thirteen | 13.

TO CATCH A KILLER.

    Not long after Chris left, he returned with Ashley and Mike close behind, their faces pale and tense.

    Cameron, Josh, Sam, and Emily had remained huddled in the security room of the basement, the only sound being the hum of old machinery and the flicker of grainy surveillance footage.

    As soon as they filed into the room, Emily let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "Oh my God! What took you so long?" She sighed, relief washing over her.

    Mike quickly closed the chain-link door behind them, securing it with a heavy lock. The sound of the metal clicking into place echoed through the space, a temporary reassurance.

    Chris leaned heavily against the desk, his chest heaving. "It's bad up there." He managed between breaths, his voice strained.

    Cameron's eyes narrowed as she took in his disheveled appearance—his jacket was torn, and dirt streaked across his face. Worse, the old man wasn't behind him. Something had gone wrong. Again.

    Sam, standing beside Cameron, exchanged a glance with her, both already suspecting the answer. "Chris, where's the flamethrower guy?" Sam asked quietly, tension coiling between her words.

    Chris's gaze dropped to the floor, his fingers drumming nervously on the desk as he stuttered, "Uh... yeah, he... uh."

    "He didn't make it, did he?" Ashley's voice was soft, but the panic in her eyes betrayed her growing fear. She realized, with chilling clarity, that without the old man, their best chance of survival was gone. "What happened?!"

    Chris clenched his eyes shut, the memory too fresh. "The thing... it tore him apart. Right in front of me." His shoulders slumped.

    Cameron's chest tightened with sympathy—he shouldn't have had to watch that.

    The room fell into a heavy silence until Mike broke it. "Alright." He muttered, adjusting the grip on his gun as he paced the room, checking the doors. "These are all the exits? You're sure?"

    Sam nodded, her voice steady but uncertain. "Yeah, but why? What are you looking for?"

    Mike scanned the room before turning his attention to the security cameras. "Another way out."

Sam rushed toward him, grabbing his arm. "Mike, no. We need to stay put. Right here. At least we're safe down here."

    Mike turned to her with a sharp, incredulous look. "Oh yeah? All wrapped up like a little present with a bow on top for that thing to tear us apart on Christmas morning?"

Sam scoffed, rolling her eyes. "People will come for us. We just have to wait until morning!"

    Mike arched an eyebrow, his lips curling into a bitter smile. "You don't sound so sure."

    Sam shot a pleading look toward Emily, her voice shaking. "That's what'll happen. Right, Em? People will come."

    Emily's expression wavered, fear flickering in her eyes. "Yeah... I mean, right?"

Mike shook his head, frustration mounting. "Well you can wait all you want. I'm leaving."

Emily threw her hands up in frustration, calling after him. "Mike, there's no key for the cable car! Matt and I looked for it already!"

Mike froze, then slowly turned back, his eyes locking onto Josh. "Josh," he said, his voice sharp with suspicion. "You have it, don't you? Another one of your dirty little tricks."

Everyone looked toward Josh, who had been lingering in the corner, lost in his thoughts. Cameron, sensing something was wrong, stepped closer. "Josh?" She said softly.

He blinked, as if waking from whatever reverie had confused him, his voice cracking as he spoke. "I, uh..." His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "I slipped it into Jessica's jacket before you guys left for the cabin."

Mike's mouth fell open in disbelief. "What? Why the hell would you do that?"

Josh shrugged weakly. "I thought you'd be... busy. I needed time to..." His voice trailed off, bothered by the mess his plans had turned into. Mike ran his hands through his hair, groaning in frustration as he paced the floor. "Great. Just great."

Emily, ever quick with her snark, muttered under her breath, "Bold of you to think Mike would last that long." She flashed a sly smirk, clearly proud of herself.

Cameron bit her lip to hide a grin, but couldn't suppress the small laugh that escaped.

Sam shot Emily a look, elbowing her. "Em, really?" Emily giggled, but waved her off. "Okay, okay. I'm done."

Cameron's smile faded as she turned back to Mike. "Wait... you said it must've been the Wendigo that dragged Jess from the cabin, right?"

Mike nodded, his brows furrowing.

"Well, if it didn't kill her on the spot, then maybe... it took her back to wherever it hides out." Cameron suggested. Mike's eyes slowly widened, her theory sinking in.

As they spoke, Emily reached into the old man's duffel bag that Chris had brought back with him. She pulled out a weathered journal and an old map, carefully spreading it out across the desk.

Emily chimed in as she looked over the map. "There's a possibility that it went down to the mine. I saw some pretty horrible stuff down there. I think that's where it's holed up."

"Okay, screw it." Mike muttered, rubbing his stubbled jaw before gripping his forehead. "I'm gonna get that key. Right from that thing's goddamned bedroom and then I'm gonna get us all the hell out of here."

    Cameron leaned over Emily's shoulder, staring down at the map. "What's all this?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

    Emily traced her finger over the map's faded ink, her voice quieter now. "It's the old guy's stuff. He was prepared for anything."

    Mike straightened up, eyes fixed on the map. "The Sanitorium... I was there earlier. There was a cave-in back in the fifties. Some miners got trapped down there."

    "Michael." Emily deadpanned, shooting him a look. "I'd like to maybe focus on how we're going to get the fuck out of here, please?"

    "I'm just saying, it's weird how much crazy shit has gone on up here." Mike's voice was tense, a simmering edge of frustration in every word.

    Cameron shot a glance toward Josh, whose eyes were fixed on the floor. He hadn't spoken much since his manic breakdown.

    Emily's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "What's weird," she said sharply, her finger tracing lines on the map, "is that there's a tunnel leading from the lodge to the Sanitorium." She tapped the map with a bit more force. "See?"

    Mike leaned in, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah, that's how I got back here."

    Emily's finger slid to a larger, open space, her confidence growing as she glanced at Cameron. "I saw this when I was down there. That's where it lives."

    Cameron's eyes followed Emily's gesture to the word scrawled across the map: Nest. Her stomach twisted. Where it lives.

    The Wendigo had a lair, a place where it brought back what it hunted, where it hid during the daylight.

    Cameron clenched her jaw, trying to fight back the cold that seeped into her bones. She didn't want to think about the possibility of what else they might find there.

    The room had fallen eerily quiet until Ashley's trembling voice broke through. "Em?" Her eyes were wide, pupils dilated in fear as she stared at something on Emily's shoulder. "What... is that?"

    Cameron's heart sank as her gaze snapped to Emily's exposed shoulder.

    Blood. Deep bite marks.

    She felt her pulse quicken. How had none of them noticed? How had she not noticed when she was standing right next to her? Slowly, Cameron began to back away, instinct pulling her closer to Josh, though her mind spun with doubt.

    "It's nothing!" Emily protested, her voice pitching higher. "I just— it bit me, and—"

    Ashley didn't let her finish. "It bit you?" She shrieked, eyes wide with terror as she stumbled back a few steps, pointing an accusing finger at Emily. "What bit you?"

    "The... ah, the Wendigo." Emily's voice faltered, her eyes darting around the room, searching for someone, anyone, who wouldn't abandon her. "But it's not a big deal. It doesn't hurt anymore."

    "Not a big deal?" Mike's face twisted, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Em, if that thing bit you, you could turn into one of them!"

    Emily's gaze whipped to Cameron, her lips parting as if waiting for her to defend her, to say something that would make the situation better.

    But Cameron's thoughts were a whirlwind. Could Emily turn? There was so much they didn't know about these creatures.

    Cameron tightened her grip on Josh's arm, pulling herself closer to his warmth as the chill of dread spread through her chest. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down at the chaos below, unsure whether to jump or pull everyone else back.

    Josh shifted slightly beside her, and she could feel his tension too—his body taut as if ready to act at any moment.

    Emily looked more frantic now, her voice shrill with desperation. "I'm fine!"

    Sam stepped forward, trying to calm the room. "That's ridiculous! You don't turn into a Wendigo from a bite!" Her words came out firm, but Cameron caught the faint tremor in her voice.

    Even Sam wasn't completely sure. No one was.

    Ashley, however, wasn't convinced. "The old man said it was from eating each other!" She screeched, her voice sharp with hysteria. "That's what he said, right?"

    Cameron's thoughts were racing, but she couldn't remember if that was how it worked exactly.

    What if Ashley was wrong? What if Emily was already changing, already becoming something they couldn't stop?

    The uncertainty gnawed at her, and the more it did, the more she found herself backing away, her instincts screaming to get as far from Emily as possible.

    "You're gonna turn into one of them!" Ashley continued, her voice rising to a fever pitch. "And then you're gonna kill us. Oh my god, oh my god!" She scrambled back as far as she could go, eyes wild with panic.

    "Ashley!" Josh's voice snapped through the air, sharp and commanding in a way that startled everyone, even Cameron. He took a step forward. "You're freaking everyone out. Calm down."

    But Mike's gaze was hard, his voice low and dangerous. "You can't stay down here, Em. It's too risky."

    Emily's face twisted in panic, her eyes darting between the others, searching for some sign of support. "Are you serious right now? You're not actually saying this!"

    Mike's voice was firm, no longer shaken but resolute. "You're putting us all in danger, and I can't let that happen."

    Emily's breath came in quick, shallow bursts. "Like hell I am!"

    "Emily!" Mike shouted, his voice booming through the basement, his frustration boiling over. "You can't stay here!"

    Then, as if suddenly remembering everything they'd just been through, Mike turned on Josh.

"And speaking of people who can't stay, why is he even here?" His voice dripped with venom as he pointed at Josh. "Did we all suddenly forget what this lunatic did? He's off his meds, for god's sake. He's a danger to all of us!"

    Cameron's blood ran cold. No. Not Josh. Not now. They'd been through too much for this to be happening.

    Josh had been cooperating, he was the one who told them where the key was. He was trying to make amends, wasn't he?

    "No!" Cameron's voice rang out, sharp and defiant as she stepped in front of Josh, her body a barrier between him and the others. "If he goes, I go."

    "Cam, don't do this!" Sam pleaded, stepping forward, her hand outstretched as if to pull her back. "This isn't the time to fall apart. We need to stay together."

    But Cameron didn't budge. She couldn't. Not when she saw the look in Josh's eyes, that quiet resignation mixed with something else—something that scared her because she couldn't quite understand it. Was he protecting her, or giving up?

    Josh's hand slid around her waist, pulling her gently closer. "It's okay." He whispered, his voice calm, almost eerily composed. "I'll go find the key. You stay here. Stay safe."

    Cameron turned to look at him, her chest tightening. There was something final in his tone, something that made her feel like once he walked out that door, he might not come back.

    But she didn't know what to say, how to stop him. Her throat tightened as she blinked back the sting of tears. He had to come back.

    "Fine." She relented.

    Josh smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it, only a quiet resolve. He slipped out of the room without another word, and the door clicked shut behind him.

    What if he didn't come back? What if she never saw him again?

    She wanted to believe that if Josh returned with the key, they'd start forgiving him—like she had—but doubt carved at her insides. Forgiveness might not be enough to save him.

    Everyone's attention turned back to Emily, whose shoulders slumped in defeat. Her voice cracked as she spoke, her eyes glued to where Josh had just left. "What is this, guys?" She whimpered pathetically. "What are you doing?"

"Door's right there. I'm letting you do this voluntarily." Mike muttered, eyes cold as they flicked toward the door.

Emily's desperation morphed into a sharp edge of anger as she stepped forward, closing the distance between her and Mike. "Oh? No, you're just trying to make yourself feel better, pretending this isn't murder. You know there's a Wendigo out there, waiting to rip me apart, just like it did—"

"Okay, oh my god, will you just go?!" Ashley yelled, her hand flying toward the door heartlessly. "Go! Get out of here!"

The shouting, the accusations, the threat of violence—it was too much. Cameron's chest grew tight with panic as the room spun in a blur of confusion.

She felt her voice crack as she cried out, "Stop it!" Hot tears began streaming down her face, unchecked, as she glanced wildly around the room. "Please, just stop!" Her voice trembled, but it didn't seem to make a difference.

It felt like the walls were closing in, the air too thick to breathe. Everything was unraveling too fast.

She had only just gotten Josh back after thinking he had died, and even though the betrayal still clung to the back of her mind, she couldn't ignore that they had let him go out into the danger so easily.

He was still their friend. Despite the prank. Despite what he felt he had to do in retaliation. And now, he was out there—alone and vulnerable.

Cameron's gaze darted to Mike, her stomach twisting in knots as she saw the look of determination on his face.

When Emily refused to move, refusing to accept her fate, something snapped in him. He strode over to the desk with purpose.

"Mike, no—" Cameron's voice broke as she saw him grab the gun, but it was too late.

Mike aimed the gun directly at Emily's head. The cold steel glinted under the dim light, his knuckles white with the intensity of his grip.

END OF CHAPTER XIII.

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