Alex and his friends stood frozen in front of the wooden shack, face-to-face with a snarling creature. The skeleton dog had a mossy head, its skull partially obscured by rotting vegetation and tangled roots. Its eyes burned with an eerie, malevolent glow, casting an unsettling light that flickered like dying embers. The forest seemed to hold its breath around them, shadows dancing ominously in the dim light.

Its sharp teeth, jagged and uneven, protruded from its gaping maw, dripping with thick, yellow saliva that oozed down its jaw. Each breath it took sounded like a rattling death rattle, and the stench of decay emanated from its skeletal form, mingling with the earthy scent of damp moss. The creature's presence was an abomination, a ghastly fusion of nature and death, sending chills down the spines of the petrified group.

“Nobody… move,” Alex whispered.

Kimmy tuened to Alex her eyes wide.

“We can't just stand here! We’ve got to do something.”

“Do what?!” Leo retorted, “that thing is huge!”

Behind the creature, Ophelia Omen emerged from the shadows, her arms crossed, her expression one of stern impatience.

“Well, you punks going to explain what you’re doing here in the middle of the damn night? Or are we doing this the hard way?”

Lucy stammered, “I—is the hard way getting eaten by your creepy skeleton monster?”

Ophelia scoffed, “Don’t be an idiot. Ugly thing ain’t got a stomach. He’ll just chew you up and spit you out somewhere… somewhere off my property.”

Ava’s voice trembled with frustration, “Super. We finally have a lead and now her creepy pet is gonna kill us.”

Andy, trying to mask his fear with bravado, said, “If we scatter, it can’t kill all of us… right?”

Noah’s eyes were wide with terror, “Let’s get out of here! If she can control that monster, she’s probably in league with him.”

Ophelia’s eyebrow arched, “’Him?’ What nonsense are you… oh. Oh hell.”

She whistled sharply, and the mossy creature hesitated, then backed down, its eyes still glowing but its posture less threatening. The creature looked at Ophelia, clearly confused by the sudden command.

Ophelia pointed at the group, her eyes narrowing in realization, “It’s you! Isn’t it? You’re the idiots who went and woke up Dylan!”

Alex took a hesitant step forward. “So, do you know about him?”

Kimmy, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope, pleaded, “Please, we’re sorry for trespassing, but… we need your help.”

Leo added, desperation creeping into his tone, “We’re kind of desperate actually. Any information you have about Dylan’s history or his powers would be incredibly helpful.”

Ophelia studied them for a moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she said, “History? I’ll do you one better than that. I’m going to tell you how to lock that bastard away for good.”

The group exchanged glances, a mix of relief and apprehension washing over them. They followed Ophelia into her house, stepping into a world that seemed pulled straight from the pages of a dark fairy tale.

The air was light with the scent of old parchment and musty herbs. Dark shelves lined the walls, crammed with strange, glimmering stones and dusty tomes whose titles were obscured by centuries of grime. Bottles of dried herbs dangled from the ceiling, their contents rustling faintly as if whispering secrets. Skulls with hollow eyes stared from every corner, their empty gazes following the group as they moved deeper into the dimly lit room.

“Whoa… this is… interesting,” Alex murmured.

Ava, eyes wide with fascination said, “I want this house to be my house.”

Ophelia shot her a stern look. “Don’t touch anything,” she warned, her voice brooking no argument.

Leo grimaced as he leaned closer to a jar on one of the shelves. Inside, a grotesque organ floated in a murky liquid that distorted its shape. The organ's surface, slick and pale, was riddled with veins and tendrils that seemed to pulse with a sickly, unnatural rhythm. The viscous fluid bubbled faintly, casting eerie shadows that twisted the already unsettling object into even more bizarre and nightmarish forms. The sight of the preserved organ, suspended in its disturbing bath, sent a shiver down Leo's spine, making his skin crawl as he quickly averted his gaze.

Ophelia moved with practiced ease through the dimly lit room, her every motion deliberate and graceful. She approached a heavy, cast-iron teapot that seemed as ancient as the rest of her cluttered home. The teapot was etched with intricate, swirling patterns that caught the low light and cast flickering reflections on the walls. With a practiced hand, she poured a dark, steaming brew into delicate porcelain cups, the aroma of the tea—earthy and spiced—filling the air with an unsettling warmth.

She handed a cup to Alex, whose fingers brushed against hers briefly, and then to Dwayne, who accepted it with a wary glance. The tea's rich, murky color seemed to swirl with an almost sentient quality, adding to the air of quiet unease that hung over them.

Alex sniffed the cup, wrinkling his nose at the bitter aroma. The tea was dark and smelled of earth and something else he couldn’t quite place.

Dwayne then eyed his cup warily and checked the tea. “Um, is this poison?”

Ophelia shot him a withering look. “If I’d wanted you dead, I’d have let my pet tear your throat out in the front yard. Drink your damn tea or give it to the dog. I don’t care.”

With that, she eased into a well-worn armchair. Her creature, now docile, settled to the floor beside her like a faithful hound, its glowing eyes still watchful but less threatening.

Silence stretched as Alex sipped the tea, its bitterness coating his tongue. He glanced around at his friends, who were equally unsure. The room’s atmosphere was tense, the dim light casting long shadows that danced eerily on the walls.

Then the door suddenly swung open, drawing everyone's attention. Standing in the doorway were Alvin, Alice, Sofia, Kevin, Shoyo, and Claire.

Ophelia narrowed her eyes. "And who are these? More trespassers, I presume?" she asked, her voice dripping with suspicion.

Alex stepped forward quickly. "No, these are our friends," he explained.

Ophelia glared at Alex, her patience wearing thin. "Damn, how many people are there in your group, you brat?"

Alex hesitated for a moment, glancing at his friends before replying. "Umm... there are fifteen of us in total, but only nine of us were involved in waking Dylan."

Ophelia rolled her eyes, clearly deciding not to pursue the matter further.

Alvin, sensing the need to move things along, looked at Alex expectantly. Taking the cue, Alex began to fill him on the situation. He explained who Ophelia was and how she was crucial to their plan to lock down Dylan.

As Alvin nodded, acknowledging the explanation, he turned his gaze to Ophelia and the creature sitting silently beside her.

Finally, Lucy spoke, her voice tentative.

“Um, Miss Ophelia, I can’t help but notice... it sounded like you know who we are.”

Ophelia’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. “Of course I do. The power has been sleeping quietly these past twelve years, but I knew someone had to break the spell that bound it.”

Kimmy leaned forward, her expression a mix of curiosity and fear. “If that’s true... then why didn’t you come find us?”

Andy added, his tone accusatory, “Yeah, why wait till we came to you?”

Ophelia’s face twisted with frustration, “Because the power knows me, boy. I’ve only survived this long because I know how to hide from it.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Alex felt a cold shiver run down his spine. The woman before them wasn’t just some eccentric hermit; she was someone who had lived in fear of the very thing they had awakened.

Ophelia looked at them, raising an eyebrow. "How did you find me anyway?"

Alex pulled a worn, leather-bound book from his bag and held it up. "We found this at the library."

Ophelia’s eyes widened slightly, then she scoffed. "Took you long enough! I published that damn book twelve years ago. Won an award and everything. Figured as soon as you recognized the creatures in there, you'd come running. Guess I overestimated you."

She grunted, sipping her tea. Ava tossed back her own tea in one swallow, holding out her cup for a refill.

Ava said, "Okay, you said the Power knows you. What does that mean?"

Ophelia smiled. "This one pays attention. I like her."

Noah rolled his eyes. "Teacher's pet."

Ava flashed her middle finger at Noah while Ophelia poured her another cup of tea.

"Most of my life, I've been part of a group that watches over these woods... and the Power that lives inside. We guarded the Power and kept it secret. In return, it took care of us."

Alex leaned forward, intrigued. "You mean it gave you abilities?"

Ophelia nodded, her expression serious.

"You catch on quick, kid. We were able to take a little of the Power into ourselves, granting us certain skills... but only if we followed the rules."

Andy looked at the creature by her side, "Well, that explains your twiggy over there."

Kimmy's eyes widened. "Hang on, you made that thing?"

Alex, his curiosity piqued, asked, "Do you have other powers too?"

Ophelia shook her head. "Absolutely not. I make constructs, like this ugly beast here... but only one at a time. Others could levitate things or talk to beasts and whatnot, but there's only so much Power a person can hold without going... strange."

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Someone got greedy, didn’t they? Someone tried to use too much of the Power.”

Ophelia sighed, the weight of history heavy in her voice. “That idiot... we told him what would happen. He saw the shadows wandering the woods at night... leftovers from other greedy idiots. But no, he thought he knew better than us. Now look at him. Fused with the Power itself, not a scrap of humanity left.”

Alex shuddered, rubbing the still-tender bruise on his wrist where Dylan had grabbed him. Ophelia watched him intently, one eyebrow raised.

“Looks like things are worse than I thought. We’ve got to move quickly,” Ophelia said, heaving herself out of her chair and bustling around the room, taking down jars and bunches of herbs.

“Someone find the jar of powdered bloodstone. And you, put those goblets on the table.”

Noah nodded and retrieved a pair of ornate goblets from a nearby case and set them on the low table. Ophelia took the goblets from him and began mixing various powders and herbs into them.

Andy, wide-eyed, asked, “Okay, I get that we’re moving quickly here. But can you maybe pump the brakes for a sec? How are we gonna stop Dylan?”

Leo nodded. “Yeah, exactly. I’d like to know what exactly we’re getting into. What’s the plan? Will you be assisting us?”

Ophelia huffed in frustration. “What does it look like I’m doing? Making a casserole?”

She added a pinch of ash to each goblet, then started scribbling furiously on a notepad.

“I can tell you how to bind Dylan, but you’re going to have to go into these woods and perform the spell yourselves.”

Kimmy’s voice trembled. “What? But we can’t… I mean, how are we supposed to do that? We’re not witches or whatever.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “Speak for yourself.”

Alex’s voice was firm. “We might not have powers, but Ophelia is right. We have to do this ourselves.”

Lucy’s eyes welled up with frustration. “But why? Why does it always have to be us?”

Alvin leaning his back against the wall said. “We’re the ones who set Dylan free, so we’re the ones who have to make it right.”

Lucy’s voice cracked as she protested, “But we were just kids… we didn’t know what we were doing! It’s not fair.”

Alex placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “No, it’s not. But it’s right.”

He looked each of his friends in the eyes, and one by one, they nodded in agreement.

Ophelia scoffed, shaking her head. “Kids… always so damn dramatic. Look, it has to be you because that’s the only way the spell will work.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Oh really?”

Ophelia sighed, her patience wearing thin.

“Of course! I’d do this all myself if I could. You’re probably going to screw this up. The Power’s true strength comes from the connection it forges with its followers. Both sides are bound by the rules and rituals they agree upon. After the incident, the few of us who weren’t bloody smears on the ground figured out a way to exploit that connection.”

She tore a page from her notepad and handed it to Alex. The paper was covered in intricate symbols and instructions, written in a hurried scrawl.

“With this spell,” Ophelia said, “we sealed that bastard inside the old meeting house.”

Noah’s brow furrowed. “Old meeting house... wait, those creepy ruins? How old are you?”

Ophelia’s eyes flashed with irritation.

“None of your damn business.”

Alex took the paper, scanning the cramped handwriting. "This... this is it? We just follow these instructions?"

Alvin stood beside Alex, peering over his shoulder at the paper Alex was holding. Alex tilted the paper slightly to give him a better view. Alvin read the words carefully, then leaned back against the wall and whispered to himself, "Looks like a children's poem to me."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Seems a little anticlimactic."

Kimmy’s voice was tinged with worry. "You did hear the part where we have to go back into the woods, right?"

Leo nodded grimly. "Where I assume Dylan will try to stop us?"

Ophelia's gaze was steely. "That's right. Once Dylan sees what you're doing, he will do everything he can to interrupt the spell. You’re going to have to—"

She stopped abruptly, her attention diverted by a noise. Her mossy creature was gnawing on its own leg bone.

"HEY! YOU DROP THAT! I SAID DROP IT."

Alex jumped, following Ophelia's accusing finger to the creature, which gave a creepy smile as it reluctantly released the bone.

Ophelia sighed in exasperation. "Stupid thing. All the arcane powers in the world couldn’t magic a brain into that half-rotted skull of yours."

The moss creature’s grin widened, bits of moss and dirt falling from its decayed mouth.

"Don't suppose you'd like to take this damn ugly beast with you? All he's doing here is chewing up my nice furniture."

Ava’s eyes lit up. "Yes. YES. We would love to!"

Alex nodded in agreement. "Dylan will probably send tons of these creatures after us... it'd be nice to have a monster on our side for once. So yeah, we’ll take him."

Ophelia smirked. "Hear that, you dense beast? You’re going with these kids for a while."

Dwayne placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder, and Alex turned to look at him, seeing a mischievous glint in Dwayne's eyes. "Why do we need that creature when we already have a monster on our side?" Dwayne said, his voice low and teasing.

Alex tilted his head in confusion. "Uh... I don't think we have one."

Dwayne then pointed at Alvin, who was in the middle of a long yawn. As Alvin finished his yawn, he noticed everyone staring at him.

Alvin had clearly heard what Dwayne said, and with a straight face, he responded, "Dwayne do you have a death wish or something?"

Dwayne quickly shook his head, his eyes wide with mock terror. "Nope, I dont, I am sorry" he said, backing away slightly.

The others chuckled at his reaction, while Alvin's grin widened, clearly enjoying the moment.

The creature then looked between Ophelia and the group, its glowing eyes narrowing in what might have been curiosity or confusion.

Ophelia snapped her fingers, and the creature got up, its bony feet clacking across the floorboards. It gave a creepy smile, its mossy face stretching in an eerie grin.

Lucy looked at it nervously. "Does it, uh... have a name?"

Ophelia shrugged. "Never bothered to give him one. Call him what you like."

Alex thought for a moment. "How about Kyle?"

Kyle trotted over to Alex, still grinning. Hesitantly, Alex reached down to scratch his mossy head. "That's surprisingly soft. And very weird. Definitely weird."

Ava giggled. "Who's a good undead boy? Is it you?"

Kyle's grin widened, and he wagged his tail enthusiastically.

Ophelia grabbed a plastic lighter from the kitchen and tossed it to Alex, then handed two goblets to Noah.

"Don't spill those. There's a clearing with a big stump in the middle, about a mile in from the road. You know it?"

Noah nodded. "Yeah, that's where we found our friend Dan."

Ophelia's face hardened. "That's where you'll do the ritual tonight."

Lucy frowned. "Tonight? Why can't we wait until morning?"

Ophelia's eyes were stern. "Because Dylan's got to be inside the clearing for the spell to trap him, which won't happen if it's full of sunshine."

Alex nodded, understanding the urgency. "Got it. But before we go, there's something I wanted to ask you about. Our friends are in the hospital."

Andy said, "Dylan got our friends Dan, Zack, and Korban. They've been unconscious in the hospital for days."

Leo added, "There are others, too. If we manage to bind Dylan... will they wake up?"

Ophelia considered this for a moment.

"Hm. The power does feed on people sometimes, consuming their life force until they're just empty shells. But if you do the spell right, that connection will be broken. Your friends should recover in time."

Alex clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes. "One more reason to win this thing."

Ophelia's gaze hardened. "Now, unless you have other silly questions, it's time for you to go. There's work to be done."

Alvin, who had remained calm throughout the tense exchange, finally spoke up. "I still have one question."

All eyes turned to him, including Ophelia's. Her voice was laced with anger as she snapped, "I just said that you should go or—"

Completely unfazed, Alvin interrupted her. "I have an important question for you."

Ophelia clicked her tongue in frustration. "Okay, fine. What is it?"

Alvin's gaze was steady, his tone measured. "You explained about Dylan and how to stop that stupid ghost, but you forgot something important. You still haven't told us why people have been disappearing since last year. One person per month. You haven't answered why this is happening."

Ophelia's eyes narrowed as she pondered his question. After a moment of contemplation, she admitted, "Hm... I am afraid I do not know about that."

Alvin's eyes didn't waver as he pressed further. "Could it be that there's a chance he was using that to increase his power?"

Ophelia's expression softened, though a hint of uncertainty lingered. "There could be a chance."

Alvin remained suspicious, his mistrust evident despite his calm demeanor. He gave a slight nod, acknowledging her response, but the questions in his mind continued to swirl.

Dwayne interrupted their conversation, his voice tinged with impatience. "Can we, um, go now? It's getting late."

Alvin glanced at Dwayne, then nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's go."

Outside, Alex hugged himself against the chill wind as he and his friends made their way out of Ophelia's garden. The moonlight cast eerie shadows on the ground, adding to the tension that hung in the air.

Leo took a deep breath. "This is it, then... we are actually going to face him."

Noah nodded, his expression serious. "At least we'll all be together this time."

Ava patted Kyle's mossy head. "Plus, we’ve got Kyle."

Kyle grinned, his eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.

Sofia smiled awkwardly, "You really like Kyle, don't you?"

Ava, her hand still gently patting Kyle's mossy head, replied with a soft smile that lit up her face, "Yeah, I like him a lot."

Ava then looked up at the group, her eyes twinkling with curiosity and excitement.

"Guys, here's a fun question: What pet would you choose if you ever got the chance?"

Alex was the first to respond, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he rubbed his chin. "Hmm... I'd go for a dog. I like my neighbor's dog, Lily. She's such a sweetheart, always wagging her tail. So I'd probably choose a dog and name her... Daisy."

Noah said. "I will pass."

Leo smiled. "I’d pick a wolf—strong, loyal, and intelligent. I'd call him Shadow. Just imagine having a wolf by your side, watching your back."

Kimmy chimed in, her voice soft and dreamy as she twirled a lock of hair. "I'd go for a cat. I'd name her Luna."

Lucy, with a shy smile and a slight blush, added, "I think I'd want a rabbit. I'd name it Thumper. Rabbits are so cute and cuddly, with their little twitching noses."

Andy, exuding confidence and a hint of pride, declared, "I'd choose a German Shepherd and name him Rex. They're so brave and loyal, always ready to protect you."

Dwayne, with a broad grin that showed his teeth, said, "I'd pick a gorilla and name it King. Just imagine having a gorilla as a best friend! So strong and powerful, but also gentle."

Kevin's eyes sparkled with excitement as he stated, "I'd go for a horse. I've always dreamed of having one, riding through open fields with the wind in my hair. It would be amazing!"

Shoyo, with a calm and serene demeanor, said, "I'd choose a cat. They're so independent and cool, yet affectionate when they want to be."

Claire nodded, agreeing enthusiastically, "I'd pick a cat too. They're the perfect companions, always there but never demanding."

Alice jumped in, her excitement palpable and infectious. "Yeah, me three—I'd go for a cat. They're just so adorable, with their purring and playful antics."

Sofia joined in, laughing heartily, "Me four! I'd choose a cat too. We could start a cat club and share all the cute cat stories!"

All eyes turned to Alvin, who was standing calmly, yawning and seemingly oblivious to the anticipation building around him. As he finished his yawn, he looked at his friends. Realizing it was his turn, he calmly stated, "I'd go with a T-Rex."

He paused dramatically, his expression calm and serious. The group fell silent, hanging on his every word. After a moment, Alvin spoke up again, "And I'd name it Layla."

The group fell silent, unsure whether to laugh or be surprised by Alvin’s unexpected response. After a brief pause, they couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.

Noah smiled and clasped his hands together and said, "Okay! So, is everyone ready to go?"

Lucy's hands trembled as she thought about facing Dylan. Her heart raced with a mix of fear and apprehension. Memories of the fateful day of June's death flooded her mind, when they had played the chilling game with Dylan "Are you scared?"

Alice, noticing Lucy's shaking, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Lucy, are you okay? Don't tell me you're scared."

Sofia, sensing Lucy's unease, gently took her hand and intertwined their fingers, giving a reassuring squeeze.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," she said softly, her warm brown eyes meeting Lucy's.

Lucy mustered a weak smile, finding solace in her friends' support. "Thank you. I'll be fine."

Despite her fears, she knew she had to face this challenge head-on, with her friends by her side.

Dwayne's words sent a chill down everyone's spine as he tried to remember what were the rules of the game.

"One of us has to be a monster and try to scare the others. If everyone gets scared, the monster wins, and then we pick another monster for the next round. Those were the rules, right?" he said, his voice low and ominous.

Noah, sensing the growing tension, gently patted Dwayne on the back, causing him to wince in pain, even though the touch was not forceful enough to truly hurt him.

"You're making everyone nervous," Noah said, his brow furrowed with concern.

Dwayne glanced around at his friends, his expression sheepish. "Yeah, sorry about that."

Leo said. "Okay guys that's enough, is everyone ready now."

Ava grinned, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Creepy moonlight ritual to save the town from evil? I was born ready for this."

Andy cracked his knuckles, a determined look on his face. "Hell yeah, let's kick some monsters in the face!"

Alex raised a hand, stopping them. "Not yet. First, there's one stop we need to make."