Fanfic Preview: “Screaming Until Dawn”
This is for a spinoff to one of my current stories, Unlife is Strange. I've been cooking this one for a while, and should post the first chapter in the summer. Fall at the latest.
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Summary: In October of 2011, Kirby Reed was stabbed by Charlie Walker. While she ultimately pulled through, there was a point in her near death experience that she experienced what she thinks is a dream, but isn't sure; the life of a girl named “Sam” — not to be mistaken for that quiet Carpenter girl that Kirby sees around school — having a slumber party with her friends Jess, Emily and the Washington Twins. After she awoke, Kirby decided this was just a dream that felt so real, so she tried to put it behind her.
In February of 2015, Sam Giddings and her friends survived Mount Washington, but left with scars, as well as a target on their backs. As Sam tries to numb things and is caught up with the Federal Bureau of Control, she has recurring dreams that she’s not sure are dreams. In these dreams, Sam is a college student named “Kirby”, the only survivor of her friend group in what is called the second Woodsboro massacre. Sam thinks that she should know Woodsboro, but when she looks into it, she finds only dead ends. And so, she brushes these dreams off as just that.
In October of 2016, Kirby Reed started her last year at Bayfield University. With an aim to join the FBI, Kirby has been following True Crimes stories; before soon receiving a call to Maryland. There, she is attacked by other figures in black robes and white masks; and yet, they were not Ghostfaces. As Kirby looks into who or what called her here — often seeing the name “Ithaqua” — she finds herself more and more looking through the eyes, and walking in the shoes of “Samantha Giddings”.
In October of 2016, a year after she and her friends survived Mount Washington and signed up with the FBC, Sam Giddings has been taking a sabbatical, focusing on her college career. Sam attends Bayfield University, preparing to enjoy a much needed break with Emily and Jessica, while the rest of their circle are working on a case overseas. It isn’t long when Sam receives a call from “work”. Investigating paranormal activity in Maryland, Sam is attacked by a distressed girl, who mistakes her for someone named “Kirby”. As Sam looks into who or what called her here, she finds herself more and more looking through the eyes, and walking in the shoes of “Kirby Reed”.
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So let's break a few things down.
1. Set between Scream 4 and 2022, originally this story was going to be about Kirby's first case as an FBI agent.
But then I did the math on Kirby’s age — she would be 22 at the time of the story; to join the FBI, you have to be 23 at the time of appointment. So instead, this occurs in her last year at University. Where we see Kirby is somewhere between where Sidney was in the second and third Scream.
Being the sole survivor of her friend group, Kirby is nearly propped as a heroic survivor up the same way Sidney was, but ultimately shied away from the spotlight.
Unlike the more outgoing Sam Giddings, Kirby becomes more introverted as a coping mechanism; she's barely friends with her dorm mates; a lot of the people who try to befriend her do so for attention; and she developed insomnia from her near death experience, and has to medicate to sleep.
Her romantic life is almost non-existent; most dates she goes on fizzle out or just end up being one night stands. Which takes even more of a downturn when her medical professor made some “advances” towards her.
In her down time, Kirby has taken an interest in true crimes, cold cases and unsolved mysteries, and studies up on them while planning to join the FBI; especially for “Ghostface-like” murders. At the time of this story, she has a special interest in the Lakewood killing sprees; the case of Brandon James; and the arrest and trial of Kieran Wilcox.
However, when she gets a call to Maryland, Kirby quickly realizes that she has a stalker — or stalkers(s) — who have a special interest in her. But what has her curious is why they are calling her “Sam Giddings” and who this woman is. And with a growing supernatural presence surrounding her, Kirby finds herself a little out of her league.
Now would the supernatural be out of place for Scream ? Sure, but besides this whole “alternate universe/timeline” deal, I try to keep it mostly in the background or backstory. While this may be a Scream/Until Dawn crossover...It may feel more like “The Mothman Prophecies meets Borrasca”.
I also lean to the idea we can't assume a Ghostface is dead unless they're shot in the head.
2. So as I said above, this fic is also a spin-off to Unlife is Strange, and picks up after the “Flashback Arc” set in 2015. In that story, the Until Dawn cast are recurring/supporting characters who made a witness protection deal with the Federal Bureau of Control; which roped some into doing “scout work” for the FBC.
Sam and Emily both got involved in the Arcadia Bay case, soon investigating Rachel Amber’s presence in LA; and later uncovered vampire cult activity in Seattle. You can read their investigation here, here, and here.
Despite Sam and Emily being promoted to field agents after this case, Sam opted to take a sabbatical for college. At the time of the story, Sam hasn’t seen her friends in months. Mike, Matt, Chris and Ashley are overseas, looking into a cold case; something involving a different breed of vampires in Iraq.
Emily spent the summer in Japan for her own sabbatical; in truth, she got involved in investigating sightings of the “sea dragon” of Odo Island. Jessica doesn't officially join in with the FBC until 2019, and instead, attended Windsor College, before also taking a break.
Sam initially intends to take a “girls trip” with Emily and Jess, before all three are pulled into Maryland by this “call”. There, they find a girl in the woods, who mistakes Sam for someone named “Kirby”.
3. Like I said, I don’t plan to go overboard with the supernatural stuff.
While the wendigo may have some presence, I don’t see them being the threat. Rather they’d lurk in the background, being more of a spiritual influence than a direct menace. And it’s here where I do some education from growing up with these stories.
There are variations of the wendigo, with specific beliefs often differ by region or tradition. Some traditions say not to speak of them in general; some say only not to do so in Winter months; I've also been told it's directly addressing them that draws their attention.
Some portray them as pure evil, representing greed or selfishness, and even colonialism (which I lean too); or as tragic victims (like Hannah and Josh), with some writers using them as metaphors of addiction.
Some say that there is no cure; another says they can be cured by being force fed hot soup or grease from animal fat. Some say they can only be killed by fire, cutting out their hearts, or getting a living colonoscopy from a least weasel.
What I’m getting at is, there’s a version that might not be widespread, but still something I was taught growing up. If you kill a wendigo without the right precautions, its spirit will awaken, fixate on you, and make its mission in life to punish you.
To avoid this, you must dismember its body, burning the pieces, and scattering the ashes about. And even then, there's a story about one creating the world's first mosquitos from its ashes. So yeah, “killing” a wendigo does is make things personal.
Here, this occurred after the “They All Live” ending.
When the survivors escaped Mount Washington, the spirit of the Makkapitew followed after. Being an already powerful and vicious spirit — which possessed not one, but two victims who’d resent them — the Makkapitew wasn't content with just killing them. Instead it torments them with what I call “Eobard Thawne Buffoonery”.
So even if it's not the threat in this story, I can see its spirit having some presence in Sam's life, and that of her friends.
As with the mentions of Ithaqua, let's talk a little more about this verses’ lore.
4. Ithaqua is an entity originating from the Cthulhu Mythos, being the son of Hastur, and based on the wendigo and the yeti. Later writers depict Ithaqua as being obsessed with spawning a child that would help awaken the Great Old Ones.
I previously included Ithaqua as a Greater Scope Villain in Love’s Sacrifices (alongside daddy Hastur) and passing mentions in Unlife is Strange.
In Love's Sacrifices, Ithaqua was the “human” son of Hastur born to the Paleo Siberian people and was a mediator between his father and mankind. 10,000 years ago, his following spread across what would become Eastern Europe, Eastern Asia, and North America. His reign ended when Hastur was slain by an “Earthly Hero” and Ithaqua himself was bound to another world, unable to directly interact with this one.
In Unlife is Strange, Ithaqua is mentioned as having some ties to Mount Washington. While I don’t see Ithaqua being a direct threat, his followers are around in the present day. Albeit not as an apocalyptic threat and nowhere near as powerful as they were 10,000 years ago.
They exist with the guise of Christian based institutions, akin to prosperity gospel preachers and televangelists, obsessed with making money, and breeding prosperity. Modern followers don’t even believe in Ithaqua as an entity, but a concept/symbol to live under — ironically akin to how actual Satanists view the devil.
5. As for pairings and ships...I don't see this story being too heavy in the romance department.
However, write Kirby as bi, if only because she seemed somewhat actually interested in Charlie in Scream 4. Though bout the only character I actually ship Kirby with is Sam (Carpenter), but she ain't likely to be in this story.
But the way I see it, Kirby isn't looking for a relationship at this point in the story. A fling or two maybe, but nothing serious.
As for Sam (Giddings); I write her as being a lesbian and having a “friends with benefits” relationship with Jessica and Emily, both of whom I write as Bi. Sam may actually have romantic feelings for them, but in her mind they aren't dating dating.
In Unlife is Strange, it's mentioned that Sam took up a mild promiscuity to cope with her trauma. Besides Jessica and Emily, Sam also had a near fling with Rachel Amber. It’s also mentioned that during the Arcadia Bay investigation, Sam couldn't “keep it professional” with some of the witnesses/survivors, becoming very friendly with Max, Kate, Victoria and Chloe.
During her time at Bayfield, Sam had a few casual hookups with a couple of girls from her dorm. All this to say, this story probably isn't going to be too big on shipping, other than Sam, Jess and Emily's “girls trip”.
But even that may take a back seat to the actual drama in this story. Though if Kirby looks through Sam's eyes and experiences her life, I can see her experiencing Sam's relationship with Jessica and Emily. I can also see them catching on to Kirby if/when they see something off with Sam.
But who knows ? It'll be a while before it's up.
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Anyways, here’s a hypothetical soundtrack to cap things off
“Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men.
2. “Poison” by Groove Coverage
3. “Dark Horse” by Amanda Marshall
4. “Broken” and “My Hands” by Leona Lewis
5. “Losing Your Memory” by Ryan Star.
6. “Hero” by Toni Braxton.
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𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝟏 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 (+ 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫)
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×A/N×
Hi! I really wanted to write some LiS stuff, because I didn't write awhile of this fandom. 😅
I still love them very much! 🥺😭💕
Btw I will definitely do this with LiS 2 as well-
×❢ About my work ❢×
fluff!, everybody is kind, no assholes, really, just fluff, petnames, no pronouns used for Y/N (The Reader), the reader can be in a relationship with them!
Fandom: Life is Strange 1
Character(s): Max Caulfield, Mark Jefferson, Chloe Price, Warren Graham, Nathan Prescott, Victoria Chase, Rachel Amber, Frank Bowers, Y/N|The Reader, Pompidou (mentioned)
Ship(s): Y/N | The Reader x the characters
Type: Headcanons
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(The gifs, pictures are not mine! Credit to the original creator!)
𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈: by your side by flatsound
“Counting weeks
Getting more familiar with how you speak
While you're away from me
But I don't want to say goodbye
Because it's safer when I'm by your side”
Max Caulfield
Physical Touch
• she saw that something bothers you
• you are frustrated
• you opening to her with tears in your eyes
• she will definitely give you a tight hug and little kisses to comfort you
• and won't let you go until you are finally feel comforted
Rachel Amber
Quality Time
• chatting, playing on a train what nobody knows where it goes
• dancing in the sunlight
• going out in the middle of the night
• sneak into cinemas to watch free movies
• hiding and listening songs on the junkyard
• drinking and shooting ✨😌
• just feeling free with Rachel Dawn Amber
Chloe Price
Acts of Service
• if somebody hurts you
• she will definitely fuck that person up
• or at least threat them
• when you are feeling down, she will bring you to your favourite snack to cheer you up
• she even does the dishes as well 😳
Nathan Prescott
Physical Touch
• i know
• he doesn't seems that type of touchy people
• but trust me
• hugging each other as tightly as you two can
• it will definitely give both of them some comfort
• you guys won't need any words
• you just need each other close
Victoria Chase
Receiving Gifts
• almost everyday she surprises you with something
• some netro but cute pencilcase you saw and liked? No problemo
• want to wear matching outfits with your bestie but it's over 300 dollars? Where's the problem?
• You are really appreciate it
• but you often say that she don't have to do this
• but she just shrugs because she knows that you are happy from it
• and she loves it when you are happy
Mark Jefferson
Acts of Service
(i would give him the reveiving gift as well, but no sugar daddy mark yet-)
• he doesn't have that much time because he is a teacher ofc
• and there's the dark room as well
• but even if he is tired he does the dishes
• cooks you breakfast when he wakes up earlier than you
• (with a soft kiss!)
• when you are tired or sick he take cares of you
• makes your bed
• when you are tired he carries you to the bedroom
• helping you with the school projects
• (plus: kisses and sleeping together while watching a movie)
Warren Graham
Physical Touch
• I belive that this guy is the BEST at the comforting!
• will hold your hand to give you some motivation and strenght
• and will squeeze it to show that he is here with you
• for comfort he hugs, kiss and holds you
• "You are not alone Y/N. I'm here for you."
Kate Marsh
Quality Time
• study together
• drawing doodles on class when the teacher is not looking
• and giggling of them
• watching a movie or sleeping together after a long day
• listening stories from her of the Bible (even if you don't care, you just know that it makes her happy)
• helping her with the book writing
• writing cute messages on class for each other• bunny petting time
• just talking peacefully in her room about some random things
Frank Bowers
Words of Affirmation
• "You are too good for me, Dear."
• will hug you for comfort while whispering sweet and encouraging words in your ear softly
• he will listen you quietly
• will use Pompidou for the comfort and for the cuddles
• saying "I love you!" multiple times on a day
• "I love you, hon!"
• or
• "You look stunning as always, honey!"
• petnames all the time
• sweety, honey, babe and etc.
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