out and pointed it at Emily. Natalie froze in fear, he wouldn't... he couldn't.

"Woah, Mike!" Sam said, approaching him.

"Mike please don't..." Natalie mumbled.

"Mike?" Emily said, visibly betrayed "Your gonna shoot me? Me?"

Mike stood there for a miner before sighing "I can't do this!" He said and dropped the gun. Natalie rushed over to.

"Em." Natalie said, "Shh Shh it's okay now I'm here." She took Emily's hand, Chris saw his sister, watching her curiously. Natalie didn't care if people knew all she cared about was Emily. Natalie pressed her lips against Emily's. Completely ignoring what else was going on around them. Once she snapped back into reality, Mike was gone, Ashley and Sam were talking.

"It says that... well... the bites... if it bites you... it's not infectious. It doesn't do anything" Ashley told Sam.

"Let me see," Sam asked, taking the journal from Ashley.

Emily leaned forward. "It says what?" She asked. She stood to her feet and Natalie stepped back.

"It says you'll be okay Em," Ashley explained.

"It says what?" Emily asked again.

"You'll be fine," Sam said.

"Fine? Mike almost shot me! Is that fine!" She shouted.

"He didn't." Sam pointed out.

"And this bitch almost let him," Emily said, stepping towards Ashley.

"Hey! That's not fair, she was scared." Sam defended.

"Scared I'm the one who's scared," Emily said.

Ashley cried "I'm sorry... I'm sorry Emily... I didn't know what was going to happen... None of us know!"

Emily shook her head "There's- There's no excuse! There's no excuse for this!" She defended herself.

"Please, Emily, please just try to understand" Ashley started.

"Understand the palm of my hand bitch!" Emily yelled and slapped Ashley. Chris leaned forward but stopped when Natalie gave him a stern look.

"Shit. Shit. Shit!" Sam exclaimed, "Guys we have to get to Mike."

Natalie looked at Emily and they were off to get Mike in a matter of seconds.