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Chapter Text

Washington Lodge. 7 Hours Until Dawn. 

Rust and blood. The feeling and scent felt familiar, almost as if you had done this before. A dull throb ached at the back of your head as you stood up. 

The world spun- tough, thick concrete scraping under your hands. There was no precedence for the feeling. 

Nothing felt logical. A loud, mechanical whirring snapped you to your senses. 

As you looked up, you saw it. You saw them. 

Josh and Matt. Your best friend, your ex lover. 

Hidden behind a cruel metal fencing. Despite the hard pounding in your head, you stood up. They were… raised, shackles bounding their feet and hands. Almost as if being served on a silver platter for you. 

“Josh… Matt,” you managed to sputter, moving closer. “What the fuck,” you cursed under your breath. Nothing could help you, the cold cold chill of helplessness running down your spine. 

“Good, you’ve finally joined us.” The cold chill felt vindicated with that presence.

Matt and Josh shifted uncomfortably. The voice was loud, they could no doubt hear it. Your head spun as the pieces clicked into place- the strange masked figure that had knocked you out, this had to be him. 

Metal slid under your hands as you shook the fencing in front of you. There was absolutely no give. “Matt! Josh!” You called their names as if that could help them. The only response was their confused, scared gazes. You followed their eyesight right to the metal saw in the middle of the room they were bound in. 

“No…” The words left your lips and you shook the metal harder. Matt spoke, but nothing but the sound of your name registered in your ears. 

“So kind of you to join us,” the voice boomed again. When you go in there, be honest with your feelings. Say your goodbyes. Have fun. Follow your heart.” 

Click. 

The metal gave under your weight and you crashed into the room. You stood up to steady yourself, determined to get Matt and Josh out of here. The words from the disembodied voice hardly registered in your head. 

Goodbyes? Your head turned to look at the saw in the middle of the room before back to Matt and Josh. 

“It’s okay, just help us out of these,” Matt said, squirming. You looked at Josh who looked… petrified. You had never seen him this silent before. 

““I’ve been dreaming of having Matt all to myself lately. We’ve only ever kissed, but I think he’s going to ask me out after winning the big game. Obviously he’s going to win.” 

Your stomach sank. You knew those words inextricably well. They were yours. Written in heartfelt ink across notebook pages. 

The voice continued to describe your innermost thoughts, ones Matt was never supposed to hear, even if you had dated. 

“He said he wants to play varsity, and I really think he’s going to make it big. Is there room for me there? I’ll just focus on tonight and hopefully it ends with me under him.” 

“That fucking psychopath,” you gritted your teeth as Matt asked you what this was. “That fucker must’ve stolen my journal. These were from a really long time ago. You know the night.” 

“Good to know it’s from a long time ago.” Matt’s wrists were reddened and chafed from his scrambling. Things were long over between you and Matt, but if these were his last few moments… 

And then you glanced over at Josh, still silent, still waiting. Your heart panged, knowing it belonged to Josh. But also knowing his heart didn’t belong to you. It couldn’t. 

Washington Residence. One Year Ago. 

The weather was bleak and cold. It matched the way your insides felt, churning like the endless swirls of grey clouds above you. Despite being day, there was not a breakage of light at all. 

Your fingers quickly dialed some buttons, and you put the phone up to your ear. 

“Hey girl,” came the response from the other end. You visibly relaxed. 

“Hey… I’m there. I’m not sure I should do this.” 

“I think you should. I’d be there with you… but y’know. I think this will be good for you.” Sam’s voice reached your ears but you felt a million miles away as you stared up at the Washington Residence. It now seemed impossibly large, not a single light visible against the bleak sky. 

“Maybe he’s not home. I should go.” 

“Please.. He won’t talk to any of us.” 

“And how do you know he’ll want to talk to me?” You gripped the phone tighter. “He hadn’t said a single word to me since. I… I tried to reach out. He probably hates me.” 

“I think it looks worse if he sees you just standing there. He knows you weren’t involved. And you came up with this idea.” 

You sighed. Sam was right, as usual. You just wished for once she wasn’t. 

“Okay… okay, I’ll go. Thank you.” 

“Just let me know how it goes after. I’m here for you.” And then she was gone, leaving you to tackle this on your own. 

With every step you took, the house loomed closer and closer. Inside, you knew was Josh. But you could also feel who wasn’t there, Hannah and Beth’s absence like a gaping hole. 

It had only been a few weeks. No one wanted to talk to you, everyone shaken up in their own way. No one could come clean to you with the full truth except Sam. And Josh had turned his back on everyone, including you. It didn’t matter that you weren’t there, it probably made it worse that you weren’t. 

And now you were shakily knocking on his door. 

You were hardly surprised when his mother answered instead of him. 

“He’s in the back,” she said quietly, opening the door to allow you to step in. She didn’t offer any more words, the pain clear and gaunt on her features. 

“Thank you… and I’m so sorry.” 

“Thank you for coming to see him.” She offered a half hearted smile. “You were important to the girls too.” 

You wrung your hands with a nod and shifted under her gaze. Their mother was always a kind woman, but now in the vastness of the house, with the heavy grief, you felt as if it would swallow all of you. As if every move you made was wrong. 

After hours of debate, you had decided to wear a simple black sweater and jeans. All black felt too finite, but other colors felt… wrong. You prayed it was appropriate as you went deeper into the house. None of the Washingtons had ever judged you before, but things felt different now. His mother’s eyes were empty, and you couldn’t picture how his must look.

The house was too quiet. Beth wasn’t there to throw the door open, Hannah wasn’t there to giggle through cookie making. It was just Josh here. Josh. The guy who begged you to come to the lodge that night. The one who used to greet you with snark, but always did something thoughtful like put extra butter on your popcorn at the movies, or show you the manuscript he was working on. He even bought you the journal you wrote in every night. 

Winter hadn’t yet decided to leave. The glass of the back door was covered in a sheen grey, a solid shape in the middle contrasting it all. Your breath hitched. Josh was out there, sitting on the porch you had been in with him countless times. Late night talks, heartbroken tears, breezy summer barbeques. 

With a heavy heart, you pushed the door open. 

“Mom, I told you I don’t want-” Josh started. His voice was rough, gravelly as if he hadn’t used his voice in hours. 

“Josh.” You interrupted him softly. 

His back stiffened in the chair.  You recoiled, bracing yourself for the worst. For him to yell at you, to demand that you leave, anything. 

Instead, his blue eyes met yours, misted over with painstakingly clear heartache. He said your name, his body stumbling forward. Josh’s arms wrapped around you, pulling you in tight and close. A torn sob escaped his lips, his body starting to tremble. 

Your arms raised to gently wrap around him, and he only buried his face deeper against you. 

“I’m so sorry…” you whispered as he cried into you. His entire body was wracked with sobs.

“I can’t… I can’t do this without them,” he sobbed into you. 

“I know…” You gently rubbed his back as he cried. Tears bit at your own eyes and threatened to spill over. It all felt so unfair. Neither of you knew what was going to happen. And now, here Josh was- crying in your arms, shaking, heaving. 

Guilt wore heavy on your heart, and now it felt as if it truly stitched itself into you. That terrible gnarled truth made its way into you: you weren’t there. 

“I’m sorry I wasn’t- I couldn’t-” Your lip trembled as you spoke, your voice thick and heavy. 

Josh shook his head almost violently, his arms tightening. Your black sweater was wet from his tears. That shake of his head was all it took for you to break. Tears flowed from your eyes just as steadily as his did. 

The two of you stayed like that for a long while, the only sound punctuating the air being quiet sobs. There was nothing else you could say, nothing else to say as you held him. 

The truth you acknowledged was that there was nothing you could do. Hannah and Beth were gone, and in what way either of you would never know. You could still remember the shock as you heard the news, the way your body had wanted to crumple in on itself. And you knew nothing could compare to what he was going through. 

As the sun slipped past the horizon, eliminating what little light there was from the day, you finally pulled back from Josh. He wiped another tear from his face. He was red and splotchy, and you could hardly stand to think what you probably looked like. 

You opened your mouth to tell him that you should probably go now that night has fallen. But that torn look on his face kept you trapped. You couldn’t say those words, not again. The last time you told him you couldn’t be there had destroyed you both. You couldn’t pull away from him. 

So, you didn’t. You let him lead you upstairs right to his bedroom. Felt his arms wrap around you as the bed creaked under both of your weights, his breath tickling against your neck. Part of you wondered what this must look like to his parents, but another part of you didn’t care. In this moment, all you and Josh had was each other. 

You hadn’t been in his bed since a time you liked to bury deep down inside of yourself. When you were Matt’s girlfriend, not knowing Josh. Letting yourself be pushed down into his bed at a party, only to be caught by Josh. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Josh, oddly enough, never mentioned it. And how could he when the last time you were in his bed, Hannah and Beth were here? 

Things with Matt had ended. That meant that you had more free time and the Washington house felt like your permanent residence more so than your own house. And sometimes, when you were in the midst of cracking jokes, you swore you could see something deeper in his grin. Something deeper in the way his head leaned against you as he fell asleep during movie marathons. Something deeper in the accidental brush of your hands when lining up cups for reckless beer pong. 

None of this felt real. The past year of your life, this was all you had wanted. To be in his arms, but you weren’t his. You knew he had seen the words on the tip of your tongue, that you wanted to leave. But he didn’t let that happen. He needed you. So, why did it take this long for him to show that? 

“Why didn’t you call me back?” Josh stiffened behind you. You swallowed, knowing this was not the time. That didn’t stop the words from escaping your lips. You had called him so many times since finding out, texted, tried. And he returned none of it. You knew why, you just needed to hear it. 

Your name fell from his lips- a plea to understand -and that was all it took for you to cut him off. “I had no idea any of this would happen. I- god, Josh. You don’t think I wish I could’ve prevented this?” You turned to look at him. His arm still lingered across your body, but his eyes looked afraid. None of that could mitigate the storm in you. 

“What was I supposed to say?” He asked, his eyebrows creasing. “Hey, my sisters are gone, come over for another party?” 

Your body hardened in his grip. So that’s how it was. He viewed you as a good time, nothing more. Not without them. You were just his party girl. 

You scoffed. “But for weeks, Josh. I didn’t even know about the search parties.” The words curdled on your tongue. “It’s like I wasn’t close to them either. Like I’m everyone else.” 

The memory of no one reaching out ran across your head. Of hearing things vicariously and not being a part of any of it. The news came to you from the local radio first. And you had waited. And waited. For something. 

A brief look of guilt flickered over his features. But then his eyes hardened back over. “You’re not everyone else. You weren’t even there.” 

That was the final cut. A hot searing pain branded itself onto you. You weren’t there the night the twins went missing. You tore yourself from his grasp, his needs be damned. 

“No, I didn’t-” He started. But you both knew it was too late. That was the downfall to being so similar,  you both knew when things were null and in vain. 

You wiped a hand across your face with a solid sniff. “No, I heard you.” 

And then you left. Your hands shook as you gathered your wallet and keys from his dresser, pushing past various pill bottles. The floors of his house, though carpeted, felt weak under your footsteps. 

It was true you hadn’t been at the lodge that night. But how was that your fault? A barrage of memories flooded through your head. Despite your best efforts, you couldn’t place exactly how it had all gone down. The most understanding you had was of the instigators, and the followers. Sam did her best to explain, but Chris and Josh were knocked out on the couch. 

And Hannah. Your best friend. She had given you the ring currently adorning your finger. You touched it, sorrow wrenching your heart. It was a team effort from her and Josh to get you to keep the ring, an innocent gift from a chance meeting. Right here in this hallway. 

You had barely made it to the staircase when you felt the buzz of your phone in your pocket. Seriously? Josh couldn’t even be bothered to try to talk to you in person- your thoughts were cut off as you saw the caller ID. 

“Matt?” You asked as you answered the phone. 

“Hey… uh… sorry for the late call,” he started awkwardly. 

“No, it’s fine. What's going on?” You looked around before deciding to slip into a nearby bathroom to the house. The last thing you wanted was anyone in the Washington household hearing this. Matt hadn’t talked to you in months, long before the trip to the lodge. Things between you two were… off to say the least, especially after the breakup. 

“I just wanted to check on you, after… you know.” 

“No, I don’t really know,” you responded coldly, the maelstrom of emotions in you taking over after your conversation with Josh. 

Matt sighed on the other end before continuing. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. It’s been an awful time, and… I care about you, you know.” 

That quieted you. Hearing that Matt still cared about you made something lodge in your throat. You felt torn in two, knowing how you felt about Josh, but Matt caring… You pushed past it. Both Josh and Matt had their own hand in hurting you, and that gnarled feeling took back over. 

“Yeah, well maybe next time, don’t have a selfie stick to shame and humiliate your friends, yeah?” 

Matt started to sputter at your biting words, but you didn’t want to hear it. Sam had given you as many details as you asked for in your shock. You hung up before you could process another word. 

It all felt like too much. Josh pushing you away, Matt trying to pull you back in. Cold water splashed against your face as you tried to maintain some grip on reality. Your conversation with Josh replayed in your head. The only out was to apologize for your insensitivities, you knew that. With a heavy heart, you made your way back to Josh’s room. 

But his bed was empty, only the faint imprint of your bodies remaining on the sheets. A tingle ran down your spine. You knew where he was. 

You padded over to the room where Josh was, his head buried deep into one of the pillows. 

“Hey,” you whispered so as not to startle him. You sat down onto Beth’s bed, your hand tentatively reaching out to touch his back. Josh let you, hardly moving as he sought comfort in Beth’s room. 

“I’m sorry about what I said. It just… destroyed me too.” Josh nodded, not moving an inch. 

“I can… I can go,” you said, the guilt heavy on you. You would understand if he wanted you to disappear and never show up again. 

“Please don’t…” Josh said raspily. As if on instinct, you slid right back into his arms. Your body slotted against his perfectly in a cruel mockery of what fate had in mind for your relationship with him. 

Josh finally opened his eyes to look at you, hurt and confusion in his gaze. You wanted to shrivel back as the realization hit you. Beth’s room was the closest to the bathroom you had chosen. “You heard all of that, huh?” But you weren’t really asking. “He’s just an asshole… I don’t want anything to do with any of them anymore.” It’s just you and me, you wanted to say to him. 

“It’s okay,” Josh sighed shakily. You knew it wasn’t but you were too exhausted to fight him on it. You and Josh both lied there in Beth’s bed. You knew why he had chosen this twin’s bed for tonight. Beth was always the more formidable sibling. She never hesitated, never let her emotions get in the way of anything. And right now, she’d be doing her damndest to help us. 

“She’d kill us if she knew we were messing up her sheets,” you said softly. 

Josh laughed. It was quiet, barely imperceptible over the sound of your bodies shuffling as you moved closer to him. But god was it a sound you had missed. 

“I really miss her lectures,” Josh mused quietly. There in the dark, he laced his fingers with yours. It was another silent plea for you to stay, especially as his hands traced over the ring Hannah had gifted you a year ago. Life had been completely different back then. Now, this was all either of you had left of them. 

You returned his comment with a laugh and you swore you saw something akin to affection in his eyes when you did. 

Exhaustion quickly overcame you and Josh, your bodies curling into each other. Part of you wanted to hold onto this moment forever. But another part of you knew that things would forever be different between you and Josh now. He hurt you tonight. And you hurt him. And that shift could never be recovered from. Even as his fingers swiveled your ring around in his slumber. 

 Present. 

That same hurt and confusion from before laid bare in Josh’s eyes. Before you could say anything to him, the Psycho’s voice filled the room again. 

“Why does Josh look at me like that? It’s like he knows that my heart’s about to beat out of my chest and I can’t take it anymore. He’s so headstrong and arrogant and yet all I want is to kiss him. To hold him. To be held. I can’t keep writing like I’m a teen anymore. This is so embarrassing. I feel something so deep for him that I just feel like imploding.” 

That same feeling of wanting to implode only returned to you. Your cheeks burned. 

Both Matt and Josh looked at you with that forlorn look. As if they both knew your next actions were life or death. It wouldn’t be. You made up your mind. But there was that small doubt in the back of your head. Would someone who could set up all of this let any of you leave unscathed? 

Gritting your teeth for the worst, you moved over to Matt, who was closest to you. He wriggled under the cuffs, his sneakers hitting the wooden board. Half of you was tempted to reach up and try to unbind him, but you knew that was a bad idea. 

You took a step closer, knowing the Psycho was watching your every move. But you thought about what would happen if this really were Matt’s last moments. A brief image flashed across your mind, of his limp body, and you shook it away. He wouldn’t die. He wouldn’t. 

“Look, I know things weren’t always perfect for us, you have Emily now, but I wanted you to know that I never held anything against you. And I’m sorry this guy is getting his sick kicks from watching all of this. I care about you, I really do. I was naive and stupid and so many things I can’t take back.” Your words came from a deep pit in your stomach, your anger momentarily quelled. 

Matt met your gaze, a certain softness growing in his deep eyes. “I made mistakes too.” As you steeled your nerves, your eyes met his deep brown ones. His forehead was creased. “It’ll be okay,” he reassured you as you stepped closer. 

You cupped his cheek, your fingers feeling the soft skin underneath them. Even though Matt had broken up with you, had wrecked you, part of you couldn’t help but care for him. Even after the accusations that ran through you of what he had done- the part he had taken in the twins disappearance. 

But you could tell the clock was ticking in the din of the small room. And then you made your choice. It fluttered through your veins as you leaned up. Your lips pressed against Matt’s. The kiss was short, tender. Your eyes closed as you kissed him. You inhaled the memories of being with him, of what life was like when you were just Matt Taylor’s girlfriend- cheering at football games, the sound of laughter, grabbing fast food after school, thinking things would never change. 

And then the kiss was over. And so was the closure- a brief, fleeting thing. Matt’s eyes were still closed as you pulled away. Something fluttered in your stomach, as if this was an important choice. 

Josh’s eyes bored into you. You could feel them as you turned to him. So many thoughts raced through your head, and the small window of time was closing. 

“Did you write that?” He asked as your hand reached out to touch his face. He didn’t address the kiss you just shared with Matt, but his head pulled away from you, from your touch. It caused your gut to sink. That same look of hurt and confusion was clear on his face. It was still the same look when you had gone to his house to comfort him- the night Matt called. 

“I did… recently actually. Josh-,” You ignored the feeling of doom growing in you. “-I know you probably don’t feel the same way, but I need you to know how I feel about you. I’m so sorry it had to happen this way.” Your words were out there now, a confession you weren’t ready for. 

You leaned forward. Something in you hesitated, said that maybe Josh didn’t want this, especially in what might be his last moments. But as your lips met his, his cheek turned into your hand. The kiss burned. Josh wanted this. He was kissing you with a fervor, as if he could take his last breath at any moment, as if he didn’t care that he was bound and afflicted. 

Your hand fumbled upwards, tempted to yank the chains right off of him. To end this nightmare and take both Josh and Matt home, safely. You didn’t need to hear how Josh felt, you could feel it. 

An odd texture brushed under your fingers, of metal and cloth and… something plasticy. You inhaled sharply, the stress of the moment clearly taking a toll on your brain. You opened your eyes to look up and see the bindings, regretfully parting from the kiss, but you were only met by darkness. 

“Jo-” The sound had barely left your lips when you felt two strong arms pulling you back. Cold leather on your skin. Your sneakers scraping the concrete. 

“No!” The sound pushed out of your lungs. A disgusting sense of deja vu filled you. Your body hit the ground hard. The lights flicked back on. And so did the saw. 

“Good job, that went about how I expected.” The voice was monotone, taunting. 

“No, please, I’ll do anything you want!” You pushed up, scrambling to the chain link door and hurling your body at it. The saw was deafening, starting to inch closer to the middle of the room. 

Matt’s feet scuffed at the board again, his lanky frame desperately trying to push up. 

“You made your choice,” the Psycho drawled as you watched Josh contort his body uncomfortably. 

“Bullshit, I made no choice!” The words felt like they singed your throat. You couldn’t comprehend that. How was any of it a choice? 

The saw crept closer and closer. You pushed against the door again. And again. You glimpsed up at the saw right as it turned. Towards Josh. 

“No, no, please!” You could feel tears burning your eyes. Every one of the past few minutes flashed by in your head. This wasn’t your choice. None of it was. It couldn’t be him. 

Josh said your name over the din of the roaring saw. Your head snapped up to look at him. He looked… scared. And that destroyed you. His face crumpled as if he wanted to say something, but couldn’t. You tried to get the words out in what were going to be the last moments of his life- but you couldn’t. 

The rusty saw had reached its destination. It was relentless, pushing forward, through Josh. Your nerves were all shot at once, jolting your body with shock. It sliced through him with ease, his screams ricocheting through the air. Both you and Matt’s screams joined the cacophony, a relentless sound. You remembered feeling torn in two that night of your grief, but now here he was, being torn in two right in front of your eyes. 

The blade pushed through Josh, and all you saw was red. His blood sprayed everywhere, and you could start to see his organs spill out onto the floor. But the real thing that caught your attention were his eyes. They were trained on you. Your eyes met his, your face crumpling at the sight of him. 

And then his head went limp. 

Click. 

Your weight pushed the door in, and you tumbled to the floor. Everything in your body felt weak and shaky as tears finally blurred your eyes. There was so much red everywhere. It stained the floors, the saw, all the way up to…. To Josh’s body. To Josh. 

“Josh!” The cry left your throat. You stood up, your feet pulling you towards him. You had just felt him, he was here. He had to be here. 

But you felt yourself being pulled back. Pulled away from Josh yet again. 

“We have to go.” Matt’s words barely registered in your head. 

Red streaked the floor. Your palms outstretched to reach that violent color.  It was everywhere. Your vision, the smell pungent and viscous. Bile reached your throat as you tried to ignore the clear division of his body, half on the floor, half still raised. He was in tatters.

The saw was still going, whirring in your head as Matt dragged you back. “No, we have to help him,” you pleaded. Snot dripped from your nose. As you rubbed it viciously, you swear you saw a twitch from Josh’s head, limp and lonely. 

“Josh?” You croaked. You still fought against Matt as he continued to pull you. You could tell he didn’t want to hurt you, but his grip was firm all the same. 

“He’s… he’s gone,” Matt said, adding your name at the end to snap you into reality. 

Josh was just there. Just against you, his lips and skin so warm. So frail. 

“I didn’t… I didn’t…” you choked out. 

“That psychopath could come back at any second. We’re going,” Matt said. Part of you knew he was right. But the other part of you was shredded, desperate to go to Josh. 

An odd numbing took over you as Matt essentially dragged you from the shed into the biting cold. None of it was real. Josh had to be alive. He had to. It had to be a mistake, some cruel prank for the Psycho to get his sick kicks in. 

The thought was cut off. Biting cold was an understatement. The wind was merciless, blasting snow crystals across your face. It mixed in with your tears, causing you to squint your eyes.  Matt noticed your wince and brought you closer into him as if to shield you from the torrent of cold. 

The only sound between you both was the crunching of the snow. Matt led you both from the beaten path to in between the trees. You knew this would be smarter, harder to follow. His arms didn’t leave you for a second. And you didn’t blame him. Maybe you would’ve bolted right back to Josh’s corpse, to keep him warm before reaching the same fate.  Matt seemed more in the camp of self preservation. 

But some part of you didn’t care. You wanted to be found by the Psychopath, wanted to put up a fight before he killed you too. And hell, if he did, maybe then you’d have a chance to see Josh again. It wasn’t fair that he was ripped from you right as you had gotten him back. 

Silence settled between you and Matt. His body was warm, too warm. His left sleeve was drenched in a warm and wet red. He caught you staring and his face flushed as if it finally seeped in, what was now deeply ingrained in his jacket.

“Shit,” he said. He took his jacket off almost apologetically. You watched him curiously as he exposed himself to the cold just to be away from the twisted nature of his jacket being coated in Josh’s blood. 

You eyed his letterman jacket curiously. When you and Matt had dated, wearing his jackets became an honor of sorts. A badge that let everyone know you were his. 

But as Matt draped it onto you, there was only one thought on your mind. Josh. Your arms find the sleeve holes and you poked them in. Your left arm quickly became sticky but you didn’t care. It made you feel closer to Josh somehow. 

It was eerie how Matt seemed to be able to read your mind, even now. He knew that not only were you too cold, but now you needed to be closer to Josh than ever. He rolled his grey sweater sleeves up and you could tell he was desperate to be away from the blood. It made you almost ashamed, as if you welcomed the carnage. The sight of Josh’s blood splatters ran through your head. 

“Thank you,” you said quietly. The sound was barely audible over the loud crunch of snow. 

“Of course,” Matt said. He seemed really shaken by the events in the shed. “Hey-,”  he said softly. “-I know how you feel about Josh. It’s kind of clear as day. But I want you to know that I do still care about you.” 

“Oh,” was all you managed to say in response. Part of you knew what this was about- the kiss. 

“I know what you’re thinking,” he contained. “But honestly, I understand. It’s… nice to know that if those were my last moments I’d have been comforted.” 

“Oh.” You let out the ’oh’ like a sigh. 

“I do get it. We used to be really close and I fucked that all up. I’m still in love with Emily, but… I think what we have is special too. More than anything, You’re a good person. And I’m… sorry about Josh. I was a complete dick, but he was my friend too, and with Hannah and Beth, I-“ Matt trailed off, his eyes settling off in the distance. 

You wrapped the letterman jacket around you more tightly. The blood soaked cloth was all you had left of Josh. “I know no one knew what was going to happen. I mean, hell, even tonight.” Images of Josh bled into your brain. The sight of his blood splatters coated your head. “I didn’t even make a choice. It wouldn’t have been for you to die, but Josh- and- the kiss-” your voice fractured.

“Hey, no. Don’t talk like that.” Matt’s hands were suddenly warm against your cheeks, swiping away two tears that had slipped out. “There’s no making sense of a Psycho like thats choices. He decided for you. This is not on you.” 

Your body shuddered. Wasn’t it your fault? Maybe you had kissed Matt for too long, maybe if you hadn’t been so easy to pull away, maybe it was a phrase in your journal. Maybe it was because you had had feelings for both of them in the first place. 

You tried to ignore the sticky heat on your cheek from Matt’s left hand. His eyes flicked down to your lips. You could see the warmth in his eyes, his desire to press his lips to yours again. Here you were in his jacket. It should’ve been uncomplicated. But you were covered in another man’s blood. 

The moment passed. It wasn’t his fault. That’s what you told yourself. That it wasn’t his fault that Hannah and Beth ran out into the cold just like this. That the prank wasn’t Matt’s fault. It wasn’t his fault Josh spiraled and invited everyone back here. It wasn’t his fault that Josh was dead. 

You told yourself that even as his hand found yours when you both continued to walk. The trees felt oppressively tall, shielding you from whatever was behind, but also what was in front. 

Part of you longed to turn around. To scour the shed and find an intact Josh. One who laughed and opened himself up to you with wide arms. Instead, you settled for your exes hand, trying to make any sense of the mix of anger, grief, guilt, and heartbreak storming in your gut. 

“It’s going to be impossible to find the others like this,” Matt raised his free hand to cover his face. “I hope Em is okay too.” 

“I’m sure she is,” you exhaled shakily. The truth was, you had no idea if Emily was okay. Or anyone else for that matter. 

The forest just seemed to stretch on and on. And those intrusive thoughts came back to your head. Would things have been different if you didn’t kiss Matt at all? Would it be Josh’s hand you were holding? You almost laughed at the idea. As if Josh would want to hold your hand after everything. But maybe you would hold hands, physicality was not something either of you shied away from. 

A nearby rustle caused both you and Matt to freeze. Had that Psycho finally caught up to you both? Would he kill you both? Would he look you in the eyes instead of cowering behind a machine to do it for him? 

But the only piercing gazes you were met with were Emily, Chris, and Ashley’s. Matt’s pace picked up as he recognized them and you struggled to keep up, your feet almost slipping in the slurry under your feet. 

Chris was the first one you all met with, his gait faster than the girls. “Whoa, what the hell happened?” His eyes widened like saucers behind his glasses as he took in the sight of blood. 

“Are you guys ok-?” Ashley started to express concern, but Emily pushed right past her. Her eyes immediately zeroed in on Matt’s jacket over your body and his hand in yours. 

“Are you serious?” She asked. You weren’t sure whether or not she was ignoring the blood everywhere or was just that angry. “I leave for two seconds to get my things.” 

But neither you nor Matt cared to listen to her jealousy much. The words tumbled out together, mixing in a scared frenzy. 

“There’s a killer on the loose, and he’s after us all-” 

“I can’t, I don’t know. Josh is- We need to leave,-” 

Emily seemed to finally take in the blood. “What the fuck?” She huffed. “What the fuck is going on?” Your hand was still in Matt’s.

“There’s a killer on the loose here. He’s after us, all of us! We barely escaped with our lives and if we don’t get a move on, we could be next,” Matt quickly exclaimed. 

“Whose… whose blood is that?” Ashley asked quietly. Her eyes were also widened, almost as if she was scared of the answer. Her gaze trailed over both you and Matt. But you had a dreadful feeling she knew. Emily and Chris looked at you expectantly. 

You couldn’t push the words past your lips. They wouldn’t form, despite the urgency of the moment. 

“It’s… it’s Josh’s,” Matt almost whispered, as if that could prevent it from being true. As if that could prevent you from hearing it. 

Ashley turned into Chris, a sound of pain escaping her. Chris couldn’t meet your gaze, turning away as if he was stunned.

“Holy shit,” was Emily’s response. She covered her mouth with her hand. 

All three of them knew what that meant. 

“Right, so we need to go. Right now.” Matt broke the silence. “We need off of this mountain.” 

Emily was quick to jump in. “We need to go get help.” 

Matt opened his mouth as if to argue with her, but Emily held a finger up. “No, if there really is a maniac on the loose, who’s to say he won’t catch up?” 

“But what about the others?” Ashley joined in. “Sam is probably still in the lodge.” 

“And Mike and Jess are in that cabin too,” Chris added. 

Everyone paused. There were too many choices. A branching of possibilities that could mean life or death. 

“Okay, Ashley and I will go find Sam, Jess, and Mike; the rest of you contact the authorities.” Chris vocalized the plan, but his voice sounded… off. You exchanged a quiet glance with him. Part of you couldn’t help but wonder what he would’ve done in your shoes. A small nagging part of you wondered if you all made it out alive if he would blame you for Josh’s death forever. 

You wouldn’t blame him. Not with the saw whirring through your head. But instead, the choice had been yours. And apparently you chose Matt. Something that was hard to refute as you walked with Matt and Emily in silence. They walked ahead of you, but Matt still held your hand and dragged you along. 

Emily walked beside him. She turned towards you, gnawing the inside of her cheek as she looked at you. You could tell she wanted to say something, to probably admonish you. You were donned in her boyfriend’s jacket, holding his hand. 

But there was something akin to pity in her eyes. Almost as if she knew it was really about Josh. The pity landed on the hot blood against your skin. 

The thoughts of Josh were pervasive. His dry laugh, his curls, his habit of biting his lip. Your finger swept over the silver of your ring. It was clean, untouched by blood. Unmarred by the horrors of the night. And it was from him. All from him. You remembered the heat of his hand as he had slipped it on your finger, apologizing for Hannah’s insistence of giving you a family heirloom. 

You remembered how his eyes had met yours intensely for the first time. Right there on the staircase of his house. Every time Josh looked at you, it was as if he could see right through you. Even when his gaze had gone dull, glassy from all of the hurt and pain life could lay on him. On your relationship with him. 

The haze of grief in you suddenly flickered like a breeze over candlelight. The pain turned to something more sinister. Anger. Here you were walking with one of the lead perpetrators of the prank. Letting her little pet hold your hand. He had broken your heart, had she had a hand in that too? And now she graciously let him hold your hand? 

The thoughts in your head curdled. Emboldened, you gripped Matt’s hand tighter, almost stumbling on his heels. Emily tried her best not to roll her eyes, failing. 

She turned her venom to Matt. “You’re going to trip her! Blood is slippery.” Her eyes darted down to your hand again. 

The anger surged in your veins. If you could throttle her, you would. 

“Not cool, Em.” Matt squeezed your hand in silent apology. But you were tired of the silent apologies. You ripped your hand from his. A look of betrayal crossed Matt’s features. 

“It’s not my fault little miss perfect’s boyfriend is gone.” Her words were cold and cruel. Just what you knew she was always capable of. 

“You know what you’re doing. She’s in shock. God forbid I act like a human being and have empathy.” Matt tilted his head, clearly cross with Emily. 

“Empathy for your ex?” 

“Yeah, you try to watch your partner’s guts spill onto the floor,” you retorted. You were over this. You strode ahead, fighting the urge to do something you’d regret. Matt called out after you, but you ignored him. 

Your blood rushed in your veins, thundering loudly. ‘Fuck this’, was all you could think. 

Thunk. 

Your foot hit something. You looked down, puzzled. There, right in front of you was a piece of wood sticking out of the snow. Curiosity and lack of self preservation made you bend down to pick it up. 

It was intricately carved into, the shape focusing into a beetle. Your heart thumped in your ears loudly as you stared at it. Part of you wanted to put it down, to run. But the other part of you… you turned it over in your hands. What was something so beautiful doing discarded in the woods like this? 

That’s when it caught your eyes. A blinding light that shocked you. Red. That was all you could see. The red was everywhere, leaking into your head, your ears, every orifice you had. The same smell that invaded you in the shed came back. You dropped the totem as if scalded. 

“Hey!” Matt’s voice echoed behind you. You kicked snow over the totem, unsure what just happened. You must finally be losing your mind. 

Both Matt and Emily jogged over to you. Part of you felt like bolting. But it was Emily’s voice that made you halt. 

“I’m sorry,” she said without hesitation. “I’ve been a bitch. I didn’t… realize how awful it was.” She held up her hands in surrender. 

Part of you wanted to rebuke her words, but after the totem… you were left feeling shaken. Maybe it was best to be around people. 

“It’s fine. Everything’s so confusing.” She nodded in understanding at your words. Your anger had subsided. Everyone was just kids at the lodge that night. No one knew what was going to happen. Just like tonight. 

A silent agreement settled over the three of you. The walking resumed as the swirled over you all. 

Matt stayed silent on the issue, leaving the issues between you and Emily to work themselves out. 

His silence wasn’t surprising. Despite his formidability, sometimes you wished he would have spoken up. Like that night the twins went missing. It probably would’ve went differently if he had tried to intervene. 

Your brain tried to parse out your opinions on Matt and Emily when a new shape formed over the horizon. As you trudged closer, you realized what it was. A reprieve. An outpost. 

Your feet pounded against wood as you bounded ahead first. 

“There could be a radio in there,” Matt offered as he came up close behind you. 

That’s when your eyes landed on it. There, lodged firmly into the door, was an axe. It was shiny, almost as if you were called to it. 

“Now we’re talking,” Matt reached his hand out to grab the hilt when you stopped him. “Wh-” 

Not waiting, you grabbed the hilt yourself, pulling it out of the door. The motion almost knocked you over right into Emily. 

The axe was sturdy, promising. As you held onto it, a new idea popped into your head. All of the anger coursing through you towards Matt and Emily refined into something else. The Psycho. This was all his doing. And he could finally meet his end with a weapon like this. 

“Think about it. The others are in the lodge, unprotected. We’ve seen what this guy is capable of. You guys will be safe here.” The words left you as if from a script. 

Emily’s eyes narrowed. “No way. We need it for our protection. Matt.” She turned towards him. 

He stood still, his eyes sweeping between you both. He sighed. “Emily might be right this time. You’re not running off on your own again.” You cursed yourself for your tendency to bolt. He held his hand out for the axe. You took a step back. 

“Don’t be a crazy psycho bitch-,” Emily started. 

“I’m not a crazy bitch.” You dodged the title of psycho. “I’m just thinking about the odds. This guy is toying with us, you stand a better chance of getting help if I distract him.” 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, no one said anything about a distraction and bait.” Matt tried to pry the axe from your grip but you only stepped back further. 

“No. He wants me. I can feel it.” And you could feel it in your bones. Making you choose between Matt and Josh, Finding your journal, letting you live with the consequences. The feeling fluttered through you. You needed this axe. 

Matt pinched the bridge of his nose. It was almost as if he could see it. If he took the axe, you’d make a break for it anyways. 

“If you really feel like you have to, go,” he relented. 

“Hello? Are you both insane?” Emily said your name pleadingly. “Just stick with us.” 

“You guys will be okay.” You turned the axe over in your hands. Your reflection caught on it. You looked… rough. 

Emily was finally at a loss for words. You took that as your sign to exit, turning on your heels. “Nothing will happen to any of us again. I promise.” Your words echoed, as if you said them firmly enough it would become true. 

You began your trek back to the lodge. Thoughts of Josh returned to your head. This night would've been wonderful to take a midnight walk with him if the mountain wasn’t so hallowed. This Psycho would pay for what he had taken from you. You’d make sure of it. 

The hairs on your body raised as you walked. It was as if you were being watched, two holes boring into your back. There was nothing as you looked around. Maybe it was all in your head due to that damn totem you saw earlier. Despite your best judgement, you found yourself looking for it through the white blanket on the ground. 

The totem seemed to disappear on your way back. You didn’t think you had covered it that well with the snow. Something nagged at you to look for it, to confirm whatever vision had entered your end. But something else said that maybe it was best to leave it alone. 

So, you continued on. Maybe the red you saw in the totem was the Psycho’s blood. A body for a body. The only warmth you felt right now was Josh’s quickly cooling blood on the jacket. His warmth was almost gone. You were determined to get warmth back. You were hungry. Hungry for blood. Hungry for revenge.

Chapter Text

Washington Lodge. 

Aching. That’s all you could feel. The hunger and anger subsided to aching. It hollowed your bones, your blood a ribbon that threatened to unravel as it swirled through your veins. It was a whole new level of exhilaration. 

As you padded through the foyer of the lodge, there was a new light. There was no fire going, no lights on, just the haze of blue from the moonlight outside. It was a cool glow, unlike the burn inside of you. 

The lodge was eerie. Everything sounded loud, your footsteps thunderous. Your hand gripped the axe hilt tightly, your knuckles lightening. The Psycho could be anywhere. The memory of him barging into your room to drag you away entered your head. 

Your hand tightened on the axe. It was different this time. You were ready- prepared for the fight. You were about to trek upstairs to find Sam when a nearby movement in the corner of your eye caused your heart to freeze. 

Looking over, it was a black balloon floating next to the staircase. Even the sigh you released felt too loud. But then your eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the weird markings on the balloon. It was an arrow. 

It was the perfect trap. Too perfect. You descended down, following the instructions. With each step you took, you thought about Sam taking these exact steps. She was the only one that had been left. This was her labyrinth. 

Part of you wanted to turn back. Something slick almost caused you to stumble on the steps. You looked down. A wet footprint under your shoe. Sam exclaiming she was going to take a bath flashed through your head. Her thumb jabbing back over her shoulder, the swish of her skirt. 

That was the last piece you needed to continue. Chris and Ashley were nowhere to be found, not a single hint of them anywhere. You shivered as you descended lower and lower, right into the basement. 

There was no more moonlight, just you and the darkness. A plopping sound made you jump. The axe flew up and you braced. But nothing happened. 

You took another step forward, realizing the pipes overhead were leaking. You let out a breath, trying to steady your nerves. It wouldn’t do any good to go axe crazy- what if the others were still here? You’d find them, you had to. 

That’s what you told yourself as your steps became more and more tentative. The deeper you went, the more suffocating it all felt. As if you were walking into your own tomb. 

The intrusive thoughts came back. Everyone that was complicit in the prank: Emily, Jess, Mike, Matt, Ashley. It wasn’t their fault there was a psychopath in the mountains, but it somehow felt like it. 

A sharp light danced in your eye. You halted, moving the axe. The light moved when you did. Huh. You looked down, seeing the gleam off of the cool silver of the axe. You followed the source- an open door with a strange glow. 

As you peered your head in, your breath caught in your throat. Dozens of screens. The entirety of the mountain plastered onto the flickering images. The forest, inside of the lodge, everywhere. It was almost too much for your brain to take in. 

That anger poured back in. This Psycho was watching everything. He had this entire place in the palm of his hands. As if everyone was walking around in his little snowglobe. And all he’d have to do is shake. 

“Impressive, isn’t it?” That cool, robotic voice murmured. A chill ran down your spine. He was right behind you, so close you would feel his breath if it wasn’t for the mask. 

A feeling fluttered through you. Just as something flew past one of the screens. It was a black mass, hauling itself across the cameras. It couldn’t be human, or any animal you knew of. 

You didn’t turn around. He was close. Too close. Turning wouldn’t give you any advantage. So you did what you could. 

You raised the axe. Swung it down hard. Right onto one of the keyboards. A few of the screens cracked and fizzled. 

Something dizzying overtook you and you raised your arms again. You caught your reflection in one of the now darkened screens. You were a manic thing, the blue glow of the screens outlining you, the axe shining above your head. And two arms wrapping under yours as that hideous skull appeared in the reflection. 

You swung down again. You weren’t going to be his puppet, and neither was anyone else. 

“Stop that!” The Psycho seemed to lose his cool, thrown off by your sudden actions. His arms gripped under yours, tearing you from destroying his precious surveillance system. But you kicked and struggled, your feet launching off of the desk. 

The movement catapulted you both back. The Psycho grunted as he landed on his back. Your back pressed against his stomach and you tried to swallow the dread as you tried to get off of him. But his arms were still locked around yours. 

You thrashed and thrashed and thrashed. Your arms were still gripping the axe. He reached for it. His mistake. You jabbed your elbow right into his chin, swiveling towards him. It stunned him just enough for you to try to get off of him. 

He was quick, shoving you off of him hard. You could tell by the shove he was angrier now. But so were you. 

He got up to have the upper hand. His body loomed over you, but you weren’t about to be outdone. You swung at his legs, causing him to have to jump back. 

“You took him from me. You took him and I’m going to kill you,” you spat at the Psycho. 

He laughed. The sound was so disorienting. It bounced off of the walls, echoed a familiar sentiment. 

“I took him. I took pretty little Hannah and Beth. You don’t get it, do you?” He loomed back over you. His words caused you to freeze. 

He paused, almost as if taking you in. You sneered up at him, ready to swing again. But he didn’t move any closer. He needed to be closer or he could easily grab the axe from you. 

“You’re in his jacket.” It was a statement. 

Confusion flickered on your face. Matt’s jacket being on you registered. 

“What about it, prick?” You goaded him. “Would you have rather seen me in flannel? In Matt’s blood?” You didn’t know why that was the taunt you chose, but something about it felt right. 

Your mind flickered briefly to the thought. A different night where you were in Josh’s flannel, Matt’s body… Josh would be next to you. He’d be alive, in his black sweater, offering you his clothes, holding your hand through the woods. Would he be comforting? Remorseful? Or would he be disgusted by your actions, by you having sympathy for your ex. 

You looked defiantly up at the Psycho. He was quiet. Much too quiet. You took in his appearance, the bloody overalls, the blue sleeves, and the small hint of black underneath. 

Something in the Psycho shifted. He tilted his head and moved closer. His body swung from side to side arrogantly. Now was the time. You swung up again with the axe Hard.

“Shit!” He exclaimed as you swung. He stepped aside and you narrowly missed him. Thinking quickly, you let the axe beard hook onto his overalls. You yanked. 

The Psycho stumbled forward and almost onto you. He was a hulking mass, but you had a plan. You shoved your hand under his chin, right under his mask. Your hand felt his skin. The wood of the axe pressed on your torso uncomfortably and you knew it would leave a welt.

Your fingers flexed, ready to sink into his flesh. The move caused him to jolt. You couldn’t breathe. You choked. Tight leather slunk around your neck. You gasped for air, your hand weakly clawing at him. 

“Sorry, pretty girl,” he murmured as something cool slipped over your face. And then you were out. 

— 

Washington Lodge Basement? 6 hours Until Dawn

Spinning. Spinning. Blood, guts, gore, blue glow, mask. Rinse and repeat. The thoughts convulsed and contorted in your head. Stifling heat, and somehow, piercing through it all, his laugh, Josh’s laugh. His gorgeous blue eyes, the way the moonlight somehow sparkled in his eyes. 

“Josh…” his name escaped your lips gently. Softly. As if the world would take even those syllables away from you. You sat up. There was nothing else. Just you. No Josh. He’d never be there again. 

You sat up, blinking slowly. A weird chemical taste lingered in your throat and burned your nose. Your insides felt stretched out. A wave of nausea hit you. You tried to keep it down, but couldn’t, leaning over and puking. The feeling hardly had any bearing on you. You felt outside of your own body. 

The detachment only grew as you looked around and up. There were silver crescent balloons encroaching on your vision, streamers, warm string lights covering the ceiling. This was it. You had died and were now trapped in your senior year prom. 

You reached up towards the lights, towards feeling something warm. But all that you were met with was the sight of your own arm, doused in a faint pink tinge. Blood. Josh’s blood. And it could only be from one thing that was missing- Matt’s letterman jacket. It was no longer on your body. That was the only thing that snapped you back to the present. But the decorations… all they could do was zap you back to the past. 

Washington Residence. A year and a half ago. 

“Aaand, there!” Jess flourished her wrist, running a hand over your head. “Aren’t you glad I agreed to style you for prom?”

“It looks… gorgeous. Thank you.” You smiled over at her. Jess was elusive to you, a proclaimed mean girl, but she was part of the friend group all the same. And she was never mean to you. 

“My turn!” Emily plopped down in the chair as soon as you stood up. Ashley exchanged a glance with you. It was supposed to be her turn next. 

“Impatient, I have to get dressed.” Jess pouted. 

“I have to impress Mike somehow,” Emily said. Your eyes darted to Hannah at her words. You could tell she was trying her best to not be crushed from the way her throat bobbed. 

“Maybe we should go try to check on Sam and Beth,” you offered. Those two had disappeared a while ago. 

The Washington's house was the best place for everyone to get ready, especially since the limo could pick everyone up in one spot. No one was dressed yet, everyone focusing on hair and makeup first in the early afternoon. 

“Yeah, I think Beth stole my mascara.” Hannah flicked at one of her eyelashes and you could swear she was flicking away a bit of dampness. She was quick to leave the room and you followed on her heels. 

“Don’t worry about her,” you said as you both delved deeper into the house towards Beth’s room. 

“I’m not,” Hannah said. She chewed the inside of her cheek. “I just wonder why a girl like me just always strikes out.” 

“Not tonight,” you reassured her. You hardly knocked as you strode into the room. Beth was perched over Sam precariously as she sat on the dresser, dusting her eyelids with eyeshadow. Beth was already in her dress, a sparkly pink number Sam had insisted she’d look stellar in. And you couldn’t deny it oddly fit her. 

“Alright, where’s my mascara, thief?” Hannah said, checking her hair in a nearby mirror. 

“First of all, I don’t know. Second of all, knock.” Beth didn’t take her eyes off of Sam for a single second as she swiped another coat of glitter over her face. 

“I haven’t seen it,” Sam piped up. 

Panic rose in Hannah’s voice. “I needed that one, I couldn’t find it in my room anywhere.” 

“You can borrow mine.” Sam was quick to swoop in. 

“I will if I can’t find it, but that’s the only one that doesn’t flake off of my eyes with my glasses.” 

“How’s this?” You stepped forward. “I’ll look for it downstairs, and you look up here. I’m sure it’ll turn up somewhere.” 

“Okay.” Hannah conceded to your suggestion. 

As you headed downstairs, you cursed internally. You were supposed to be getting ready yourself, and here you were searching for a lost mascara that might not even turn up. Hannah had a penchant for misplacing things. That’s how the ring on your finger had ended up in Josh’s junk drawer before she gave it to you. And before Josh doubled down on you keeping it. 

It was a gorgeous silver, with branches intertwining as the band. Josh’s hands were warm and soft. He had a look in his eyes. One that tugged at you even though you were there with Matt that night. ‘ Focus .’ 

You combed through the living room first, then the front hallway where miscellaneous keys were. Your search eventually lead you to the kitchen. It was dark despite being late in the day. You flicked on the light not expecting the sight before you. 

 There in the middle of the kitchen was Josh, a jug of soda pressed to his lips, the fridge door slightly ajar. And to add to the casualty, he wore nothing except a white t-shirt and boxers. 

His eyes widened as you made eye contact. Within moments, he put the now empty jug down, swiping a spare droplet off of his lips. The same Josh that had slipped the ring on your finger. 

“Too thirsty to put a light on?” You asked in an attempt to lighten the awkward position you both found yourselves in. You tried to keep your eyes from wandering over his toned body. 

The way his legs peeked out from his short boxers, unbearably toned and tan, drove you more mad than it should’ve. Your mind wandered too far- about him hoisting you up on the counter, stealing kisses he shouldn’t, your hands under his shirt- ‘ stop it ,’ you told yourself. 

“No one was supposed to be down here. Besides, I like the dark.” he said with a rough laugh as he leaned forward. “Why are you?” He cocked his head, taking you in. Your hair and makeup was done but you only had on your normal day clothes. 

“Ah, Hannah misplaced her mascara.” 

Josh shook his head. “And she made it your problem, huh?” He turned and began opening drawers. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Helping you look, duh,” he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He  was calm and rifled through the drawers like he wasn’t practically half naked in front of you. 

“You don’t have to do that. You should be getting ready,” you said, glancing over the counters and moving stray dishes to search. 

“ You should be the one getting ready,” he said. Josh looked up and paused, his face drinking in the details of yours with your face and hair done. For just a moment, you swore you saw something flicker in his eyes. 

“You’ve got more to do than I have to, that's for sure. And the guys are just dicking around upstairs right now.” As if on cue there was a loud crash from upstairs. “God damn it,” he said under his breath. “I should go check on that.” 

“Yeah, well thanks for helping anyways,” you said, moving to open another drawer. Just kitchen knives. 

Josh turned to move out of the room before sauntering over to you. “Hey,” he started. 

“Yeah?” You turned towards him and your heart leapt into your throat at his proximity. Small tufts of brown fell across his forehead as he leaned in. “I think this is what you’re looking for, pretty girl.” He dropped a small bottle of mascara into your hand and then he was gone. 

Your face burned as he left, your eyes watching his back retreating. It was unfair, the way he mercilessly toyed with you. It wasn’t on purpose but god was it maddening. 

The blush stayed on your cheeks as you climbed the stairs, your thoughts only full of Josh. Would he dance with you at prom? Did he really believe you were pretty? It was such a cliché school girl crush, your best friends‘ brother? 

Something about him was different. He was… wild and free and eclectic. Something about him made your heart hum in a way it never had before. 

But that freeness made him a complete flirt with anyone he was in contact with. A quick dampening to any of his efforts meaning anything. You know they didn’t but it still affected you anyways. 

You didn’t want your friendship with him to change. That would be the most devastating thing of all. Nothing would sour hanging out with the girls like a messy breakup, or trying to make out in between hangouts. It was a recipe for disaster and you knew it. That didn’t stop your heart from longing for him. Gone were the thoughts about Matt, he was barely in your brain compared to Josh.

“I’m back,” you practically flung the door of Beth’s room open only to be met with Beth running her hands through her hair. She was a creature of habit, barely letting Jess put the crimper to her hair before bolting out of the seat. No Hannah. “Well, I found her mascara but lost her in the process,” you said in defeat. 

“I don’t really know where she went. Her and Sam were giggling about something.” Beth practically rolled her eyes. 

You placed the mascara on the dresser and contemplated your options. You had already spent precious time looking for the missing makeup, so looking for Hannah might prove to be fruitless. The girl really knew how to disappear when she wanted to. 

You made the decision to put your dress on. Thankfully, it was already in Beth’s room. It flowed through your hands as you picked it up, a beautiful shimmering periwinkle. 

The first time you tried it on, every single girl on the shopping trip had gasped. Hannah, Beth, Sam, Ashley, Emily, and Jess. You had wanted to shy away from it, but it did compliment you perfectly. Not to mention it matched the color of Josh’s eyes. 

You shimmied the dress on, your heart starting to accelerate. At least this way with his eye color as your dress feature he was with you all night. The dress snagged about halfway as your hands clawed to zip it up. 

“Could I get some help?” You spun your back towards Beth. 

“Of course.” She was over in an instant, her slender fingers gracing the zipper. “So…” she said as she gingerly zipped you up. “Did my boneheaded brother ask you out for tonight, yet?” 

“You know it’s not like that,” you said. Your heart panged as his words lingered on your head. Pretty girl. “Besides, people don’t ask others to prom the day of. I’m okay going single just like most everyone else.” The only current couple of the group was Emily and Mike. 

“I’m just saying. I think he likes you.” She had almost reached the top of your dress. 

“And what about you?” That stopped Beth in her tracks. 

“What about me?” She asked. 

“C’mon. I see the way you look at her.” You felt the zipper reach its destination. When your eyes met hers she looked away. 

“She’d… she’d never-“ she was cut off by Hannah entering the room, Sam close in tow. Beth clammed up, her cheeks reddening as her aforementioned crush came in, took her hands in hers, and pulled her close.

“I love the way my makeup looks!” Sam was giddy and generous as ever, completely oblivious to Beth’s blush raging across her cheeks. 

“I have a gift for you,” you said to Hannah, giving Beth all the space in the world to be flustered as you held out the bottle of mascara. Hannah gasped and took it gratefully. 

“Ahh, lifesaver!” Hannah’s hands glided over the small bottle as if it were gold in her hands. Her eyes gleamed. “I’d say there’s no way I could repay you but…” 

“But what?” All three girls exchanged looks. The last time Hannah repaid you for a favor was when she gifted you the Washington heirloom ring. She wasn’t exactly known for being subtle or non-melodramatic. “Sam,” you pleaded, knowing she was the only one who could be reasoned with. 

“Sorry,” she shrugged, her hands still in Beth’s. 

They were clearly up to no good and every single one of them knew about your crush on Josh. It wasn’t hard for them to figure it out and everything slipped from there. The knowing glances, the teasing. It was awful, but Josh never found out. Until tonight you supposed.

But despite their good intentions, you didn’t want that. You didn’t want something fabricated for his affection. You wanted him deeply and intimately, not a surface level situation. 

“You guys finish getting ready without me.” You shut the door behind you despite their clamoring. Leaving the room wasn’t ideal but your face was burning at the thought of what they could possibly have in mind. 

The respite in the hallway didn’t last long as your eyes landed on Chris and Ashley. Chris had a purple bowtie on his tux, Ashley in a long burgundy dress. Despite not exactly matching, their deep colors complimented each other perfectly. 

“Save me.” 

Ashley’s eyebrows shot up at your remark. “Save you from what, exactly?” She was unphased by your comment, uncharacteristically so. You groaned internally. 

“You can’t all possibly be in on it,” you lamented. 

“In on what?” Chris leaned forward curiously. 

Your eyes darted over to him. He was arguably Josh’s closest friend. And probably confidant. 

“Something the girls are up to with me apparently. Probably some stupid prank.” Your eyes landed on one of the ornate sconces as you crossed your arms. 

Ashley shook her head. “There is no prank.” She said your name softly as if to emphasize her sincerity. “If this is about-“

“-Don’t.” You cut her off swiftly. Your gaze darted to Chris who was looking at you intently. Ashley looked at him and you wanted to shrivel into yourself. Was there anyone that didn’t know?  

Chris opened his mouth to say something. But he closed it. After a few moments of awkward silence, he broke it again. “I can say for certain-“ he gestured to himself and Ashley, “We wouldn’t prank you.” He seemed so sincere, so genuine.

“Of course!” Ashley chimed in. Her cheeks were flush, a tell she had when she was lying. 

“Ash, please.” You pleaded with her. 

She wouldn’t look at you, but Chris did. There was a resolve in his eyes. He spoke and you knew he knew. Everyone probably knew. “It isn’t a prank, you know. Josh he- he really wants to do this.” 

Do what? You wanted to ask so badly, but your stomach somersaulted. You couldn’t handle this. 

All of your nerves weren’t having it. 

“No, whatever it is, it’s planned. You’re all in on it for God's sake!” You turned to high tail it down the stairs. Your dress suddenly felt suffocating. What were you even doing all of this for? Prom was supposed to be about having fun and all you could think about was the way Josh had looked at you when you entered the kitchen. 

The thought of him looking at you; feeling pity or amusement made you feel sick. His eyes looked so genuine in the kitchen, and now it would all be a sham. A clever ruse that the others wanted to make you believe- to make you believe he could ever fall for you. 

Your breath quickened as you descended the stairs with nothing but Josh’s eyes in your vision. 

Thump. 

Your body collided with someone right at the last step. “Ah fuck-sor-“ the words died on your tongue as those same blue eyes that tormented you swept over your body. 

Josh had grabbed your elbow to steady you, but he didn’t let go, even as you regained your balance. 

“Hey, you,” he said. Nothing more, nothing less. But that look in his eyes-

“Hi, I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking at where I was going and then-“ Your eyes caught on Josh’s tie. Periwinkle. Complimenting his eyes. Matching your dress. 

The heat crept up your neck again, like a slow flame threatening to consume your body. 

“We’re matching.” Even as the words left your lips you knew they were lame. 

“We… are matching,” he said. He didn’t seem surprised but his words formed a silent question. 

Shame flickered in you. Shame for him being put up to this. And your pride possessed you. You wouldn’t be someone’s pity date- especially not your flame’s. 

“I have something for you.” Josh awkwardly reached behind him, slicing into your thoughts. 

The shame and pride left your body as you watched him draw the small box from behind his body. He popped it open to reveal a beautiful white rose, complete with a band of perfectly strung pearls. 

“It’s nothing fancy,” he admitted. But your heart had stopped working. Josh was slipping a perfect, delicate flower onto your wrist. And then there was a second rose in his hands.

You tried to make sure your hands didn’t shake as you took it from the box. It slid into the pocket of his tux perfectly. 

“There you go, handsome.” The words left you before you could stop them. 

Time slowed as Josh said your name, his hand taking your wrist. His fingers fiddled with the pearls, stretching them ever so slightly. 

Your eyes met his again and nothing else mattered. He was this beautiful mix of blue and white, from the flowers to the tux to his eyes. You wanted to join his world, to fasten yourself to him. 

Ever since you had met Josh he had these elaborate ideas. Plans for the future, writing and filmmaking just like his dad. But Josh’s ideas- they had grit and they had heart. 

Right now, all you could think at this moment was becoming a part of his brilliant plan. 

Stark giggles from behind you stopped your thought process. The others. Embarrassment flushed your entire body. 

Josh’s eyes darted behind you to what was probably the entire household stretched onto the staircase. It was all just a prank. It was all just a prank. Those words repeated in your head mercilessly. Josh opened his mouth but all you could hear were the words you felt as though you were going mad. It was all just a prank. 

Washington Lodge. Present. 

It was all just a prank. Those were the thoughts running through your head. Hot tears ran down your cheeks as you stared up at the lights, the balloons, the streamers. The tears just slipped out uncontrollably. Everything felt like it was phasing in and out. 

This was one of the last few memories you had with Josh. And now it was being tainted. Tainted by an absolute madman. 

As slowly as possible, you sat up. Your stomach churned and bile threatened its way up your throat. You hardly registered that you had thrown up until you nearly caught your hand in it as you stood up. 

The decorations were exactly like your senior prom. It was impossible how specific everything was. You swallowed, your mouth dry. There in the corner was a makeshift stage. It donned a microphone and a silver arch just like the one at the school. This room was much smaller than where prom was. This must be a side room of the lodge. 

The side of the stage had a chair covered in… no. You crept closer. There, on the seat was a perfect replica of a reminder of Josh’s eyes. The perfect periwinkle dress. An exact version of the one you wore. You put your hands in front of you, not sure if any of this was real. You couldn’t stomach touching it. 

“Pick it up.” The voice boomed around the room. A command. 

You swallowed nothing again. You knew exactly why he wanted you to pick it up. 

“Fuck you.” You looked up at the ceiling, looking for the camera. “I… I can’t.” The thought of undressing for this creep so he could see you in your prom outfit… this was all meticulously planned. How long had he been watching everything? How long had he wanted this? 

“Put it on.” The command came again. 

Your nerves were on fire. A flash of blood and guts filled your head. You had to get revenge for Josh, if it was the last thing you did. And you were no use to anyone dead. 

You stripped, flicking off the camera as you did. The air was cool, and you could feel your body temp fluctuating dangerously. The thought of the Psycho watching you made you sick, so you tried to get the dress on as quickly as possible. 

It pulled on smoothly, as if it was tailored for you, as if it was yours. You frowned as it snagged in the exact same area your original dress did. It took you a few moments, but eventually it gave and the dress was on.

“I did it, you sicko,” you snapped to the camera. Silence. You looked around for something, anything. There were doors across the room, a possibility for escape. But you knew in your gut that he probably already thought you escaping through. 

As if perfectly on cue with an answer, music started to play and the doors to the room burst open violently. The Psycho marched in, his mask a cruel echo of control and power. And on his body- the exact same suit Josh had worn. 

There were no words to describe how you felt at the sight except horror. Your eyes widened as he strutted over to you. The string lights caught on his periwinkle tie. Your heart felt like it was pumping into your ears. 

“Josh,” his name left your lips before you could stop yourself. As if that could make the face you really wanted to see materialize. 

The Psycho was now in front of you. His chest heaved. You looked up into the eyeholes of the dark eyes of the mask, as if that could change things. You were making eye contact with him, with the sick bastard. Even if you couldn’t see his eyes, you knew they were trained on you. 

Now would be the time. Now was the time to fight, to try to run. But you couldn’t. It was as if your mind was fracturing and overlaying Josh into his place. What you wouldn’t give to see Josh again. 

The Psycho grabbed your arm. The movement was sudden, but he wasn’t rough. You eyes were still piercing through his mask when you felt something slip onto your wrist. It felt like a band with beads. 

You finally looked down. A beaded pearl band. With a white rose. 

“What…” You looked back up, ready for that to be your last phrase. For the game to be over, for the Psycho to end his torturous game. 

The music changed. ‘Hungry Heart’ began to pour into the room.. Your stomach curdled. You and Josh had… danced to this song. Multiple times. A phonograph flashed in your head. The Psycho’s grip moved from your wrist to your hand.

Your vision swam. This was real torture. You’d prefer the blood and the viscera from earlier. This felt… sinister. 

But you didn’t move as the Psycho pulled you closer. A hand found your waist, leather still gripped your hand. And then there was a gentle sway. As if you were a fragile, delicate creature. Something that you truly were. 

You wanted to be angry. It ached in your bones. You wanted to scream and fight and kick. But you couldn’t. This moment… it was a moment you wanted to have lived in forever.

The moment where Josh had taken your hand at prom. He had insisted you dance with him, and invited you to the lodge for the winter. You had declined, stating your family had an upcoming trip. Not a lie, but not the entire truth. In truth you were scared of things changing, of the possibility of you and Josh losing whatever there was. 

He was reluctant to let you go that night, you could tell. And that was the last time either of you had anything to let go of. 

The longer you stared at the hollow skull mask, the more you swore your vision blurred to see those tender blue eyes. It was a mistake to have let Josh go at prom. 

And the Psycho’s hands… they felt nice despite being covered. It felt nice to be held again. This was different than Matt, these hands held you like they knew you. Like they weren’t afraid. 

“Why?” The words cut across the music. 

The Psycho didn’t answer. He just held you tighter. Your gut sank as he did. You felt yourself falling into that illusion further and further. He knew the song, he knew how Josh had held you. 

Was this even real? Was the Psycho actually doing these things? Or was your brain just fabricating a myth? Was the gas that strong? 

Something strange happened. You placed your head on the Psycho’s shoulder. He tensed slightly. But you paid it no mind. Your heart felt like it was breaking all over again. 

He wasn’t actually here. He could never be here again. All you had was this shattered illusion. A memory you pretended wasn’t stained with red. 

It was a memory you couldn’t let be stained in red. 

Your bodies still slowly swayed to the music. All of the decor and the lights blurred.

“Where is everyone else?” You finally let yourself ask. 

“Safe,” came the gruff response. You bought his answer, for now. He was totally preoccupied with you in his arms. The only one really in danger presently was you. But what was his angle? Why was he doing this with you? And only you? 

Your salvation came in the form of a small white rose being pressed into your hand. Your body moved as if possessed. Slowly, shakily, you pushed the fragile flower into the Psycho’s lapel. 

“There you go, handsome.”

Chapter Text

Washington Lodge. Present.

Pretty girl. There you go, handsome. 

Reality was just a silly notion. A recommendation. The Psycho felt familiar. Despite his horrid actions, his cruel demeanor, he felt painfully, cruelly real.

Your hand rested on his chest right over the flower. Then it crept to his shoulder. Then to his jaw. The sensation of your ring being fiddled with took over you as your fingers slowly pried the edge of the mask off of his lower jaw. 

The Psycho made no moves to stop you as you drew the mask up and over his lips, tilting it up.

Not a second more passed. You closed your eyes and pressed your lips to his. You heard the sharp inhale. The whirring of the saw ran through your head. It got louder and louder. He was kissing you back. He was kissing you back and it felt just like Josh’s lips had in those last few moments. 

You had kissed Matt and it hadn’t felt like this. Your brain went through it all. Prom. The lodge. The shed. The last time you had caressed Josh was moments before he was torn apart. Maybe you were hoping the same thing would happen to you. Maybe you were thinking he was Josh. 

That was all you could think about as the Psycho’s arms pulled you closer by the waist. This was how you should’ve ended your dances. You should’ve kissed Josh early on, before the twins went missing, before you became this ugly ball of anger. But for some reason the anger had dissipated. You were torn and confused and kissing a madman. 

Your lips tingled as they slid deeper against his. The whirring of the saw mixed in with ‘Hungry Heart.’ It was a blend of torture and misery just for you. Josh. Josh. Josh. 

“Josh.” The Psycho pressed you flush against his body. Hearing Josh’s name spill from your lips didn’t deter him. It didn’t stop his hands from gripping you tightly. 

“Josh,” you moaned again. Maybe he was getting off on this. Knowing you were thinking of the man he killed. It certainly seemed that way as a gloved hand snuck its way into your hair. 

He tilted your head back, his tongue delving into your mouth. You groaned into his mouth, unable to mutter Josh’s name again. The lights danced against your eyelids but the image in your mind was clear. It was the way Josh looked at you at prom— in the library. And now look at you, stealing a moment that was neither yours or Josh’s. 

The Psycho’s tongue was hot and needy, lapping at yours like a starved man. He was desperate for something too, but for the life of you, you couldn’t figure it out. He could’ve killed you, violated you, but he didn’t. 

It nagged at you. Your hands reached for the edge of the mask again. His hands finally dropped from your waist as you tore it off of his head, but it was too late. 

Josh. 

Josh. 

He wasn’t dead. He was there, in front of you. You stared into his blue eyes just like before. He was flushed and panting. 

You laughed. It was a small sound at first, but it grew louder and louder. Over the music, over the sound of the saw in your head. 

The man in front of you didn’t move. He couldn’t, his eyes wide and panicked. 

“I’ve finally lost it.” Fate had done it. It had finally fractured your mind enough to make you believe that your heart was in front of you. 

Your name left his lips, “- I, I didn’t… You weren’t supposed to-” 

“What? Want you?” You weren’t sure who you were talking to. The Psycho or Josh. The mask laid on the floor pitifully. “You mimicked my prom night perfectly. Or maybe you had a peephole in the lodge.” You thought about the cameras. “I’m not sure what photos you found or how you know what song played, but kudos to you. I’m broken. I don’t know who you are, but all I see is him.” 

He inhaled and closed his eyes. “No, it’s me.” 

You snorted. “No, I watched him die. I killed him; my kiss killed him.” Your brain was awful- it was as if this last kiss revived him. He looked like Josh, he sounded like Josh. “Unless the twin gene really does run that strongly in that family.” 

Josh couldn’t be here, standing in front of you. You watched him die. You shook your head. You couldn’t trust your own mind.

“I know you’re probably shocked,” he said, his voice hardly registering in your ears. “But it’s me. It’s really me. It was… it was all just a prank!” He lifted a hand up to his head, threading his fingers in his hair. “Please believe me.” He said your name again. 

Part of you really wanted to believe him. So, your brain found the parts that made sense. The reference to a popular horror movie when he told you to “follow your heart,” having all of the cameras and access to the lodge, knowing every single detail of prom night, the weird fake feeling of his wrists when he was in the saw trap. The fixation of Matt’s jacket draped onto your body. 

“Shit. Josh.” Your voice was bewildered. 

He nodded. Shame ran across his expression. “You… weren’t really supposed to find out.” 

You shook your head. “Then why… why this setup?” Everything in front of you continued to flicker in and out of focus. “I feel like I’m going slightly mad.” 

Josh grimaced. Every scenario ran through your head. In the shed. He made you choose between him and Matt. Prom. He also stole moments he knew he shouldn’t. It seemed so clear now. Everything except one thing. 

“Why… but you mentioned Beth… And Hannah.” 

“I… I had to get you off of my trail,” he admitted. “You know I’d never do something like that.” 

The mask laid there, taunting both of you. “Why… why not just tell me?” Confusion quickly morphed into hurt. “I thought you died.” The image flashed across your brain as you squeezed your eyes shut. 

“I was going to tell you earlier, but you said something that threw me off.” 

Your brain wracked itself for the possibilities before landing on the revelation.  

Washington Lodge Library. Earlier. 

Dust settled over the library of the lodge. It laid untouched until your fingertips disturbed the small particles. They swirled into the pale light. You weren’t sure what brought you into this room, into the darkness. The warmth of the fire roaring in the living room felt too hot, too bright. 

Part of you felt it was too dangerous. Too inviting for everything that had happened. Josh had lit that fire. But it wasn’t your warmth to feel. His warmth. 

You cursed yourself. Why were you back here? Why did you insist on coming? The last real conversation you had with Josh swam in your head. Sure, you had both argued, but it was the last time you had felt truly close to him. Maybe another version of you wouldn’t focus on that memory, maybe she’d overcome it. Maybe you’d have held onto the happier memories. 

But that wasn’t you now. All of the old books of the lodge were just a painful reminder of that. You wonder what book Beth had last read. Everyone teased Hannah for being a nerd, but it was really only the glasses. Beth, now, she was the pragmatic one.

Your stomach twisted. Was it always this quiet in the library? Did Beth look at these books the same night she went missing? 

Inexplicably, your hand landed on a book right in the middle of the self. It wasn’t as dusty as the others, and it called to you. Had someone read it recently? Your fingers slotted into the grooves of the pages. You began to pull. 

“Boo.” 

“Jesus Christ. Josh!” You whirled around just to be met with his smug toothy grin and warm breath. His fingers were still up, taunting you as you playfully smacked him, 

“What are you doing lurking around?” He crossed his arms with a fake tout. 

“I… I just thought I’d look for something to read.” You hung your head in faux guilt. It did feel like you were getting caught doing something, but you really did mean to just look for something to occupy your time. 

“I can’t be that boring of a host.” His eyes darted behind you to the bookcase. 

“I didn’t say that.” You playfully smacked him again. 

“Well, I didn’t invite you here to be broody,” he said, his attention gracefully shifting back to you. 

“Why did you invite me?” 

You didn’t mean to be so blunt. 

“Why wouldn’t I?” He didn’t miss a beat in answering. Despite that, you could feel the precipice of the deeper conversation creeping up. 

“For starters, we all know I’m not part of the main friend group. I’m just on the periphery, I’m just Matt’s ex.” 

Josh made a face of disbelief. “You’re literally friends with everyone here except Matt. Who the jury’s still out on.”

“Yeah, but-” 

Josh said your name pointedly, shutting you up. 

There was so much more to say. The apologies died on your tongue. It was as if he could sense how thick the tension was. 

“I’m just glad you finally made it this year. It felt… lonely without you last year.” 

A chill ran through you. Every part of you knew you shouldn’t have run away. You should’ve stayed. 

“I always think about how different things might have been,” you allowed yourself to say. 

“Me too.” 

Despite your words, none of those thoughts that plagued you came to mind. All you could see were the shine of his eyes in the dark. 

“Do you ever think how different it would’ve been if we actually had good friends?” 

Your words seemed to give Josh pause so you continued on. “I mean, the whole prank thing was ridiculous. There’s fun and then there’s downright being cruel.” A frown tugged at your lips. “”None of them deserve to be back here. I don’t know why you insisted on letting half of these jerks enjoy any of this again. And we both know they’re all just looking to shack up.” 

Josh seemed lost in thought, his eyes flickering to the bookcase again. 

“But then there’s me.” His eyes snapped back to you. “I feel like I’m just here…” You thought about your last argument with Josh— about the way he pressed you down into his bed with his weight despite the heaviness in both of your hearts. 

“Maybe I have something special for you.” His voice was low and weary. 

“Just for me?” You laughed. “Is it getting back at those assholes?” Josh’s eyebrows shot up. 

“I get so angry at them sometimes, it’s like I don’t know what to do with myself. But we both know how shitty that would be. Besides, then you wouldn’t be such a good, prosperous entertainer would you?” 

“Oh, I think I’m entertaining.” His bravado was back. “But not enough if you ended up in the stuffiest room of the lodge.”  

“I think I’d still have ended up here no matter what.” You turned to skim over the books again.

“Oh, definitely.” The lilt was back in his voice. “So, that’s a no to seeking revenge.” 

The deep anger that seethed in you wriggled to be set free. “Definitely a no. There’s a reason I wanted to get away from everyone.”

 “Which is?” 

 “Do my own thing.” The thoughts in your head drifted back to that night you spent in his bed— the way his breath felt on your neck, his tears still soaking your shirt. “I’m really just here for you.” 

“For me?” Josh slouched cooly. He was calculating, trying to snuff out exactly what you meant. 

“I….” You treaded carefully. “I want to know why you invited me back. I don’t… deserve it, really. Hell, I feel so out of place.”

“So you’re here out of courtesy?” 

“No, Josh. I’m saying I don’t know why I’m here.” He looked at you. He didn’t quite have an answer and you could tell by his silence. At least not verbally. 

He shuffled backwards from the bookcase. You turned towards him, curious. 

“What are you-” 

“Hold on, I think you’ll love this.” 

Josh bent over in the corner of the room. It was still substantially dark, the low visibility almost making another chill run down your spine. But Josh’s cool confidence felt reassuring as he began to fiddle with an unknown source. 

A slow scratch sounded into the din of the room. Piano notes began to pour in. Josh stepped away from a shiny golden phonogram. 

“What?” You crept closer to the object, fascinated by it. It glinted in the bath of moonlight from the windows, but it was rusted from age. 

“One of my dad’s pride and joys,” Josh scratched the back of his neck. 

“It’s beautiful.” You ran your hand over the edges, carving out the curves as if they were music notes. “I had no idea you were holding out on me like this.” 

“I knew you’d like it.” Josh gave a small laugh. He moved to a tiny wooden box next to the player. “There’re so many records in here I think you’d love.” His hands shuffled with the thick cases, flipping through them. His voice was exuberant and he was excited again. It reminded you of the nights he shared his film collection. 

“-And there’s this bad boy in particular.” Josh slid a specific vinyl out of the box. You took it slowly, turning it over with precision. ‘The River’ in cool blue ran across the cover. Memories flooded you as you stared down at it. 

Your eyes met his excitement. This was why you came. For that look in his eyes.

“Wanna do the honors?” 

“I’d love to.” You slid the record out carefully. Lifting the needle off of the current record was easy, but you found your hands unsteady as you placed the Springsteen record down. 

“Here-” Josh reached out as your hand found the needle. His warm hand guided yours right over a specific point. 

‘Hungry Heart’ began to play. 

“Just like prom,” you commented. Josh’s hand didn’t leave yours. 

“May I have this dance?” He bit his bottom lip, a habit you had long picked up on. 

“Yes, sir,” you responded. Josh was swift, and his other hand sought yours. You fastened your grip with his. Both of you backed into the room clumsily for space, awkward laughs and nerves as you side stepped the table. 

The only sound in the room aside from the music were your feet against the wooden floor as you both swayed your arms together. It was like a seesaw of a dance, a back and forth. 

The moment felt saccharine sweet, Josh’s body drifting closer and closer to yours. He went to spin you, and you laughed, almost tripping into him as the room swirled. He pulled you back into him without hesitation. His arm spanned your waist as your back rested against him. He didn’t let go of his grip on your hand. He kept you there, close and tender as he swayed with you. 

“Just like prom,” you joked. 

Josh nodded at the back of your neck. “I think I much prefer this.” 

He spun you out now, his arm outstretched. Your eyes met his for a brief, brilliant moment, something desperate and intense in his gaze. And then he reeled you back in, as he always seemed to do. Your back was to him again. It was just like the night of the argument- your body and his fit perfectly together. 

“Mmm. I missed you.” The words escaped you before you could stop them. Butterflies rippled through your stomach relentlessly. 

“I missed you too,” he murmured, his voice deep and velvety in the shell of your ear. He turned you to face him. You knew he could see the ditzy smile on your face, but you didn’t care. 

“Josh,” you whispered, completely intoxicated with the moment.

His eyes darted down to your lips as he said your name. 

This was it. This was time to right your wrongs. You closed your eyes just as his breath came into orbit with your own. It was perfect. Your arms intertwined with his, his lips almost brushing yours. 

Thud. 

A sharp nose made you jump. And Josh jumped too, pulling back. Both of you turned like deers caught in the headlights. The headlights were Chris and Ashley, a book squarely at their feet.  

“Sorry,” Ashley squeaked. Her face was beet red. 

Chris grimaced, clearly embarrassed at interrupting. “Sorry man, we didn’t think anyone was in here.” 

Josh’s shoulders fell. “It’s fine, it’s fine.” 

Your attempt to give a polite smile wasn’t exactly met well as Chris and Ashley slowly bumbled out of the room. It didn’t quite reach your eyes. Josh’s arms were still fastened to yours, but the moment was gone. The song changed- playing the next in Springsteen’s collection. 

“It’s my fault, I told them to meet me in here.” 

“That’s okay.” You dropped your arms from his, much to his chagrin. Despite his lingering disappointment, you couldn’t bring yourself to go back to that moment, everything mixing and tangling in your brain. But most of all was a hot anger towards Ashley for being in the prank. 

That night was recounted to you laboriously. Her hiding in a closet with Matt of all people. Ready to jump out and laugh. Ready to embrace Hannah, not unlike what she did now, intent or not. 

The moment was gone. Like every other saturated moment you had with him. But now that deep fizzle of anger swelled. You inhaled to steady your nerves. You needed an escape. 

“Well, if you need to pick my brain, you know where to find me.” You haphazardly grabbed a book and turned to leave. Josh’s eyes felt like they pierced into your back at your abrupt exit. 

He absolutely did know where to find you. 

Washington Lodge. Present.

“I told you it was shitty to try to get revenge. That I didn’t want to.” The realization hit you. 

Josh gave a meager nod. It was all he really could do. “I thought about letting you in right then. But then I knew you wouldn’t get it.”

Now it was your turn to shake your head. “No, Josh I get it. I really really do.” Hurt panged in you once more. When you thought it was the Psycho that tortured everyone, that took Hannah and Beth, it was easier to place your anger on that. But now, in the true light it was still the same. They were just gone. And you knew every single one of the culprits. 

Now you thought of yourself. Of Josh’s need to do this to you. 

Despite all of this, you knew him better than anyone. He was your maker, your director. And you were his beautiful, effervescent final girl.

“I’m your muse,” you mumbled. 

Josh looked taken aback at your words. “The shimmering prom dress, all of this effort to get the perfect moment again. You just thought you didn’t deserve it in the first place.” 

Josh moved his mouth but no words came out. 

“Josh, I should’ve kissed you every single time. From the time this flower was on my wrist to now. I….” You cupped his cheeks in your hand. “I want you.” 

His mouth was on you in an instant. He didn’t wait for a response, his lips devouring yours in a way you knew he was holding back from earlier. His arms wrapped around your waist and you were slotted against him. 

The anger subsided and now there was a different kind of heat building. One that made its presence known as you moaned. 

He took the moan as an opportunity to press his tongue into your mouth. He tilted you back, his hands firm on you, steady. Your tongue sought his, letting the heat and desire take over your thoughts. 

It was surreal as his lips moved to your neck, then your shoulder, dotting quick tender kisses to your skin. 

“Ugh, Josh,” you murmured at the feel of his lips all over you. This was it, all you wanted. He moaned into your body, his mouth seeking respite in the hollow of your chest. His chin grazed the slopes of your breasts, dancing at the edge of your dress, and it was all you could do to not groan. 

But your will snapped as his mouth landed on them, the wanton groan resounding through the room. Music was playing, but you weren’t even sure what it was now as your focus was on the symphony of the sweet sounds from his lips. 

He moaned your name, his eyes half lidded and hazy as his hands found your zipper. “You want me like this? Half out of my mind… dangerous…” Your zipper lowered with each word. 

“Dangerous?” You asked bemusedly. But he paid the words no mind, continuing as if breaking his concentration would make you slip away. 

“Obsessed with you.” He finished his thought. Your dress clung to you, but the back was now fully open. His hand slipped to cup your ass. The movement made you gasp, your body pressing forward. And now against his growing bulge. 

“What was your plan for me, Josh?” You asked huskily, curiosity and flattery coursing through your veins. There was an odd satisfaction at knowing he was doing all of this for you. You got your own spectacle. 

He squeezed you in his palms, his hand playing with the edge of your underwear. “To paint you.” 

That got a shiver out of you. The visual it created of his heat on you, coating you, possessing you. “You still can,” you murmured. 

“I will.” He let his other hand remove a shoulder strap. “Right before I drench you.” He spun your body around so you faced the other side of the room. Your gaze landed on the makeshift stage, but what hit you was up at the ceiling. 

There on a crude beam were buckets. They were perfectly aligned. It immediately clicked what they were for. And it excited you. 

“Fuck, Josh.” His lips attached to your chest, kissing each breast. He unclasped your bra and let his mouth find your nipple immediately. 

The sound of his mouth on you was loud and hot, and he sucked harshly. 

There were so many times this could’ve happened before. At prom in a darkened hallway, in his bed, the library, anywhere. But it was here. With the looming threat of danger, of heat. It stirred a floating, dizzying excitement in you. 

“Such a good girl, playing your part for me,” he whispered around your nipple. His mouth was wet and dreamy. 

“What happens after the blood?” You asked. Your fingers hooked into his collar, wriggling to undo his tie. 

He looked pleased, a sloppy grin bleeding onto his features. His hand squeezed your ass again, and he moved it under the fabric. His lips found the curve of your breasts again as he took his time to answer. 

“I chase you. You run.” He slowly slid your panties down. “I might catch you.” Josh’s fingers brushed your inner thigh. “You might get away.” His lips found your shoulder right as his fingers delved into your wet heat. 

A strangled gasp left you as he touched you. The rough leather of the glove caused sensations you had never felt before. 

You gulped as he continued his sultry touch. He zeroed in on your clit with ease, flicking his thumb up hazily. Your hands finally pulled his tie loose. “If I caught you-” he murmured,”- there’s no telling what I’d do to you.”

“Show me,” you panted out. 

“Mmm… the me in the mask isn’t so nice,” he whispered. His thumb flicked up more harshly, drawing a sharp gasp and moan from you. 

“Oh, I like him very much,” you said. Josh hummed. His tongue dragged up your chest. He tilted you back even further, tasting you. Craving you. His gloved finger now swirled in circles, slick against how wet you were. 

“Fuck.” He focused on pleasing you. The drag of his tongue was slow and delicate. As if you could disappear from under him at any second. 

“If you caught me, I’d struggle. But I’d want you all the same. I like the idea of being in on it. Putting up a fight in front of everyone else.” Your hand snaked down to palm him. His eyes widened and a strangled groan escaped him. He was even harder, his dick firm as you rubbed him. 

“Oh?” He asked, intrigued. He began to suck on your neck, listening intently.

“I’d love to let you claim me. Josh, the Psycho. Whatever you prefer.” Boldly, you dove your hand under his pants and the waistband of his underwear. You couldn’t wait. Your touch was greeted by his hard warmth. Josh shivered and pressed his thumb against you more. 

Both of you continued to rub each other. It was hard to speak between the moans and pants and searing tension. 

“Call me whatever you want,” he groaned out. 

“Josh,” you whispered. He adjusted his pace to match yours as you stroked him. It was messy and needy, both of you unable to take your eyes and hands off of each other. “My love.” He whimpered. “My maker. My ruiner.” 

His eyes lit up with delight at your praise. He whispered your name. “My heart. My desire. My beloved.” 

Something in your heart repaired itself at his words. It was more than just the bubbling lust and want. This was something deeper- something that followed you both in every interaction. 

His hand never faltered. He touched you with a haunting achiness. It was as if he was trying to savor this, as if he thought it was as surreal as you did. 

The heat in your stomach spiked. It was as if you could feel everything, down to the texture of the seam in his gloves, the small bead of precum on his tip that you wiped away greedily. 

“I need… I need to see you up there,” he murmured into your skin. Your gaze drifted to the stage, perfectly created for you. 

“You will,” you muttered back. “Josh, I’m going to-“ 

He jabbed his thumb into your clit harshly for what he knew was the last time. That was all you needed to unravel in front of him, that small ribbon keeping you together undoing itself wholly. 

Josh gave a pleased grunt, his fingers not stopping their relentless motion as you rode out your climax. His heat in your hand was unbearable, God he was hard. 

But he wasn’t done with you. He kept a steady hand on your back, his now free hand moving to his pocket. “Keep touching me,” he ordered. 

You obliged, feeling his lips flutter against your neck while you squeezed his head. A sharp, cool sensation drifted along your collarbone. Hazily, you looked down to see a glinting knife in Josh’s hand. 

Fear should’ve been the thing you felt. But instead it was replaced by the bubbling heat from your orgasm returning. Your hand kept pumping him. He was delighted by this, his lips curving into a smile as he dragged the knife along your skin. 

Silver reflected the shimmer of your dress. The knife slowly sank lower, and lower, dipping in-between your breasts. Despite it all, he was gentle, huffing onto your skin like you were his last lifeline. 

“I want to cut this off of you,” he muttered as the tip of the knife found the neckline of your dress. 

His words caused your hand to jerk, ripping a desperate moan from his lips. “F-“ His tongue trailed down after the knife, leaving his desperate, messy claim on you. The tip barely poked at you, little discolorations following its path. 

“That’s a little violent,” you teased. 

“You came at me with an axe,” he chuckled. While you both laughed, your hand still steadily pumped him. He shuddered in response. 

“Well, using that knife will take too long. I’d rather you just take me now.” The cool touch of the knife stopped. It clattered to the ground as Josh whirled you to sit on the stage. 

Within moments, he had hoisted up the skirt of the dress. You slid your panties down for him as he undid his belt buckle. He watched you closely, hungrily. He was finally seeing you intimately as your hands lowered your underwear. 

“I chose these for you,” you said with satisfaction. A needy whine left his lips as he crawled over you. Your body leaned back. His tie was in your grip as you pulled him down on top of you. 

“God, I’m going to tear you apart,” he whispered as his lips met yours again. He slid his tip along your soaked folds. The movement made you shudder and your free hand held the cool material of his suit. 

Josh’s eyes snapped up to yours. He drank you in, from your eyes to your body draped in your outfit just for him. And then he was sliding into you, his gaze transfixed on entering you. 

A rampant flush ran across your cheeks at his gaze. He looked as if he was worshiping you. The second you moaned from your body adjusted for him, he was gone. 

His rhythm was quick and steady. A new warmth ran across your body as he gripped your legs. He had somehow thrown the gloves off. The only thought in your head was that he discarded them to hold you. 

His lips found yours again in a sloppy, needy rush. Everything spun and melted between your gasps and moans with Josh. The lights and the balloons all swirled in your head as he took you. 

“I’ve been thinking about this since prom. Fuck, longer,” he muttered as his lips ghosted over your cheek. 

Your body felt like it parted for him perfectly. He filled you, and your insides throbbed miserably.

“I’ve wanted this since I met you,” you murmured. The night you and Josh met your head was full of liquor and thoughts of Matt. But that didn’t stop your heart from immediately attaching to Josh, especially when he slipped your ring onto your finger. 

The same ring that now caressed his face gingerly. He leaned into it. An understanding rippled between you both. Nothing would ever be the same again– and neither of you minded. 

All of the pain and misery- all of it, he drove it into you. His thrusts became sharper. A jarring moan left your lips. He swallowed it, his tongue just as pervasive as the first time. Everything felt white hot. In that moment, your ribbon of anger wrapped around you both– Binding you both together, forever. 

Josh’s hands rooted themselves on your thighs. “Shit, I’m going to-” His hips stuttered. 

“Please.”

He unraveled inside of you, the warmth sinking into you fast. You exhaled a puff of air, the feeling indescribable. 

He pulled back, resting his forehead on you as he pulled out. His hand sought yours, tangling into it. Adoration rested in his eyes. “You okay?” You ended up asking. 

He blinked. “Yeah… yeah, I’m perfect. You’re perfect.” He pressed a quick kiss to your lips. 

Neither of you wanted to move. Everything felt dazzling from the warm halo of lights in his hair to the way your breaths mingled. Your hand absently stroked his cheek. The corsage on your wrist glinted from the lights, the smooth pearls catching every little detail of the room. 

“Do you want to continue being my muse?” He murmured, kissing you again. His eyes were half-lidded and devious, a similar curve of a smile on his lips. 

“I’d love to.” After readjusting your clothes, he offered his hand to you again, You took it gratefully. The wood of the stage groaned under your shoes. Flashes of the past ran through your head. Your favorite movie with Josh. 

He stood back, his arms crossed as he watched you stand up there. But you didn’t feel lonely. His warmth was inside of you and the familiar wrath crawled up your back. He was a good distance away from you now. The same dangerous smile flickered on his lips. You had never seen him like this, but God had it paid off. He felt borderline insane, but still familiar. 

As you stood there, you held your head up. Vengeance would become you. Everything ran through your head and you could see it in Josh’s eyes. This was your choice. There was no running. No turning back. Hannah and Beth… every one else in the friend group would pay. 

And then the world was coated in red. It was a hot, wicked feeling. It singed your fingertips, and trailed down your dress. The memories weren’t ruined. They were immortalized. Blinking didn’t make it any less thick. It dripped and coalesced in warm cascades. The blood. 

It was sticky, the dress quickly clinging to your body. You should’ve felt ruined, not born again. You looked down at your hands, seeing nothing but scarlet. 

Finally, your outward appearance looked like your insides. Felt like your insides. Josh was entranced with you again. You could tell as your hand swiped away at your eyes once more for better visibility. The look on his face cemented what you both knew. 

You were the embodiment of the beating of his heart. Slick and red. 

A foreign heat licked at your back. It didn’t need to be in your vision for you to know that hot flames were licking up to the ceiling.

Josh settled the mask back onto his head. 

Your heart beat, not in fear, but in excitement. It was just you and Josh– making the entire world crimson.

Chapter Text

Nothing was louder than the sound of your heartbeat in your ears. Josh had marked you, claimed you. Loved you. 

The shadow of his body on top of you lingered in your mind. He was in front of you now, his head tilted as he waited for your next move. The warmth of the fire flickered across his mask and the sheen of the tie on his suit. 

His attempt to immortalize you was sweet. When you stood on that stage in your Carrie-esque arrangement, you should’ve felt horror. But you felt whole. 

The image of Josh popping the disk  for Carrie into the dvd player popped into your head. The look of excitement on his face to share it with you. And now he had– in the most intimate way possible. 

Your next move felt clear. Running was the only option. Even as the hot liquid crept over your features and dripped from your fingertips, you knew it. Your vision was partially obscured but you were sure you’d figure out the basic layout. You began to move your feet.

The entire world singed at the edges. It burned to a crisp. All of it.

The memory of the prank tore you apart. It was a memory you didn’t have – Just the envisioning of it from everyone else’s pieces. In your heart, most everyone was guilty. The main perpetrators – Mike, Emily, and Jess. Then the support – Ashley, and Matt. And the only ones you could consider absolving – Sam, Chris, and of course, Josh.

Going along with Josh felt like second nature. Everyone would get exactly what they deserved.  

Josh lumbered behind you. His footsteps thundered. It was all you could do to not look back. Everything felt like a rush. He would always chase after you. And you would always let him. 

The hallway streaked around you. There was no end in sight. Blood dripped from the hem of your dress, splattering everywhere. The further up you went in the hall, the more that red trail followed behind you. It was exhilarating. 

As you ran, a thought popped into your head. If you were going to play the part, you should try to save your own life. And what would do that exactly? You thought carefully about the choices you could make. 

There was the option to keep running. Or, you could delve behind a nook in the corridor. Your mind flicked back to all of those horror movies. Usually, the final girl would hide. If that’s what you were. 

Scouring for a hiding place was harder than you thought. Especially when you were focusing on not slipping on the blood at the same time. It was more slippery as you hiked the skirt up to run even faster. The hot liquid started to congeal against your skin as the air hit you. 

There it was. A wide construction of wood seemingly popped out at you. It was arranged perfectly in the corner.

You ran towards it and slid hid behind the shelving. Josh was close behind you. He paused, his head swiveling around. A knife glinted in his hands. 

Your breath caught. You tried to stay as still as possible. It was hard when it felt like your heart was thrumming in your ears. 

Still, you coaxed yourself. Still. 

Josh was near now. His breath puffed hard under the mask, distorted and disfigured. Your hand splayed on the shelf to steady yourself. 

Still. Your breaths came hard and fast, and you tried your best to hold it. 

His head tilted. Your eyes followed him carefully. Was he looking at something? Despite your best efforts, between staying still and holding to the shelf, you couldn’t see quite what he was looking at. 

You shifted, daring to peek your head out. It wasn’t the right time to let go of your breath, but there it was. A long, dark trail of red that led… right to your hiding place. Shit. No part of you wanted to lose. It was clear he was taking pride in the game of cat and mouse, idly twirling the knife. Waiting. 

He wanted to see your next move– to see how committed you were to this. Josh got his answer as you shot out of the hiding place. Determination was clearly your strong suit as you attempted to streak past him.

Strong arms gripped your waist. He caught up. 

“Nice try,” he practically purred into your ear. You shivered at his now modulated voice. 

His thumbs rubbed circles into your hips as he brought you back onto him. Your ass was now resting against his very prominent outline of his dick. 

You turned to look at him. The dress had you soaked, your curves achingly exposed. An ache reflecting on Josh’s eyes as they swept over you. Now that you knew it was him, the blue of his eyes were easier to catch through the mask. 

“Please don’t kill me, I wanna be in the sequel,” you joked. But the pleading only turned him on more. 

The knife was dangerously close to your side. A gasp left you as Josh pressed the blade along the seam of your dress. He started at your hip and cut down. It dragged along your skin, blood washing the metal. Cool air hit the rest of your now exposed leg. 

Josh huffed and lifted your leg. His gloves were back on. and you could feel them on your skin. 

“Now?” He asked cockily. “Are you going to be good for me?” You nodded as his other arm picked up around your waist, causing you to bend over quite willingly. He still held the knife, the handle against your stomach. 

He was hard again, pushing against your ass shamelessly. Your hand reached out to the wall, the stone rough against your hand. Deep crimson stained the rose and pearls of your corsage. It contrasted with the dim blue darkness of the hall. 

All of the carnage and blood didn’t seem to bother Josh. He’d be covered in blood from pushing himself against you, from touching you and grabbing you like he was, but it wasn’t a deterrent in the slightest. 

Josh was excited for this. He had taken you once already as himself, and now it was time for the Psycho to have you. His show would go on. 

With your leg lifted, your dress parted to the side, giving him access to as much of you as he wanted. It slipped off of your hips. With sticky hands, you managed to pull your panties down. 

Josh gave another pleased noise and hiked your leg up higher. The motion shifted you back towards him. His arm momentarily left your waist to drop his pants and underwear. You could tell because your now mildly damp skin was greeted by his bare cock. He greedily slid himself between your cheeks. 

“How’s this, princess?” He asked, but didn’t wait for a response. His cock slid back into your wet entrance without warning. You grunted in response, adjusting for him a second time. He was just as warm as before and his cock twitched desperately inside of you. 

“Fuck. Fuck, you feel so good.” The words tumbled from your lips. 

“You thought you could run?” He asked. He began to move. “Look at how wet you are for me right now.” His pace was relentless. His hips met yours harshly as he buried himself into you over and over. The sound of him pounding into you reverberated in the hallway.

Your hands curled against the wall. This only spurred Josh on. His slick glove reached over and grabbed your hand. Just like you suspected, he was just as bloody, the glove dark and shimmering with the wetness of all of the blood. He was slamming into you now, his hand gripping yours for dear life. 

The feeling of him fucking you– rough and mercilessly– ripped a weak cry from your throat. His fingers threaded with yours, and he grunted in response. Josh showed no signs of slowing down. He was still throbbing and you could feel him getting close again. 

“Josh- ah!” He interrupted your moan of his name, raising your leg even higher. It let him drive right into you, buried so deeply he was brushing against your cervix. Everything about you was warm and wet, inside and outside. 

“Fucking Psycho,” you gritted out instead. This was a pleasing response and Josh rewarded you with a deep stroke of his hips. 

“That’s it,” he said. He buried himself in you and now he was throbbing just as badly as you were. Every movement let his pelvis slam onto your ass. 

Your body trembled from his sheer force. Josh didn’t slow, his grip on your hand tightening to a painful hold. It wasn’t fair how your walls pulsed with every shift of his cock inside of you. 

Your breaths came out shakily as reality spun. This was a side of Josh you had never seen before, had never thought possible. His eyes had always lit up at the idea of playing video games or watching a horror movie, but this sort of intricate design was something you thought was beyond him. 

Clearly not anymore as he sheathed himself deep inside you with the mask of a crazed killer on. And maybe he didn’t think this was in you either– playing along perfectly as his bold heroine. 

The hilt of the knife caressed your fingers as he continued to slam into you. It had slipped your mind that it was still in his hand. Josh took notice of this and tilted it, angling the knife just perfectly enough so that the image of your flushed scarlet look and his menacing mask were seared into the silver forever. 

His eyes pierced through the mask right into yours. Warmth pooled in your stomach again as you rested on the precipice of another orgasm. 

“Let me go,” you muttered in a hazy banter as Josh continued to bury himself in you. 

He chuckled, sly and low. “Now, why would I do that?” His hips didn’t falter for a single moment. 

“Because you’re fucking crazy.” Josh’s eyes glinted with delight at your words, the blue widening in the view of the knife. 

“How’s this? You cum for me again, and I’ll consider not taking your life, life I took your little boy toys’.” This was the first time Josh alluded to what he had made you bear witness to. 

“Or, I cum and I consider not killing you in return.” The Psycho’s mask tilted yet again.

“Angry, are we?” Josh practically cooed at you. He was teasing you in this twisted scenario, holding the arranged murder over your head. 

“Oh, you better believe I’m upset at that sick twisted shit.” Your words underlined a sliver of truth. 

Josh drove into you agonizingly hard now. The pain brought tears to your eyes– tears he watched drip from your face, mixing with red. He felt more engorged than ever, and it nearly coaxed you to the finish line immediately. His hand dropped from your leg and he positioned it adjacent to your laced hands. It allowed for him to be harsher, more greedy with his movements. He wasn’t going to apologize. 

The thought pissed you off. But that couldn’t stop the pleasure. A fresh set of unbearable fire ripped through you as another orgasm hit. “Josh!” You called out his name again. 

He didn’t stop you this time, his heat melding with yours as his cum filled you just as hungrily as the first time. It was a disgusting cacophony of blood, sweat, and tears to the extreme. 

Despite this, you felt a deep swell of satisfaction. You pulsed as his cum drenched your insides. His grip didn’t relent from yours but he did let the knife clatter to the floor. The mask was faltering for a moment and Josh was coming back. 

“Are you okay?” He asked, his breath huffing under the skull facade. 

“Mhm.” You nodded with your own huff as your breathing struggled to return to normal. He let himself slip out of you and his grasp finally let up. There was the rustling of fabric as he got dressed again. The ruin of your dress slipped back down to cover you. 

As you came back down, you pushed off of the wall. It was now marked with both of your bloody handprints, a mess of intertwining deep red. 

When you turned to look at him, he raised his head. He was… a mess. He was stained with your misery, his gloves and torso slick with garish blood. Boldly, you leaned down and recollected your panties from your ankles, pulling it back up. 

“We’re matching again,” the cheeky comment left you as you noticed the bottom of his tie now covered too. He laughed, a deep, warped sound. 

“You’ve always ruined me like this,” came his response. You froze. This was Josh again, not the labyrinth of the Psycho. His comment made your heart tremble.

You took a step closer to him. He didn’t stop you as you raised the mask off of his lower jaw again. Then, without pause, you pressed your lips against his. Neither of you cared about the blood as you sank into him, your arms thrown around his shoulders. 

He pulled you closer, his lips moving against yours unhurriedly, as if you both had the rest of time. 

“Say it again,” you whispered against his mouth, desperate to hear it in his voice. 

“You… you’ve always ruined me like this,” he murmured, his lips meeting yours again. The kiss was slow, and just as tender as his voice.

You pulled back, looking into the eyes of the skull mask. “I-...” The words caught in your throat. Things should’ve been easier than this. This isn’t what it should’ve taken and you knew it. But both of you succumbed to pride and stubbornness. You wouldn’t say the words, and neither would he. Not like this. 

He gripped your wrists and removed them from his shoulders, uttering one simple word, the only one he could. “Run.” 

It was alarming how quickly your feet moved. It wasn’t an empty threat and you knew it. He was just as tumultuous as you were. Unstable. Unhappy. 

Those words echoed in every step you took. There was no happy ending for you and Josh. That’s what his words meant. All of them. 

You slipped back into the play. The determination of the final girl came back. You ran through the hallways, turning and twisting. Then– A door. An escape.

The axe was there again. You pulled it from the door, and shoved through it. 

The scene before you was confusing to say the least. “Chris…? Ashley?” 

The two friends clamored before you, their hands clamped to the table, a giant saw whirring above them. You paused as the memory of Josh’s fake body being ripped apart flashed in front of you. 

And then another concerning thought– you had the tool in your hand to pretend to put them out of their misery. 

“Oh good, you found them.” Josh lumbered into the room behind you. He was back into his role now, all of the confusion and tenderness evaporated from his calculated words. “And I found you.” 

The axe raised in front of you on its own accord. Another choice. 

You’re a final girl. Act like one. 

You raised the axe towards Josh. He reached out and yanked it. You almost tripped forward, practically crashing into him. 

“Leave her alone!” Ashley’s voice raised as Chris called your name simultaneously. They feared for you. Hell, you feared for you. 

The sound of gunshots rang out. Josh staggered back from you. Your eyes widened as he looked down at the hole now in his shoulder. His hands still gripped the axe, frozen in shock. 

“No… no, no no. Josh!” You let go of the axe and desperately raised the bloodied mask from his face. 

“Josh…?” Chris’ voice hardly registered in your head. 

You ripped the plastic from his face, cradling his cheeks. “You’re okay, you’ll be okay.” 

Josh laughed, a deeply disturbed and warbled sound. Confusion crossed your face.

“Oh my god you guys, this is priceless.” He smirked. He wrapped an arm around your waist again. 

“What?” Ashley responded. A random light shone onto you and Josh like a spotlight. You looked down and there was no hole in his shoulder like you thought. It was clean. 

“Oh Chris. Chris, Chris, Chris. Haven’t you ever heard of blanks?” He asked. Before anyone could respond, he crashed his lips against yours. 

You couldn’t hear anyone’s reactions clearly as you became engrossed in Josh again. The shock from witnessing him presumably dying again still stayed in you. 

It was wrong. It wasn’t right. He was using you for his little display. But you didn’t care. You weren’t losing him. This kiss was just as heated and intense as all of the others. 

When he finally pulled back, he smirked at everyone else cockily. You turned, your cheeks flushing in embarrassment. Mike and Sam were somehow there now, light beaming from Sam’s flashlight.  

“What is going on?” Mike asked impatiently. It was quite the sight, Josh kissing you in your bloodied prom outfits. An implicating one at that. 

No words came from your throat. Josh’s grip on your waist tightened. 

“This is it! The grand spectacle you all have been waiting for.” Josh laughed, the sound resounding in the hollow space. The saw had whirled to a stop and the only sound was him. 

Everyone’s eyes on you felt like hot coals as Josh continued his rant. “I hope it felt good, feeling everything my sisters felt one year ago. Only they don’t get to come back. Nope, they’re gone!” 

A sinking feeling entered your gut. Mike and Sam moved to untie Chris and Ashley, looking over their shoulders hesitantly. Josh’s grip was steadfast on you, he wasn’t letting go. 

“I don’t know if you noticed this Josh, but none of us are laughing!” Mike threw his hands up. “And give the poor girl a break, let her go!” Mike motioned to you. 

“A break?” Josh’s eyes flashed with something cruel. His grip became tighter, and possessive. “She doesn’t need that, thank you very much. After all of the help from you all? I mean what, this whole time haven’t you all been dying for us to get together?”

The silence from everyone was deafening. “I mean, doesn’t the Scooby gang get tired of meddling? Things are finally in my favor for once. I’ve recorded it all, the unrequited love, desperation, fear, all of it. And now, I have my final girl too. She’s the only one left in my life thanks to you assholes. Besides, what’s another harmless prank?” Josh tilted his head. 

There was no one you could make eye contact with. For better or for worse, this is what you had wanted. Madness had sunk its claws into you, Josh and you had become syncopated to the other. Even now, you were silent. Maybe you were nothing more than a prop, but you fell for it–  hook line and sinker. “-For every little stinker,” Josh said as if completing your thought while he spieled out the phrase. 

“Harmless?” Mike angrily stepped forward. “Jessica is dead you asshole!” 

This gave Josh pause. 

“He wouldn’t do that,” your voice finally joined the mix. 

“No? Look at you! Who the fuck does that to the girl they like?” You bristled, only accentuating the glistening of blood on you. “And now the girl I like is gone.”

“Watch it-” Josh’s coldness crept back. 

“Mike, cool it-” Sam said. It was all a blur. 

Mike moved forward, Josh whirled you out of the way, there was a cacophony of exclamations, for you, Mike, or Josh, you weren’t sure. But now Josh was sprawled out on the floor, Mike’s gun in his hand while his chest heaved. He towered over you, somehow in the scuffle you had been cast to the floor too. 

“Mike!” Sam yanked Mike’s arm back. Despite the ache in your hips, you slid forward to cover Josh with your body. 

“Don’t you fucking touch him again,” you hissed. 

“See? I’m not insane, she’s in on this too. They need– they need to be locked up.” The hilt of the gun pressed against Mike’s head. 

“Let’s think about this,” Chris interjected. “Josh is clearly off of his meds, let’s just tie him up until morning and then we can deal with this.”

Ashley piped up too. “And what about-” Her eyes darted to you as she said your name. 

“What about her?” Sam asked. She pushed past Mike to help you to your feet. You had half a mind to bat her hand away, but your blinding rage subsided for her. This was Sam, the only one who had stood by your side in the aftermath. You gently took her hand as she helped you up. 

“She’s dangerous,” Mike said. You crinkled your nose into a sneer at him. Physically hurting Josh crossed a line. “Look at her, she’s fucking feral right now.” 

“But we know her,” Ashley said. “She’s been nothing but sweet to all of us! We can’t just cast her out.” 

“Hello, I’m still standing right here,” you interrupted. Everyone turned to you. “I know it doesn’t look like it, but Josh is… he needs help. He’s angry and can any of you blame him?” 

“We can’t just have him hanging around after all of this. It’s too much. Maybe we don’t call the cops in the morning, but he needs to be away,” Mike’s mouth twisted as he spoke. 

“Okay, fine! Just- just let me be with him. I can try to talk some sense into him.” 

“Fine.” Mike shook his head. “But we have to tie both of you up.” 

“What?” Sam’s voice joined yours in tandem. 

Mike said your name. “You’re unstable too. He basically tarred and feathered you and here you are just… going with it. I don’t trust it and neither should any of you. For all we know, she could be in on it and help him even if he’s subdued.”

“That’s not-!” You began to protest, but saw the look on everyone’s faces. They believed Mike. You scoffed and shook your head. “Fine, fine. Exclude me, like usual.” 

“The shed is probably safe,” Chris said, ignoring your words. 

The decision was unanimous. Sam and Mike both moved to tie you and Josh’s wrists respectively. 

Sam’s voice was low as she bound your arms together. “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be. I chose this with him.” The saw pierced your vision. 

“I know you didn’t choose him like this,” she added, giving one final knot. 

“Can we at least get some coats? It’s going to be freezing out there.” Josh began to stir at your request. 

Mike had flipped him over to tie Josh up, his knee currently pressed firmly into Josh’s back. “Fine, yes.” 

Chris and Ashley scattered away to retrieve outerwear for you both. At least there was some compassion left. 

Watching Josh like this was… hard. His demeanor had shifted so quickly. Was it always like this?

A year and a half ago. Two days after prom. 

Silky blue. Big smiles. Your hand nervously ran over the polaroid picture Beth had given you. Josh was leaning close to you, and you were both all smiles. His arm was around your waist. It was right after your dance together at prom.

“What’s that?” Josh walked into the room, sporting a laundry basket at his hip. He placed it down and practically leapt onto the couch with you. It was a cozy Sunday afternoon. You ended up at the Washingtons as you usually did. 

“Here.” You handed the photo over. When you did, your hand brushed against his. The touch sent a wave of electricity over you. 

A moment passed. Josh was silent. He furrowed his brows as he looked at the photo. 

“Josh?” He looked pensive even as you spoke. 

“Huh? Oh, yeah.” He slid the photo back over to you.

“Is something wrong with it?” Sunlight caught on the photo as you held it up, giving everything a soft glow. Taking it was a blur. The conversations between you and Josh melded with dancing at prom permeated the memory. It was your first time being more… intimate with him. 

“No, no.” He lowered his head sheepishly. “I just don’t remember taking it.” 

There was a bright flash. Beth crooning at you both to get closer together. And then the awkward movement of… letting each other go. It was a blur, but you certainly remembered it. 

Before you could respond, Hannah sidled over. “You don’t remember being next to this lovely lady?” She pinched your arm and leaned over the back of the couch.

“No… I recall everything else though.” Josh rubbed the back of his head.

“Oh.” Hannah tilted her head. Something passed between her and Josh. It was momentary, but it was there, some kind of silent communication. “But man, you guys looked good on that dance floor.” 

Your elbow made contact with her stomach. 

She pushed her glasses back onto her face and stuck her tongue out at you. Josh was unawares, still looking at the photo in your hand. 

“Anyways, I’m sure Beth has lots more photos. She was taking them all night.” Hannah recovered swiftly. For someone who wouldn’t get over Mike, she sure was pushy about you and Josh. Maybe telling her about the crush was a mistake. 

“Sure was.” Beth came in and stood in the doorway. “But we’ll take lots more on the trip.” 

Your lap was suddenly the most interesting thing in the world as you looked down at it. Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Oh please don’t tell me you’re still not planning on making it.” 

Josh’s ears practically shot up. The whole room was looking at you expectantly now. It felt crushing. 

“You guys all know I would, but-” 

“But what!” Hannah exclaimed. 

“Yeah, girl,” Beth chipped in.

“My family already has a winter trip planned so I can’t-” 

“Just come in the summer.” Josh’s voice was quiet but steady. 

“What?” Now all three of you stared at him. 

“I’m sure we can work something out with mom and dad. We used to go during the summer all the time.” He bit his bottom lip. 

This made you blank. This invitation was unexpected. “I- I could try,” you started. Shame coursed through you. Your family had planned a winter trip, but that wasn’t the real reason you didn’t want to go. “But your parents-”

“Don’t worry about them,” Hannah said. “See that ring on your finger?” She pointed to the silver heirloom adorning your hand. “ It means you’re one of us. I gave that to you. The only way you won’t be a Washington is if another guy puts a ring on it. But let’s be honest, that’s not happening without my blessing. Right, Josh?” She asked her brother cheekily.

“It’s settled then. Summer.” Beth cut in and grinned, the expression catching to her twin. Neither of them gave you nor Josh time to respond. She slid her arm into Hannah’s. “I need your help with something. And Josh– see me later.” 

He saluted Beth nonchalantly. 

After Hannah pinched your arm again, she gleefully followed her sister. 

Silence settled back onto the room. Sunlight poured in, basking you and Josh in something that seemed hopeful. Josh made no move to say a single word.

“So… do you really think your dad would just let you guys up there alone?” You broke the silence first. 

“I mean, the winter one is parentless so, yeah.” He fiddled with his hands in his lap. 

“Just us though? Me, you, and the twins?”

“I don’t see why not. I could always invite Matt,” he added with a smirk at teasing about your now ex. 

“God, no thank you.”

“I saw how you looked at him at prom.” 

In that moment, you swear your heart froze. It was true, your eyes had looked for Matt at a certain point out of curiosity. But it was Josh you danced and laughed with there. He had twirled you and you were swooning over him all night.

“I’m completely over him,” you said firmly.

Josh put his arms up and laughed. God, it was infectious. 

“So,” you scooted closer to him and handed him a stray video game controller. From pure muscle memory, he hit a button to turn the console on. It beeped to life. This was a ritual you had developed. You came over to hang out with the twins and somehow always ended up keeping Josh company to watch scary movies or play games that everyone claimed was too gory for them. 

“So-” he continued as he pulled up the last game. It was a horror choice making game. Every time someone died, you’d switch it off. 

“What does this trip entail if it’s in the summer?” 

“The same stuff.” Josh kept his eyes glued to the screen, his laundry long forgotten. “Your turn.” He handed you the controller as the game booted up. 

“What is ‘the same stuff’?” You asked earnestly. 

“Drinking, obviously. Campfires, smore’s, there’s the theater room.” 

“A theater room?” You raised your eyebrows. Clicking filled the room as you began to play. You were thrown into the fray of trying to defeat a hard, grotesque monster. 

“Any movie your heart desires, I can throw it up.” 

“Okay, I’m sold,” you said. Red flashed over the room as blood dripped on the screen. Try again, it said. 

Wordlessly, you handed Josh the controller. It was dizzying the way it felt to brush your hand against his. Red from the screen doused your hands. For a split second you swore his hand swiveled against the ring on your finger. 

“But, I don’t see why I’d go just in the summer if it’s exactly the same,” you teased. 

He withdrew his hand from yours to play. “Okay, maybe there’d be some differences. I used to play baseball all the time if it was nice out. We could actually go hiking, the flowers peek out from the ground when it’s not covered in ice. It’s one of my favorite things.” 

Josh painted a perfect picture in your mind, he always had a way to make the most mundane things feel planned and special. A field of flowers, his hands on yours, guiding you with the bat. Your heart thumped. 

“It sounds lovely.” 

Some more time passed as you and Josh continued the game. He passed the boss with ease and advanced to the next area. You tried to focus and shake all of the thoughts of going to the lodge with him off. 

As the sun set, the golden hue got stronger. It bathed both you and Josh in a bubble, one you felt as though you could live in forever. Not a violent heat, but a gentle encompassing one. 

Present. 

“Morning, dreamboat,” Mike said as Josh came to. Josh lifted his head, looking around. His gaze landed on you, tied up just like him and his eyes widened. 

“It’s okay,” you said, moving over to rest next to him on your knees. “We’re going to be fine.” 

Sam and Mike untied you both once Ashley and Chris returned, letting you and Josh put the coats on before being retied. Josh was slow and unblinking, seemingly not there. 

You moved closer to him. Your coat was already on and it did little to staunch the way the blood seemed to absorb the cool and saturate heat from your body. 

“Hey…” You reached your hands out to Josh. Movement caught your eye.

Everyone being tense was something you couldn’t blame them for. “I’m just helping him,” you clarified. You attempted to slowly slide the jacket over his arms. He obliged, but his eyes were still dull.

“Josh.” His eyes met yours and he seemed to recollect himself. But before he could speak, Mike was lifting him up by the jacket collar. 

“Alright, let’s go,” he said firmly. “Chris, you take her. We’ll stagger taking them so he can’t pull anything.” 

“Like hell you are.” Even though your feet moved to join Josh, Sam held her arm out in front of you. “Sam-” you objected but caught her eye. She was concerned, her lips pressed together. You sighed and leaned against the table. Sam was maybe the only one you listened to. She never wavered and had made it clear she was always on your side. 

With Josh and Mike gone, the room seemed to deflate. 

“I don’t trust them together,” you said glumly. 

“It’s temporary,” Ashley offered. 

“We won’t let Mike do anything else rash. He’ll calm down once everything settles,” Sam said. It was meager comfort, but it was something. 

“I think we should go now.” Chris motioned for you to lead the way. Your brows creased. He wasn’t treating you with malice, just… a sense of forlornness. 

Air blew from your lips as you stepped forward. As you did, the saw was in your peripheral vision. Its metal began to move, melding with your mind. It felt like it split you in half as you walked adjacent to it. 

The intense heat you felt before was beginning to be replaced with something else. A cool rush, especially as you stepped out into the open. Your gaze looked down on the footprints of Josh’s shoes, your steps fitting within them. Following him. As always.