Chapter Text
He knew they wouldn’t believe him. He didn’t blame them. Who the hell would some kid claiming that it was not in fact, a man who killed all his friends, but a monster. A monster called a Wendigo, which was a monster made when someone on the mountain had to cannibalize a person. No one would especially believe the kid when they said that one of the Wendigo’s was one of the girls who had gone missing exactly a year before.
He knew all this before he even starting telling them. Chris wasn’t stupid, he knew that too, but after what he’d seen he was pretty sure his near immaculate grade point average meant less than nothing. He couldn’t help letting it all spill though - he was tired and the idea of hiding it was even more exhausting than dealing with the officer who thought he had a concussion. Chris had a plan though, the second he got on the rescue helicopter he knew what he was going to do.
The plan became more important to him when he heard them say it. He knew it was true, but he didn’t want to believe it.
“We haven’t recovered his body yet.”
Well. Okay then. Chris would.
It took awhile to get away from them all. Chris’ parents didn’t want to let him out of their sight after they got back and the police had kept their eye on him too. He had a feeling that they thought he was dangerous. Or just completely off his rocker. He didn’t blame them.
Getting his equipment together is what took the longest. He knew he couldn’t just go without anything - and he had a pretty good idea on what he needed. Thanks to the stranger who saved their asses. Or his ass. Considering currently he was the only one still with an ass. If you told Chris a couple years back he’d be working with some less than questionable characters to acquire some definitely illegal equipment - he’d laugh. Because the only person who’d tell him that is Josh.
No Josh now.
He hid all the equipment at the end of cable car station. He was lucky his parents let him go down to the station now and then. They thought him going out there was his own way of coming to terms with what happened. They weren’t wrong. It was all safe there, the police closed it down and by the time Chris was gathering equipment they were down with their investigation.
There was just one last thing he had to do before he left. Which is what brought him to the front door of the Washington household. He’d been there a lot after Hannah and Beth the year before, and even more this year. They seemed to be the only ones who didn’t want to walk around him like glass, or spent the time with him talking to him in voices that made it obvious they didn’t believe a word he said. He loved his parents, but he wished they would talk to him like he was still there son at least one last time before he left.
It didn’t matter, he already said goodbye to them. Of course he said goodbye, but not when he’d be back. Which in this case, was never.
Chris was here to say goodbye to the Washington’s. They’d been good to him, ever since he had met Josh he might as well have been one of their kids. He was always over and god he can’t believe the bullshit they went through putting up with Josh and his shenanigans. It put a smile on his face as he knocked on the door.
He wish that smile could have stayed real when he was invited in. Into the living room he used to mess around in with Josh, Hannah and Beth. He spent awhile talking to them. It was nothing out of the ordinary, he was around a lot. Wanted to give as must of himself to them, considering they had no children left... He wasn’t a good replacement, but he could try.
A couple hours later he left. They had tried to get him to stay for dinner, but if he did. He didn’t think he’d have the resolve to leave anymore. So he said goodbye. He felt kind of guilty. Now he was leaving them too.
Chris wouldn’t lie, he was fucking terrified and thought he would probably get himself killed in a matter of days. Whatever, he couldn’t let things go the way they were now.
He had the cable car key. Nicked the spare from the Washington house. Anyone could guess where he was going. He left his car far away from the cable car though, last thing he needed was for the police to figure it out and drag his ass back home.
So up he went.
Chris was fucking proud of himself. It had been a few days, and he was still alive. He took up hiding out in the sanitarium. Part of it looked a little burnt up, but he'd found a still mostly in tact area to hole up in. A bunch of wolves were running around, scared the fuck out of him at first. He thought they were Wendigo. After awhile though, it was obvious they used to belong to the stranger - they were partially trained. The wolves were wary around him at first, but eventually they got used to him.
More importantly, Chris hadn’t died on his self appointed nightly patrols. Not even a sound, but he had eventually just gotten the feeling that the final explosion - God Bless you Mike... - had just frightened the rest back into the mines. He’d have to go down there soon and figure it out himself. Chris had a feeling he wasn’t good enough to capture them yet. Still, he didn't want to kill them. He just felt like it was, wrong. He didn't understand half of what the Wendigo were, wasn't going to pretend he did. All he knew was Hannah... It wasn't fair. He needed to do something, for her. For her and Beth.
First he needed to find a map of the mines. There had to be one around here somewhere. Maybe he could find something that stranger wrote, something that would help him understand. Beyond that, he'd have to see about fixing up where he assumed the stranger had been keeping them previously. At the very least, he could stop the Wendigo from hurting anyone.
He’d been searching the mines for a couple of days. Chris swore he heard things, but had found nothing yet, he was sure that there were still Wendigo’s around though. He wasn’t exactly sure what was worse. One of the wolves had taken to following him around down there lately, he’d named it Mike. A little morbid, but Mike loved dogs. He couldn’t help himself.
Today though, he swore he saw something. Even Mikey was growling. He didn’t go after it yet. Chris wasn’t sure he was ready for what it could be, and fuck did he have a damn good idea as to what it was.
“I’m really sorry,” he whispered.
Mikey wasn’t with him tonight, he had to do this himself. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t get himself killed.
“I shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have left you out in that shed.”
Chris was standing completely still, in the shadows. The creature hadn’t even noticed him yet. He managed to sneak up on it.
“I’m supposed to be your best friend, and when you needed me most. I left you. That’s my fault. This is my fault. I’m sorry.”
The sound of teeth ripping flesh was making him sick. But he had to do this right. He’d never forgive himself if he didn’t.
“God I’m sorry.But I’m going to fix it okay? It’s my turn to help you out, okay bro?” at this point he had tears running down his face, “You were the best friend I could ever have. Even at the end man, I don’t even care about that dumb prank.”
He started slowly stepping out of the shadows, towards the figure dressed in bloody, dirt covered overalls.
“I love you man. I love you. You’re my best friend. I’ll promise to bury you, with Beth. I found her by the way. I don’t think I can find anything left of Hannah, but it’s the thought that counts right?”
He stopped several feet away, but in range of the weapon he had with him now. He’d come prepared, but not exactly prepared for this.
Chris took a deep breath, the air shuddered as he forced it into his lungs. He was lucky he could still see out his glasses considering how hard he was crying.
Then he spoke, loudly, “Hey Josh, bro.”
It turned around. He felt his heart sink at the sight of the face of what was once his best friend. Twisted and morphed about, slowly getting close to the face of a full Wendigo. Chris wouldn’t let that happen. It, he, growled. He knows he shouldn't, shouldn't release the spirit. But he still looked like him. He doesn't want to see this happen. Doesn't want to entertain the idea of locking his best friend away, only for every day for him to become less and less of the friend he grew up with.
“Josh,” it was getting up slowly, “I have a great idea man - Cochise.”
It was like time stopped as he prepped his finger on the trigger. Josh facing him, hunched over in a position that would be uncomfortable for a human.
His voice broke with a sob, “Just like our little army dudes...”
It had been years. Mike had had his fair share of wolf pups, and then when he passed Chris had named one of the pups Mike Jr - who had turned out to be a lady nursing who own pack of pups.
Chris was old. He knew it, and he knew he couldn’t go on much longer. That morning he knew that he couldn’t go on any longer.
He’d been lucky that one of the people he’d saved from the Wendigo's over the years had opted to take up his job - they’d lost their sister to the monsters. Like someone he knew a long time ago. He had stop feeling sad about it all though, it was the bastards fault for trying to reopen the hotel on the mountain.
There haven't been many Wendigo's popping up over the years, only a few cells had Wendigo's hidden away in them. Chris had never had a chance to try and research more about the Wendigo over the years. His new apprentice though, he'd made them promise to go talk to the Native American group that used to live on the mountain. Chris didn't want to assume they had all the answers, but if anyone did they would. It might be a lost cause, the stranger might have already tried it - but Chris wanted to go out thinking that there was some hope to do something for the Wendigo's rather than lock them up. He wish he would have done it himself, but he'd always been to afraid to leave the area unattended.
After settling his affairs the days before, he had decided he was ready. He’d go in the morning. It would take him awhile to get there. Chris enjoyed the walk, leaning heavily on the walking stick he’d taken to use in the recent years. Even though he knew what lurked in these woods at night, he couldn’t help but think the place was beautiful.
Mike Jr. was following him. He was pretty sure his shit-bird of an apprentice knew where was going, and that he wasn’t coming back. Chris was glad he got to avoid an awkward goodbye with the guy.
He made Mike Jr. go back when he got into the mines. She had pups too look after. Well pups and one apprentice who was about to become the master.
He was slow going through the mines. Old joints and all, but eventually he’d gotten to his destination.
An opening in the mine let the light in, illuminating a patch of ground. Three crosses stood there, one ceremonial. The carvings were faded, and pretty shitty. Chris laughed at his old handiwork, he’d certainly gotten better at carving over the years. For a moment he thought if he should have made new ones, but shook his head. After the initial burial he knew he couldn’t come back down here until it was time.
Now, the time had come.
He settled himself on the ground in front of the center grave. Laying down on top of it. Letting the snow from the opening fall down on top of him.
“Early winter this year, Cochise.” he whispered.
He clasped his hands across his chest, and the many layers of clothing he still took to wearing. Eyes shutting slowly, best to let it come on it’s own.
“See ya soon.”