Thalia sat quietly beside Ruth, her eyes locked on the bonfire burning in the distance. Around them, laughter and cheerful chatter filled the cool night air—classmates bonding, teachers relaxing, everyone enjoying the warmth of the camp.

But Ruth felt none of it.

She ate her dinner in silence, unable to shake the uneasiness gripping her chest. Ericka had been staring at her earlier—like she wasn’t human. Like she’d seen something terrifying standing behind her. And Ruth couldn’t forget how pale Ericka had been, as if waking from a nightmare she couldn’t escape.

Are we being haunted?
Her food suddenly tasted like nothing.

She looked around—and her eyes met Ericka’s.

“Are you okay?” Ruth asked, unsure if she sounded rude or intrusive.

Ericka blinked, caught off guard.
“Thank you for your concern,” she said softly.

Ruth nodded, offering a quick smile before looking away. Ericka remained quiet beside Jasmin, distant and unreadable.

Ruth checked her watch. Still a few activities before bedtime. She chuckled weakly—the forest that had felt eerie just hours ago now echoed with laughter. A part of her hoped it would stay this way.

“Thalia,” she whispered.
Thalia turned to her.
“Come with me to the restroom. I need to pee.”

Thalia’s expression tightened—hesitant, uneasy.

“We need one more person,” she said.

“Huh? Why?!” Ruth frowned.

“You weren’t listening earlier,” Thalia sighed. “We’re required to go in groups of three when leaving the site. Safety rule.”

Ruth groaned. “I really need to go. Anyone else coming?”

“I’ll go,” Jasmin said, raising a hand. “I’m bursting.”

“Wait—we need the teacher’s permission,” Thalia reminded them. “We have to sign out and get the marker ribbons.”

“Hurry, please,” Ruth begged.

Thalia returned with three ribbon clips, which they attached to their shirts. Ruth didn’t care about any rules right now—she just needed that restroom.

Thankfully, the teachers had built decent outdoor restrooms with lights and running water. The line wasn’t too long.

Later that night, after everything, Ruth finally relaxed at the campsite—until she noticed the noise around them slowly fading. Laughter thinned. Voices drifted away.

She glanced at her watch.
Almost 9 p.m.
Curfew.

“Thalia?” she called.
No answer.

“Thalia?”
Still nothing.

Then she noticed something—the restroom Jasmin had used earlier was pitch-dark. Its light had gone out.

Maybe she’s still inside, Ruth thought uneasily.

“Hey!”

Someone grabbed her wrist.

Ruth spun around, startled.
“Thalia! Don’t do that!” She clutched her chest. “I nearly died.”

“Let’s go,” Thalia said, taking her hand firmly.

Something in her voice felt wrong.

“Wait—aren’t we going to check on Jasmin?” Ruth asked.

Thalia didn’t answer.

She just kept pulling her.

A cold chill crept down Ruth’s spine.

Is this really Thalia?

Her feet stumbled. She wanted to pull away, but fear froze her limbs. The girl dragging her didn’t move like Thalia. Didn’t feel like her.

Someone is pretending to be Thalia.

They weren’t heading back to camp.
They were being led deeper—into the dense, suffocating forest.

Then the thing beside her began to hum.
Soft.
Eerie.
Almost happy.

Even in the dark, Ruth felt the smile curving its lips.

Sweat slid down her back. She wanted to cry. She couldn’t even breathe properly.

Don’t be afraid. We won’t hurt you.
The voice echoed in her mind.

She turned to the source.

Don’t be afraid, little sister.

They reached the edge of a road—and Ruth froze.

It was that road.
The one from the news.
Where two siblings had been found… riddled with bullets.

And then she appeared.

A woman dressed in white—stained, torn, bloodied—walking toward her.

“Chesca…” a voice whispered on the wind.

Ruth slowly turned to the one holding her hand.
It was the same apparition she’d seen that morning—bloodied, bruised, broken.

Her heartbeat thundered painfully.

Don’t be afraid. It’s us.

One of them gently touched her cheek, cold as ice.

Chesca, do you remember us?
What did that demon do to you?
Its voice shook with anger.
Its face twisted.

“I—I don’t know you,” Ruth whispered, voice trembling. “I’m not Chesca…”

The spirit stepped closer.

This is me, Ellese—your older sister.
And Felisa…

Ruth’s skull felt like it was splitting open.
She collapsed to her knees, clutching her head.

“My name is Ruth Dalia Dionson!” she screamed.
“I am NOT Chesca!”

You will remember us, Chesca.
You are our only hope…

Am I losing my mind?
Am I going crazy?

Everything fell silent.

“—uth… Ruth!”
Someone shook her urgently.

“Ruth Dalia!”

Her eyes snapped open—light stabbing into them.

She sat up slowly, dizzy, disoriented.
She rubbed her face, still shaking.

She was inside a large tent, surrounded by the school nurses. Thalia knelt beside her, worry carved on her face.

“I… I left Jasmin…” Ruth whispered.

The air stilled.

Everyone froze.

What’s happening?
Where is she?

“Dionson, stay here and rest,” a teacher said gently.

“Everyone else, back to your tents,” another ordered. Students slowly filed out.

“I’ll stay,” Thalia said softly.

The teacher nodded and left.

Silence swallowed the tent.

Ruth waited.

“Jasmin is missing,” Thalia finally said.

Ruth stared at her, heart pounding, hands trembling violently.

She was terrified.