Chapter 1: Into the Woods

Chase rumbles down the winding forest road in the old van, packed with camping gear and the excited energy of six friends ready for an adventure. He was behind the wheel, with a map spread out on the dashboard, occasionally glancing over at Juliet for navigation.

"You sure this is the right turn?" he asks, navigating a tight bend surrounded by towering pines.

Juliet checks her phone's GPS. "Positive. Pinewood Campground. Supposed to be this secluded spot Pope found online."

In the back, I was sorting through a bag of marshmallows while Phoebe organized our hiking gear.

Elijah is checking and rechecking our camping checklist, his typical preparedness on full display.

Surprisingly, Leo seems relaxed. After months of tension and conflict, this camping trip is a truce—a chance for our group to just be together without drama.

"I call dibs on setting up the tent," I announce, earning a playful eye roll from Phoebe.

"Last time you set up a tent Jesse, we ended up sleeping on the ground," she teases.

Elijah chimes in, "I've got the GPS coordinates, the campsite location, emergency contacts, first aid kit—"

"Relax, Eli," Leo interrupts a rare moment of camaraderie.

"We're just camping. What could go wrong?" The words hang in the air, almost like a challenge to the universe.

As they pulled into the campground, the late afternoon sun was already casting long shadows through the dense forest. Towering pine trees surrounded the secluded campsite, seeming to close in on them.

Chase killed the engine. An unusual silence descended—no birds, no wind, just an eerie stillness that made the hair on the back of their necks stand up.

"Well," I said, breaking the moment, "who's ready to rough it?"

The campfire flickered, casting warm light across our faces.

My hand brushed against a compact Glock, secured in a hidden holster.

Leo carefully concealed his weapon beneath his flannel shirt at the small of his back.

Neither mentioned the guns. Neither needed to.

"Pass the marshmallows," Leo said casually, shifting slightly to ensure his weapon remained hidden.

Elijah watched them, suspicious. "You guys are being weird."

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "When are they not?"

Chase was studying a map, oblivious to the silent communication happening around him. Juliet caught Leo's eye, a subtle nod passing between them.

They'd learned long ago that survival sometimes meant being prepared. Silently. Secretly.

A branch snapped in the darkness beyond our campfire.

Everyone froze.

My hand twitched near my ankle. Leo's muscles coiled, ready.

Something was out there.

And they were ready

Another branch cracked—closer this time.

"That's not an animal," Leo muttered, his hand sliding subtly toward his back, fingers brushing the hidden handgun.

I was already moving smoothly. In one fluid motion, I shifted position, creating a simple line of sight into the darkness while keeping his weapon concealed.

"Eli," I whispered, "check the perimeter."

Elijah pulled out a flashlight, his movements careful. The beam cut through the darkness between the pines, revealing nothing but shadows and trees.

Chase finally sensed something was wrong. "What's going on?"

Juliet's hand touched Chase's arm, silencing him.

A low rustling sound. Something moving just beyond the firelight.

Then silence.

Complete, pressing silence. My breath caught. "Did you hear that?" My eyes narrowed.

My hand was now fully on my weapon, hidden but ready.

I muttered, my voice barely a whisper. "Something's watching us."

The silence shattered. A dark figure burst from the treeline—human-shaped, moving with unnatural speed.

Leo and I reacted instantly, our weapons appearing as if by magic. Two sharp reports cut through the night, muzzle flashes briefly illuminating the campsite.

"Down!" Leo shouted, pushing Chase and Juliet to the ground.

Phoebe screamed. Elijah scrambled for cover.

Something—whoever or whatever it was—didn't fall, but it sounded as if injured.

"What the hell?" I muttered, firing again. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Blood wasn't supposed to look... black. And something moving that fast after taking two direct hits wasn't natural.

Juliet grabbed a flashlight, sweeping its beam across the tree line. For just a moment, something moved—too tall, too thin to be human.

Something with limbs that bent at impossible angles.

"We need to go," Leo said, his voice cold.

"Now." The campfire flickered. Went out. Darkness rushed in. And something was hunting us.