I feel like Josh deserves a better ending. And that Chris and Sam's compassionate traits aren't shown as strongly as I would expect it. But Idunno, just my opinion I guess. Anyways... So, what if they did go back for Josh and succeeded? Will they all make it? Or, will someone sacrifice themselves to ensure everyone else's safety?

This is my first fanfic. Read and comment!

(Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.)

"Monsters exist everywhere we go. They live here, in our minds."

Fear.

Anxiety.

Instability.

Each were feeling the full wrath of these emotions. Did Hannah and Beth feel these same emotions before their deaths?

'If only...'

These two words held so much power over their minds and hearts - no one deserved to live through this kind of hell. No one... Especially their friend Josh. Even though he made three of his friends go through hell that night as revenge for what his sisters had gone through; an elaborate prank that caused so much tension, paranoia and trauma - especially for Chris and Ashley...

But most of the group was back together; except for Josh.

Sam felt the overwhelming weight of guilt crushing at her heart. She knew Josh had gone through hell since his sister's disappearance. His depression, guilt and self-loathing created a hellish world that constantly ate away at his sanity to the point where reality and his imagination blurred into one living nightmare he couldn't escape from. If anyone should survive this hell, it should be him...

She needed to save him...

Looking back at everyone else; Chris protectively hugged Ashley as she cried into his shoulder. Emily hugged herself, trying to ignore the situation, rocking herself back and forth, eyes shut tightly. Matt kept his distance by sitting in the corner shaking his head since Emily attempted to maul him for abandoning her. He argued that he tried his best to save her, of course, she wouldn't hear him out... Jess looked so distant, numb and broken from the hell she endured as Mike tried his best to be comforting to her by keeping his arms around her, rocking her softly. Mike didn't look to well but he tried to be strong for Jessica's sake...

Sam just looked down at her feet... No one was there for Josh; dead or alive, he was all alone...

Just like Hannah and Beth were...

Shaking her head, shutting her eyes, she decided right then and there she would go back for him. Dead or alive. She won't leave him there alone.

"I'm going back for him..." She whispered softly.

Everyone looked at her bewildredly. "What? Are you serious Sam?" Chris questioned her.

"Are you insane?!" Matt added in.

"No. You are not leaving here. We're not going to lose you too Sam." Mike ordered. He still held Jess closely, but sternly looked at the athletic dirty blonde, who was the least beat up out of the group. She glared at him.

"So, we're just going to leave him down there?" She scoffed. "He's gone through enough hell after losing Hannah and Beth. Yeah, so what he was a jerk for pulling that prank. No one deserves to die in those mines, let alone be killed by those monsters. Especially him." She wasn't going to back down. Once she had her mind set on something, she was going to achieve it, regardless of the circumstances.

Ashley began to sob even more. "But we can't lose you Sam! You'll die out there!"

"Those things will rip you to shreds! Don't be an idiot Sam!" Emily pitched in.

Sam just shook her head. "I don't care. If I die, at least he won't die alone. And he's been alone enough as it is."

Everyone grew silent. It was true, after the incident last year, Josh isolated himself from everyone, even from Sam for a while as he fell further and further into madness. His own parents barely paid much attention since they tried to avoid their home as much as possible, leaving their only surviving offspring to fend for himself from his own delusions and consuming emotions. Even seeing the psychopathologist didn't seem to be helping.

Sam walked over to the desk and grabbed the gun Mike had used to fend himself with while in the Sanatorium. Mike painfully grabbed at her wrist. "You're NOT leaving this safe room! He's not worth it!"

Sam glared up at Mike through her lashes, sending shivers down the man's spine but he did his best to mask the emotion. "He's worth it to me, Mike."

Her voice was laced with venom and malice, daring him to try and stop her. She may look frail, but he knew this girl could handle herself. "You don't need to get yourself killed trying to save that psycho!"

Chris scowled and sighed, hugging Ashley even tighter. "She's right... Someone needs to save him." He looked at Sam with worry and determination. "I'm his best friend... I'm going with you Sam."

"WHAT?! No! Chris! Please don't do this! Please please please Chris..." She sobbed into his chest as he held her tight. Sam could see the blonde haired boy was feeling torn about this. "You don't need to come with me Chris. I think I can manage on my own."

"No... No, I'm his best friend. I'm going with you Sam. Besides, he's off his meds, remember? If he's alive down there, he'll most likely be having a mental episode." Chris tried to let go of Ashley but the redhead just hung onto him tightly, preventing him from leaving her side. "Don't I matter to you!? Please please please please - oh god Chris, don't go!" She continued to sob hysterically into his chest but he felt he owed Josh since he was his best friend. And he wasn't going to have Sam go alone, he cared about her too much - like a little sister.

Just like Beth and Hannah was to Josh... I get it now...

He took in a deep breath, softly grabbed Ashley's chin and made her look up at him in the eyes. Light blue met tearful amber brown. "Ashley, I HAVE to do this. If I don't come back, I want you to know that... That..." He crashed his lips onto hers pouring all of his emotions into that one kiss. He pulled back, looking into her surprised wide eyed brown orbs. "I love you Ash, and I'm sorry... But I have to go." Ashley just shut her eyes and cried.

Chris turned away, trying hard to block out her cries but was failing miserably. Mike let go of Sam's wrist and just sighed. "You both better not die saving that son of a bitch." Sam just rolled her eyes. "We'll try our best not to captain." Giving him a mock salute. Turning to the blonde man, she gave him a sad smile. "You don't have to do this, Chris."

He looked down and shook his head. "I know. But I'm doing this for Josh. You were right, he doesn't deserve this. Even after that traumatic prank he pulled on us. He's an asshole, but he's my bro..." Sam couldn't help but give him a sincere smile. "You're definitely his best friend." Chris returned her sincere smile with one of his own, despite the life threatening situation they were putting themselves through. Mike cleared his throat, grabbing the two blondes attention.

"You know you're gunna need some fire power in order to kill those things..."

Sam shook her head in agreement. "Yeah, we do, don't we? We'll get some supplies from upstairs then." Mike shook his head and just went back to protectively cuddling Jessica, who quietly, but supportively spoke out. "Just... Be careful..." She gave them a weak smile, which was a bit of a struggle for her since her face was so bruised and bloodied... Sam and Chris gave her a reassuring nod and turned to leave the safe room.

Once they disappeared from their sights, they all silently prayed they would all survive this hell till dawn...

"You know Chris, you can still turn back." Sam reminded himas she packed her bag with necessities. He just looked at her, as tempting at it was to go back, he knew he couldn't. "I already said I would go. I can't back out now and make myself look like a pussy now." He remarked. Sam just smiled at him and shook her head.

Men.

She looked down at her hands, which held a spray can. Sam felt the fear bubble up inside her but choked it back down. She wasn't going to abandon him, not now... Chris gripped her shoulder. "You're not planning what I think you're planning..." She looked up at him and gave him a sad smile. "If shit hits the fan, one of us needs to make sure to keep the wendigoes distracted." Chris grimaced. "Sam, please don-" She wasn't going to hear any of it. "I know you're looking out for me, but I can handle myself. You know that. Whatever happens, make sure Josh makes it back. Okay?" Her firey blue eyes pleaded with him. Chris sighed and shook his head in defeat. "Okay... Okay." Sam smiled.

Chris made sure to reload the shotgun the Stranger had lend to him, before he was killed by the wendigo. Sam did the same with the handgun she took from downstairs as they stood at the doorway.

Breathe in.
Breathe out.

"No turning back now..."

Sam opened the door as the wind ominously blew at them. They could hear the screeching of the wendigoes, howling in the dark snowy woods, reminding them that the danger was real.

"Hold up you two."

Chris and Sam turned back and saw Mike standing by the stairs, shaking his head. "I'm going with you two."

"Mike..."

"Sam. I'm going. Now, let's go save that fucked up son of a bitch."