Chapter Text
Months had past since that horrible night on the Washington's mountain. Many of the groups friends had died from the Windego attacks and general misfortune. Chris, Sam and Mike were all that were left from the original seven that had started the night. The three were distraught over their loss thought they made sure to keep high spirits of the small victories. Mike had been released from jail after shooting Emily in the eye. At first the police had suspected foul play though after a psychological evaluation was completed they had decided that being with the remaining friends was the best.
The Washington family did the best they could for the small group. They had bought them all a house where they could stay together. Unlike most houses theirs was filled with weapons, some hand made and some bought. They knew that they would never get over what they had seen that night and would be damned if they would ever be caught in that situation again unprepared again. They trained day in and day out with each other learning different techniques. Sam taught climbing to the others using the cliffs near their new house which was ironically located on a mountain. Mike taught them basic first aid as well as techniques in handling animals with the help of his pet wolf which he had lovingly named Jema. Chris was in charge of shooting practice as well as building weapons. With the three working together they felt that they could handle anything that was thrown at them. That is until they heard the news about the findings down in the mines by the police.
Sam was the one that answered the phone as the others sat eating their breakfast. The man on the phone explained in a very weary voice how they had found Josh down in the mines though it was not safe to see him. Sam didn't speak as the doctor vaguely described his condition with no true detail. After he was finished she hung up the phone looking at the others.
"Um guys." She paused biting her lip looking back and forth between the two. "Josh is alive."
Mike nodded slowly trying to get the information down in his mind. They had thought he had been dead this entire time. Mike himself had seen Josh getting dragged away from the Windego as he hid in fear. All at once a mixture of emotions hit him. Fear from the memories of the mines and the Windegos inside them. Sadness from realizing that Josh must have been going insane from being all alone down there for the last few months, and finally anger at the realization of how none of this wouldn't have happened if Josh hadn't pulled his pathetic prank on the group. Unconsciously he rubbed the spot on his hand that was missing two fingers.
Chris on the other hand dropped his spoon into the bowl of fruit loops. His face went slack in astonishment . Chris had always felt that his best friend was still alive but he refused to fully believe it. Josh had been such a bit part of his life ever since they had met. He helped the other out through all the bullying Chris had faced when he was still going through hormone treatments in middle school. Josh always made sure to show up whenever Chris was feeling bad and would cheer him up by preforming different impersonations of teachers and students at the school. There was never a time that Chris couldn't be cheered up by the other. Now that he knew he was alive was almost too much to handle on his Fragile mind. Like the others he had been diagnosed with PTSD though his was far worse from the others to a part where he barley spoke ever. "Where is he?"
Mike looked at him placing a hand gently on his shoulder. Sam took a deep breath, "Hes at a mental hospital. The asshole on the phone didn't say a whole lot though he told me that it was impossible for us to see him yet because he had gone feral after being stuck for so long in the mines." Her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against the wall taking in very thing that she had seen.
"I want to see him." Chris said strongly looking at Sam. Giving the others shoulder a squeeze Mike looked over at Sam.
"What hospital is he at? I think it might be good for all of us if we can see him." He eyed Sam in a way that she understood his meaning. They both knew that Chris was the one that needed to see Josh for his own sake. Hopefully the two being together again would spark both their memories.
Biting at her lip again Sam nodded. "Hes at the Lutheran Psychiatric Ward. Hopefully we'll be able to get in."
Both Sam and Mike stood up walking towards their bedroom to change into some real clothing instead of the pajamas that they were currently in. Since the incident the two had gotten together. Neither acted like they had before and simply used the relationship as comfort in the dark nights when the nightmares got too hard to handle.
In the room Mike looked over while putting on one of his many plain black shirts. "What do you think happened?"
Sam stopped taking off her shirt and sighed. "You know exactly what I think happened. But," She sighed resuming taking off her clothes. "I hope that he hasn't transformed enough to be too late. While Chris is talking to Josh we're gonna tell the doctors... No... We're gonna CONVINCE them that Josh is turning into a Wendigo."
Mike shook his head pulling on his jeans and grabbing the same coat he had worn that faithful night. "How are we supposed to do that. Plus they said nobody could see them right? And," He gave an exasperated sigh, "we don't know how long he's been in there. Hell Sam he could have already turned. And then what. Sam we would have to,"
"Don't! Just," She sat down on the bed putting her head in her hands "I don't want to think of that." Mike sighed sitting don next to her putting his arm around her. He shushed her calmly rubbing circles on her shoulder and lightly dragging his fingers up and down her leg. Giving a sniff to keep the tears at bay she looked over at the other. "We've been through so much Mike. I don't want this to happen again so soon."
"I know but we need to do this or else." He left the rest unsaid not wanting to think about the repercussions of what could happen again. He would never let another Windego out in the world if he had a say in anything. He cared about Josh but he would destroy him if he had to. "Come on Chris should be waiting for us. We cant keep him waiting." Sam nodded hugging Mike tightly. He smiled returning the hug.
The two stood up and walked down the hall holding hands. Once arriving in the living room they saw Chris who looked like he had taken a quick shower for once and took time to actually do what was his normal routine before everything happened. His eyes looked between the two with a new hope and his hands wrung together in anticipation. Sam forced a smile on her anxiety ridden face. "Hey Chris are you ready to go?"
He nodded quickly, the same as a child would when asked if he liked food. Sam smiled squeezing Mikes hand in a gesture specifically to calm herself down. The squeeze was returned with a smile. "Okay lets all get into the car." Chris grinned widely running out to the car leaving the other two to follow slowly behind both feeling unease at the whole situation. The group got into the car and drove off towards the mental institution.