Drew's POV

The day went on a total whim. With us unpacking and wandering around the nearby forest area, a small picnic near a lake, watching the sunset and now its finally night. Well yeah it was currently 11pm and we should have been asleep by now but no I was still awake. After the whole day I thought I won't have a problem in falling asleep but I was proved wrong when I tried falling asleep. I'd close my eyes for about two minutes and then I'd again be wide awake. The worst part was, I was unable to even realise since when I was wide awake.

After about two more unsuccessful attempts I couldn't take it any longer. I quietly sat up in my bed. It creaked a little and I sat still for some moments, then again I stretched my hand sideways to feel the table nearby so that I knew exactly where I was standing when I got up. To my horror I stretched my hand to the right side a bit too much when I should have stretched it a little upwards and someone caught my hand. I suppressed a yelp. My heart hammered for a few moments before coming back to normal. I realised it was Gary.

Damn that boy, out of all people he had to catch my hand thinking its a pillow. I tried in vain to pry is hand off without waking him up. After several attempts I finally succeeded in prying him off only to turn and see a pair of eyes looking at me. The moonlight reflected their eyes and they were kind of glowing...? I again suppressed a yelp with difficulty only to realise it was Paul who was peeping at me from his bed above. Yeah, just my luck, I should have known even a little movement was enough to wake him up if not anyone else. We stared at each other for several seconds until he tore the gaze off only to climb down silently. I wondered if he was a human or some kind of animal because I couldn't even hear a slightest creak while he climbed down. He simply strode past me and opened the door and then turned. I followed suit until we were outside and he closed it quietly.

"Couldn't sleep?" Paul asked dryly.

"No, how did you realize I was awake?"

"They should have taken better care of the furnitures inside." He replied with the slightest glint of humour.

I realized it was the little creak the bed had made while I was getting up that had woken him up. We had lodged near a lake, so naturally we strolled in that direction only to find a ghostly figure sitting near the lake and humming. For the third time today I again suppressed a yelp. I silently looked at Paul in time to see even his eyes had widened but only for a second before realization hit the purple hues. I looked again towards the lake and now I realized that it was Dawn who was sitting. Her pink nightdress looked white under the moonlight. Midnight blue hair glistening under the heavenly light and swaying with the light breeze. Her voice melodious and as if nature was approving the song with slight sways in leaves and branches. I looked at Paul again who looked lost in thought, unaware of his surroundings and as if the girl in front of him was the only thing he could see and I was probably right.

Almost on autopilot I looked around hoping to see a glimpse of chestnut hair among the shadows but I was soon disappointed. May was a heavy sleeper so not a chance, I thought with a sigh. I walked forward a step and a dried leaf under my shoes creaked which made Dawn turn around and stare at us in shock. We held each other's gaze for several seconds, Dawn's eyes looking back and forth between me and Paul. She finally got up and smiled.

"Hello to both of you, I wonder if the whole world is awake at this hour of night." She said in a low chirpy voice. I smiled back.

"Why Dawn? Is anyone else awake?" I asked.

"Yeah just a few seconds ago Zoey came and strolled around for a bit before going back."

"More importantly why are you awake and out alone at this hour?" Paul asked sharply.

I realized what he meant and silently agreed.

Dawn looked surprised for a bit before replying with a mischievous hint, "Why? Is Lavender afraid someone would kidnap and take me away from him?"

This time I suppressed a chuckle and gulped it down. I agreed with her too.

"If only you knew." Paul muttered. I barely heard it and Dawn frowned while looking up at him, then suddenly said,

"Ok I am sorry, I shouldn't have come alone but now you two are here. Care to join me for a small midnight walk?"

I agreed instantly while Paul didn't reply but silently moved ahead. I silently wondered if I should leave them alone but I didn't have anything to do myself except bore myself to death while they go for a walk and of course I couldn't go and call May. I followed suit and both of us soon joined Dawn and the three of us strolled towards the forest. We wouldn't go too far for sure. We walked in a comfortable silence for some time before Paul broke it by saying,

"You have a nice voice, should sing more often."

Dawn didn't look up but I was sure she was pleased along with going red.

"Thanks" she muttered, "I actually never learnt singing, it's just I sing whenever I feel like it."

"You never learnt?" Paul asked slowly. Even I was surprised.

"Nope, I never did." She said softly.

"Paul is right Dawn, you really do have a beautiful voice." I complimented.

"Thanks Drew. "

This time I could see through the faint moonlight that she was smiling.

We walked forward in a comfortable silence again and I found my mind wandering off. The night breeze was so soothing that it was calming my body down, oozing all the worries out. It really was a nature therapy. Back in my house, I hardly ever went to forests, sure I loved spending time in gardens but nothing can beat the natural beauty and glory of a real forest. The night has its different charm and in forest it did wonders, enveloping everything in shadows. The faint sounds caused by the winds were as if trees were whispering in the dark, in a language unknown to us mortals. The night could appear gloomy to people who were suffering from depression, the moon and stars which naturally seemed wonderful to people can appear depressed but on the other hand, to people like us who were content even if it was for a moment the same night could appear to be welcoming, ready to lead us to mysteries that we can't probably see during daylight. Call it seduction but there was no harm in getting seduced.

After what seemed like half an hour Dawn's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Wait, guys where are we?"

Her voice was a bit panicky, eyes wide looking from left to right. That question made me shake off the calming feel that had enveloped me and I too realized our surroundings were unfamiliar. I looked at Paul to see he had stopped walking abruptly and was gazing backwards with brows furrowed. Dawn was still panicking and I went to her and kept a hand on her shoulder in an effort to calm her down. She looked at me, grasped my hand and nodded. I felt that her hands were cold. Paul strolled towards us, swiftly opened his jacket that he had put on before leaving and draped it around Dawn. All her protests went to vain and Dawn put on the oversized jacket, she was shivering due to the cold night wind so I appreciated the idea. While Dawn was adjusting herself in the jacket I whispered to Paul.

"Any idea where we are?"

Paul shook his head and muttered, "We are in trouble Drew, I can't recall this part of the forest and its harder because of the lack of light. Stay calm and don't tell anything to Dawn."

I gave him a look which suggested "as if I would" though I doubt he saw it. I tried to think rationally. If we proceeded without knowing the way we would probably end up moving around in circles. This forest was anything but small which meant it was huge. We had a girl with us and no way in hell we could afford a mistake and go deeper into the forest only to get lost. We couldn't stand here either and I doubt Paul would like the idea of making Dawn stay here for the night waiting for sunrise. I looked at him in a loss and his facial features showed he was in a dilemma just like me.

"Drew, Paul, you do know where we are right? We aren't lost right?" Dawn asked suspiciously.

"Y-yes of course Dawn. Don't worry we are nearby. We will reach camp in no time." I told her with as much encouragement I could gather. Dawn didn't seem to convinced though. After some moments when we still didn't move she said,

"Sorry Drew but I don't think standing here would help, hear me out, I have something to say. We will get out of here." She smiled encouragingly.

I felt a little relieved. Yes, Dawn was a strong girl and definitely not a fool though I was sure Paul was mentally kicking himself by now and I didn't feel any better.

She went to Paul and touched his shoulder.

"Don't worry Paul, I kept record of the time and if I am right we only walked for about half an hour which isn't very long. Also I remember seeing a very old tree here which is bigger than other trees here. If we retreat a bit and find it I know from there where to go but if we don't then we will think of something else." Dawn said.

At this moment I felt both grateful that Dawn was with us and guilty that I was being useless. We started going back. Dawn picked up a stone and started marking the trees and I again felt useless and helpless for doing nothing. If anyone were to take us out of this forest it will probably be Dawn. It was amusing how she kept her cool and marked the trees in case we ended up moving in circles. After about forty minutes of strolling here and there Dawn found the tree she was looking for and we sighed in relief. Dawn explained that she had seen this tree in a map while studying the forest and it was one of the oldest here. Paul was looking at her with approval and dare I say...pride?

Now that we knew which way to go the wind suddenly picked up speed. Great, I thought and now it would probably start to rain. I seriously didn't recall seeing even a trace of grey cloud before leaving. Anyway we couldn't help it and now that we knew which way to go it didn't seem a big deal. True to my thoughts rain started pouring down almost instantly. Dawn yelped and rushed under the shade of the tree and we followed suit. At this point we all were cold, the worse being Paul. Dawn was feeling guilty, I could tell but no way Paul would take the jacket now. After about ten minutes I heard a faint
"hi"

It was so faint it probably wasn't there. A shiver ran down my spine. It was probably the wind, yes it had to be the wind. What else? I shoved the other senseless thoughts that had sprung up. But my blood grew cold when Dawn looked at me, her face as pale as paper.

"W-who said hi?!" She stuttered.

"That means it wasn't the wind....?" I asked as cold perspire broke out from my forehead.

"Wind...?" Paul asked. "I thought Dawn said hi?"

"Me?! Are you insane? Why'd I do that?!" Dawn asked in bewilderment.

A faint giggle could be heard and Dawn screamed, I yelped and Paul jumped and skipped a few steps ahead. Dawn clutched Paul's arm and he held her back protectively. We were all getting wet and staring at the tree We stood there for a while. I didn't dare voice my thoughts. We weren't all hearing things....no that was impossible. Then what in the world was that?!

"Gh-ghost!" Dawn panted.

"Shut up idiot, there's nothing called ghost!" Paul scolded.

"Then explain who giggled and said hi?! We all couldn't have mistaken it!" She retorded.

"It was the wind." Paul said stubbornly.

Dawn stared at him. We were getting wet and reluctantly moved towards the tree since it was the most capable one among others for sheltering. Thankfully nothing happened for the remaining minutes we stood there. It was horrifying enough to hear voices like that. Then the rain gradually stopped. We were just stepping outside when we heard a faint.
"bye bye"

Dawn screamed and I didn't bother to hide my fear anymore. Paul turned white and we rushed blindly toward the campsite. After what seemed forever we stumbled out of the forest gasping for air and panting hard. We slid down against a tree and sat immobile for a few minutes before gradually getting up. Exhaustion took over us and we turned sleepy though I could tell our minds were still racing, searching for explanations we possibly would never get. The midnight adventure proved enough to bring sleep. Dawn was still scared and I gave her a side hug while Paul to my surprise gave her an actual one. She smiled and calmed down considerably. After a shaky goodbye we went to our respective cottages. No more adventures tonight. While I was falling asleep I sleepily couldn't help but think again, was it really a voice or was it our minds playing tricks or was it just the wind....?

Hey everyone! Here is a special chapter for you for the upcoming Halloween!! 🦇 👻🎃🕸️Hope you enjoy it. Also thank you so much for 2K reads! I love you all!! Andddd Happy Advanced Halloween!!!! Stay safe everyone.