Time: 9:00 AM

The car’s tires crunched on the sandy path as Ava and her friends finally arrived at Zyla Beach. The early morning sun sparkled on the water, casting a warm glow over the landscape. Laughter and the sounds of splashing waves filled the air, contrasting sharply with the unease that had settled in their hearts since meeting the caretaker the previous night.

Ava leaned out of the window, her excitement bubbling over. “Look at this place! It’s beautiful!” She reached for her camera, eager to document every moment for her YouTube channel. But as she recorded the beach, her stomach twisted with the memory of the caretaker’s warning: “Don’t go near the beach at night…”

The group piled out of the car, and the vibrant scene unfolded before them. Families enjoyed picnics on colorful blankets, kids squealed as they chased each other, and boats bobbed gently in the surf. For a moment, it felt like they were just another group of friends on a carefree summer getaway.

“See? Nothing to worry about,” Zaire said, slapping Rai on the back as he stepped onto the sand. “This is amazing!”

Dionne, however, felt a chill creeping up her spine as she surveyed the crowd. “Are you sure we should be here? The caretaker said not many people come…”

“Come on, Dionne,” Ignatius said, rolling his eyes. “That’s just superstition. Look around! This place is packed.”

Samera, always up for adventure, bounced on her toes. “I want to go for a boat ride! It looks so fun!” She pointed excitedly at a group of people boarding a colorful boat.

Ava’s heart raced at the thought of capturing the ride on video. “That would be epic content,” she mused, already planning how to film it. But another part of her hesitated, a nagging fear whispering that perhaps they should stick together.

Dionne crossed her arms, clearly unsettled. “Maybe we should stick together. I don’t like the idea of splitting up… not after last night.”

“I get it, but we can’t let one creepy warning ruin our fun,” Rai replied, glancing back at her. “We’re all adults here. Let’s just enjoy the beach!”

Zaire clapped his hands, breaking the tension. “Alright! How about this: we split up for a bit, but we all agree to check in with each other regularly? We’ll meet back here in an hour.”

Dionne shook her head, her anxiety growing. “I really don’t think—”

But Samera was already pulling Ava toward the boats, her enthusiasm infectious. “Come on! Just a quick ride! We’ll be fine.”

“I’ll go with you,” Ignatius added, his bravado returning. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t drown or something.”

With a reluctant sigh, Dionne turned to Rai, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s just hang back and enjoy the beach, alright? We can keep an eye on them.”

Ava hesitated but felt the thrill of adventure pulling her in. “Okay, but let’s keep our phones on. If anything feels off, we regroup.” She felt a pang of guilt as she watched Samera bounce off with Ignatius and Zaire, but the excitement of filming a boat ride called to her.

As they waved goodbye, Ava’s heart raced. The beach was bustling with life, but the sun’s rays felt strangely cold. She could almost hear the caretaker’s warning echoing in her ears.

“I’ll capture everything,” she reassured herself. “What could possibly go wrong?”

With that thought, she steeled herself, ready to face whatever the day had in store...