#Death at the Sanatorium

[jolieeason]

Bookish Travels---August 2024 Destinations

I saw this meme on It’s All About Books and thought, I like this!! So, I decided to do it once a month also. Many thanks to Yvonne for originally posting this!! This post is what it says: Places I travel to in books each month. Books take you to places you would never get to. Bon Voyage!! Please let me know if you have read these books or traveled to these areas. Countries I visited the most:…

[bloodmaarked]

➸ reading list

just added:

we'll prescribe you a cat, syou ishida

the full moon coffee shop, mai mochizuki

death at the sanatorium, ragnar jónasson

the lantern of lost memories, sanaka hiiragi

the queen's spade, sarah raughley

we solve murders, richard osman

welcome to the hyunam-dong bookshop, hwang bo-reum

dallergut dream department store, mi-ye lee

the secret lives of baba segi's wives, lola shoneyin

sula, toni morrison

[zishuge]

The Spirealm 致命游戏 (2024) | Ep. 12

[ordinaryeternalmachinery]

Tomorrow I'll wake up at the ranch, he thought, and it was as if he was two men at a time: the man who travelled through the autumn day and across the geography of the fatherland, and the other one, locked up in a sanatorium and subject to methodical servitude.

FICCIONES by jorge luis borges

[hauntsect]

It's thundering, storming harshly outside the wards – every patient prompted to stay inside. Yet, despite them being protected from the heavy rain and the lightning outside, the strong noise of a calamity reached every single room. Not just that, the screams of one particular patient reverberate throughout every corner. The noise must be getting to them.

"Someone, please, sedate whoever is causing such a ruckus." The doctor says and the nurses hesitate to speak. It's one of them who ultimately informs what the others wanted to say, he himself seems shaky about it, too.

"It's Hyles, sir." The man speaks and the doctor stops scribbling on paperwork. He turns over to the nurse, he stares back at him, eyes squinting in disbelief.

"My little boy? Is he in pain?" It was the only explanation for this and even that was shaky. He wasn't one to complain so audibly about his ailments. Why, the man called him his best patient due to it. He had even visited him earlier today, gifted him a nice book to read and all. Hyles had said the pain was bearable. Now, though, even he could hear his shrieks and wails from the other corner of the ward. Sounded like those of an agonizing, wretched creature. His poor kid...

Rushing to room 125, the scenery took a drastic change. From white, pristine walls to a shocking crimson, there's blood splattered all over. Pieces of skin fall roughly along with it. On the once white bed sits the boy, ripping and tearing at his own skin with both fingers and trembling scalpel. All of this, done as he cries out. The bodies of both nurses and doctors decorate parts of the floor and even the corners of the bed – it seemed it wasn't only his blood spread around.

He looked grotesque, flesh ripped apart, tears staining even the parts of his face that were bleeding out. Hyles is desperate, he screams and shakes, he wails, and speaks...

The language is foreign — to the people seeing it happen, it's all gibberish. Yet he cries out... and the doctor listens.

"Hyles... Hyles, it's me. Are you listening? If you cry out like this, we can't help you. Use the words you have learned. Use them." He encourages and, somehow, in between the wails, his carving of skin, blood-splattering comes to a halt, trickling down in discreet puddles. The scalpel falls over to the crimson bed, just as he is downcast. Finally, it seems like he is breathing.

"It hurts..."

"That has never caused such a visceral reaction. Go on, keep using your words." The doctor encourages while slowly approaching the boy.

"It is killing me. I'm dying, but... the stars. They're too high up, I cannot reach them. And the things they demand, and the things they want, I cannot do it. They're calling to me, I see them, I hear them. They're everywhere. I'll die before I make it. I... cannot... Cannot let it happen. Cannot, I must extirpate this decease, before it stops me... But I can't find it. I have to go deeper."

"No, Hyles, sweetest little saccharine dew," the doctor calls to him sweetly, mimicking the ways in which Hyles himself liked to speak towards his favorites, it keeps his attention steady, it was a language shared between them – proof of affection, Hyles would oftentimes call it, a weapon the doctor quietly surmised. The very weapon he used right now to keep Hyles calm. Crazed eyes land upon the older man's, who smiles back at him, calmly. He approaches and Hyles raises his hands towards him.

"I can't find it..." He cries out vaguely, tears running down. The man nods at him before he covers the bloodied boy in an embrace... and injects him a vivid blue liquid in. For a moment, there was silence, the grip of the boy slowly growing weaker and weaker... He gives in to the doctor's embrace, eyes closing, a relaxed sigh coming out.

"I thought our sedatives didn't work on him..."

"They don't... This was a different medicine." He comments, a blatant lie he hides neatly as he remains there, hugging his dear boy for a while longer... Worried that this might be the last time he could.

He thought maybe Hyles would turn into a crazed monster, much like the other subjects exposed to such a vial... He acknowledged he was crazy for even thinking this might help, for even trying it out on him, of all people. After he had done it, he was sure he would come to regret it. Yet, no growling, no twist or turning, nothing comes out of it. Instead, peace. Hyles sleeps, and the doctor places him softly on the bed. When he turns over, the fellow nurses who saw everything were still there, unable to decide if to leave or not. The scene was enough to make them want to run, but...

"Stitch him up. I'll take care of the rest." He wouldn't say it, but he was kind of an expert when it came to fixing a scene... "My nephew is not to be disturbed, once you're done. Just stitch him, wrap him up, and leave the room as is."

Nauseous and unsure, the nurses comply, and their hard work begins...

Hyles knows it has taken him long to wake up, despite the rain still pouring so soundly. It seemed the storm wouldn't let up, but it looked quite dark outside, despite the intensity of the lights keeping his room from succumbing to the void. The pain is gone, it has subsided, his organs no longer burning, no need to twist and turn, wail or scream. His muscles ache, his body aches, but the sting seems so far-away, nullified by the bandages spread all over him, and some form of painkiller.

He hears a scrubbing by his side, he turns over and realizes the walls have been rendered pristine white again... Only remnants of crimson remain on the floor. No bodies to be seen. Right, he recalled ripping one of his least favorites apart... and some others. He sits over, his uncle is doing quite a good job at this, he never believed him when he said he used to be a cleaner... Even the book he had been reading – the very one the man had gifted him – was no longer stained with blood. His bookmarks intact, as if nothing had happened to them.

We are not alone in the universe. I am not alone. I am a part of this universe, too.

"What did you do to me?" A hoarse voice asks and the doctor turns over, smiling as he usually does with his favorite patient.

"I might have found your cure."

[runawaycarouselhorse]

[sockscosyreblogs]

I’m such a hypocrite for this but I hope we can play as Emily more in Until Dawn Remake😭😭

In action segments especially!

I LOVE selfish characters who will do anything to survive.

Also if Emily could find Jess in the mines and they could both work together to escape that would be awesome! But also that’s definitely not happening lol

I need to make another post or smth where I rant about the characters and my hopes for their changes in the Remake hahahah. Because I am HYPERFIXATING rn it is kinda stressful haha

[ovenbakedtwink]

i feel like i’m dying of consumption and not in a Lord Byron, Hamlet, let me take a vacation to a sanatorium to get a subtle tan, go swimming, spaing around, talk shit with the girlies and breathe in the clean crisp air way

[lefteagleblizzard]

𝔄 𝔱𝔬𝔲𝔠𝔥 𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔪𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫 𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢

Mike munroe x male reader

Summary: Trapped in the freezing sanatorium, Mike notices your body trembling from the cold and takes matters into his own hands-literally. His touch starts out innocent, a way to warm you up, but soon it turns into something far more heated.

Tags: Male reader. He/him pronouns are used towards the reader. Wolfie being a good boy. Mike and Jess are not together in this. Friends to lovers. Smut. Gay smut. Top Mike munroe. Bottom male reader. Anal sex.

Note: I played the original game years ago, and now that I'm playing the remake, my crush on Mike has come back. He's such a good character with amazing development. I never expected to like him this much. I'm near chapter 7 of the remake, and I'm honestly loving it.

Can also be found on wattpad and ao3

Words counts: 3000

𝔅𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔩𝔶 𝔰𝔲𝔭𝔭𝔬𝔯𝔱

𝔉𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢'𝔰 𝔞 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔪

𝔗𝔴𝔬 𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰 𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔬𝔤𝔢𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯

ℌ𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔬𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔶𝔬𝔲

𝔍𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔬𝔲𝔰𝔶 𝔞𝔱 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔨𝔴𝔬𝔬𝔡 𝔐𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔦𝔫

𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣𝔦𝔰𝔥 𝔭𝔞𝔱𝔥 Part 2 of it

The cold of the sanatorium was oppressive. It seemed to leech the warmth from the very walls, seeping into your skin and bones, making every breath feel like you were inhaling shards of ice. As you and Mike rummaged through the mess of papers and debris in the dim, decaying room, the chill became impossible to ignore.

You had been at this for what felt like hours. Searching for anything, any clue, any scrap of information that could help you make sense of the nightmare you and your friends had stumbled into.

You wanted to focus. You needed to. But the cold was starting to weaken you. Your muscles ached from the effort of trying to stay warm, and despite your best attempts to keep it together, your hands were trembling as you shuffled through the scattered papers. The torn, thin jacket you'd found earlier did little to protect you, barely covering your torso, let alone insulating you from the freezing air.

Snowflakes continued to drift in from the broken windows, scattering across the dusty floor.

The place felt like a tomb. The smell of decay hung in the air, making every breath feel heavy, cold, and full of death.

Mike tried to stay focused, but even as his eyes scanned the scattered papers on the floor, his attention was pulled to you. You were over by the corner of the room, crouched low beside an old table, sifting through stacks of yellowed documents, your movements deliberate but slow. The jacket clung to you awkwardly, barely covering your arms and torso.

Even from across the room, he could hear your teeth chattering slightly, despite how hard you were trying to suppress it.

You always did that, pushing yourself even when it was clear you were struggling. Mike admired that about you, but it was also something that worried him. He knew you were trying to stay strong for him and the rest of the group, but the last thing Mike wanted was for you to get hurt or worse.

His thoughts raced, that protective instinct flaring up again. You didn't deserve this. You deserved to be somewhere warm, safe... with him.

He had been feeling that way for months now, ever since that night after he broke up with Emily. That night had changed everything for him. You were the one who stayed with him, sitting by his side, listening to him vent as he struggled to process the end of his long-term relationship.

You didn't just offer hollow platitudes; you gave him the kind of comfort and understanding he never knew he needed. He realized then, somewhere between the midnight conversation and the quiet moments of silence, that you were different. You weren't just his friend; you were the one person who made him feel like himself again.

After that night, he found himself constantly thinking about you. How easy it was to talk to you, how you made him laugh even when he felt like shit.

He'd find excuses to see you, call you up for help with college work, or invite you out for something casual. He always assumed you'd catch on quickly to his flirting, but you never did. Either he was terrible at flirting with a guy like you, or you were just completely oblivious.

Without a word, he began to unbutton his own jacket, which was far thicker and more insulated than the pathetic excuse you were wearing.

He held it out toward you.

"Here," he said simply. "Take it"

You shook your head immediately. "No. I'll be fine. You need it more than I do."

Mike narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. "You're freezing, man. You look like you're about to turn into an ice cube."

You tried to laugh it off, though it came out weak and unconvincing. "It's really not that bad. I can handle the cold. And it'd be selfish of me to take your jacket. There’s no way you're any warmer than I am."

With the simple tank top he was wearing underneath, now all dirty with mud and snow, it became even harder for you to stop staring at him. His muscular and strong arms drew your attention.

Mike sighed, holding the jacket out stubbornly towards you. "You're not fine. You're shaking like a leaf." He reached out, gently brushing his fingers over your arm, feeling the coldness of your skin even through the thin fabric of your jacket. "Just take it."

But you shook your head again, more firmly this time. "It wouldn't be fair," you murmured, looking down at the papers you were holding. "You need it just as much as I do. I can handle the cold. We've been through worse than this, right?"

Why couldn't you just let him take care of you for once?

"Come on," he tried again, his voice soft but insistent. "After everything we've been through tonight, hypothermia is the least of my worries. I'm not letting you freeze out here, not when I can do something about it."

You glanced up at him, your eyes softening for a moment, and for a second, Mike thought you might actually take the jacket. But then you shook your head again.

"I'll be fine, Mike."

Mike sighed heavily, his breath visible in the cold air as he ran a hand through his hair. "Damn it, you're stubborn.”

You gave him a small smile, trying to divert the conversation as you continued sorting through the papers. "I've been called worse."

Finally, with a deep sigh, Mike relented, shoving his jacket back on with a grumble.

Minutes passed in silence, the only sounds being the creak of old floorboards beneath your feet and the occasional rustle of paper. Wolfie, the wolf Mike had somehow managed to befriend, lay beside you, his fur brushing against your leg as he occasionally shifted.

Every so often, you'd reach down to scratch behind Wolfie's ears. His fur was soft under your fingertips.

You gripped the edges of the papers in your hand, hoping that somehow, just focusing on the task in front of you would make it better.

It didn't.

It was then that you noticed Mike shifting beside you and before you could react, his body was pressing up against your back, his arms wrapping around your waist in a firm but gentle hold. His warmth hit you immediately, and you couldn't stop the small gasp that escaped your lips at the sudden contrast.

"Mike?" you muttered, your voice barely above a whisper as you stiffened in surprise at the closeness.

"Relax," he murmured, his breath warm against the side of your neck. "If you won't take my jacket, I'll just have to warm you up myself." he whispered, his voice rough and low.

Your heart started to race, not just from the unexpected contact, but from the undeniable heat that surged through your body as Mike's lips brushed against the side of your neck. The sensation was electrifying, sending a shiver down your spine that had nothing to do with the cold this time.

His lips moved slowly, deliberately, trailing soft kisses down the length of your neck, each one sending a wave of heat through your body. Your body was leaning into his touch, craving more of the warmth and comfort he was offering.

This wasn't the Mike you were used to. This was something far more intimate, more personal.

"Mike... I don't..." you began, but your words trailed off as his lips found a particularly sensitive spot just below your ear, making your breath hitch in your throat.

"You don't what?" he asked softly, his hand sliding up from your waist to rest on your chest, pulling you even closer against him. "You don't want this?"

Of course you wanted it. More than anything, really. You'd been harboring feelings for Mike for so long, feelings you'd kept hidden, thinking there was no way he'd ever see you as anything more than a friend, a study partner, a background presence in his life.

But now, with his body pressed against yours and his lips trailing fire down your neck, it was clear that Mike had been seeing you in a very different light for a while.

"I didn't think..." you started, your voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think you felt like this about me."

He hadn't planned on this happening, not exactly. But as he held you in his arms, feeling the heat of your body against his, he couldn't deny how good it felt, how right it felt to be this close to you. For years, he had pushed his feelings for you to the back of his mind, thinking it wasn't something you'd ever want. You were smart, focused, always so kind.

He pressed closer, his lips trailing lower along your collarbone, his fingers gently digging into your waist. The torn jacket you were wearing slid down slightly, giving him better access to your skin, and he took full advantage of it, kissing his way down your neck with slow, deliberate movements.

Mike's lips paused against your skin, and he pulled back, his expression soft but intense. "You really didn't notice, did you?" He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I've been trying to get you to see it for months. I thought you'd pick up on it, but... guess I'm not as smooth as I thought."

You blinked at him, your mind reeling. "You've... been trying to tell me?"

"Yeah," he admitted, his thumb brushing gently against your cheek. "I've been dropping hints since we stayed up all night after Emily and I broke up. You were there for me, man. And ever since then I just... I couldn't stop thinking about you."

"I didn't think you'd ever feel like that about me," you confessed, your voice shaky with disbelief.

Mike smiled softly, his thumb brushing over your cheek as he pulled you a little closer. "I noticed the way you looked at me," he said quietly, his breath warm against your skin. "All those times you'd stare at me, thinking I didn't see. You were so fucking adorable, but it drove me crazy."

You blinked up at him, clearly shocked by the confession. Mike chuckled softly, his lips brushing over your jawline, his fingers tracing lazy circles on your waist. "You're not that good at hiding it, you know."

Before you could respond, Mike kissed you. His lips hungry, filled with all the emotions he hadn't been able to express before. His hands gripped your waist, pulling you closer.

You responded almost immediately, your lips parting under his, your fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as you pulled him closer.

Mike deepened the kiss, his hands slipping beneath your jacket, his fingers tracing the outline of your hips, your waist, your chest. His tongue dipped past your lips.

After a long moment, Mike pulled back just enough to whisper, his voice low and rough, "You're okay with this, right?"

You didn't even hesitate this time. You nodded, breathless.

Mike's grin widened, and without another word, he kissed you again, even more deeply this time. His hands moved up your sides, tugging at the edges of your jacket as he pressed you against the wall.

You pulled him closer, your hands tangling in his hair as the heat between you both grew.

Mike's lips left yours, trailing down your jaw and back to your neck, his hands roaming your body as if he couldn't get enough of you. Your breath coming in shallow gasps as he kissed his way down to your collarbone, his grip on your waist tightening.

You wanted more, needed more, and judging by the way Mike was holding you with his erection pressing insistently against you, he felt the same.

He pulled back slightly, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips as he glanced over at Wolfie, who had been lying quietly in the corner of the room.

He bent down, ruffling the fur of the wolf who had been sitting quietly in the corner of the room. "Go on, buddy," Mike whispered. "Follow me for a second."

The wolf trotted after Mike as he stepped out of the room, leaving you alone for a few moments, heart still racing. You could hear him talking softly to Wolfie just outside the door, something about how you were "the guy" he'd told the wolf about before.

When Mike came back into the room, locking the door behind him, the intensity in his eyes made your pulse quicken even more.

Without wasting another second, Mike crossed the room in a few quick strides and grabbed you by the waist, pulling you into a deep, hungry kiss. His lips were insistent, full of desire, and you couldn't help but melt into him, wrapping your arms around his neck as you kissed him back with just as much need.

Mike's hands roamed over your body, gripping your hips, pulling you closer. His tongue teased at your lips before slipping into your mouth, deepening the kiss.

He broke the kiss just long enough to mutter, "God, I've wanted you for so long."

Then, his lips were on yours again. His hands gripping you even tighter, pressing you against the nearest wall as his mouth trailed down your neck, nipping and biting at the sensitive skin there.

His hands were on you, pulling at your clothes, lowering them to expose just what was needed with an almost frantic urgency, before he gripped your ass, his fingers digging into the soft skin with a possessive intensity as he lifted you slightly, pressing his body against your.

"Relax," Mike whispered, his voice low and commanding as his fingers trailed down, teasingly brushing against your entrance. "Let me take care of you."

He teased you for a moment, his fingers gently exploring before he slowly pushed one inside, his eyes never leaving yours.

"You're so fucking tight," he groaned, his voice low and gravelly.

He moved his finger slowly at first, watching your face for every reaction, but as you relaxed into his touch, he added another finger, stretching you carefully.

Mike's other hand reached up to cup your face, his thumb brushing gently over your cheek as he leaned in to kiss you again, this time slower, more tender.

By the time Mike pulled his fingers out of you, you were trembling with anticipation, your body aching for him.

You heard the rustle of fabric as he undid his pants, and then you felt the tip of his hard cock rubbing against your thigh.

"Ready for me?" he asked, his voice low and rough.

You could barely nod, your entire body trembling with need. Mike lined himself up, his hands gripping your hips firmly, and then, with one slow, steady thrust, he pushed inside.

The sensation was overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and pain as he stretched you, filled you completely. He moved slowly at first, watching your face for any sign of discomfort, but all you could do was moan softly, your hands clutching at his shoulders.

"You're perfect," Mike groaned as he began to move, his hips moving with slow, deliberate motions. "You feel so fucking good."

Mike's hands were everywhere, gripping your hips, sliding up your chest, cupping your face as he kissed you hungrily. His cock filled you completely, each slow thrust sending waves of pleasure through your body.

His hands moved lower, his fingers finding their way between your legs as he stroked you in time with his thrusts.

The more his pace picked up, the more his movements became rougher, more desperate. He kissed you again, biting at your lips, your neck, his hands gripping your ass tightly as he pulled you closer with each thrust.

"Fuck," Mike groaned, his voice low and husky. His soft grunts filling the cold room as he moved inside you.

The pleasure built to an unbearable peak as his thrusts became faster, harder. You could feel the heat spreading through your body, your muscles tensing as you teetered on the edge.

And then, with one final, deep thrust, Mike groaned loudly, his hands gripping you tightly as he came, his cock pulsing inside you. The sensation sent you over the edge as well, and you cried out as your own orgasm ripped through you, your voice muffled against his neck.

After a few moments of catching your breath and letting the weight of everything settle in, Mike pressed another soft kiss to your forehead before pulling away slightly, his hands lingering on your hips. You could see the satisfied smile tugging at his lips, that playful, cocky expression you had grown so used to over the years. He gave you a wink before straightening up, pulling his pants back up and adjusting himself as if nothing had happened.

You followed suit, your body still buzzing with the aftermath. There was something so surreal about it all. Being here, with Mike Munroe, of all people. You had known him for years, but you had never imagined things would end up like this.

Once you were both dressed and more or less presentable, Mike walked over to the door, unlocking it with a soft click.

"Ready to face Wolfie again? He might be a little upset that we kicked him out." He glanced back at you, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, before swinging the door open.

Outside, Wolfie was sprawled out across the floor, his furry body taking up most of the tight hallway. The wolf's ears twitched at the sound of the door opening, and he turned his head to glance at the two of you. His golden eyes scanned you two and then, with what could only be described as a huff, he plopped his head back down onto the floor, letting out a long sigh as if he had been deeply offended by the delay.

"Is he pouting?" you asked, incredulous.

Mike smirked, clearly amused by the wolf's behavior. "What? You jealous, buddy?" he teased as he crouched down beside Wolfie. The wolf, still looking somewhat begrudging, turned his head away, as if refusing to acknowledge Mike.

Mike reached out, scratching Wolfie behind the ears, his voice dropping into a low, playful tone. "Come on, don't be mad. I was just doing my part to keep him warm. You know how cold it is here."

You watched as Wolfie's resolve began to crumble under Mike's touch, his tail thumping softly against the floor as Mike scratched behind his ears. Mike chuckled, his cocky grin growing wider. "See? I warmed him up real good. All thanks to me."

Wolfie responded with a soft growl. He finally turned his head back toward Mike and he ruffled his fur, looking pleased with himself.

"Yeah, yeah," you said, rolling your eyes but unable to stop the smile from spreading across your face.

Mike stood up, shooting you a wink as he slung his arm around your shoulder. "Damn right, I did." He leaned in to press a soft, quick kiss to your lips.

Together, you and Mike walked down the hallway, Wolfie trotting along beside you. And as Mike gave your shoulder a reassuring squeeze, you couldn't help but feel grateful that, through all the chaos and terror of the night, you had found someone worth fighting for.

If you liked this story please leave a comment, I love reading them <3.

[e-m-ma-lmfao]

"We're gonna get out of here, I promise"

pairing : mike munroe x (fem) reader

cw : mike has a gun, talk of death, and blood, and maybe like one swear I don't know. reader is referred to as mike’s girlfriend, but other than that i don’t believe any female pronouns are used.

a/n : i know this is kind of late since the until dawn remake has been out for a while but i kept procrastinating this after I started it. anyways #needthat.

The wind pulls at you from every angle, hair clinging to your sweaty, frostbitten cheeks. Adrenaline kept your body moving through the never-ending maze of trees and snow; you didn’t think it would last much longer. You were sure if you continued in this direction, eventually, you would reach the sanatorium. 

It was marked on the map in the cable car station, the same map you had seen before you made your way up to the lodge with Sam and Chris. That was hours ago, and you wish you could go back and warn yourself to go back down the mountain. Or even better, ignore Josh’s email altogether and stay home. Play sick. You’d say anything not to be where you are, right now. 

But that’s not possible, is it? 

Your clothes are sticky with blood. Not your own, you think. You hope. This night was not turning out the way you had expected it to. And the choices you had made leading up to this point were beginning to make your stomach turn the longer you thought about them. 

Why did you leave the lodge? You could’ve stayed on the kitchen floor after that psycho knocked you out; you could’ve pretended not to hear Chris’s attempts to wake you up. You could’ve looked for a phone instead of rushing into the snow to find Ashley. Speaking of them, why had you left Chris and Ashley? You could’ve returned to the lodge with them to find Sam after witnessing your friend be sawed in half, but no. You needed to know that Mike was okay considering you hadn’t seen him since you both arrived. 

Why did you start that argument with Mike before the two of you had left for the lodge? 

“C’mon, don’t be like that.”

“Like what?”

“You're getting jealous over nothing. We’ve talked about this, there is nothing between me and Em. I’m with you. I’m in love with you. Why does this keep being brought up?”

“Maybe because she texts your phone like you're still close? ‘Text when you and the new gf get here, can’t wait to see you, winky face’,” you push his phone towards him. “She knows who I am, why does she feel the need to refer to me as the ‘new girlfriend’ as if we’ve never met? And why is she sending you winky faces? Why exactly is Em so excited to see you, Mike?” You make a point of emphasizing her nickname which seems to flow off his tongue so easily. 

“You’re looking into this way too much. This is crazy, I mean come on, that’s how she texts everyone, baby.” He gently takes his phone from you, throwing it onto the bed and reaching back for your hand which hovers in the air. You let him, but you make no effort to hold his hand back, fingers only resting in his hold. A soft sigh leaves your lips. 

“Yeah well, I’m not loving that she texts you that way and I’m also not loving the fact that you’ve said nothing to her about how weird it is. You have no problem defending her when you talk to me, so why can’t you say something to her about how I feel?”

“If I said something it would just cause a fight between me and her, or you and her, and the last thing that anyone needs up there, especially Josh, is for all of us to be fighting. Can you pretend to like her, only for the weekend, and then you never have to again.”

“You say that every time she’s involved, ‘just pretend to like her for tonight, and then you never have to ever again.’ But I will, because for some reason she is always around. I figured when Matt and she started dating we would see her less but I guess I was wrong.”

“Please, let’s just go and get it over with. We’re doing this for Josh, remember?”

“I don’t know, Michael, something about spending an entire weekend with your ex-girlfriend isn’t really appealing to me anymore. Call me crazy.” His eyebrows soften as you use his full name, especially in that tone. He is enjoying this conversation less than you are. 

“Don’t be this way, we’re already packed and ready to go. Just come downstairs and get in the truck. She won’t bother us, baby, I promise. Come on..” He attempts to pull you, gently bringing your hand closer to him. But your fingers slip from his hand, dropping to your side. From the bed, his phone buzzes, the screen lights up, and you don’t have to look to know who’s messaging him. 

“Sam told me she's taking the bus up there, I think,” you look back to him, “I’ll just head up with her so she doesn't have to go alone.”

“But then I have to go alone. And the bus leaves in like an hour, that's barely enough time to get ready and get to the stop. You're being ridiculous, just come with me. And if you want to, we can talk about this on the way up.” 

 You look away from him, missing the way his face falls as you turn your back to him. “I’ll see you up there, Mike.”

If you had just let it go, believed him, and gone with him instead of taking the bus with Sam, you would’ve never been angry with each other at the lodge. Or rather, you wouldn’t have been so furious with him because you would’ve talked things out in the truck, kissed, and made up instead of stewing in your thoughts on the bus. You wouldn’t be worrying about whether or not he was alive right now. But you were stubborn and foolish, and now you are trudging through the snow, improperly dressed, and praying the person you love is still breathing on this stupid mountain. 

You cross your arms over your chest, preserving what little warmth you have left, and with every step you lose another piece of hope. All you can think of is him. And how, if he is dead, he would’ve died thinking that you were mad at him. You weren’t even angry, annoyed for sure but not angry, you were just being stubborn and taking your frustration out on him. Now you might never get to apologize. The thought makes your stomach churn and your steps falter as a wave of nausea overtakes you. 

But, finally, in the distance you see the outline of a large building surrounded by a brick fence that appears to be falling apart. You allow yourself to be comforted, just for a moment, by the sanatorium's existence. The nausea in your stomach ceases as your steps quicken, arms uncrossing to move through the air. You reach the gate, blocked by the large pile of snow blocking both sides, not that you think you could’ve pushed it open in your current state; blocked from snow or not. 

You let your hand trace across the gate's bars as you walk towards the side of the fence. The pads of your fingers sting from the cold metal but you keep them where they are. As you move, they follow, moving from metal to brick. The only way into the sanatorium courtyard, you realize, is to climb over the stone fencing. 

A tired sigh leaves your body. You place your hands on the wall, palms stinging from the snow-covered surface. You lift your body, throwing your leg over simultaneously, climbing on top to straddle the snowy stone. The action uses more energy than you realistically have left so instead of gracefully landing on the other side of the wall you fall, directly onto your back. At least the pile of snow beneath you cushions your fall a tiny bit, but it still takes you a few minutes to recover your breath. 

Using the wall, you find your footing again. The snow falls from your clothes as you stumble towards the sanatorium. You don’t even know what you were expecting to discover here. You figured there might be people here. Maybe a construction crew, getting ready to tear the old building down. A custodian, forced to stay and take care of an abandoned building. Or on the slimmer side of chance, a large group of stable nurses and doctors that would offer you and your friends shelter and much-needed medical attention. However, the closer you get, the more you realize how fucked you are. Nobody is out here. And it was stupid to believe there would be. 

But you’ve come this far, and the chill that runs through your body borders on hypothermic potential. You reach the front doors, using your body to push the door open, shoulder first. It opens far easier than expected, and you fall to your hands and knees as it flies inwards. “Fuck.. me.” 

You don’t move from the floor, the opposite actually, you get closer to it, falling onto your back. You don’t even want to get up. No one is here. All your friends are probably dead back down by the lodge. What’s the point? At least this way you’ll have time to think over every choice that led you here, it’ll take a while for the cold to kill you since your feet are the only part of you still lying outside the building. From farther within the entry hall you hear a door open, the sound of steps echoing through the empty building. And though your heart rate picks up speed, you don’t move. Instead, you pray that whatever it is, will kill you quickly so you can be with your friends again. So you can be with Mike. 

“Who’s there? Whoever it is, just know I am armed and I am not afraid to shoot you. I have had one hell of a night and I am so not in the mood for.. whatever it is that you want.” Even with your heartbeat drumming against your ear canals, you still pick up the voice. A man's voice. Almost recognizable. You let your eyes close, murmuring the only thing you can think of like a mantra. Mike. Mike. Mike. Mike. 

“Holy shit. Y/n?” Mike? You turn your neck enough to see the man approaching. A sudden second surge of energy fills you, and you lift yourself into a sitting position to fully face the figure walking towards you. 

“M..mike?” 

“Holy- Oh my god, how are you- Are you okay?” He falls to his knees in front of you, dropping the gun and the lantern in his hands on the floor. His hands hover around you, scared to touch you. You notice that two of the fingers on his left hand are missing, replaced by a bandage soaked in blood.  Your hands are the first to make contact, landing on both sides of his dirty face.

“Are you real?” He nods, pulling you into a too-tight embrace. A stark contrast to his previous concern and reluctance to touch you. 

“Yes. Yes, I’m real. I’m so glad to see you. You’re alive.. holy shit I can’t believe you’re alive.”

“You look terrible” You wipe away some dirt from his face. Eyes wide as you try to convince yourself that he is actually in front of you. You had convinced yourself that he was dead, and now to see him in front of you alive and well - okay maybe not well but he’s not dead - it has your brain moving a mile a minute. There is so much you have to say. So much you have to explain to him. How do you explain to someone that his friend was sawed in half on the anniversary of his sister's death? Or how do you explain that the rest of his friends might ALSO be dead? And without sounding insane, how do you explain that you truly believe something is up on the mountain with you and that it might’ve followed you the entire way to the sanatorium? You can’t.  

“Well, I’m happy to see you too, baby.” He laughs breathily, unsteady. A laugh of disbelief. His way of coping has always been humor, even at the most inappropriate of times. Your features are probably the exact opposite of his uncertain smile. You pull him close again, practically pushing him to the ground, but his arms wrap around you and he straightens his back to keep the two of you upright. “Woah, I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here.”

You push your face into his shoulder, saturating the filthy, green jacket that he wears with tears. It stinks like cigar smoke, years of sweat buildup, and dirt. 

“Mike- Oh Mike,” your voice is muffled in his skin, pausing in between sobs to catch your breath. His arm wraps tighter around your waist, the other arm reaching up so his hand can rest in your tangled hair. “I’m so- I am so so sorry Micheal. I thought you were dead, I thought- I thought you died thinking I was angry. I’m so sorry, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. Don’t apologize. I’m just- I’m so glad you’re alive.” He kisses your temple, and as you raise your red face to look him in the eyes, he moves your hair out of your face. “We’re gonna get out of here, okay? Can you walk? God, you must be freezing. Did you come all the way from the lodge like this? Fuck, y/n, how are you even alive.” You shake your head, a silent confirmation that you don’t know how you’re alive either. 

He helps you to your feet, taking off the unfamiliar jacket and helping you into it. He then retrieves the lantern and the gun from the floor, “Here, can you hold this up?” You nod, and take the lantern from his hand. In the hand opposite of you, he holds the gun, and with the other, he intertwines his fingers with yours. “We're gonna get out of here. I am going to get you out of here, I promise.” He’s so certain, and your fear almost dissipates completely as he leads you farther into the sanatorium with a tight grip on your hand.

[heartlaboratory]

Fabién completely ignored the police warning to stay at home that night: a crazy psycopath, evaded from the sanatorium, was probably lurking in the area.

A threat that became very real in her mind only when almost all the lights in the multi-level underground car parking went off and she started hearing sinister laughs in the dark and the screech of a pointed metal object scraping against the concrete wall.

Now, scared to death, trying to hide somewhere somehow, her mind is saturated by the crazy beating of her own heart: "It's throbbing must be so loud that almost surely the killer can hear it in the shadows. Each stroke guides the monster closer and closer"

Petrified against a column, she waits to feel the cold steel making its inesorable way through her chest, directly to the epicenter of such an earthquake, finally terminating it once and for all.

There, she can do nothing beside just feeling what she thinks are going to be the last beats of her own heart.

BA-BOOM BA-BOOM BA-BOOM...........

[jolieeason]

WWW Wednesday: August 28th, 2024

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme Sam hosts at Taking on a World of Words. The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next? Here is what I am currently reading, recently finished, and plan to read from Thursday to Wednesday. Let me know if you have read or are planning on reading any of these books!! Happy…

[0ceanic-cosm0s]

To the Hellfire - chapter 1

[Josh Washington x F! Reader]

3.7k words

masterlist zero - one - two

chapter wrote by @sharkology & @xghostcr0wx

⚠️CHAPTER WARNINGS⚠️

[mature language, mental health issues]

You and Sam were on the bus for a while, occasionally making conversations in between comfortable silence. You learned she was a big animal lover and adored nature. She was also vegan, and a bit of a pacifist. She told you the others tend to make fun of her a bit for her morals and beliefs in that area, but she didn’t let it get to her. She was comfortable in her own skin and was herself no matter what anyone said. You admired how strong willed she was, how she was so confident. Characteristics you had in yourself yes, but not as much as her, which you envied a little.

You were listening to your music, looking out the window when Sam nudged your elbow slightly. You take out an earbud, looking at her curiously. “What’s up?”

She offers you an earbud from her wired headphones. “How much has Josh told you about his sisters?”

You shrug, taking it in your hand. “Not much honestly. I’ve only heard a bit, but I never pressed him further on the matter. Why?”

She gestured to the earbud, and you hesitantly put it in, raising an eyebrow at her. You put it in and she played something on her phone. A male radio host speaks from the phone. He started off saying it was the one year anniversary of the tragic deaths that took place on the Washington mountain. Josh’s family’s mountain. The radio host began to introduce a detective from the case, inquiring about if there’s an update on the disappearance of the two sisters, Hannah and Beth Washington. You mentally note how the radio host said they were ‘missing’, and not found dead.

Annie, the detective, began by explaining how the two sisters left the safety of their parent’s lodge on this day last year and ran outside into a snowstorm. Never to be seen again. The radio host, Marty, asks if there was any foul play, but the detective denies-saying officially there hasn’t been any evidence found. She proceeded to say there was a person of interest they were suspicious of considering they have an ‘interesting’ history with the Washington family. But this person’s whereabouts were currently unknown. She said that this suspect had warned the family about pursuing their construction project, proclaiming that the mountain was sacred to his forefathers.

The radio host then mentioned a sanatorium, asking if the suspect could be there. The detective said that her officers searched the grounds, but that not even the two sisters could have made it up that far. The host notes that something about the mountain seems to breed tragic events. “That’s for damn sure.” You mentally think to yourself, finding the whole conversation crazy and weird. The detective replies, saying “More than you know, Marty.”

He thanked Annie for joining him on the radio, and proceeded to announce to his listeners, “To all the Washington’s tonight…Their son Josh on this the anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of Hannah and Beth Washington.” Sam shifts her phone sideways, leaning it closer to you so you can see better. Interested, you lean in slightly.

Josh appeared suddenly on the screen, and a certain feeling in your stomach started to flutter. You couldn’t help but feel a little giddy anytime you saw his face, and heard his voice. Your face softens lightly, Sam noticing and taking a mental note on it, possibly going to tease you later on about it.

The video plays, starting out with Josh speaking to the viewers/listeners, “Well hello friends and fans…Alright let’s do that again..” He walks up to the camera, adjusting the zoom in to be focusing more on his face. You laugh to yourself as it captures a crazy shot into his face, considering if you should poke fun at him for it when you see him. He backs away as the camera adjusts and repeats again with that dorky grin, “Alright. Well hello friends and fans! It’s beyond awesome to have you guys all back this year. Um, first off, I gotta say I am super excited to welcome all my pals back to the annual blackwood winter getaway!”

He pumps his fist in the air, whispering-yelling a cheer. You have to mentally stop yourself from letting out a noticeable cringe face at how corny that was. You take a deep breath to calm down as he continues, and even though you found it a little weird, a smile was on your lips at his playful actions. You did miss them a lot. “So, um..Let me just let you know, let’s take a moment to..Address the “elephant in the room” for a second..” You notice how Sam’s face saddens a bit, and you place a comforting hand on her shoulder, not sure if she’d be ok with it. But thankfully she gives you an appreciative smile, and you two focus your attention back to her phone.

Josh starts again slowly. “I know you’re all probably worried about me..And I know it’s gonna be tough on all of us going back after what happened last year. But-I just want you all to know, um..It means..It means so much to me that we’re doing this. And I..”

He trails off, his mouth hanging slightly open as he tries to get together his next words, “I know it would mean so much to Hannah and Beth that we’re-we’re all still together. Thinking of them. I really want to spend some quality time with each and every one of you and um, just share some moments we’ll never forget. For the sake of my sisters, you know? Ok..So! Let’s party like we’re fucking porn stars, ok? And make this one a trip we’ll never forget. Alright? Yes!”

He exclaimed, making an odd emphasis on the ‘fucking’ part. You clasp a hand around your mouth, an audible laugh trying to escape your throat. You had to hold it back otherwise the whole bus would be filled with your uncontrollable laughter. Sam looked over at you confused, but joined into your laughter. She had to admit it was pretty cringe, but that’s Josh for you.

After a 2 hour bus ride, you and Sam finally arrived at the lodge. You both gather your things and get ready to hop off the bus. As you take your first step outside, you can hear the satisfying crunch of snow beneath your boots. The first thing you did was look around you. There was a tall wooden sign that wrote ‘Blackwood Pines’. The harsh, cold air smacked you in your face as you silently followed Sam, letting her lead the way.

It's such a beautiful area, the landscape has a blue overcast from the snowy mountains and ice that covers the scenery. You can hear the calm whirling of the icy wind, but there's also the sound of movement and twigs snapping in the distance.

You and Sam both break your necks to look at your surroundings, seeing if anyone else has also shown up to the mountain yet.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” Sam calls out into the dark, cold forest only to be met with silence.

“Hm, I guess it was just an animal then.” You say in response to the silence, and Sam nods her head.

You two continue to the cable car station, only to see a locked gate in the way. Sam walks up to the note and pulls it off the gate.

“Awh come on! Really?” Sam exclaimed in response to the note.

“What does it say?” You ask curiously, peaking over her shoulder to see the note. Sam turns the paper so you can get a good view of it.

‘Gate’s busted, climb over - Chris’

“Man that sucks.” You say as you and Sam make your way over to the wall to climb over. It was kind of a big task, you were in thick winter clothes and had your big backpack of essentials on your shoulders. Once you made it over the wall, you felt relief and finally caught your breath.

Continuing down the path, You and Sam made it to the cable car station. You were scoping the area out while Sam walked up to a plaque with a map that has words written in red.

“Wow, graffiti way up here..” Sam mumbles. You look at the graffiti in question which read: The past is beyond our control.

Reading that reminded you of what Josh told you his therapist, Dr. Hill, would tell him related to the disappearance of his sisters. Thinking about that alone gave you a weird feeling in your stomach, an unsettling one.

You soon meet Chris, right after Sam makes the smart decision not to snoop through his belongings. You remember Chris from all the funny stories Josh would tell you. He's a humorous guy, but you can tell he cares for his friends a lot from just listening to him eagerly tell the story of how he and Josh met. Chris was Josh's closest friend and you're glad Chris is there for him. Learning about how they became friends was such a sweet thing to hear. You catch yourself smiling every time Sam or Chris bring up Josh, but you can't help it.

“So how did you meet Josh, [Y/n]?” Chris asks curiously and Sam looks at you, awaiting your response. A million thoughts run through your head at once because, what do you say? You don't want to tell them you met at a mental hospital, especially since you don't know if Josh is comfortable with them knowing about his stay there in the first place.

“Oh, we met in college!” You make up a lie quickly and hope they buy it. “We were partnered up for an assignment. We stayed friends after that, but I switched majors and schools. We've kept in contact since.” You praise yourself on the inside for effortlessly coming up with a believable lie. You all continue to converse the rest of the cable car ride, and you find yourself very comfortable with Josh’s friends so far.

You get off at the next building where the cable car drops you off. You guys head inside, but find the door locked. Sam and Chris bang on the door, getting someone’s attention as a girl walks by.

“AHH! What the hell?” She exclaims. Chris calls out, “Jess hey!”

“Jessica over here!” Sam shouts from behind the window on the door. Jess walks over, looking at us curiously and somewhat annoyed.

“Uhh..Are you three having a really weird stroke?” You find that an, odd comment to reply with. But Chris speaks up. “We’re stuck in this stupid thing.”

“Can you please let us out? Pretty please?” Sam asks. Jessica presses a button and lets you all out. Chris starts to exaggerate our situation, saying he thought we were all goners and that if another ten minutes went by he would’ve chewed off his leg. You chuckle lightly as Sam calls him sick, but he just shrugs and says he has a lot of meat on his bones. Claiming it was “All muscle down there.” You shake your head, but find them all to be amusing. Sam sarcastically agrees.

Jess seemed to have an envelope in her hands, and Chris snags it away from her, earning a protest from Jess.

“Chris..” Sam says in a warning tone. You walk over to Sam and watch the situation unfold as she gives you an apologetic look for their childish behavior. After Chris and Jess stopped bickering about what is in the letter, apparently a love one to her boyfriend Mike, Jess snatches it back from him.

Chris suggests we all hurry and head up to the lodge, he was “Getting tired from all the nature and junk.”. Jess says she’ll stay behind, and wait to see who else may come up.

Chris teasingly calls back, asking if she meant Mike. Jess gets flustered a bit, fumbling over her words, “What? I mean, you know, whoever.” Jess says dismissively. You three continue on your way, Sam taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of the mountains, and the way the snow falls all around. You smile as you take in the sight with her, taking out your phone and snapping a few pictures before heading along the trail.

The three of you are only a few minutes away from the lodge, and you can feel more anxiety building up as you get closer and closer.

“We should be seeing Josh any minute now.” Chris informs and you feel your ears perk at the mention of Josh.

“Great, because I'm getting way too cold to stay out here for much longer.” Sam says in relief but you only feel more nervous.

You know there's nothing to worry about. You and Josh are technically close, you both text and call everyday, and you would talk all the time. But that didn't stop you from feeling that sinking feeling in your gut.

‘Maybe he'll change his mind about being friends with me.”

Anxious thoughts plagued your mind, your stress and intrusive thoughts wracking your head with doubts. You felt your mouth go dry. You needed to keep yourself together though. Josh might be here any second.

"Hey Josh!" You hear Chris call out and you look over to see Josh himself. Your heart is pumping in your chest even faster then before, which you didn't know was possible. You and Josh lock eyes for a moment and he gives you a smile that you return. You get a good view of him for the first time outside of the hospital in normal clothes, and man does he look good. He's wearing a cream colored beanie, with a tan vest, plait long sleeve, and black long sleeve shirt underneath. His black bracelets attract your eyes to his exposed forearms and hands. His veins bulge from small movements. If you didn't have a big crush before, you definitely had one now.

"Chris, Sam," he gives them a nod of acknowledgement and then he looks over to you "[Y/n]~" he says your name in a sing-songy voice that has you feeling a certain way. You can tell he's leaning in for a hug and you gladly return it. It was a short, almost side hug. This is the first time you've ever been in close proximity with Josh, and it was only for a split second. You were able to catch a whiff of his scent, some sort of cologne with a woody scent.

"It's been too long." Josh says to you after pulling away, and looks to Chris and Sam as well. "How was the trip here?"

"Man it feels like the mountain gets bigger every time I climb it." Chris complains in an unserious manner.

"Oh yeah? Feels the same to me." Josh smuggly smiles. You enjoy listening to their banter, but you're ready to get inside and warm up.

“Chris, I'm going to need your help getting inside." They both walk up to the front door and you take that as your cue to break off with Sam; there’s still 2 other people you have to introduce yourself to.

Josh and Chris find out that the door is iced so they make their way down the stairs. Chris stops in front of a girl named Ashley, briefly talking to her, allowing you to sneak glances at Josh’s moonlit frame, thinking he didn’t notice. Once they are done, Josh flashes you a flirtatious wink as he catches you staring, and goes with Chris towards the side of the lodge to find another opening, while you talk with the others. Your heart thumped hard against your chest again.

As Josh and Chris make their trek to find an opening, Josh speaks up, “Ashley was looking pretty hot today, right?” They stop in the middle of the trail and Chris turns to him.

“She’s kinda like a ‘sleeper hit’ kinda gal, you know? Now I just want to rip that parka right off her..Make some snow angels. Right?” Chris takes a minute to ponder, but eventually agrees to humor Josh. “Yes..Absolutely.” He says in mock agreement, crossing his arms over his chest.

“When are you gonna take her to the bone zone?” Josh inquires. Chris smirks, replying back. “Speaking of, I’ve seen the way you’ve been staring at [Y/n]. Did you invite her here for some alone time?” He nudges Josh, giving him a playful grin.

Josh chuckles, continuing on walking. “Well, maybe I am looking for the chance to take her to my bone zone, vip exclusive.” He admits, adding in a shrug. Chris scoffs and shakes his head. “You’re such a weirdo man.” He stops him again, getting his full attention.

“Listen dude. Look around you. Look at these beautiful mountains. Do you see any parents? I mean can you imagine a more perfect, ripe scenario, just dripping with erotic possibilities? You and Ashley, me and [Y/n], alone together at last. And you’ve laid all the groundwork..You’ve been a perfect gentleman. Now you come in for the kill!” Chris huffs, and nods.

“Maybe you’re right.” He says. Josh grins approvingly. “You’re a hunter, bro. No fear. No mercy. I mean she won’t even know what hit her.” Josh walks off, leaving Chris to think over his words and laugh at how cringe his words were. “Alright, alright. I got it. Jeez.” Chris follows after him, and begins to work on getting inside the window they found to be unlocked.

You and the girls, along with a guy named Matt, were still outside freezing your asses off. You heard Chris make some corny ‘ghost’ noises. Sam sighs, walking up to the window on the door, “Hi Chris, very funny.”

“Aw, how’d you know it was me?” He replied, hiding from the window. Sam ignores him and continues. “Shouldn’t you be, like, getting the lock open or something?” Chris faces the window and replies, “On it!” You guys hear what sounds like fire from behind the door and see the flames lighting up his face. He finally opens it, giving us a playful bow.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’ll be here all week-“ Chris was saying, and then shrieked as a wolverine ran from in between his feet and out the door. “Shit, that thing freaked me out.” He sighs out, his heart racing from the shock. Ashley asked if he was ok, and what it was. He said it was a bear or a tiger or something, which it obviously wasn’t because bears were far larger, and tigers would not be this high up in the mountains.

But you didn’t think to bother commenting on it. Sam however does, saying it was just a cute little baby wolverine in a baby-like voice, probably to mock Chris. You giggle at it though, and Sam smiles more as you did. Chris was about to protest, when all of a sudden Josh quickly came up behind you guys. “Don’t worry buddy, you’re gonna be a big boy soon.” Chris raises a brow at him, replying with a teasing tone. “Oh yeah? So are you.” He looks at you, giving you a small wink.

You had no fucking clue what these two goofballs were talking about, probably some inside joke. Chris did say they had quite a few. So you shrug it off and everyone heads inside, Josh following close behind you. He brushes past, purposely caressing his hand against yours and heads into the living room. It makes your cheeks flush a bit red, but quickly calm yourself down, thinking it must’ve been an innocent accident. Josh stops in the middle of the room, “Home sweet home!” He exclaimed. However, Matt protested in disagreement.

Ashley notes that it was nice to be inside, even if it was still cold. Josh acknowledges her words, and says he’ll get a fire going. Matt remarks how the place doesn't look any different. You walk over to the couch and sit down, taking in the decor as they continue coversing. “That’s because no ones been up here.” Josh replies. Ashley asks, “Even with all the police coming in and out?” Chris answers her question, “Not a lot of action up here lately.”

After that, you set your bag down as the silence fills the room besides the small chatter between Chris, Sam, and Ashley. Matt was sulking though. You wanted to ask, but didn’t feel it was your place to. You head over to Josh as he was trying to start a fire, and kneel down beside him. “Hey, just wanted to say you have a really nice place here. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it before.”

Josh looks at you, grinning at your compliments. “Thanks, but it’s really all my Mom and Dad’s work. Dad has the money, and Mom is the home furnishing expert, so she loves making fancy ass homes look neat.” You nod at his words, noticing his struggle with the fire. You slowly grab it from his hands, and start to prep the wood correctly. “It’s easier if you stack them like a teepee..” You put small pieces of kindling underneath the larger pieces of wood, and use the lighter to set it on fire, and slowly but surely a fire begins to start.

“..And that’s how you do it.” You proudly state, looking at him with a smile. He chuckles, looking at the fire you made for him. “Ok Ms. Girlscout, you didn't have to show off like that.” He teases, and you hand him back his lighter. “What can I say? A girl knows a thing or two when you’ve been camping for years.”

You two continue to converse by the fire, catching up on stuff you haven’t told each other over the phone and how the ride was here. He sneakily and slowly leaned his shoulder against yours, craving more intimacy with you in this perfect mood by the warmth of the flames. You noticed, but tried not to show it, mentally having to keep yourself calm at his small touches.

Now we all were just waiting for the three other people to come. Which would lead to a very stressful and anxiety inducing situation for everyone.

⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

[cerastes]

Arturia's Arts make away with one's inhibitions, making it so those affected will follow their dreams and desires in full. This is why some people practically commit suicide -- directly or by simply doing something that means courting certain death -- which is why she's a wanted criminal (and she also has masterful enough dominion of Arts to generate barriers that can tank Executor's shots, so assassinating her is also difficult), but it's also why some of her crimes, as listed in the official Arknights Twitter, are also really funny, such as my personal favorite, where she played for a sanatorium and retirement home of old Laterano paratroopers, which made them want to collectively desire one last flight, resulting in them tying an absolute assload of balloons to the sanatorium and making it fly Up style while they cheered and hollered.

Realistically, all she did was play for them, and then they did All Of That. In my heart of hearts, though, she was there inflating balloons with an old ass hand pump, working a big ol' sweat with her twig-like physique, manure-feasting grin on her face, the "driving home... PENIS >:)" kinda smirk, thinking to herself "oooh they are going to fulfill their innermost desires SO bad... God my bones hurt but it's going to piss off the government sooooo much heeheehoohoo >:)))))"

[60s-heartshaped-chevrolet]

January Watchlist: New Year, New Films 🎬✨

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to finally watch the films I’ve been putting off for ages. To keep myself on track, I’m starting a new habit—monthly watchlists!

Here’s what I plan to dive into this January.

First on my list is Black Narcissus (1947), a visually stunning drama about nuns grappling with desire and faith in a remote Himalayan convent. It’s been on my watchlist for years, and I have a feeling it’s going to be exactly my kind of film.

2. Next up is Córki Dancingu (2015), a surreal Polish musical/horror about mermaids and nightlife (perfect combination, i'm already encourage). It’s the chance to dive into cinema from my own country—which always seems to be either absolutely brilliant or a total disaster. English title: The Lure.

3. The third pick is Queen of the Lake (Jezerní královna, 1998). I have such a soft spot for Czech cinema, especially fairy tale adaptations, and the moment I saw stills from this film, it went on my list immediately. Magical vibes incoming! ✨🧚‍♀️

4. Next is Granddaughter of Ice (Ledyanaya vnuchka, 1980), a Soviet fairy tale that feels like the perfect winter watch. The frosty landscapes and enchanting atmosphere make it ideal for this time of year—cozy vibes guaranteed. ❄️✨

5. The Seventh Seal (Det sjunde inseglet, 1957). This Swedish classic by Ingmar Bergman is a profound exploration of life, death, and existential questions. It's been on my list forever, and I’m finally ready to experience its timeless depth. 🕊️

5. Häxan (1922), a silent Swedish-Danish documentary about witches and the occult. Oh god, it's a must-see for me, and I can’t wait to dive into its unsettling, avant-garde atmosphere. 🖤✨

6. Next, another Polish gem: Sanatorium pod Klepsydrą (1973). A surreal, dreamlike journey through Schulz’s world—just the kind of strange and thought-provoking film I’m craving. 🌙⌛English title: The Hourglass Sanatorium

7. Knowing me, I’ll probably watch a giallo as well, though I’m not sure which one yet. I feel like I’ve already seen most of the iconic ones, but there’s always something new to discover in that genre. 👁️‍🗨️🔪

By the end of the month, I’ll do a little recap of how many films I managed to watch. And if any of them end up inspiring me, you’ll definitely notice—expect a flood of favorite frames on both of my tumblrs, as always. 🎥✨

[boom-butterflyeffect]

just can't stop thinking about the trauma that the events of Until Dawn must've caused for the characters

Chris can't make quick decisions anymore, if he's put on the spot, all he feels is the dread and panic of a life or death situation.

Sam can't stand loud noises anymore, and freezes up instinctively, hearing Mike's voice in her head all over again. "Don't move."

Cameras freak Ashley out now, and she becomes paranoid that there are cameras hidden everywhere, that she's being watched.

Jess no longer sleeps peacefully. Every time she closes her eyes, she sees the mines. She worries that every time she falls asleep, that's where she'll wake up, alone and confused and in pain.

Matt loses all faith in himself, and doesn't trust himself to take care of anyone anymore. He doesn't think he's capable of ever doing enough for the people around him, and the guilt follows him everywhere.

Emily becomes closed off from everyone, stops trusting people. The last time she trusted people, one of them pointed a gun at her head. Emily becomes overly cautious, paranoid, even resentful.

Mike can't stand the sight of the snow anymore. The winter, the cold, all of it. When a wintery chill runs across him, he becomes acutely aware of the two missing fingers on his hand, the smell of death from the sanatorium, and suddenly he's on edge, waiting for that chilling screech of those monsters.