Let it be noted that in this story every character survived except Josh, who turned into a wendigo.

5 March, 2015

Dearest Psychiatrists and Esteemed Psychologists,

We have been presented with a rare opportunity that will allow us to study the effects of severe stress on the human brain in a way that has never been researched before. We have seven new patients we are studying very closely currently. As of the famous rescue of the "Washington Manor Incident" the survivors have been staying in a secure location for therapy and interrogation to discover what happened on February 3rd, 2015. I propose that we rebuild the Washington Manor using a mere fraction of the research funds we have, and send the survivors out to the manor again. I have already been approved and will be conducting an experiment to further my research on mental illness.

I predict that by sending these men and women out to experience the trauma that they faced will either cause them to see reality, realize that these "wendigos" do not exist, or they will indulge into their delusions even more and allow us researchers to study the effect.

I am looking for a team of professors and psychiatrists to help with my research. This research could potentially help treat PTSD and other similar psychological problems. The reconstruction on the manor will be completed by January 1st, 2016, and the subjects will be sent out to the manor on February 3rd, 2016. Until then, they will continue to live under the supervision of my team and myself. Please send note of your answer in the involvement of this study.

-Dr. Sophia M. Bennett

Dr. Hill scrolled through the email for the fifth time, still unable to comprehend what he was reading. The Washington Manor Incident had killed one of his patients and had caused real harm to the young men and women who were in the manor with him. What kind of person would be willing to conduct such forbidden research on innocent people, barely able to be called adults? Sophia Bennett. He knew the psychologist from medical school when he had went, years ago. She had a few classes with him. The two of them remained in contact after medical school because of research they had worked together on. She had used data from some of his patients, though he kept the identity of the individuals anonymous, and developed interesting hypothesis from the information about mental illnesses and mental disorders. Still, she had suggested taking her research further, administering pain to different patients and taking note of how they reacted. Naturally, he declined, but it bothered him that Dr. Bennett would even dream up a possibility like that.

"I have been approved and will be conducting an experiment to further me research on mental illness." An experiment like this was approved? How sadistic are psychologists becoming?

Dr. Hill started to type out an email of his own. He would not participate in a study like this, not when the subjects were the friends of one of his patients. He had heard so much about these different people that he felt as though he knew them himself. He knew about Chris, Josh's best friend, the one who would try to comfort him after his sisters died. He knew about Sam, the girl who had Hannah's best friend, who had turned to him once she was gone... the girl Josh wanted to be with. Dr. Hill could see it in Josh's eyes. Dr. Hill knew about Matt, Ashely, Jessica, Emily, and Mike. He knew about the ensemble of characters that were the friends in Josh's life. He wasn't sure how Josh died, but he feared the worst. Currently, Dr. Hill believed Josh committed suicide on the mountain. He doubted his friends would kill him. He knew the wedigos were not real. That had to be the only cause. It had to be. Anything else would be unfathomable.

Minutes after he pressed send a message had appeared back on his screen.

Dr. Hill,

I'm saddened to see that you will not be joining in this study. I would have thought you would have found it intriguing, seeing as it closely involves a particular patient of yours. It is possible that Joshua Washington is still alive. If he is, and you are not one of the psychiatrists involved in the study, I will not be able to let you continue to be his psychiatrist, or act as a psychiatrist to any of the others subjects. You would just have to wait until the paper is publish, and it is possible it will be years before that happens. You might never be able to read it. You're running out of time, aren't you Dr. Hill?

If you happen to change your mind, please let me know within the next hour or so. I do not have time to go and change my research habits just because you cannot make up your mind.

Thank you for your consideration.

-Dr. Sophia M. Bennett

Dr. Hill let out a sigh. It was true. He was running out of time. The cancer was starting to spread, and though it wasn't affecting the way he functioned, it was only a matter of time. The cancer was terminal, and he knew the treatments he was getting were only delaying the inevitable. He wanted to know what happened in this study. While he doubted Josh was alive, he wanted to be there if he was proven to be. He wanted to make sure Sophia wasn't cruel to the friends of his patient. So be it. He would join the study. He would join so sadistic practices would not befall the students. He would join to find out what happened to Josh. He would join to discover the truth. Maybe there was something in the mountains after all.

Dr. Bennett,

Your argument proved to be a strong one that worked quite effectively against me. I will join your study, however, I do have a few conditions that I will discuss with you at a future time. Forgive my initial denial at your invitation. I'm honored to have you consider me to be one of the psychiatrists in the study.

-Dr. Alan J. Hill