The forest was strange, bathed in cold silver moonlight. Shadows stretched and twisted between the trees, making familiar shapes look wrong.
The man shivered as the night pressed in. The wind rustled the leaves like whispered warnings, and the distant hoot of an owl sounded unnervingly close.
He turned slowly, scanning the darkness. Everything looked distorted — like the forest itself was breathing.
Then he saw it.
A massive shape moved between the trees, only barely visible in the moonlight.
Panic surged through him. He ran.
Branches clawed at his arms. Roots snagged his feet. Every snap of a twig made his heart jump higher. His breath tore at his chest.
He skidded to a stop and turned.
The thing was closer now, a huge shadow stepping silently toward him. Its form twisted with the darkness, wrong and impossible. A cold dread squeezed his chest.
"AAAAHHH—!"
Darren jerked awake, heart hammering in his chest. The forest vanished, replaced by the pale walls and fluorescent lights of his classroom. He was sitting upright at his desk, breaths coming fast. Just a dream.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a shaky laugh. "Man… A dream? Again?"
He'd had one almost like it the night before. Last time, it was a deer being chased by something; this time, it was a man. Two dreams, two nights, both in the woods. Weird, he thought. Probably nothing.
"Hey, you good?"
Charlie leaned over from the next desk, his voice half-concerned, half-amused. The look on Darren's face was wild—eyes wide, skin pale, like he'd actually been running.
Darren tried to smile. "Yeah… yeah, just dozed off."
Darren took a deep breath, rubbing his temples. It was just a nightmare, he told himself. Just a dream.
Still, it had felt so real — the cold air, the moonlight, that thing chasing him through the woods. Even now, the memory sent a chill down his spine.
The rest of the school day passed in a blur, and before Darren knew it, morning had come.
He stood outside his house with his backpack slung over one shoulder as Charlie's old car rattled to a stop in front of him.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Charlie grinned. "Ready for your first-ever camping trip?"
Darren tossed his bag into the back seat and climbed in. "Still can't believe Jenna invited us."
"Dude, I still can't believe it either." Charlie pulled back onto the road. "How exactly did that happen again?"
Darren shrugged, staring out the window. "After class yesterday. She just… walked up to me. Said she and her friends were going camping at Hollow Creek and asked if I wanted to come. You too."
Charlie snorted. "Jenna? Our Jenna? Talking to you like that out of nowhere? Bro, that's suspicious."
"Suspicious how?" Darren asked.
Charlie raised a brow. "Think about it. She barely knows you. She barely talks to anyone outside her friend circle. And suddenly she wants us two guys to tag along?"
Darren didn't respond. Honestly, he had thought the same thing, but Jenna's smile had felt genuine — almost hopeful. Like she really needed him there.
"Maybe she just wants extra people around," Darren finally said.
"Or maybe she wants you," Charlie teased.
Darren rolled his eyes, but his cheeks warmed slightly. "Shut up."
They fell into silence for a moment as the road curved through dense forest. Sunlight flickered through the branches like flashes of silver.
Then—
Wee-woo, wee-woo
Two police cars flew past them on the opposite side of the road, sirens blaring.
Charlie flinched. "Whoa! They were speeding."
Darren watched the flashing lights disappear in the mirror. A strange feeling tightened in his chest, but he pushed it aside.
"Probably something in town," he said.
"Yeah… probably."
The car grew quieter as they drove deeper into the forest. Trees walled in the sides of the road, tall and silent. The farther they went, the more isolated everything felt.
"You sure you're up for this?" Charlie asked.
Darren breathed out slowly. "Yeah. Why not? Worst case, it's just one night."
"True," Charlie said. "Girls + campfire. Can't be that bad."
Not long after, they reached the campground parking area. A wooden sign stood near the edge of the lot, its paint faded but still readable.
Camp Hollow Creek, it read.
A few cars were parked nearby — maybe two or three — including Jenna's small red car and a couple of motorcycles. The place looked quiet, almost too quiet. It clearly wasn't peak travel season.
Charlie parked his car beside Jenna's and stepped out. The crisp forest air filled his lungs, carrying a faint scent of pine and damp earth.
"Hey," Darren greeted as he spotted Jenna and her friends, Mia and Sofia, by their car.
Jenna turned to face him, smiling faintly. She was dressed in a brown jacket over a white shirt and a pair of long jeans. The casual outfit somehow made her look even more stunning.
"Hey, guys," Charlie added, waving.
Darren glanced around. "Wait… where's everyone else?"
"They're not coming," Mia said quickly, adjusting the straps on her backpack.
Both Darren and Charlie exchanged surprised looks.
"They changed their minds at the last minute," Jenna added, her tone quieter now. She wasn't smiling anymore.
"Oh…" Darren said softly, unsure what to make of it.
Just then, a loud beep-beep echoed through the lot. Another car pulled up beside them. The engine shut off, and the door opened.
A tall guy stepped out. Darren's heart sank.
"David?" he muttered under his breath.
David — one of Jason's friends. Jason's group was known for being loud, arrogant, and occasionally mean. Neither Darren nor Charlie liked them much.
"David?" Mia said, clearly surprised. "I thought Jason said he couldn't come?"
David gave a crooked grin. "Well, Jason said he wouldn't come. Doesn't mean I can't, right?" he said with a half-joking tone.
He clapped his hands once. "Alright, let's head in."
The group gathered their bags and followed the narrow dirt path leading into the forest. The sign beside it creaked softly in the breeze.
"Camp Hollow Creek," Charlie read aloud. "Sounds… friendly."
"Yeah," Darren muttered, glancing at the trees. "Let's hope it stays that way."
The group followed the narrow dirt trail into the forest, their laughter fading beneath the towering canopy above. The trees grew taller the deeper they went, their branches knitting together until only slivers of gray sky peeked through.
A cool breeze brushed past, and Darren glanced up. Thick, dark clouds were gathering above the treetops.
"It's not gonna rain, right?" he asked, tightening his grip on his backpack strap.
"Probably not," Charlie replied. "They come, they go. Just clouds."
Darren nodded, though he wasn't convinced.
The forest was beautiful — rich with tall trees and lush greenery — but it was… quiet. Too quiet. There were no birds chirping, no rustle of small animals. Only the sound of their footsteps and the occasional creak of wood as the wind stirred the branches.
Darren frowned slightly, glancing around. It felt strange, that kind of stillness — like the forest itself was holding its breath.
Then again, maybe it was normal. Maybe forests were supposed to be this quiet when people were around.
No one else seemed to notice. Mia was chatting with Jenna, and David was walking ahead, humming to himself. The group pressed on, following the winding trail until the trees began to thin out.
Soon, the forest opened up into a small clearing — a plain that sloped gently toward a narrow stream glistening under the dim light. A few huts and tents dotted the area, their canvas walls flapping softly in the breeze.
"It looks just like the pictures," Jenna said, smiling as she looked around.
It did — almost exactly like the online photos. Still, Darren couldn't shake the feeling that something was… off. There were tents, yes, but no people. No voices. No movement.
"It's kinda empty," Charlie murmured, looking around.
"Guess it's not travel season," Mia said, forcing a light tone.
For a moment, it almost felt like they were the only ones there. But those tents… someone had to be nearby. Right?
Darren's gaze swept the clearing. The wind picked up again, colder this time, carrying the faint scent of rain. Clouds gathered thicker overhead, swallowing the sunlight completely. The once-inviting campground now sat under a dull gray sky.
He sighed quietly, a shiver crawling up his spine. Something about this place doesn't feel right.
He couldn't explain it — it wasn't the silence, or the emptiness — just a deep, unsettling feeling he couldn't name. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe he was just being paranoid.
Brushing the thought away, Darren hoisted his bag higher and walked toward the huts.
Darren and Charlie stepped into the hut together. It wasn't big, but it had everything they needed — two blankets, a sleeping bag, a small wooden table, and a window that looked out toward the forest edge. The air inside smelled faintly of old wood and dust.
"This is it," Darren said, dropping his backpack onto the floor.
Charlie chuckled. "Not bad. Cozy enough, I guess."
They set their things down and rested for a bit, the quiet hum of the forest filling the silence. Then, a knock came from the door.
"Darren, Charlie," Jenna's voice called from outside.
Darren opened the door. Jenna stood there with Mia, Sofia, and David.
"Me and the girls are going to look for some natural food around the area," she said. "We need you guys to stay here at the camp, okay? We'll be back as soon as possible."
"Oh… um, okay," Darren said, trying not to sound disappointed.
"Can we go with you?" Charlie asked quickly.
"Um, it won't be long," Sofia replied, smiling politely. "We'll be back soon, and then we can start the campfire activities, alright?"
"Right… sure," Charlie muttered.
"Okay, I'll see you," Jenna said, giving a brief wave before they all headed off together — even David, who was joking around with the girls as they disappeared between the trees.
Darren watched them go, feeling a small pang in his chest. He had said it was fine to stay, but deep down, he wished they'd been allowed to come along. Now there was nothing to do but wait.
"Wooh," Charlie sighed, collapsing onto his blanket. "Why can't we go with them? This is not what I expected when they said camping. I thought there'd be more people, more fun."
He turned toward Darren. "Come on, man. What do we do while waiting?"
Without hesitation, Darren said, "Sleep. The weather's cloudy, it's quiet… perfect nap time."
Charlie grinned. "You're not wrong."
They crawled into their sleeping bags and closed their eyes, the soft patter of wind against the window slowly lulling them into sleep.
"Hey… hey?"
A faint voice echoed inside Darren's head. It wasn't familiar — it wasn't Charlie's.
He opened his eyes slowly. Everything was different. He was no longer in the hut. He was standing near a lake under the pale curve of the moon. The night sky was pitch black, stars hidden behind thick clouds.
"What…?" he murmured.
Boom.
The ground trembled beneath him. The surface of the lake rippled violently, waves crashing against the shore. He stumbled backward, eyes fixed on the dark water.
Then he saw it — a shadow moving beneath the surface, massive and shapeless.
BOOM.
Water erupted upward, drenching him as something broke through — a gigantic brown hand, slick with mud, claws glinting under the moonlight.
"Wait—what is that—"
Before he could move, the thing surged higher from the lake—
"AAHH—!"
Darren gasped and shot upright, heart pounding in his chest. He was back in the hut.
Panting, he pressed a hand to his forehead. "Another dream…?" he muttered, trying to calm himself. "Just another dream."
He turned toward the window. The sky outside had darkened; the sun was already dipping low behind the trees.
He had no idea how long he'd been asleep.
"They're probably back by now," he said quietly.
But something was wrong.
He glanced at the sleeping bag beside him. It was empty.
"Charlie?" Darren called.
No answer.
He stood up, his pulse quickening. "Charlie?"
The hut was silent.
Darren stepped outside — and froze.
The camp was empty. No one was there. The air was unnaturally still, the kind of silence that pressed against your ears.
The sun hung low in the sky, glowing orange through the trees. It was already evening.
But there was no Jenna. No Mia. No Sofia. No David.
No one.
Where are they?