Disclaimer: This is part 5 of an ongoing story. For part 4 click here:

“We thought you died on us. What the heck happened to you?!” Fritz asked, a serious expression on his face. Sam took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. 

“I couldn’t leave. I was stuck in this void. I thought I’d lost you all forever,” Sam cried. “It was like my own consciousness was holding me back in my own fears. I-”

Amy interrupted her. “You’re safe now. Nothing’s gonna happen to you again,” Amy said, hugging Sam.

“I have to go back. Something in me won’t let me leave. It’s like I am connected to this void in some way,” Sam tried to explain, but her friends wouldn’t let her. “Why won’t any of you believe me?” Tears rolled down her face. 

“Sam, listen. Whatever you’re seeing is mentally hurting you. You need to stay strong. We’re not letting you go back. We can’t lose you again,” Jacob begged. 

“Everybody stop. Please. Before we get anything else sort of worked out, we need to eat something,” Jeremy interrupted, pulling up to the McDonald’s drive through. As he began ordering, Sam tried to think of what was happening to her. 

Why do I feel like I can’t ever escape these visions, and why do I see creatures attacking the people I care about? Sam thought to herself. I need to end it. I can’t let whatever this thing is consume my friends, she decided, before she felt a Big Mac land on her face. “What was that for Fritz? Why did you throw this at my face?” She laughed. 

“I didn’t hit you that hard,” he replied, rolling his eyes, a faint smirk on his face. “Maybe this will distract you from your visions or whatever the heck is happening.”

Sam laughed. “Thanks.” She shook her head, a sigh of relief washing over her. 

Jeremy interrupted, laughing. “Now that we got everything figured out, we are so close to the mountain range. We should be there by evening,” he said, everyone cheering. “Hopefully we don’t have any more… incidents.” He looked at Sam from the driver’s seat, hesitating. 

The sun began to set, and Jeremy finally made it to Appalachia, seeing it enclosed by a forest. He found a road that led up to the house, and he began following it. “We’re almost there!” Amy screamed excitedly. 

After continuing on the road for quite a bit, Jeremy made it to the driveway of the house. “We finally made it!” Jacob exclaimed. He unlocked the truck, and everyone grabbed their bags.

“Now the real fun can start!” Amy and Hannah jumped up and down, cheering. Everyone else laughed as they made their way to the inside. 

Everyone set their bags down, but were distracted by the sight of Amy and Hannah throwing their bags on the floor. They had run past everyone, looking around the house. Jacob and Sam laughed, hearing the sound of giggling coming from another room. They continued unpacking, until they were interrupted by a thud coming from one of the upstairs rooms. Jeremy ran upstairs, investigating.

 “I dibs top!” Amy laughed, pushing Hannah out of the way as she climbed to the top of the bunk bed. 

“I literally touched the ladder first. It’s mine. Back off!” Hannah got up from the floor, climbing up to the top bunk yet again. She threw her foot towards Amy, but she dodged it.

“Try harder next time. I’m not going down without a fight,” Amy exclaimed, showing no mercy. “The bed is mine buddy.” The struggle escalated. 

“No you don’t–” Hannah pinned Amy down. “Look Who has the upper ground now.” She laughed, enjoying seeing the face of someone losing against her. 

Suddenly, the focus moved towards the door, hearing it creak open. They heard a voice. “What the heck is going on here?” Jeremy stood in the doorway, his arms crossed. “And why do you have Amy pinned dow-”

He was interrupted by Amy’s discrete move. She took advantage of Hannah being distracted, pushing her off the top. Hannah was dangling, surprised by Amy’s sudden attack. 

“You both do realize you’re fighting over a bed, right?” Jeremy said as he stood in the doorway. A moment of silence passed before Amy and Hannah burst out laughing. 

“It’s not just a bed. It’s about honor and victory,” Amy said seriously. She looked at Jeremy, out of breath. He kept watching, not sure if he should intervene.

Fritz stopped unpacking, and went upstairs to see what was going on. “Alright, anyone else want to go see what is happening upstairs?” He asked, before making his way upstairs. Jacob and Sam agreed, following behind.

“What did we walk into-” Jacob entered the room, watching the fight. “Are they seriously fighting over the top bunk?” He exchanged looks with Jeremy who only shook his head.

“Yes, and it’s been going on for far too long.” Jeremy kept his arms crossed, and continued leaning against the doorframe.

Jacob shook his head slowly, sighing. “They do realize there’s a whole couch downstairs, right?” Jeremy simply nodded.

“Try telling them that. This is personal now. And besides, I’m sure they’ll tire themselves out eventually.” Jeremy replied, trying to hold in his laugh.

Hannah managed to pull herself back on the bed. Despite the fact that she was tired and out of breath, she didn’t let that determine the winner. She kept fighting, and pinned Amy back down. “Huh? How did you-” Amy had a look of shock on her face, surprised by Hannah’s strength. 

“Like I said before, the bed is mine buddy. Back down.” She laughed, upping the game and pinning Amy back down.

Amy, trying to break out of Hannah’s grip, glared At Jacob. “Don’t just stand there, help me!” she exclaimed as she tried to kick out of the pin.

Sam decided to sneak away from watching the battle, hoping to get some quiet. She thought that everyone would stop sooner rather than later, so she left the room. She explored the house while she had some moments to herself, avoiding the current chaos. 

She couldn’t help but feel drawn to a balcony that overlooked the forestry mountainside. She approached it, quietly shutting the door behind her. She placed her hands on the railing, finally having peace and quiet all to herself. 

Just as she thought she could enjoy her time, she had another vision. This time she found herself within the midst of a foggy and eerie forest setting. It was the mountain range, but it turned dark and creepy. She tried to yell out for help, but she couldn’t speak. All she could do was try to survive the vision, praying to herself it would end soon. 

Sam froze up upon hearing the screams of someone calling out for help. She followed the horrified begging and screaming.

Her heart was pounding as she saw a silhouette of a 15 foot gaunt, emaciated figure with sharp teeth and a long tongue. Her eyes widened upon the sight, and despite the fact she couldn’t speak, she covered her mouth, hoping to quiet even the tiniest amount of noise that may have escaped. 

The cries and screams of a human fighting to stay alive were heard, but suddenly everything went silent. This was when Sam realized the victim lost their life to the monster. 

Just as she tried everything she could to forget what she just witnessed, when the creature’s elongated limbs and blood covered flesh grew bigger and bigger after it finished eating. It’s already decaying skin stretched even more.

Hannah grabbed Amy’s leg before she could fight back, pushing her to the edge of the bunk. Despite Amy’s best efforts, Hannah wouldn’t let her win. She smirked as Amy was now the one dangling off the bed. Amy gripped the side of the bunk as hard as she could, but she failed.

Jacob watched as Amy hung on for dear life, laughing “Nah, it’s more fun to watch.” He smirked.

“Hannah no–” she begged, but her grip began to release. With one final push, Amy was sent tumbling to the mattress below with a squeal. 

“So… Are you guys done now?” Jeremy shook his head, uncrossing his arms. Amy and Hannah looked at each other filled with grudging respect. 

Everyone continued watching and engaging in the fight, unaware of the fight that Sam was battling all by herself. While there was the bunk fight going on, Sam was battling her own visions, scared for her life.

“Truce?” Hannah reluctantly thought before she spoke. Amy looked at her,  going with the truce. After a moment of silence had passed, Amy interrupted. 

“Final–” Jeremy couldn’t finish his sentence over the sound of Amy and Hannah’s continuous arguing.

“I hate you so much right now Hannah,” she said, pushing her feet up against the base of the top bunk, kicking Hannah from below. 

“Oh come on. I thought we were done here,” Jeremy cried out, begging for the battle to end. He looked over at Jacob who only laughed. 

“Kicking me isn’t gonna make me give up my spot,” She kept teasing. “I’m sure the bottom bunk is nice too.” She laughed, making Amy speechless.

“You’ll thank me when a spider crawls down there.” Hannah joked, almost falling off the bed.

“Well I hope you fall off the bed in the middle of the night,” Amy replied. “I hope the spider stays up there,” she added with a smirk. “I’ll be sleeping soundly while you stay up there, fending for your life.” She grinned. 

Hannah scoffed. “Please, if anything the spider will respect my dominance and leave me alone.” 

Amy giggled. “We’ll see about that buddy,” she began, “but seriously if I hear so much as a single whimper from you, I’m reclaiming my spot,” Amy responded back. “Deal?”

“Deal. I guess I’ll stop waving my clearly deserved victory in your face.” Hannah looked down at Amy from the top bunk, agreeing to the newly formed truce. 

“Boring! I wanted to see a real victory!” Jacob yelled unhappy that the match ended the way it did.

“Honestly? I was ready to start taking bets.” Fritz laughed. With the war finally over, the room dissolved into laughter as everyone began to leave.

 “Ok so now that the war has finally ended and you both finally came to your senses,” Jeremy looked At Amy and Hannah who began making their way to the door, “Why don’t we finish unpacking and do something normal.” Amy and Hannah exchanged looks, listening to what Jeremy had to say. 

“Ugh, fine. We can do something ‘Normal,’ but if Hannah brags one more time, the truce is over and I’m calling a rematch.” Amy rolled her eyes playfully.

“Perfect!” he began. “Now, let’s move before you change your minds.” Hannah and Amy shoved each other as they followed everyone downstairs.

The last thing Sam saw was the creature’s grotesque face which looked to be that of a distorted human’s. It slowly turned its head to look at her, its sunken eyes glowed red, fueled by the insatiable desire for human flesh. 

Its claws reached for her, closing in, but before they could grasp her, she jolted awake, finding herself laying on the deck floor. She woke up to the sound of Jacob’s voice. “Sam? Are you ok?” he asked repeatedly, running over to Sam and helping her up. He only looked at Sam’s shaking and scared state. Sam looked back at him, nodding her head. 

“I went back, Jacob. I fell back into the visions.” Sam’s voice was shaky and she was holding back tears. Jacob’s face filled up with concernment. “Something’s out there,” she began. “I have been fighting these never-ending visions,” he continued. “No matter how much I tell everyone, nobody believes anything I say.” Jacob listened, pulling Sam into a hug, assuring her that he he believed her and trying to make her feel better.

“I believe you, Sam.” Jacob smiled. “We’re gonna get through this, but the only way that’s gonna happen is if you trust me.” Sam looked at him, agreeing. “I don’t know what you’re seeing but I promise, I’m gonna make them stop–” Jacob was interrupted by the jerk of Sam’s body. Her eyes rolled back, and she started to fade again. 

“Sam!” Jacob’s eyes widened in pure fear of what he was witnessing. Sam dropped to the ground, but Jacob caught her at the last minute. He set her unconscious body on the floor and begged for her to wake up. 

Sam realized she was back in the same forest setting she was previously. She tried to find a way out, realizing she was re-visiting the same vision she had before. This time, however, the creature she saw before grasped her. It held her up to its distorted face, its eyes taunting her. 

“It’s time.” The thing repeated before dropping Sam to the ground. She took a good look at the creature, realizing what she was dealing with, before the vision ended.

Sam’s body jerked violently as she was ripped from the vision and sent back to reality. She gasped as if she was drowning. Her eyes snapped open, her chest rising and falling as her breath was uneven and ragged.

Sam only sat up, trying to collect herself. “Sam! Are you ok? You went back again.” Jacob checked on Sam, making sure she was conscious and ok again. Sam only stared back at Jacob for a few moments, as if she wasn’t fully back in the real world. Then, only a whisper left her mouth. 

“It’s coming,” she said, her voice shaking. She blinked once, her gaze locking onto Jacob’s.

Until next time…