Hi! Welcome to, or welcome back to, Contain These Demons! 

Enjoy!

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Bo skateboarded home every day. She liked the feeling of the rushing wind in her hair. Sometimes, she would wear her headphones, enjoying the overwhelming volume of her favorite song as she ended her stressful school day.

Her days were full of socializing and studying, and when she came home, her parents usually had a list of expectations for her. Events at the church, and usual chores all on top of her homework, making her time to skateboard after school sacred.

And that day was no different. Bo placed her headphones over her ears, turned up the volume to that perfect amount, and set off home.

No thing or one could get in between the serenity of her 15-minute walk home.

A blaring car horn and the sound of screeching tires coming from the street right next to her threw Bo off her board, as she stumbled forward. With a jagged look of surprise, she turned her attention to whatever had disturbed her peace.

"Hey, nerd!" A familiar voice called to her, loud enough over her headphones, which she hesitantly removed from her ears.

With squinted eyes, Bo used her hand to shield her vision from the sun as she adjusted to whatever asshole had scared her.

Her shoulders, and guard, dropped when she realized who the "asshole" really was.

"Josh!" She yelled out, frustrated. "I could've got hurt!"

"Get in! I'll give you a ride!" He offered, with another honk of his horn.

Bo looked down at her board, "Nah-" she caught herself instinctively saying, but stopped herself when she looked back up at Josh's stupid smile. A goofy kind of grin, brighter than the sun she had shielded herself from. With a weary smile, and a chuckle at her own audacity, she picked up her skateboard from the ground, "Ugh, alright, weirdo."

As she walked closer towards Josh Washington's vehicle, the young boy rushed out of the driver's seat. Bo stepped back, confused and slightly startled, as he vaulted himself over the hood of his car, and opened the passenger door for her.

She repressed a hearty laugh, as she got in, snuggling herself into his seat.

He just as hurriedly returned to the drivers, and looked over at the lady, with tiny drops of sweat forming on his brow, "Ready?" He said, breathlessly.

"Yup!" She giggled.

"Seatbelt?" He tugged on the strap to ensure it was in place, being careful of his hand placement. "Check!"

A true gentleman, Bo blushed. So stupid, she thought again, regaining herself.

"Alright, let's go!" He wooped as he moved his clutch to drive off. A few meters down the road, Bo's brows furrowed.

"Aren't you gonna ask me where I live?" She questioned, with a sly look.

"Oh, I already know the way." He teased, giving her a wink.

She dropped her jaw, dramatically, "Wierdo!"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" He yelled out, defensively, and dramatically loud, "To be honest, I wasn't planning on asking, anyways."

"What, why not? Aren't you driving me home?"

"Yeah, but then we get to the destination quicker if I'm given directions."

"And that's a bad thing, why?"

He took his eyes off the road, and looked over at her with that familiar, rare serious look of in his eyes, "Because I like spending time with you."

Bo couldn't help the smile dragging the corners of her mouth upwards, or the blush that crept on her cheeks. She exhaled heavily, as she broke eye contact with the boy next to her. With a meek, yet clear voice, she returned the sentiment, "I like spending time with you, too."

"Yeah?" Josh seemed relieved, "So that movie date with me was good idea, then? I am pretty charming and fun. Not too mention, not too bad to look at, huh?"

Bo laughed and hid her face in her hands at the ruined moment, "Oh boy! Humble, too." But she had to admit, the movie alone, with just him, was a good idea.

"How about you let this charming, fun, handsome, and humble boy take you somewhere real nice sometime?"

Her head shot up to him, as he turned back to the road.

Cheeky, she squinted her eyes at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Just the two of us, again" He continued, "since we both seem to enjoy each other's company. But this time, it'll be real nice."

Bo tried to come up with a thousand and one excuses, just like she had dodged any other guy's advance. But this time, she couldn't. She didn't want to. This time, it felt right. After all they'd been through together, maybe a change of environment would do them well. Maybe they'd do well. Together together.

She'd have to convince her strict parents again, of course. Maybe it would be worth it. Maybe it would be the start of something really special for them both.

"I'd love that, Josh," She admitted, finally, letting the tension release.

"Me too," He also admitted, "Like I said, I'm gonna take you somewhere nicer than a plain, old movie theater."

"I liked Shutter Island, though."

Josh turned back to her, with another grin, "See, this is why I like you so much. You just get me."

Bo couldn't find any more words to say, she just smiled back at him, no longer hiding the giddiness that had once embarrassed her.

Josh noticed and chuckled, taking a hand off the wheel to shove her shoulder gently, "You complete me, Tracy!" He cried out, dramatically once more.

She rolled his eyes at his usual antics and settled her elbow on the window of his car.

A moment passed, as the two teenagers just took in the innocent silence between them. A brewing of feelings that had stirred long before this moment. A chemistry neither could deny, nor seemed to want to.

Bo watched as the streets passed in the ride she never accepted from anyone else, thoughtlessly nibbling on her thumbnail, and felt a creeping sensation, as fingers intertwined with her free hand.

===

Bo gazed lifelessly at the shack before them. Her eyelids, heavy with irritation, obscured half of her irises as she made no attempt to shield herself from the pain of confronting her personal hell on earth.

Chris, who had endured everything alongside her, perhaps even suffering the most, stood by her side, placing a hand on her back. It was no act, yet it was clear that Harvey, with cameras rolling, lingered behind them. They wouldn't miss capturing this moment.

It marked the beginning of the end; when everything truly fell apart.

Bo felt the weight of the chains around her wrists, the ones that had suspended her from that wooden platform. The recollection brought her pain, revealing the first sign of emotion since she approached the small wooden structure.

Her bottom lip trembled as she silently begged for the memories to release their grip. Clinging to Chris' arm for support, her knees gave way. Swiftly, her friend caught her, sliding his hands under her armpits to prevent her fall.

"Bo," Andrew turned around at the commotion, and saw the young woman stand up again, with assistance.

Once her feet were stable, she swatted away the men, and walked off to a lone area, nearby. She needed a chance to feel, without the eyes, and presence of everyone. Tears haphazardly fell from her eyelids, sliding down her cheeks. Her lungs heaved for air, breathing through her nose, to keep her cries silent. There was no need for theatrics, anyways. Surely, they would run into plenty, that she was sure.

The picture remained, engraved in her mind. The look on Chris's face as he turned the tracks on that saw towards Josh. The image of the blades cutting into his torso. She could feel the warmth of his "blood" on her face once more. It was a memory she could never be rid of. Especially not in the very place it happened.

How could she push it back? She was standing right in front of the four walls that ruined her life. How could she move on? The memory played back like a movie reel. She was the shining star. The antagonist was the only person she'd ever opened up to, the only one she'd ever loved.

A presence behind her knocked her out of her episode, as she stifled her agonizingly quiet emotions.

"Bo," Andrew called out gently. She turned slightly, enough to acknowledge him but also to conceal her tear-stained face. It was better he didn't see. "I understand there's... some pain here... caused by my son," he struggled with the words, as if struggling to accept the truth himself.

Bo steeled her trembling lip and afforded Andrew the full attention he deserved, facing him completely. "Yes," she said, her gaze fixed on the building, summoning all the dignity she could, "It began here. In this shed."

With a deep breath, she met up with Chris as they opened the sliding doors with great force. The rusty hinges squealed as they awoke from a few months slumber.

A flash of light blinded Bo, as her eyes adjusted. For a moment, she could have sworn she had seen Josh tied up against the support beam, sitting on that little stool, just where they had left him before. It wouldn't be that easy, however, to find him again. The shed remained just as it was, untouched by any other presence on the mountain.

Bo bit her bottom lip, thoughtfully, as she took in the sight. It was all laid out before them. The proof of their story.

Chris walked towards the area where he had once stood. Where the voice of the "Psycho" had ordered them to make a choice. Kill Josh, or Bo.

"It began here," she continued, aware that Andrew and the camera crew were following close behind. "We were chained to these platforms, hanging." She gestured towards the prop, which stood unchanged. The "blood" had stained everything in the room, particularly Josh's board.

Andrew's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening at the scene.

"It's not real," Chris cut in, moving from the shed entrance to join Andrew by the tracks. "At least, not this part."

Bo nodded, pushing forward. She crossed the half-wall to the main floor, her hand brushing over the upright wooden platforms. "I was chained here," she indicated a clean slat marked with a few heavy drops. "Josh was here."

"The blood was fake?" Andrew asked again, seeking confirmation.

"The body as well," added Chris.

Andrew stuttered, "The-The body?"

He followed the young man's eyes, which trailed to the bloodied platform. Andrew copied Bo, climbing over the half-wall and slowly crawled over to where she stood, looming over the life-like lower body, wearing his son's jeans. Intestines sprawled amongst the floor, clotting near the sawed opening. The head-less part was propped neatly up against the board, upright on the floor.

From behind him, Harvey filmed, and let out a quiet gasp, "Holy shit," His first words since leaving the van.

"Stuffing and pig organs," Chris explained.

"And his favorite flannel," Bo added, kneeling down beside what had haunted her once before. She tugged loosely at the article of clothing, as if she wanted to take it, but something in her blocked her from doing so. The absurdness of it all. Taking a memento from a situation you never want to experience again.

But it wasn't just that moment. It was also everything that lead up to the shed.

It was the car ride.

The hike to the cabin.

Turning the power on together.

Exchanging glances amongst the company of their friends.

And being tucked into bed, before awaking for the worst night of her life.

All the memento could ever emulate was Josh. So maybe it wasn't so absurd to hold the flannel close to her and never let go. The feeling of the fabric almost felt rejuvenating, like a piece of life returning to her body. Although brief, a smile flittered across her face.

As just as soon as she let go of the jacket, the life drained from her once again and her smile disappeared as if it were never there.

Chris began to talk more, showing Topanga and Harley around the shed. From the back of her mind, she could hear his perfectly unbiased, and careful, re-telling of the chain of events. She could feel Andrew's presence behind her, taking in the scene. But all Bo could truly focus on was the mess lying before Josh's chains. All she could think of was Josh. She remembered the panic on his face, when she locked eyes onto him, where they hung. It was all a mistake. She remembered him saying that. He never meant to create any kind of hardship on her.

But he did.

He was so out of it, that he took Bo, and he put her in the middle of his psychotic break. She couldn't help but feel-

"I could have saved him from this," she blurted out, "I could have stopped it all from happening."

"What could you have done?" Andrew asked, his brows furrowed as he absorbed her words.

"I could have talked to him," she said, turning to face him, her eyes pained and brimming with tears, "He wasn't beyond reach. He was never beyond reach."

"Bo," he interjected, "I'm his father. I had no idea he was capable of something like this. You? You're his world. If you couldn't prevent this, then he was beyond help." He placed a supportive hand on her shoulder and surveyed the room, "You're not Superwoman."

Bo's eyes widened in realization. Hearing those words leave Mr. Washington's mouth was more effective than her therapy.

So stupidly simple, of course doctors would skip over such a phrase. Diving into her childhood, the nature of her relationship with Josh and her friends, they never dived into any plain, personality traits.

Bo had a savior complex. A bad one.

You're not superwoman, was all she needed to revel in.

This state of mind she's lived in had stolen most of the joy that comes with her youth. Her innate responsibility for everything, to fix everything, had been a constant burden. Everyone always said it was not her fault. But nobody ever tried to call out the role she put herself into. She was not a leader. She was not a hero. She was just a young girl.

"I just," She took a deep breath in, carefully collecting the words rushing through her mind, "I'm trying to find the reason why he needed to do this."

"You won't find it," Andrew answered plainly, "I think we're past trying to understand. I don't think that's our job anymore."

Bo's shoulders dropped, her face contorted in thought. She knew he was right. Finding a reason was hopeless. Nothing productive would come out of dissecting Josh.

Andrew took another turn around the room, his eyes glued to the wooden panels. After a full scale, he made his way back to Bo, "What did my son do here? The full story leading up to this point. No missing details."

With surprised eyes, she faced the man, shocked that he would really want to know, "Mr. Washington, I can't-"

"Please." He closed his eyes, as if they were too heavy to keep open.

After a moment, Bo found the way to tell him, "We were back in the lodge. I ate a smore that Josh made me and went to sleep because they were trying to play with a board. Josh knew that wasn't my thing. Moreover, he knew he didn't want me involved in really anything. He tried to put a sleeping aid in my smore. It didn't work. I awoke to a lot of commotion going on downstairs. There was shouting in the kitchen," She took a second to gauge Mr. Washington's face. His eyes were still closed, as if he was imagining it all. Or maybe, just processing.

She continued on, "I literally walked into something hard, that hit my head. I was out. When I woke up, I was chained to this wooden slab. Josh was right next to me. Chris was behind the fence. And there was a rotating saw on a track that lead to either one of us, depending on the direction of the cart. A voice came over a speaker. It said that Chris had to choose where the track would go. Josh screamed at him to save me. So Chris did just that. And he and I watched as the saw ripped into his body, or rather, what we thought was his body."

Mr. Washington puffed out a large breath of air, and wiped at his eyes with his forefingers. Bo saw the pool of tears that brimmed his eyelids be wiped away, "I'm so sorry." He choked out.

Bo contained her own emotions as best as she could, but the sight of his distress was heartbreaking, "He didn't mean to put me in all this. I walked into it all. The speaker was a pre-recording of his own distorted voice. He said to choose between Josh and Ashley. And either way, the saw was rigged to cut through the pig skin body anyways. He was never going to intentionally hurt anyone. He was just going to pull the most... fucked up prank... I have ever," She couldn't finish her sentence. It wasn't Josh's fault everything went highwire.

The wendigos were the real enemy. 

In some sick, twisted way, Bo actually hoped that the world would realize it soon. No matter the cost. 

With a shake of her head, she brushed off the heaviness she felt, whatever she could, at least. It wasn't much. Her lip still quivered, her breath stifled, and her sinuses burned. 

"It was just a prank," she mumbled under her breath, and walked past the grieving father. 

"I'm sorry, Bo," Andrew replied quietly, letting her go. 

===

The only sound that brought Bo any comfort that night was the cackling sparks of the blazing flame within the man-made constraints of a bonfire. It's warmth coated her as she wrapped herself tighter beneath the plush blanket she packed. It was the only source of relief she could find in the given circumstance.

Now that night had come to fruition, and the sun had set, Bo could only think of how absolutely stupid she was to drag three unknowing souls into the maze of death that the silhouette of the trees created. It was so stupid. Being here alone would have been much easier.

Through shut eyes, Bo could feel the calm in Topanga as she conversed with Harvey, discussing the location of the night lenses for their camera. She felt Chris sitting only six feet away from her against a grounded log, his rifle sitting in his lap. Andrew was silent as a mouse, stewing in his eagerness for the night to end, with the exception of a pocket knife scraping against a thick branch. There was a son to be rescued and a makeshift spear to be made. For what reason beyond nostalgia was at a loss to him.

That sentiment was shared by Bo-Anne, who's mind raced with the never-ending panic set inside her. With so much at stake, rest did not come. Her eyes were closed, her body still, but ached with a supernaturally impatient urge to find her endangered love.

She could not sleep. Her eyes were closed, and she could not sleep.

It reminded her of her days in insomnia therapy. The ticking of the mechanical clock. The sway of the white, linen curtains. The city lights that poked through the sheen, twinkling yellow. Four white walls that kept her contained with her nightmares, as they stood in the corner of her room. Staring at her. Beady, white eyes. Long, tangling limbs. Skin raked of any color. Teeth, sharp and speckled in fresh blood. They stood there, and stared, until she noticed their presence.

And then they would unhinge their large jaws, and let out an unnerving, familiar scream. The scream would echo in the trees, as if a pinball would hit it's gutters.

Those four walls expanded out, until they were endless. The curtains turned into howling wind. The city lights became stars. And the screams echoed still.

Bo shot up from the waist, with a gasp and eyes, wide awake, convinced it was all a dream.

If it was a dream, Bo thought to herself as her head turned towards Harvey and Topanga, then why aren't they speaking anymore? She turned still to Andrew, who's attention was into the trees. And finally to Chris, who was on his feet, pointing his shot gun into the forest in front of them, creeping to the front of the group.

Topanga's breaths grew shallow as another distant scream pierced the air. She snapped her head towards Chris, who had already taken a few steps forward. "What the hell was that?" she gasped.

"Might be time to get those cameras rolling," Chris murmured, his gaze locked on the forest's edge.

Harvey didn't hesitate; he scrambled for the camera, his hands clumsily finding the night lens. He flipped it on, following Chris's movements as he scanned the treeline with his rifle.

Silence fell once more, a silence that was almost as disturbing as the noise. Bo rose to her feet, her eyes darting around for any hint of the wendigo. The branches could be swaying from the gentle touch of the wind or the movements of a lurking beast. The odds weren't in her favor.

Then came another screech, this one painfully animalistic. It was the desperate cry of an injured animal, accompanied by the heavy thud of hooves on the forest floor. Bo tensed, preparing for the worst. Defenseless, her only tactic was to trust in Chris's protection. It was a shaky plan at best. All she could do was watch as the sound of hooves drew nearer.

Suddenly, a deer burst through the underbrush, its shriek slicing through the tension. As it bolted past them, a gruesome wound was exposed by the firelight—a deep gash from where an antler should have been, spilling blood over its face and flank. The injury had ravaged its hind leg, causing the deer to falter with each stride.

It was unmistakably the wendigo's doing.

"What on earth happened to that thing?" Topanga trembled, peering into the trees where the deer had vanished to their right.

"A bear, maybe?" Harvey speculated, inching closer to capture the bloody trail on camera.

Chris said nothing.

"You wish," Bo muttered under her breath.

With a huff, Topanga rolled her eyes and snatched the camera from Harvey's grip as he made his way back to the campfire.

"Hey!" he protested, the camera torn from his grasp, but he held back any further objection when he saw Topanga pivot the lens towards herself, as though starting a vlog.

"A killer bear? We're Blair-Witching this, Harvey," She turned to the forest, so her back was turned, and began to narrate what was going on, "If anyone finds this tape, call animal control, and spread awareness of the dangerous evolution of the bears on Blackwood Mountain." 

Bo shook her head with disdain, unable to focus on anything but the forest ahead. 

Andrew stood beside the young girl, leaning in to whisper, "What's really happening, Bo?"

She received his message and replied grimly, "I've already told you."

"You mean to say those... cries weren't from a bear... but from the monsters in your tales?"

Bo gazed at the man, her blue eyes filled with sympathy, "I did try to warn you, Mr. Washington."

He nodded thoughtfully. She couldn't discern if he truly believed her; skepticism was expected, especially with the paranormal. Yet, Andrew's tightening grip on his sharpened branch did not escape Bo's notice. Oddly, it comforted her.

That comfort vanished when a figure appeared mere yards away. Her skin crawled at the sight; she yearned to run but remained frozen. It wasn't the long-limbed horror, but a flickering wisp, phasing in and out of existence.

Breathless, she managed to ask Andrew, "Do you see that?"

"See what?" he responded.

Bo's laugh was a strained huff, "Great."

"Are you okay? I have a bad feeling about this—" His voice trailed off as Bo's attention returned to the apparition.

Its features shifted, taking on countless forms, but one aspect was clear: the myriad mouths all seemed to whisper 'RUN'.

As the realization hit, the figure disappeared. Bo gasped, turning to her unsuspecting companions, "We need to leave, now."

Another screech cut through the group's confusion. A screech that sounded dangerously close. In fact, it was 50 yards away and closing in.

"We have to run!" she yelled, leaping forward and slinging her backpack over one shoulder.

"Go!" Chris bellowed, firing towards the source of the shriek. Harvey frantically gathered his equipment, stuffing gear into his bag.

Bo was already a few paces ahead, heading for the shack they had all been eager to leave. It was their only refuge now. They needed to reach it quickly. KREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, another howl, closer than any before. "Oh, God,"

Chris fired again, and this time, something was hit. A disturbing, non-human cry of pain echoed, freezing everyone in place.

With the camera rolling and Chris's gun aimed, the reality of Bo's nightmares was confirmed.

She wasn't insane, nor was she a liar, but she was very...very...fucked.

===

I have been revived along with the rest of the Until Dawn fanbase, thanks to the remastered version of the game being released! Personally, I have been a big fan of seeing the resurgence in activity. I've missed Josh just like everyone else :(((( 

It's so amazing to see everyone, new and old, and I hope you've enjoyed Bo's story. 

I will never give up on her. No matter if it takes DECADES to finish it up! Hopefully though, for all our sakes, it doesn't take that LOLLLL 

Until next chapter! 

XOXO 

Barbara <33