barbarawrites returns from a terribly long hiatus to present the third chapter to CONTAIN THESE DEMONS. enjoy :)


The midnight hour flew by as Bo laid on the sofa in the second living room of the basement in the Washington Estate. The brown leather crinkled underneath her as she tossed and turned. She stared up at ceiling, the only light coming from the lit fireplace that kept her warm.

The Washington's mansion, although it was a physically hollow place with large rooms and raised ceilings that created emptier space, was always warm. Whenever she walked through the front door, she was greeted with smiling faces and open arms. It was refreshing and emotions were plentiful. It was a place of good vibrations and even better people. Even while they were struggling with the loss of Hannah and Beth. For a moment, things were off, but it didn't take long until Bo was able to feel the life within the Washington family again.

Now she ruined it again by losing Josh.

No, Bo thought to herself, interrupting her thoughts, I didn't ruin anything. Hannah and Beth's death were not my fault. They all told you this already.

Bo sighed and closed her eyes before turning on her side to face the fireplace again. Her brain was still getting used to the rewiring it went through during recovery. She had to learn that some things were out of her control. The shelf above it was lined with family photos. She smiled at a photo of Josh, his parents, and Bo, standing right next to Josh on Sunset Beach in America. They had invited her with to their spring break vacation during their junior year and Bo was thrilled to come with.

The house was quiet except for the crackling of the fire before her. Her eyes trailed from the fireplace to the hallway behind it. In that hallway were the rooms of the Washington kids. However, for a moment, Bo could had sworn she was staring into the hallways of the cabin's basement. The winding twists and turns that lead her to either impending doom or to her freedom. She had seen the bright blue hues that created the shadows and highlights that illuminated the shape of the hallways. She saw the deteriorating walls and ceilings as they lead towards the mines.

Bo shot up from the couch and blinked her eyes tightly, the image disappearing quickly. She checked her surroundings just as quickly and patted herself down to make sure what she was witnessing at that moment was truly there.

She truly believed for a second that she was back at the mountain, in those hallways again. She truly thought it was real.

Bo took a shaky breath and put the blanket that Lauren supplied her with around her shoulders, draping it around herself like a cape. She shuffled through until she got to a door with a skinny hole in it. Josh's door. The hole came from when Josh was showing Bo his 'commando rolls' at a party he threw before they started dating and kicked his foot through the door when he got up.

She turned the knob and opened the door, revealing the dark room. Nothing had been touched since they came back from the mountain. Bo quietly closed the door behind her as she entered Josh's room. A strange, comforting feeling came over her.

Usually, this was her safe place. Although, they never hung out in his room often (Bo's parents made that rule clear), they had some of the best conversations as they sat on his bed. Bo was able to rant about anything, unafraid of any judgement. He would wrap his arms around her, and she would squirm around all antsy until Josh settled her down and then she would vent, as he held onto her tightly. Most of the time, her frustration came from the strict expectations her parents had of her.

Josh would nod and occasionally put a word or two in of advice, but usually he would just be there. Holding her. It helped a great deal for her.

Bo flipped the light switch, lighting up the wood paneling on his walls and the large bed in front of her. The grey covers welcomed her as she plopped down on the bed, like she used to. The window to her right shone with bright moonlight, his sheer curtain swayed as the air vent below it pumped warm air into the room.

Wrapping the blanket she already had around her tighter, Bo felt that comforting feeling that came over her when she walked through the door rock her to sleep, and soon, it was hard for her to even keep her head up.

Surrendering to the night, she allowed her back to fall onto Josh's bedsheets. Her eyes closed as she took another deep breath.

Her senses were filled with Josh's scent. The woody and lavender smell of his cologne that he always put on. He never put a lot on, but when Bo hugged him, and rested her head on his shoulder, she could smell it.

The sound of young giggles snapped Bo awake. As she rose from a bed of moss, the entrancing giggles continued. The sound resonated loudly until it faded into nothing. Although her vision was very blurry, she could make out the vast pattern of tree trunks that surrounded her. A forest of thick brush enclosed her in a loose trap.

She stood up and the laughter stirred up again along with the sound of rustling in the woods around her. For some reason, Bo was not alarmed or threatened by the activity. The infectious laughter brought a smile to her face as she followed the movement around in the small circle she was in.

In between the fences of the trees, Bo could see the wild and bushy, blonde hair of the figure playing in the woods, as well as the deep red fur of another creature that was dancing around the young figure.

She watched on with a bright grin as the laughter turned into singing. It was a familiar tune that Bo couldn't help but sing and dance along with. She had remembered hearing it throughout the first few years of her life played all the time by her father. She wondered why he had stopped.

Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet?

Ooh, but they're so spaced out

B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets

Bo sang out with the child, as they jumped together in rhythm, both of them not noticing each other in the moment.

Oh, but they're weird and wonderful

Oh, Bennie, she's really keen

She's got electric boots, a mohair suit

you know I read it in a-

Suddenly, a loud boom pierced her ears and made her jump in fear. Her ears began to ring and she slammed her hands over them in an attempt to protect them. The innocent singing changed into blood-curdling screams.

"No!" Bo cried out, and raced for the young child. She jumped over the bush that kept her safe inside, and pushed through the trees that seemed to grow more fiercely in her way. Bo shouted in frustration as the curly-haired child that she saw lying on the ground stopped screaming. The red, furry creature that she also saw was no where in sight.

As Bo got closer to where the child laid, the child seemed to move farther away. No matter how fast she ran or how slick she maneuvered around the wild brush, she could never reach the child.

She felt tough vines grow around her feet and snake their way up her legs until they pulled her down onto the ground, stopping her in her tracks.

Bo fell hard onto the solid earth, and grunted as the wind was knocked out of her on impact. As she got up to continue her search, she felt a strong, hot breeze blow on her face, and the smell of wood and lavender invaded her nose.

Bo was now sitting with her back up on Josh's bed. His grey comforters were wrapped around her, as if someone had tucked her in. However, she had gone to sleep late into the night and at that time, both Lauren and Andrew were fast asleep.

Bo threw the covers off of her legs and sat on the side of the bed, trying to process what she had experienced. Just as soon as she tried to remember it all, any memory of what her dream was about had fled her. She couldn't recall a thing.

She raked her hands through her hair and closed her eyes real tight until she saw stars dancing behind her eyelids.

At a loss for sleep, she simply stared at the stars until they slowly faded into morning. The dark of night blended with the light of day, and at the interception of colors, she felt hope. Hope she very much needed.

And when morning finally came, and the appropriate hour to leave the room was at nigh, Bo got up and slumped to the bathroom. There, she looked in the mirror, and saw the ghastly reflection of herself. Her eyes were sharp red, burning with the sensation of dried tears. Her hair was a wild mess of blonde curls. Her face was sunken, cheeks were caving in due to a lack of appetite. And although she looked miserable, she still felt that beacon of hope, calling from the depths of her heart, reaching for any kind of release.

Bo found that hope resurfacing when she had her first interaction with the Washington couple in the kitchen of their Manor. She exchanged her usual greeting and sat down in front of a plate of assorted breakfast entrees.

"Good morning, darling," Lauren Washington cooed, "I made your usual favorite. French toast and eggs Benedict."

At the realization, Bo smiled slightly, the corner of her mouth crinkling. But then she heard it. The laughter. The laughter that came from Bo when Josh would steal bites of her French toast, even though he always refused his own. The memory hurt.

"Thank you, Lauren." Bo's voice croaked, as she bit back tears.

"Oh, hon, please find the urge to eat a bite at least." Lauren's soft brown eyes showed concern for the young girl. "I'm quite worried about you, you know." 

"I'm worried for me." She stifled another sob. Lauren tilted her head slightly. "I don't know if I can just sit here and not do anything-" 

"There's nothing you can do, hon." 

"But there is. And I don't know if I have the strength to do it." She let a tear slip from the corner of her eye, feeling it slide down her cheek. 

"What do you mean?" 

"I don't really know..." Bo deflected the situation, realizing how silly it would be to bring up the Reporter's offer or the lawsuit scandal to the very people who would be affected the most by it. So instead, she put the idea as far back in her mind as she could. Although she very much wished to talk to someone about her plight. 

There was nothing more to say. No comfort that either woman could bring each other. Bo made no effort in plating herself, not wanting to waste any food that Lauren had made, but not having an appetite in the slightest. 

Mr. Washington had even made his way into the kitchen, greeting everyone with a warm smile. His entrance made the room more vibrant just with his charm. He reminded Bo of Josh in that way. He had inherited his father's charm. 

"Good morning, wife." He kissed her lightly in passing as he approached the food. He caught sight of Bo, sitting on the stool at the bar, where the food was sitting. "Miss Bo! You look well rested." He teased, pointing at his own eyes to bring attention to the bags under hers. Bo couldn't contain her smile, and looked down at the table.

"Hon, don't tease her!" Lauren chuckled and hit her husband lightly on the arm. 

"What? What? I meant it." 

"Don't mind him, Bo-Anne." She turned her attention back to the young woman. 

"On a serious note, though," Mr. Washington also turned to her, that playful gleam in his eye gone, "how have you been? Overwhelmed?" 

Bo said nothing but nodded her head. 

"Mm." He nodded as well, in response. "We are too. Can't get out of the house without the stares and pitiful looks. It's unbearable." He cursed. "I'm glad you find solace here, like we do. You're welcome anytime, for as long as you want. We're used to you never leaving by now anyways." He winked at her this time, his charm coming back. He obviously was meaning about the times when her and Josh would hang out at his place. 

"Thanks, Andrew." She laughed a little. 

"It may be," he searched for a word or phrasing, "beyond me, to give you advice about this whole grief thing," he teased again. Bo gave him a look, "but try to find something to distract yourself with. To give yourself some hope. Like a hobby." 

"Ooh, yes," Lauren added, "I took up jewelry making." She held up her arm, where a beaded charm bracelet dangled. 

"And I painted." Andrew pointed at the wall, where an exquisitely detailed landscape of a field. "What about yourself?" 

Bo blinked wide eyes, racking her brain for anything at all that she had been doing to help. 

"Anything?" 

Bo opened her mouth to try and speak, but nothing came to mind, once again. 

"What have you been doing lately?" He probed, trying to help her. 

"Oh," something had indeed come to mind, "I've been writing." Her statement came out more like a question. 

"Writing what? Like poetry? Stories?" 

"Plans." She spoke too quickly. 

"Plans?" Andrew had grown intrigued. Never had he heard such a unique answer to what someone was writing. "I don't mean to be nosey, but what plans?" 

"I used to write plans of where I wanted to be in five years. In detail. Or plans on how to accomplish things. Keeps everything organized, you know?" Her lip twitched into a small smile, but it dropped quickly. "But it's not really all that anymore." 

"Oh," Andrew carefully nodded his head, "Not anything we should be worried for, I hope." 

"Oh, no, nothing dark, I promise," she trailed off, finding confidence. The worst they could say was that it was dumb, "... I had this silly idea... to bring him back, every single detail and everything is written in my notebook." Bo pointed to her coat that was hung lazily on the side of the couch.

"Oh, hon." Lauren let out a sigh and sat down beside the girl. "You realize that's not your responsibility, right?"

"Yeah, I know." Bo hung her head and played with her fingers, lying through her teeth, "I just thought it would help. To heal. For some hope?"

Andrew Washington watched from a distance, the gears in his brain turning, as he crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"Well, why don't you pull out your notebook. Let's hear it." He offered, with a genuine smile. Lauren quickly turned her attention to him and gave him a disciplining look.

"Andrew. We don't want to entertain it." Bo heard her whisper.

"For healing. Bo said it herself." He smiled shortly at the girl beside him, who's eyes grew wide in surprise. No one had asked for her ideas on anything that had to do with the mountain before. No one had cared to really hear her out.

"Oh, okay," Bo sprung up from the stool, to her coat pocket and pulled the leather backed notebook that was stuffed with maps, pictures and numbers galore. She set it on top of the marble bar, in front of her with a proud smile. "Tada." She said under her breath.

Mr. Washington's eyes grew wide at the size of the bulging book. He picked it up, examining the fine detail on the first page. Soon, it became almost addicting to keep reading and he couldn't set it down. The extent of research that Bo put into her 'silly idea'. He knew that this was serious for Bo. And it was seriously going take a hot minute to read the end of it all.

"Wow." He let out, before moving around the bar, to sit down on the stool next to Bo.

Her handwriting was neat, but there were so many other side notes that clouded the rest of the papers that didn't lay out her full plan. Some passages were completely scribbled out and rewritten. He skimmed through a few more pages, and flipped through large chunks of her writing. Bo would occasionally stop him and elaborate on certain topics. Andrew was impressed with her work.

"So, the team offered their help. They'd record everything and have another team waiting for our return. They said something about this weekend. They're going. With or without me. Do you think it would work? " Bo asked, impatiently staring at him. Her knee bounced up and down rapidly in anticipation of their reactions.

He looked over at his wife with a worried look, and then back at Bo once again.

"It's certainly well thought out-"

"Andrew." Lauren's sharp voice from behind them hissed at him. "Would you come with me for a minute."

Andrew hid his gaze from Bo as he dropped the notebook down on the table and followed his wife off into the staircase. Lauren leaned over to check if Bo was in earshot. All she saw was her sitting on the stool, her legs were crossed underneath her as she stared longingly at the leather book. She bit at her nails, anxiously.

"Andrew, what the hell are you doing?" She seethed, keeping her volume down low.

"What, I-"

"You are not seriously thinking about carrying out that poor girl's fantasies, are you?"

"No, no," He lied. He had to admit that there were things in the plan that didn't seem fantastical. The couple stared at each other, anticipating the other to speak first. Andrew took the bait again, giving in to his wife's cold stares. "Lauren, if you know Bo as well as I do-"

"Oh, boy-" She rolled her eyes at his starting argument and crossed her arms across her chest.

"-Then you know that she will venture into those mountains again at some point." He paused, waiting for her to budge, but she wouldn't. "She needs to. You can see it in her eyes; you can see her pain, can't you?"

Lauren's glare softened at the realization.

"Anyone who went through that mountain would need closure, and anyone as determined as Bo will obtain it any way they have to, whether or not people stand behind her."

"No, Andrew." She sighed, "I think it's you who needs the closure. Our children are dead. All of them. But you don't want to accept that, don't you? So instead, to find your closure, you're going to risk your life and the life of Bo-"

"It's just a little hiking expedition. And besides, Bo is an adult now."

"Did you hear her plan? The things she anticipates inhabiting that mountain? She needs closure through some group therapy or something. Monster's are not real."

"Exactly, Lauren. They're not real. If you forget about these creatures she mentioned, then you'd see it's just a short hike. It's a search party."

"We already issued a search party. They never came back to tell us what they found on that mountain."

"That means they didn't find anything, Lauren. But Bo was one of the last people to see our son. She's the one with a laid-out plan. Sure, there's a few hiccups and slightly delirious illusions of the rabid animals that live in the forest. But besides that, it's the smartest thing I've ever heard."

"Andrew. . ."

"I know you're worried, Lauren. I know there are a thousand and one ways this could go wrong. But I could not live another day knowing that I had a chance to find our son, and I was too afraid to take it."

"I just can't let you. . ."

"Please, Lauren. Just humor me, for a weekend. By nightfall on Sunday, if we don't find Josh, we'll come back home. Alright?"

Lauren looked over Andrew's shoulder, over at the young woman who was twirling a business card between her fingers. Her phone sat next to her, the keypad was on the screen. She looked back at her husband, who watched her with desperate eyes.

She thought of how nice it would be to see her baby boy's smile, to hear his loud and obnoxious laughter, and feel his embrace as he towered over her now.

She thought about how much her family owed Bo, for the incredible work she had put into them. She brought back the light that was extinguished by the death of Hannah and Beth. She gave them the hope they needed to keep going day by day with her witty humor and bubbly charm.

Lauren could see the young girl's flame diminishing. She was a witness to Bo falling down into the same spiral her own family had been through. Lauren had the opportunity to give them a spark of hope, as Bo had done for her.

Although it was very unlikely they would find her son, the chance was still there. They just needed some support.

"Alright." Lauren surrendered. "Keep Bo safe. Find our son. I will be calling the authorities if you aren't back home Monday morning." 

It didn't take long for Bo to call up those strange reporters she was talking about. And it didn't take long for them to make arrangements to meet up on that Friday night. Until then, Bo found most of her days at the Washingtons. Andrew was on the phone with as many groundskeepers as he remembered he had employed. They promised for the ski lift to be in working condition by the time they reached the mountain and the proper gear would be transported to the site and the Blackwood Park Ranger services would be notified of their arrival. 

It all seemed to be so put together. All that was left was for the day to arrive. 

Bo called and told her parents she checked herself in to a wellness camp for other grieving girls to heal. Hosted by the church. At the hospital. Of course. 

"Yes, yes, of course, you're an adult now." They cooed at her, praising her for her decision to become the best version of herself. Bo-Anne truly believed that they didn't care enough to truly fact check her. They didn't even care that she hadn't come home the night before. 

By the time all the arrangements were made. It was 7 PM. Pizza was in the oven. And Bo and Andrew made their best efforts to soothe the obvious nerves of Lauren Washington by being extra nice to her. 

The night was made to consist of a good meal, and a quick movie to wind down. 

Their quiet night was quickly ended by the sound of a knock at the door. Andrew gave his wife a pat on the thigh and got up from his spot on the leather couch in the living room. 

"I'll go check it out." 

He opened the front door and there stood a familiar figure. A tall, blonde boy in a plaid shirt and jeans. 

"Chris! So nice to see you." Andrew greeted. At the mention of his name, Bo whipped her head around to see from where she sat on a reclining chair. 

"Chris?" Her voice rose and she stood up in confusion. "What are you doing here?" 

"Bo," He greeted, "Mrs. Washington, good evening." 

"Chris? What brings you here?" Lauren gave him a comforting smile. 

"I need to talk to Bo. I went to her place. Her parent's said she was at a wellness camp at the hospital. So here I am." He chuckled, awkwardly. 

"Well, come on in," Andrew stepped out of the way of the doorframe, "It's a little chilly, so go ahead and use the kitchen to talk. Lauren and I will just be here watching the movie." 

Bo took her cue and walked with Chris into the kitchen. There, she leaned against the counter, her hands gripping the edge and she crossed one leg over the other. Chris stood in front of her with his hands in his jean pockets. 

"Bo, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry," he took a shaky breath, "for the fiasco last night with everybody. It was wrong of us." 

"Yes, it was." She mumbled and looked up at Chris with furrowed eyebrows. "You have a lot of nerve showing up here right now, especially in regard to what you're doing." 

"No, Bo," he shook his head, and looked down at the ground, "I'm not going through with it. They won't get my story." 

Her head cocked in curiosity as to why he had a sudden heart change. "Why not?" 

"I won't be in town when the lawyers come with their nasty, imposing questions that turn the whole story around to make it look like my best friend was a serial killer. Crazy out of his mind, sure. But he's no killer." He seemed very sure of his answer, suddenly growing back bone. 

"Where are you going?" She let go of the counter and crossed her arms over her chest. 

"To Blackwood Mountain." 

Bo's eyebrows relaxed, and her eyes widened. 

"With you." 

~~~

Oh my god, I feel like the worst person on Earth right now. There's no reason why it should have taken me as long as it did to hop back on this train. Every now and then I find peace in my life to return to my long lost hobby of writing fanfiction. Many of you who first started reading this are probably long gone as well. Life takes us so many places in this world. The times when we get to meet again are times that I cherish the most. 

Thank you so much for reading this, readers of past, present, and future. 

Who knows when the next chapter will be published? Maybe in a few days...weeks...decades (oop) but nonetheless, I promise you a new chapter. In the future. Sometime. 

See you all in the next chapter~! 

graphics by the lovely girlpotterheadxx <3