𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐏 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑 𝐓 𝐇 𝐑 𝐄 𝐄
ᴀɢᴀɪɴ

SHILOH'S MASK quickly made its way back onto her face, the stains from her tears freezing in the frigid air. She looked devastated, like the entire world had been ripped from beneath her feet—again.

Matt and Emily saw her approaching, looking over the shoulders of their rambling friends. Chris and Ashley had explained what had happened in broken sentences, the few coherent pieces creating an unbelievable puzzle for the couple.

Emily jogged over to the brunette, eyes glistening with concern as she gently placed her hands on her shoulders. "Shy, you're okay. What happened? Chris and Ash said something about a maniac, a-and Josh being dead—"

"They're telling the truth," she whispered, her voice breaking as she met the ravenette's eyes. "I-I saw everything... Josh, he—fuck—he got sawed in half, Em." She cried, blurry vision finding their blond friend over her shoulder. "Chris had to choose—Ashley or Josh—and... he chose her."

Emily widened her eyes in shock, glancing over to the sorrowful pair behind them. She looked back to Shiloh, eyes burning with unshed tears. "Is it—uh—is it okay if I hug you?"

Shiloh appreciated that she had asked, nodding weakly as she let the girl embrace her. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Emily and sobbed into her shoulder; her knees felt as if they were going to give out any moment, but Emily didn't let go as she gently lowered to the ground with her exes sister.

Matt found his girlfriend's figure, breath stopping at the sight of Shiloh. He doubted Chris and Ashley's broken explanation, believing that they were just having a really bad trip on something... until he saw the Munroe girl's devastation with his own eyes.

The athlete jogged over, embracing her alongside Emily. Chris and Ashley followed him, both shivering from a mixture of fear and cold; the blond wanted to say something, and looked as if he were about to, but paused when he saw the hatred twinkling in his friend's eyes.

He didn't know why he'd chosen Ashley over Josh, why he'd valued her over his best friend since third grade. He and Josh had been through everything together, they'd become like brothers... until Beth and Hannah disappeared.

Chris felt horrible for not being there for Josh as much as he should've been, guilt slowly eating away at his heart for prioritizing his feelings for the beanie-clad girl beside him.

And now, because of that, Josh's blood was on his hands.

Just like Hannah and Beth's were on the rest of the groups.

That was the point of rigging the saw, of making him believe he'd just slaughtered his best friend. Shiloh and Josh felt as if he could never understand their pain, so they'd decided to make him understand everyone else's. The feeling, the tormenting devastation, of knowing you'd caused something horrible to happen to your friends would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Or, in this case, the rest of his night.

Shiloh's sobs faded into mere sniffles, releasing herself from her friends' embrace and allowing them to help her to her feet. She stomped over to Chris, pain evident on her face, and delivered a crisp slap to his cheek. "Hope you're happy you didn't blow your shot of getting your dick wet, Christopher."

Her words were barely a whisper, low enough that only he could hear them; he couldn't bring himself to look into her eyes, ignoring the cry Ashley released when the brunette had slapped him. He deserved it—he knew that.

Matt and Emily reapproached, gently pulling Shiloh away from the blond. "This is insane. We need to go get some help," Emily breathed, struggling to process her what her friends had just gone through. She looked to her boyfriend, eyes glassy, "Matt, we need to go get help now."

Even though the boy clearly agreed, he tilted his head slightly in protest. "Em, we should look for the others—"

"Mike and Jess are off 69'ing each other, and who knows where Sam is—"

Shiloh widened her eyes, stepping forward. "She's still in the lodge. Look, I'll go find her and the others. You two go find help."

"Shy—" Emily tried to protest, but was quickly cut off by the brunette.

"Go." Her obsidian gaze landed on Chris and Ashley, "You two... Do whatever. I don't care."

Chris frowned, "Shy, I'm so sorry."

"Not the time, or the place." She deadpanned, lifting her hand to silence him. "Bring Ashley to the lodge and make sure she's okay, since that seems to be all you care about."

He deflated, nodding his head silently. Everyone knew how inescapable her grudges were, it's one of the few things that she and her brother had in common. Shiloh ran ahead of them to the lodge, the others lagging behind to tell Matt and Emily to be safe as they made their departure.

The interior of the lodge seemed more haunting than it was when they'd arrived, the fire providing her nothing beyond an escape from the frigid temperatures outside. She knew Sam was still in the bath, that girl could soak in that tub until sunrise—and she couldn't blame her, either. She could only ever wish to reach that level of relaxation.

She snuck into the surveillance room, one of the screens catching her eye. Josh was walking down the hall from the bathroom, Sam's clothes in his arms as he went to hide them; she smirked, poking her head out of the hidden room to ensure that Chris and Ashley hadn't arrived yet.

Shiloh made her way to meet up with Josh, pulling her hickory hair into a high ponytail as she heard his footsteps coming down the stairs. When he'd reached the bottom of the staircase, he was greeted by her sickeningly sweet smile—one only he could see the darkness behind, and it only pulled him closer to her, lured in by the darkness they shared.

"Please don't kill me, Mr. Psycho." She chirped, doe eyes wide with mischief as she tweaked the Scream quote. "I wanna be in the sequel!"

Josh smirked under the mask, stepping aside and motioning upstairs. "Ready for the next act, Miss Munroe?"

Shiloh chuckled, stepping past him. "Don't actually knock me out this time," she whisper-shouted. "I can just follow you. Chris and Ashley are on their way, so we've gotta make this quick and having to carry me and Sam wouldn't be the best way to do that."

He nodded, "Got it. Come on, let's speed this up."

The girl smirked at him over her shoulder as she made her ascent, "So bossy."

"Brat."

"You love me," she joked. "Remember?"

Before he could respond, Shiloh darted for the bathroom, her fearful and devastated facade returning quicker than she could blink. She banged on the bathroom door, pretending to panic, until Samantha Giddings opened it—wrapped in a towel. "Sam! Oh, thank God!"

The blonde looked concerned, eyebrows furrowed as she clutched her towel to her chest. "Shy, what's wrong?"

"Josh, he's—holy fuck—he's dead, Sam." She hurriedly said, her voice cracking. "There was this... psycho. He knocked us out and took Ash and Josh, and—and—Chris had to choose who to save—" Sam widened her eyes at the sudden flood of information, allowing Shiloh to pull her down the hall. "We've gotta get out of here."

They made their way down the stairs, reaching the bottom floor with urgency. Shiloh grabbed a nearby flashlight, illuminating their path as they entered one of the lodge's many rooms. Sam gasped when they entered, a projector whirring startling the two as the wall lit up with the film.

Shiloh's blood ran cold, knowing what she was about to watch all over again. The doors slammed behind them, earning a scream from both girls, as the psycho's voice echoed through the room.

"Hello Samantha... Shiloh..." It greeted, causing the blonde to look around frantically. "Looking for me? I don't think you'll have much luck by looking, Samantha. Shiloh can confirm, that you won't find me. I'll find you. You're only going to see what I want you to see... and I have quite a lot to show you."

"What?" She muttered, turning to the projection, "Shy, what is going on?"

"Open your eyes." He echoed.

The brunette gulped, eyes blown with fear for seemingly the millionth time that night. She was beginning to get a headache from all this acting, discovering a newfound respect for horror movie actors. "Sam..." She pointed to the film, "That's—"

It was a video of Sam in the bath, bobbing her head alongside the beat of whatever she'd been playing in her headphones. The blonde gasped, "Oh, my God."

"She's quite... beautiful, isn't she? A beautiful bathing bird."

Shiloh shivered, slightly concerned by how convincing of a creep her best friend made. This was all an act of revenge, to show them the terror she, Hannah, and Beth had felt the year prior. After more therapy, she was going to suggest that he pursue an acting career.

"How—why—why did you—"

"Do you think she has any idea what lies ahead? Do you think these were the last happy moments of this creature's life?"

Sam shook her head, "Why are you showing this to me?"

"Why are you watching?" He countered, before changing the film to his recording of the shed. The blonde gasped, calling Josh's name, while Shiloh released a small cry at having to witness this—again. "Oh, my God! What did you do?"

"I'm going to give you ten seconds..."

The girls began to freak out, both of them repetitively yelling 'no' as they searched for a way out.

When he'd reached one, the psycho slung open the doors, catching Shiloh's eye quickly; she gasped, her grip on Sam's hand tightening. "Sam... that's... run!"

Sam didn't listen right away, instead grabbing a vase and launching it at the man. He braced himself, blocking his mask, and allowing Sam and Shiloh to get a head start. The girls ran to a side door, pushing it open and barreling down the hallway with terrified expressions; they reached another door, swinging it open and quickly shutting it behind them.

They entered a bedroom, the haunting echo of his footsteps growing closer; Shiloh grabbed Sam's wrist, pulling her over the bed, and dragging her further away down a nearby hall. A separate entrance to the basement called from below them, and even though neither girl wanted to enter, they knew they had no other choice.

The girls sprinted down the stairs, Sam still clutching her towel to her chest as they ran through the labyrinth that resided below the lodge. They reached a turn, she and Shiloh sharing a quick nod of agreement; the blonde hid behind a nearby wall, the Munroe girl sprinting down the hall as loudly as she could.

Shiloh halted once she was out of sight, watching from the darkness as the psycho pretended to search for her, taunting Sam and increasing her terror for just a little bit longer. She heard him grab the blonde, but knew well of Sam's resilience. She continued to run further down the hall, slower this time to increase the girl's chance of catching up to her.

She was proven right to do so when she heard a wooden bat crack alongside the man's skull. The shine of the flashlight quickly reached her, the blonde barreling toward her. "Shy!"

The hall ended at door, one without a handle, and the girls quickly pulled down a nearby shelf to separate them and the psychopath. Sam quickly found the doorknob, putting it back in place, and flying through the door. Shiloh locked it as the blonde shut the small opening near the lock.

The brunette grabbed her friend's wrist, gently pulling her further into the abyss. They came upon, yet, another locked door; slamming their bodies against it, it flew open and sent them both to the ground.

Shiloh was surprised to see that Sam's towel hadn't budged, still wrapped tightly around her. She internally snorted at how her luck definitely wouldn't have been the same if the roles were reversed. "You okay?"

The blonde nodded, "Yeah, just hit my head. C'mon. Let's go."

They turned the corner, running down the hall. When they reached the doorway, the psycho leapt from the debris and held a mask to the blonde's face—chloroform seeped into her lungs, knocking her out cold.

Shiloh stood with her arms crossed, looking at her best friend with feigned irritation. "Why'd she get the chloroform and I got the board?"

Josh shrugged, chuckling as he tossed their friend over his shoulder and removed his mask. "You wanted it to be realistic."

"Chloroform's realistic," she bantered, following behind him as he made his way to where they planned to keep Sam. "Why'd I have to get the concussion?"

The man chuckled, shaking his head at her words. "Thank you, Shy, for helping me with this."

She smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder that wasn't occupied by their unconscious blonde friend. "I'd do anything for you, Josh."

"That was some great acting in the shed, by the way." He commented, blue-green eyes finding her brown ones in the dimly lit tunnels. "I mean—wow. If I didn't know better, I'd actually think you loved me."

Her heart sank. She wasn't acting, not even slightly, when those words left her lips. He thought she was just playing the part? Really? She knew she was convincing but, Jesus Christ, not that convincing.

Shiloh just nodded, her smile growing tight as her eyes focused ahead of them. "Really, now?"

"Oscar worthy." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes this time. He noticed her change in demeanor—how could he not? They'd been practically glued to one another for the past year; he had a room at her place, clothes in the spare dresser—hell, he'd even left his Xbox there because he was over so much. She'd become his safe haven.

He hadn't been acting when he'd confessed, wanting to see her reaction; when he saw it, he had hoped that maybe—just maybe—she wasn't acting either... but then reality set in. They weren't actually in a life or death situation, confessing their feelings in some heat-of-the-moment act to make his final moments meaningful.

They were performing a twisted act of revenge, striking fear into their 'friends' hearts, making them believe in a world that they created.

They were best friends, partners in crime—nothing more.

So, he'd just assumed she was playing along to increase Chris' guilt.

"You were pretty convincing, too." She chimed, her tone light. "Chris and Ashley actually fell for it. You should've seen their faces when we left the shed!" She laughed, "I played the heartbroken role so well! I even slapped him for choosing Ashley."

Josh laughed, the sound echoing slightly through the tunnels. "No way! Damn, I would've paid to see that shit show."

When they arrived at the temporary holding cell, the blue eyed man was quick to tie Sam up; Shiloh sighed, holding her wrists behind her expectantly. Josh glanced up at her, a smirk etching onto his lips. "Didn't think you were into that, Shy."

She rolled her eyes, a playful smile on her lips as she heard him approach. "Maybe you don't know me as well as you think, Josh."

"I practically live at your place. I think I know a decent amount."

"And what do you think I do when you're not there?" She retorted, smiling as she heard his breath hitch slightly. They'd always done this—teased one another, playfully flirted, shamelessly made jokes about the thought of them being something more. "Sit and wait for you to come back?"

The man cleared his throat, tightening the knot around her wrists and stepping around her, coming face-to-face with her shit eating grin. "You don't wanna know what I think you do." Their expressions had switched; Shiloh now flustered, Josh smirking triumphantly. He chuckled, poking her cheek lightly to inform her of the blush creeping into sight. "That's cute."

With no other rebuttal, she decided to take the leap. Maybe he'd just think she was playing around—acting—like he'd assumed about the shed? Standing on her tip toes, her ponytail swaying with her movements, she placed a quick peck to his cheek.

Josh's eyes widened, his smirk remaining in place. When she got back to her feet, and their eyes met, she knew this wasn't going to go how she'd planned. A typhoon of emotions, complex in every sense, swirled through his steely blue irises. She could see her reflection in his pupils, his heavy gaze making her breath hitch.

After glancing over to Sam to ensure she was still unconscious, he swiftly pulled Shiloh closer to him, hands warm on her waist as she stared wide-eyed up at him. He lowered his head, lips hovering next to her ear, before whispering. "Before I go, just know—it wasn't acting for me, Shy."

With that, he left her there with Sam—flustered and mind utterly spiraling.

❆

It wasn't long before Sam woke up, blue eyes panicked as they landed on Shiloh's slouched form. Questions buzzed through her mind like a colony of bees. He'd gotten her, too? How long have they been here? Why hadn't she escaped yet? Was she okay?

"Shy." She whispered, catching the girl's tired gaze. She looked utterly exhausted—her eyes smudged with mascara, dried blood staining her hairline, her jacket hanging slightly off her shoulders. She looked so fragile, and Sam felt as if she were getting flashbacks from the previous year. "Are you okay?"

The brunette released a dry laugh, throwing her head back and wincing when it met the wall. "Define okay?"

The blonde nodded, chewing her bottom lip in thought. She was freezing—why had the psycho taken her clothes?

They were somewhere in the basement, trapped in a room with no knowledge on the wellbeing of their friends. Were they alive? Had the psycho found Mike, Jess, Emily, and Matt yet? Would they survive this?

A whispered voice echoed through a nearby vent, widening both girls eyes as they snapped their heads to it. "Sam! Shiloh!"

The brunette almost groaned as her obsidian gaze met that of her twin brother. Mike looked like utter hell, and she'd wondered what he'd dealt with in his time at the cabin; his face was wrecked, blood and dirt staining his skin and making him appear like he'd just teleported from a warzone.

"Mike?" They whispered in unison, before the older Munroe twin continued.

"Sam, get over here!"

Shiloh deadpanned at her brother, jumping in her spot to show that they were tied up. Her feet were loose, something she'd been thankful that Sam hadn't noticed, and she'd tried to kick Mike through the vent. "Sorry bro, our hands are tied."

The brunette rolled his eyes, before their blonde friend rolled her chair over to them. She went ahead of Shiloh, lowering her wrists above the opening as the clicking of a Zippo lighter echoed through the silence; Mike burned away her restraints, looking to his sister expectantly as Sam worked on untying her feet.

Reluctantly, the girl held her arms out behind her. She was still infuriated with her brother—and now that anger only intensified. He wasn't supposed to be down here, wasn't supposed to find them. He was going to ruin everything.

"Where's your lil' trophy wife?" She asked, her tone mocking as she stretched her arms out in front of her. His silence worried her, the growling that had haunted her nightmares echoing in the back of her head. She looked at him, gaze more sincere this time. "Mike? What happened to Jessica?"

"Jessica is dead." He whispered, eyes unable to meet hers as the words fell from his cracked lips. "He killed her, Shy. There's some maniac on the mountain who's trying to kill us. All of us. And, I swear to God, when everyone is safe and accounted for, I am going to hunt that fucker down and rip his nuts off—one at a God damn time."

She stayed silent, eyes wide at the information he'd just dumped upon them. This couldn't be happening, not again—this night was supposed to go smoothly, and it had been up until this point. Josh didn't hurt Jessica—he couldn't have, he'd been at the lodge with her and the others the whole time.

Sam chimed into the conversation, crouched by the vent beside Shiloh. "Listen... This guy you're talking about... he attacked us. He showed us these videos, too, and one of them showed Josh being killed—"

"What?" His eyes darted to his sister, heart cracking slightly at the devastation her face held. She wouldn't look at him—she couldn't. "Shy, are you—fuck—are you okay?"

She shook her head, "I was there." Her voice was quiet, her tone numb as she continued, "It was me, Chris, and Ash... He took Ashley and Josh hostage and made Chris choose who to save... Guess he prioritized his chance of getting his dick wet." She finished with a shrug.

Mike felt guilty—for leaving her there, for running off with Jess for that same exact reason. It was his job as Shiloh's older brother to protect her, and he'd never once succeeded at or prioritized that task.

He lowered his head, "I'm so sorry, Shy... For everything. I should've been there—"

"It's fine." She cut him off, "Let's just focus on getting out of here. Apologies can wait."

Michael Munroe nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. "Okay. There's a door over here, it won't open. Can you guys unlock it from your side?"

The girls nodded, Sam hesitantly grabbing the backpack that hung from the knob and pulling a flashlight from it. Josh knew that they'd get out, and he knew that Sam would want some clothes to wear for the trip back into the lodge.

They opened the door to their makeshift holding cell, rounding the corner to unlock the other door for Mike. When they came face-to-face with the brunette, he'd taken Shiloh by surprise—pulling her into a hug, one that revealed his relief that she was okay.

"Jeez, you look like hell." Sam commented from behind the twins, causing them to let one another go.

Shiloh chuckled, "Yeah, well, I don't look much better."

— b speaks!

i realized while writing this chapter that there are so many fucking locked doors in the lodge????

like bro????????

do you know how much of a bitch that was to write without it being the exact same sentence over and over again????????????

my fucking brain and wrists hurt.

comments are greatly appreciated cause wattpad has some hidden comedic talent in these comment sections sometimes (i like laughing at reactions and replyin to them, sue me).

this chapter was slightly shorter than the others, but i hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. i'm going to bed (it's 7 AM kill me) so i'll deal with any typos or errors when i wake up.