A/N: Fair warning once again. This chapter, while devoid of sexual scenes, does depict some scenes of violence. It's not too graphic, but for those that are uncomfortable with such things, remember no one is forcing you to read things that make you uncomfortable. Feel free to skip the chapter because as long as you are happy that's all that matters.

Niall tried his best not to look. They all did. But there lay Jason for them all to see: neck splayed like a rubied-crescent, moon up turned to the egg-shell white of the bedroom ceiling. His mouth hung open lazily, the sheets soaked through with red, until a stifled dripping of blood oozed through the mattress and onto the hardwood floors.

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!" Jess proclaimed, clutching at the side of her head and making fistfuls in the hair that lay there as she paced irritably on the spot.

The window had been open when they first discovered the body. Spitting flecks of rain on to the dark brown of the ledge, but Jennifer had closed it after inspecting it incredulously. Having pulled herself together after passing over the initial shock of the discovery. The window was three storeys off the ground. Or rather, it would be if the ground wasn't totally hidden by five inches of tumultuous, writhing, dirty, water.

For the storm continued to rage on outside, occasionally barrelling through with thunder and lightening as it hammered with rain from the blackened clouds. This had brought Jennifer to the deduction that the likelihood of someone actually using that as an entrance being unlikely, and therefore it was a decoy. She readjusted the glasses on her nose, and began inspecting Jasons body a bit closer.

She took note of the lack of noticeable bruising, the state of the bedsheets, the somewhat relaxed position of the body. He didn't seem to have struggled. Jason was in good shape, he shouldn't have had much issue fighting off anyone here.

Her investigative mind was in overdrive as she inspected each of her companions and the room with the utmost scrutiny:

Emma was the last person to see Jason alive, that Jennifer knew of, and given that Jason clearly didn't put up much of a fight means that he probably knew his murderer and didn't think they would cause him harm. She was legendary for her temper. Maybe the little session they had didn't quite go to Emma's liking?

Jess was arguably the most able bodied out of them all. Physically strong and trained, she could've quite easily, and efficiently, performed the neat cut Jasons body displayed. Except she had been physically right next to Jennifer since they left the lake until now.

Niall was the least imposing in Jennifers eyes. Timid. Quiet. One of the lucky ones when it comes to metabolism and health as he can seemingly digest anything and not have it effect him one bit. She reckoned he was the least likely to do this, but that same aura of harmlessness is probably exactly what would make him so efficient. She had spotted him going to the bathroom numerous times, leaving so quietly: his sudden absence did nothing to disturb any room he was in. Unless you were particularly observant. Or Will.

Will was strong, handsome, friendly. He could approach anyone and they'd be convinced they had been friends for years. If it wasn't the fact that he seemed to have a physical need to be within ten feet of Niall at all times, he would be Jennifers top suspect.

The only thing she was missing for any of her friends: was motive. Jennifer hated the idea that one of these people could be a murderer, especially a murderer of sweet Jason, but she had no time for attachments. As much as she wanted to. There were lives at stake, possibly more, and being the closest thing to law enforcement here she had to take the reigns.

The group had already established that the phones were without signal and the Wi-Fi was a no go, the storm entirely cutting them off from the rest of the world. It was surprising to them all that the houses power hadn't been shut off entirely and leaving them in the dark, but it would seem they would have to wait until the storm passed before anything could be done.

"We should all go downstairs." Jen suggested, her tone blunt and commanding as she began to usher everyone out the room. They were all quiet, save for Jess who couldn't help but spit out curses every step or so. "I'm just going to get something from my room, I'm right behind you" She mentioned, immediately calling everyone to stop dead in their tracks to turn to look at her.

She knew what they were thinking. They suddenly suspected her. Their scrutinous gazes transmitting panicked signals between one another as they looked her up and down. She couldn't blame them, and held up her hands in passivity.

"I won't even be a minute I swear it"

"Are you fucking crazy? We're in a goddamn slasher movie and you want to split up? What's the matter with you?" Jess spat out, stomping over into her space and immediately linking one of her muscular arms with Jennifer, who could only smile somewhat nervously in response. Although she was secretly grateful for the company.

"Well hang on now." Emma piped up "What are you going to get?"

"I brought my gun and badge with me. I figure we may need it for protection/identification when help does finally arrive." She replied, causing everyone to stare at her wide eyed. Everyone but Jess who refused to look in her direction, but did tense her interlinked arm slightly.

Jennifer thought for the briefest of moments what she would have to do to get out of Jess' hold if she needed to. Sure she was trained in self-defence and had some extracurricular practice in martial arts, but Jess clearly took it more seriously than she did. Jennifer could feel it both in the strength of her body, and the strength of her stance. Her training allowed her to recognise the subtle shifting of weight from one leg to the other. Jess was getting ready to react should Jennifer try anything. In an instant she would be slammed against the floor, probably with a dislocated shoulder and a cracked rib. Had that been the only reason she had linked arms with me in the first place? Does she think I did it?

"You brought a fucking gun with you!?" Emma demanded, giving a signalling look to Jess as if mentally commanding her to floor this bitch, but thankfully she did nothing other than look at Emma incredulously.

"Yes, I keep it and my I.D. with me at all times. Kinda perks/requirements of my job. I'm something of a government agent." Jennifer replied. She wouldn't and couldn't explain the entirety of her job, but letting them know just enough for them to grant her some authority over the situation was fair game. She needed to come out on top here.

"Holy shit, you're a spy?" Will sparked, the unmistakable concoction of shock and hero worship glistening away in his eyes, as he said with a smile.

"That explains the photos..." Niall all but totally whispered, causing, much to his displeasure, everybody to look at him with confused looks. He shifted nervously, fiddling with his fingers before clearing his throat. "All the photos of you online are like... Business people and stuff. I figured you were a CEO of a big company or something... So I guess that doesn't really explain the photos, except maybe a little bit? Can everyone please stop staring at me now?"

"I'm not a spy--"

"That's exactly what a spy would say."

"I'm not a spy you guys!" Jennifer whined, before giving an exasperated sigh. "Can you just let me get my gun now? You can even wait outside the door if you'd like, but I really don't want to show you where I keep it."

"I'll stick with you. Why don't you guys go wait in the living room?" Jess suggested

"Wait just one fucking minute. What if you two are in on it together?" Emma protested

"Fuck off Emma, you pretentious cow. You were the last one to see him alive, how do we know you didn't do it?" Jess countered, staring Emma down with all the venom she could muster in a single look. Emma looked absolutely broiling with rage as the two stared each other off. If looks could kill the pair would be at a draw.

Eventually, Will stepped in between the two of them, facing Emma with his palms outwards, like calming a wild animal, he ever so slowly placed them upon her shoulders, and gave her his most reassuring smile.

"Let's go downstairs, Em. We'll wait all of this out and be fine as long as we have each other, okay?" He cooed, slowly pushing on her shoulders to turn her around and guide her to the stairs. He reached his hand out as he passed Niall, grabbing him firmly by the hand and leading him onwards.

Niall gave one last look of concern towards Jess and Jen as he followed after. Surprisingly thankful for the grounding body contact of Will.

The three of them made their way down the stairs and took their respective seats on the various couches in the living space. Emma was leaning forward, elbows pushed on her knees as she chewed viciously on her nails while tapping one of her heels on the floor. Will refused to let go of Niall's hand, his leg pressed up to Nialls with their hands on his lap. It was more for his own comfort than any romantic agenda he previously had. As long as Niall held onto Will, he would know he was safe and protected.

"Do you reckon it could've been those strangers you met in the woods?" Will asked, immediately getting a rise of out Emma as she arched one eyebrow at Niall who looked irrevocably guilty. As if meeting someone unknown was the sole reason this was all happening and only he was to blame.

"No. I don't think so. They were a couple on holiday with their kid, I highly doubt they're gonna take their kid on a murder vacation."

"Well did they do anything weird? Like... Did they act strange or anything?" Emma asked, as she leaned back on the chair with a huff. Arms outstretched on the rests as she nervously eyed the room before returning her gaze back to Niall.

"No? Yes? I dunno."

"Come on, Niall. You can tell if someone's being weird. Were they carving upside down crosses in trees? Speaking in tongues?"

"I don't know!" Niall snapped in response, wishing that he had something to contribute rather than holding on to Will with a sweaty hand. Not for the first time in a high stress situation, and something told him it wouldn't be the last either, did he feel useless. "Now that you mention it..." Niall continued as he did his best to remember his encounter earlier in the day. "One of them, I think his name was Avery? He kept looking at me weird."

"Looking at you weird?" Will questioned

"Yeah"

"Weird how? Like: You look like someone I'm gonna cannibalize, weird or you've got an extra head on your neck weird?"

"No. Nothing like that... He just looked: worried, I guess? Like I was going to get hurt or something. Maybe like he knew something like this would happen, maybe?" Niall looked down as dots started to click in his mind. What if it was those strangers in the woods? Maybe the look of concern was guilt or regret about their would be deeds?

"Hey: no one's gonna hurt you, alright? Not if I can help it." Will said, squeezing his hand in reassurance.

Some minutes passed before Emma pushed herself up with a loud huff, the leather of the chair protesting loudly as she did so, and started to walk.

"Where are you going?" Will snapped, letting go of Nialls hand to stand up and stop her if need be.

"I need to go to the bathroom, nosey. They're taking forever and I can't be bothered to wait." Emma retaliated with equal severity. Will searched her eyes as best he could. Searching for anything that would show him she was telling the truth or telling a lie. What he'd give to have a major in behavioural psychology instead of his current career. Eventually he relented, as she upturned her nose with a stomp of her foot, a swish of her hair, and quickly turning on her heel before stepping out the room.

Suddenly their came a loud cry from up stairs. It reverberated through the house like the lamentful wails of a ghost, shaking the boys to their very core. They each exchanged fearful looks before once again sprinting for the stair case.

"Jess!? Jess!" Will called out as they dashed down the upper hall way, turning in the direction of Jennifers room.

They found Jess panicking, frantically holding a bunched up bed sheet, that had already began to soak through with crimson, to the throat of a panicked and scrambling Jennifer.

"Please! Help!" Jess pleaded, doing her best to stem the flow of blood from Jennifers neck. Her throat gurgled and spluttered as the blood spat from lips pulled taught in a fearful grimace, and dribbling down her jaw.

"What happened?" Will asked, rushing to the side to get a better look at the wound, and clutching on to Jennifers hand who squeezed tight in desperation.

"I don't know, she was looking through her bags, she couldn't find her gun, a-and then something popped, the next thing I knew her neck was cut... I think someone trapped her things... Is someone fucking hunting us?" Jess whined, fearful, tear stained cheeks, as she looked down at Jennifer who clawed at Jess' arms with choked pain.

No matter how much the three of them tried calm her, pleaded with her to stop struggling, nothing they did stopped her thrashing. Her legs kicking in the throes of death as she tried to hang on, to fight on the only way she knew how. Jennifers body began to shake and fit, trying to cough up the blood that rapidly filled her lungs. She grew weaker. Her struggles becoming sluggish.

"No. No, please..." her chest convulsed, twitched and seized, before her entire body became limp, and everything was as silent as the grave.

A/N: Oh noooo! Jennifer is deeeeaaad. 
Who do you think is behind this? Emma? The couple in the woods? Will?

Is anybody going to survive?

Let me know what you guys think if ya want.

Thanks for reading ^-^