4:23 am

Chris and Cassidy made it to the lodge and were all sitting around awkwardly in the Great Room.

Chris joined Ashley and Sam, while Cassidy stood off in a corner, not wanting to interact with anyone at the moment.

A few seconds pass before the group hear a loud female scream coming from outside. Everyone snapped their heads towards the door as someone banged on it.

"LET ME IN! LET ME IN!" A voice cried out.

"Is that-?" Ashley went to speak, but Sam cuts her off.

"It's Em!" Sam shouted.

"Let her in! Quick!" Chris said as the four all rush to the door as Cassidy made it first and unlocked it, Emily stumbled onto the floor.

"Shut the door! Oh my god, shut the door!" She exclaimed as she backed away into Sam and Ashley's legs. The two help her stand.

Cassidy quickly closes the door and locks it. "Emily are you alright?!"

"I didn't think that I'd make it..." she cried as everyone lead her to the couch.

"You were screaming bloody murder." Chris pointed out.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked.

"You look totally wiped-" Ashley stated.

"There was something-" Emily tried to speak, but the others Ashley kept speaking.

"Where's Matt?" Ashley questioned.

"Come sit down, sit down." Sam suggested as Emily took a seat.

"Something's out there!" Emily shouted at the four.

"Did you guys split up?" Ashley asked, wondering why Matt was missing.

"A monster- It's a monster!" Emily cried.

"Wait! What are you talking about?" Chris asked her.

"I said, there is something out there!" Emily answered.

"Like what?" Ashley questioned.

"Ash, relax... it was Josh, it was all Josh-" Sam tried to calm her down.

"No, no no no listen to me-" Emily shook her head.

"We got him tied up, he can't hurt you." Cassidy added.

"No it was after me. And it wasn't human!" Emily exclaimed.

"Hold on, where is Matt?" Chris questioned.

"Matt- oh God. We couldn't use the cable car so we climbed the tower and then it fell and we were down in the mine, like way down, down in this terrifying freaking mine shaft..." Emily started to ramble.

"Hold on, hold on-" Chris tried to understand.

"And then, it was Matt and me down there and... Oh God I think that Matt might be dead." She continued.

"Wait, what?" Cassidy asked. Matt couldn't be dead. She didn't want to believe it. First Jessica, now Matt!

"How?" Sam questioned her.

"I- I was walking down there, in the mines, and it was dark and I found this pile and there was Beth's head!"

"Wait, what?! What the fuck do you mean you found Beth's head?! Emily?!" Cassidy raised her voice at the mention of her best friend's name.

"Beth's head. I found it." Emily repeated.

"Oh my God!" Ashley brought her knees to her chest, unable to take anymore.

"What the fuck?"

"Are you serious?!" Sam asked.

"YES I'm serious!" Emily shouted.

Cassidy couldn't take anymore after the mention of Beth and walked back to her spot in the corner, her emotions taking hold as her hand covers her eyes as the tears poured out.

"I think they fell down there."

"Jesus Christ." Chris mumbled.

"But the worst part is I don't think Hannah died, like, from the fall, not right away..." Emily continued.

"What? What do you mean?!" Ashley asked.

"I don't know... I feel like she was down there... like, starving to death... for weeks... when we were all up here looking for her... we had no idea!" Emily said.

"Jesus, that's horrible..." Chris whispered.

"Listen. In... In the tower there was a radio and I - I got through to someone - but that was right when the tower collapsed!" Emily also added.

Mike soon steps into the Great Room and spots Emily now among the group. "Em! You made it!" Mike relieved, quickly walked up to her and hugged her.

"Oh, god, Mike." Emily returned the hug.

"Yeah, yeah, barely!" Chris pointed out.

"What about Matt?" Mike asked.

"We're trying to figure that out." Ashley said.

"And there was this "monster" that was chasing her..." Chris added.

"She's all messed up, guys. Emily? Hey, Em?" Mike stated as he looked at the poor girl. He soon notices Cassidy in the corner, looking worse then what happened at the shed. Wanting to go over to talk to her, Mike stopped in his tracks when a loud banging is heard from the back door of the lodge.

"Woah." Chris let out.

"Who the fuck can that be?" Mike whispered.

"Josh?" Ashley questioned.

"Jess?" Chris added.

"It's not Jess." Mike repeated.

"Sorry man... but who is it?" Chris asked.

"I don't know... We should check it out." Mike suggested.

"I got your back." Chris stated as he poked Mike's shoulder.

"Good." Mike said as the two made their way to the back door. Mike then holds up the gun, in precaution.

"Okay. I'm gonna open the door. You ready? You ready?" Chris suggested.

"Uh huh," Mike nodded. Chris still hasn't open the door yet. "Just do it already, whoever it is has probably gone by now."

"Unless you want me to take the gun." Chris added.

"No, no, no. I think that's less good. You do the door, I got the gun." Mike said, Chris soon opens the door but is knocked over when the Stranger kicks the door open.

"Shit! Shit!" Chris cursed.

"Ah! Ho-hold on there! Hold on there, mister." Mike said as he raised the gun at him, but the Stranger takes the gun off Mike. "Alright, alright, just take it easy grandpa."

"Ok. Everybody just calm down." He spoke as he lead the two guys back to the Great Room with everyone else.

"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 began as he dropped his bag near the fireplace.

"You mean with Hannah and Beth?" Ashley questioned.

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

"Or responsible?!" Sam accused.

"It's you." Everyone, including the Stranger turned their heads to the blonde in the corner. She steps up closer to him. "You were there that night. You got rid of that creature. You tried to pull up Beth before they fell." Cassidy said. Mike looked back and forth between the man and Cassidy as the Stranger stepped towards her.

"I remember you, you were that girl that I pulled out of the way." The Stranger nodded as he then turned to the rest. "I don't take kindly to you kids coming up here to my mountain-" the Stranger was interrupted by Mike.

"Your mountain? I'm sure the Washingtons would be very surprised to hear that." Mike said.

The Stranger laughed, shaking his head, "Well, this mountain don't belong to me, it's true. But it don't belong to the Washingtons. This mountain belongs to the Wendigo."

"What the hell's a Wendigo?" Mike asked.

"Let's hear him out." Sam suggested.

"Not like we have a choice." Mike replied.

"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..."

"See? I told you! He's guilty as shit! Guilty of something!" Mike exclaimed.

"Shut up Mike." Cassidy snapped, he turned to her in a look of shock, but remained silent.

"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." The Stranger continued.

"Oh Crap." Mike whispered as if he remembered something.

"You're going to need to find somewhere safe." The Stranger told the group.

"The basement might be okay..." Cassidy suggested.

"Okay. Get down there, now. All of you. And wait." He said.

"What? Why? For how long?" Sam asked.

"Until dawn." Emily answered.

"Guys... I ran off and left Josh when I heard screaming." Mike mentioned.

"Where did you leave him?" The Stranger asked Mike.

"In the shed..." Mike answered.

"Your friend will already be dead." The Stranger said, not sugarcoating at all.

"No... No he can't be... We were just with him!" Chris exclaimed.

"A lot can happen quickly on this mountain." The Stranger said.

"No. I'm gonna go get him." Chris stated as he stood up.

"You can't go out there, Chris!" Ashley tried to get him to change his mind.

"I'm supposed to be his best friend and I let him down." Chris told her.

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

Chris shook his head, "I don't care. I'm going to get him."

"Then I'll go with you." The Stranger declared.

"I don't need your help." Chris dismissed.

"Going alone is suicide." The Stranger pointed out.

"Fine." Chris reluctantly agreed.

"The rest of you - get down to the basement. Be safe. Don't go outside again until we're back." The Stranger ordered the rest as Chris and him slowly walk towards an exit to go get Josh.

4:47 am

Mike and Ashley rush into the basement, who were joined by Chris. No Josh and No stranger.

"Oh my God! Guys! Thank God!" Emily said.

"What took you so long?" Sam asked.

"It's not so good up there right now." Chris mumbled.

"Understatement of the night." Cassidy grumbled.

"Chris, where's the flamethrower guy?" Sam asked.

"Ah yeah, he uh..." Chris trailed off, making everyone assume the worst.

"He didn't make it!?" Ashley assumed.

"Oh no!" Emily let out a sob.

"What happened?" Sam asked.

"The thing, it... it tore him apart! Right in front of me!" Chris answered.

"Oh God..." Cassidy whispered, shaking her head.

Mike shook his head, not having the time for this. "Alright. These all the doors?" He asked.

"Yeah." Sam answered as he walked around observing.

"Are you sure?" He asked again.

"What are you looking for?" Cassidy asked him.

Mike glanced at her, "Another way out."

"Mike... I really don't think that's a good idea. We should stay put, right here, until dawn. At least we're safe down here-" Sam tried to tell him but Mike cuts her off.

"Oh? Yeah? All wrapped like a little present with a bow on top for that thing to tear us apart on Christmas morning?" He told her, not wanting to stay on this mountain any second.

"People will come for us. In the morning." Sam told him, a little hesitation in her voice.

"You don't sound so sure." Mike commented.

"That's what'll happen, right Em?" Sam said turning to Emily.

"Yeah, I mean... right?" Emily said, also not sounding sure.

"Well, you can wait, I'm leaving!" Mike said as he went to leave.

"Mike, there's no key for the cable car." Emily told him.

"Josh. He's gotta have it." Mike thought with a snap of his fingers.

"Josh?" Sam questioned.

"One of his dirty little tricks." Mike added.

"Great. Great!" Cassidy exclaimed.

"If that fucking thing got a hold of Josh, then... we're shit outta luck." Mike mentioned.

"I don't know, Mike, it's possible..." Emily began.

"What's possible?" Sam pushed.

"It may have taken him down to the mine." Emily finished.

"What?" Miked questioned at her as she slowly walked up to a near by table.

"I saw some horrible stuff down there... I think it's where that thing lives and... ...huh." Emily didn't finish as she got sidetracked by the Strangers belongings.

"Fuck it. I'm gonna get that key. Right from thing's goddamned bedroom, and then I'm gonna get us all the hell out of here." Mike said.

"Em, what is all that?" Cassidy questioned as she walked up right next to her.

"It's that old guy's bag." Emily answered.

"Is that a map?" Mike questioned.

"The guy was prepared for anything and everything." Cassidy pointed out.

"Not quite." Mike mumbled, at the thought of the guy now dead.

"What is this place?" Emily asked as she pointed at one part of the map.

"Oh my God," Mike let out. "I was down there. It was horrible."

"You were?" Sam asked.

"There have been a cave-in. In the fifties, I guess, and these miners got trapped down there. Some of them survived, but like... fifteen of 'em didn't make it. There was this reporter and I think he figured out there had been some, like, big cover-up going on. I found these plans - they knew the mines was a death trap, but they let the miners keep working anyway. And... I'm not sure what it means, but... I found this chair, with dried blood all over the place... like somebody'd been tortured." Mike explained all that he saw.

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

"I'm just saying it's weird how much crazy shit's gone up here." Mike pointed out.

"What's weird is there's a tunnel leading from the lodge to the Sanatorium, see?" Emily said as she pointed at the map.

"That's how I got back here. Where I ran into Cass." Mike said as he glanced at the girl who kept looking at the stuff.

"I saw this when I was down there. That's where it lives."

Ashley soon walked up but quickly stopped and backed away from Emily. "Em what is that?!"

"Ash," Emily said, her hand landing on her shoulder.

"Em... oh my God oh my God oh my God! Oh no, oh no, oh no!" She started to freak out.

"It's nothing, it bit me and-" Emily tried to calm her down.

"It bit you? What bit you?" Ashley questioned.

"The ah... the Wendigo." Emily revealed.

"The what?" Mike questioned in disbelief.

"It's nothing, really, it's not a big deal-" Emily tried to brush it off.

"You okay?" Cassidy asked her.

"Shit." Mike swore.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. Really. It's not that bad." Emily added.

"Em... If that thing bit you..." Mike started.

"I know what you're thinking, and I'm fine..." Emily reassured him.

"Are you?" Mike asked.

"Yes!" Emily exclaimed.

"Emily, at least let us check it out." Cassidy told the girl.

"Emily, if the Wendigo bit you... You could turn into one of those things." Mike told her.

"Oh that's ridiculous!" Sam scoffed.

"He said it was from eating each other, remember he said that!"

"Wait is that how it worked?" Sam asked.

"Yes! It happens if it bit you, you're gonna turn into one and then you're gonna turn on us oh my God oh my God oh my God!"

"You can't be down here with us." Mike told her.

Mike and Emily started to argue about Emily leaving the safe room. Ashley and Chris, agreed with Mike, while Sam and Cassidy thought this was crazy.

"Door's right here. I am letting you do this voluntarily." Mike said.

"Oh no you're just making yourself feel better about sending me to my death since you know there's a Wendigo out there rip me to pieces like it did with-" Emily was interrupted.

"Oh my God will you just go! Go, get out of here!" Ashley yelled at her.

"Ashley, just shut the fuck up for once in your life!" Cassidy spat back.

Mike walked towards the table and picked up the gun, pointing it at her. Emily started to back away, panicking in fear that Mike would actually shoot her. A surge of bravery flew through Cassidy as she quickly shielded Emily from Mike's gun.

"Cassidy, move." He demanded.

"No, no stop it! You can't shoot her Mike, just think! The guy said that one turns into a Wendigo if they eat human flesh!" Cassidy tried to reason with him. Mike inched the gun lower, not actually aiming it at Cassidy. Not wanting to shoot her.

"What are you doing, Mike!" Ashley questioned. "Shoot her!"

Cassidy glared daggers at Ashley, at the thought of her just wanting to kill the two off.

Mike then without hesitation put the gun back down on the table. "Keep an eye on her. If you see anything weird... you guys know what to do." Mike told them.

"Yeah." Ashley mumbled.

"No one leave. Okay? It's not safe out there. I'll be back soon." Mike said as he turned to leave the basement.

"I'm coming with you and don't even try to tell me otherwise Michael." Cassidy stepped forwards.

Mike sighed as he wiped his face with his hands. He reluctantly nodded.

"Of course, you're leaving," Ashley spat out, glaring at the blonde. "You just don't want to be here when Emily turns."

"Shut up, Ashley, What if you had been bitten? Would you want Mike to shoot you?" Cassidy countered, getting in her face. Ashley scoffed before backing off. "Come on, Mike."

   "Okay, just stick close to me, alright?" he said as he started to head to the exit.

But before Cassidy could walk, Emily stopped her, by pulling Cassidy into a tight hug, the blonde returned it instantly. "Thank you," she whispered, before pulling away. Cassidy nodded at her and then looked at everyone's worn out faces Before following closely behind Mike, slowly grabbing the gun from the table, knowing they were going to need it.

STATUS UPDATE

CHARACTER TRAITS
HONEST -  8/10
CHARITABLE - 6/10  ↑
FUNNY - 3/10
BRAVE - 8/10 ↑
ROMANTIC - 3/10
CURIOUS - 10/10

RELATIONSHIP STATUS
ASHLEY - 2/10  ↓
CHRIS - 8/10
EMILY - 8/10  ↑
JESS - 2/10 —
JOSH - 2/10
MATT - 6/10 —
MIKE - 5/10 ↓
SAM - 9/10