The road twists like a snake, disappearing into thick forest. Trees stand tall on both sides, casting shadows even though the sun's still up. Inside the van, six friends laugh, tease, share chips — pretending everything is fine.
But no one's truly themselves.
Aarav, the quiet one, sits by the window. His gaze locked on the woods. He hasn't laughed once, but no one calls him out. They never do.
In the front seat, Rishi and Kabir argue over music — again.
"Bro, no one wants to hear your emo breakup songs," Kabir grins.
"It's not emo! It's atmospheric. Fits the vibe."
"Yeah, if the vibe is 'we're all gonna die,' then sure."
Laughter echoes.
Tanya rolls her eyes from the back. "Great. Can we just reach and set up before it gets dark? The map says another thirty minutes, right?"
Rhea clutches her phone, watching the signal bars die. "Ugh. No network."
"No distractions," Zayan says, smirking. He's the one who planned this trip. He always leads. Always suggests. Always disappears and reappears without warning. No one minds. That's just Zayan.
But this time, something feels… off.
Aarav notices it first. Zayan hasn't stopped checking his watch. Every ten minutes. Like he's waiting for something.
---
They reach the clearing by 5:37 p.m.
The sun is behind the hills now, light filtering gold through tall trees. There's a flat patch perfect for tents, and a nearby lake that sparkles unnaturally still.
It's peaceful. Quiet.
Too quiet.
"You didn't say it'd be this isolated," Tanya mutters, adjusting her hoodie.
"That's the fun, no?" Zayan says, throwing his bag down. "We're here to disconnect."
They begin setting up tents. Aarav helps Rhea untangle hers. Kabir builds the fire. Rishi wanders near the lake, pretending to look for wood but really just avoiding work.
---
By nightfall, the fire is crackling, and marshmallows are burning.
Stories start. Funny ones at first. But then it turns.
"Let's play a game," Zayan says suddenly.
Everyone groans.
"Not Truth or Dare," Tanya warns.
"Nope. Just truth. Pure truth." Zayan's smile is too sharp. "Let's confess something no one else knows."
Silence.
"Skip," Kabir says.
"No skipping," Zayan insists.
He goes first.
"I once nearly drowned my cousin when I was 10. Held his head down in the pool. I don't know why. Just wanted to see what it felt like."
Everyone laughs awkwardly. Then realize he's not smiling.
"...What?"
"Kidding," he says, but his face stays unreadable.
One by one, confessions come out. Small ones. Embarrassing. Petty. Nothing that dangerous.
Aarav doesn't speak.
"I'll go pee," he mutters and walks into the woods.
He doesn't come back.
---
Ten minutes pass.
Fifteen.
"Should we… check on him?" Rhea asks.
"He's probably just moody," Kabir shrugs.
Twenty.
Zayan stands. "I'll look."
"No. Let's go together," Tanya insists. Her voice shakes a little.
They grab flashlights.
Darkness eats the path.
Every step further from the fire feels like a step into another world.
Aarav is not near the trees.
He's not behind the big rocks.
He's nowhere.
Something crunches.
They whip around.
Just Rishi — he tripped over something.
A... rope?
No. A vine. Thick. But it's tied in a knot.
It leads to the ground.
They brush away leaves and find...
A broken sign. Covered in dirt.
> "WILLOW'S WEEP SANITARIUM"
"...Sanitarium?" Tanya reads. "What the hell is that doing here?"
Rhea backs away. "Let's go back."
But Zayan steps forward. His flashlight catches something between the trees.
Stone.
Brick.
A structure, swallowed by the forest.
"I didn't know this was here," he lies.
Aarav's shoe is on the steps.
Blood near the toe.
---
💀 TO BE CONTINUED…