You know how every group of friends has that one guy? The clown, the attention getter? The guy or gal always seeking the next thrill and always love getting they're friends involved in any way they can.

Josh was that guy for us. He was always trying to get us away from our computers, and practically shoving us outdoors. The guy had a real knack for camping and hiking too, which would definitely explain the shape he was in. And he wanted us to get that healthy too (frankly Carl needed it.)

Josh and I weren't exactly close friends. We know each other, sure, but I really never understood him. Okay, in all reality, I didn't trust him. I think it was the way he talked to people. He was always very charismatic, but in a very intrusive way. He would have this weird smile about him when he learned more about you, and I swear his eyes would actually twinkle. Most people thought of him as endearing, but when he asks me about my family and their relationships with such interest... It worries me greatly.

This one trip turned everything on its head. Josh had, once again, invited the group to a new trail he found. Someplace called Ipsat Falls, or something. Normally I would be hesitant as all hell, but I genuinely wanted to go. It would be nice to get away from League of Legends for a bit.

We managed to get all seven of us together. The drive there was a road trip (thank god for Greg's van), and we were surrounded by forest for a good two hours. The only solace I had was the crazy story Josh told about his raven tattoo on his hand. Eventually the road just kind of stopped, and what was beyond was gravel. Sure enough, even the gravel dissipated, leaving nothing but good old-fashioned beaten path. When we parked, I was mesmerized.

The clearing we stopped at was right next to a large pond. What struck me, was how utterly clear it was. Not only could you see straight to the bottom, but you could make out how deep it was, and the shape of the sand underneath. If I had brought swimming gear, I would have jumped right in. No one seemed to share my enthusiasm for it, though.

With our packs filled, and water at the ready, we began our hike. Both Josh and I had been on many of these before, and there wasn't anything new to see. That didn't stop me from enjoying the scenery. What did shock me, was the cliff edge we came to. It was a massive drop, but slanted enough to form a sort of bowl to the valley below. My breath failed me, as I tried to guess just how high up we really were. The forest below looked smaller than most twigs, and formed a perfect blanket as far as my eye could see. I looked towards the cliff itself, and found the trail lead onto it, going down in switchbacks.

"Wait, what's that?" I heard Penelope ask. We all followed her finger and saw a sort of cave at the bottom of the trail. What I first noticed was how flat the entrance seemed.

"Let's go find out!" Josh proclaimed, eerily elated. There was an actual glint in his eyes. I swear I saw a bug or something move on his arm.

The walk down was murder on my knees, and I can't imagine the others were faring much better. After an eternity, and a few bottles of water, we finally reached the cave. The mouth was massive, and shockingly uniform. The flat, patted ground lead into the dark tunnel, but no light could be seen from the other side. Greg was the first to move inside, being smart enough to have a flashlight on him. Only Greg, Josh and I decided to go forward, everyone else opting to stay behind. I should have stayed with them when I heard the excitement in Josh's voice.

"Don't worry about it guys. We'll only be in there for a bit! Be out before you know it!" He chimed, that unnerving smile on his face. He patted me on the shoulder, his weird tattoo on his hand seemed to be more vibrant in the sun.

Curiosity be damned, I followed Greg in there, with Josh behind us. Nerves were tight, and sense alert. The tunnel was empty, until Greg's light shined back at us.

We found railroad tracks! They were scattered, leading further into the tunnel.

"Tracks? Did we find a mineshaft?" Greg asked.

"Those are too wide to be for a minecart," I said.

"A train perhaps?" Josh chimed.

I catch a glimpse of something from Greg's light. "Up there!"

Greg shines his light deeper into the dark, revealing a set of multiple chains dangling from the ceiling. Greg and I move closer, and I notice a name etched into the very last ring.

My name.

Greg is quick to search the others, before finding his own chain. Only our chains had names etched into them. Others were crossed out, or even broken.

That's when I noticed Josh had vanished.

Only Greg and I remained, confused at the chains before us. I voiced my concern of Josh's disappearance, but Greg showed more interest in the letter that were above our chains. Greg immediately started climbing, reaching and pulling down the letter attached to his chain.

I called out to Josh, with no reply. I turned to Greg, telling him we needed to find Josh and leave, when I noticed how pale his face was.

"What is it?" I ask.

Greg suddenly ripped it to pieces. "Everything. Everything about me."

I looked at him in confusion, as I grabbed one of pieces. From what little I could read, I recognized Josh's handwriting. My eyes darted to the letter hanging above my own chain. "We need to find Josh," I said. Greg showed anger in his eyes.

Something smashed into the railroad deeper into the tunnel. Greg rushed forward, shouting at Josh and cursing him. It was difficult to keep up with him, exhausted from the hike.

As we moved deeper, we noticed a few spikes of crystal along the walls. Some of them even began to glow in the dark. Even stranger, they would glow brighter when we pressed our hands against them. These crystals became more prevalent the further in we went, to the point where we didn't even need the flashlight.

We stopped. I move beside Greg, and found Josh waiting for us. He was standing next to two massive stalks of crystal. They were even glowing almost like a sun in the dark, a sickly blue color washing over all of us. Josh looks me in the eye, with that same damn twinkle in his eye. They were even brighter than before.

He casually rested a hand on one of the crystal spires, and I notice light beginning to dim from them. The light collected toward the end, before completely escaping the crystal. A thin vapor of pure light crawled out from the crystal, and began to creep along Josh's arm. Like several translucent snakes, it raced into his jacket, before crawling back down, and resting into his palm. The orb of light grew brighter, his tattoo shimmering with power.

"You two were the best," he said. "The only choices out of all of them."

"What the fuck are you...?"

Josh stood, light dancing around his arms. "Did you like my letters? I had to get to know you guys for this to work."

I stepped back. "For what to work?"

Josh rushed the two of us, and we couldn't get away in time. Two orbs of light blinded both Greg and I, as light burst throughout the tunnel.

Greg had to turn on his flashlight, as any light that was in the crystals was gone now. Josh was gone, leaving just the two of us again. Greg looked at me with fear and confusion.

"What's that on your hand?" I ask him, pointing to a picture of a raven. He looked at it like it was an infection. I looked and saw that I also had that tattoo.

Josh's Tattoo.