Lucy’s breath hitched as fear crept into her words. "What do we do, Alex? These aren't dirt monsters... they're real people."

Kimmy's gaze darted between the figures in the shadows. "Lucy’s right. If we hurt them—"

Korban’s twisted, gravelly words interrupted. "Yesss, don’t hurt… Korban… it will make Andy sad."

Grinning wickedly, Zack nudged Korban, and the two slinked back into the trees. Principal Johnson followed, her movements jerky, like a marionette under some dark puppeteer’s control.

Dan remained, his eyes locked onto Alex with a malevolent gleam.

"Dan, come back to us. Don’t do this," Alex pleaded, stepping forward.

But Dan only smirked, his expression twisted with something dark and unrecognizable. Without a word, he stepped backward into the shadows, vanishing into the darkened woods.

Kimmy trembled as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I don’t like this at all. I’m pretty sure nobody’s stoked right now."

Leo clenched his fists, trying to steady his own nerves. "We can do this. I know we can. We just need to stick together."

Ava crossed her arms, her face set in a determined scowl. "Sure, that’ll work—right up until Dylan’s undead minions drag us into his lair like they did to Andy."

Lucy nodded, the fear still clear in her eyes.

"Ava’s right. What happens if Dylan manages to separate us?"

Kevin's expression hardened. "He’s gotten pretty good at that lately."

Alex took a deep breath, trying to instill courage in his friends. "It doesn’t matter if we break apart, as long as we find each other again. No matter what he throws at us, no matter how long it takes, we will find each other."

He looked each of them in the eye, seeing their resolve solidify. Lily, sensing the tension, nuzzled his hand with a soft whimper, offering silent encouragement. Kyle, ever watchful, pawed at the ground and sniffed the air, his instincts on high alert.

Steeling himself, Alex squared his shoulders and led the way into the trees, his friends falling in step behind him.

Fog swirled around their ankles, thick and heavy like the breath of some unseen beast, as Alex and his friends ventured deeper into the woods. The air was dense, almost suffocating, filled with an unnatural chill that seemed to creep into their bones.

The eerie stillness was broken only by the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet, each step sounding unnervingly loud in the oppressive quiet. The occasional rustle of unseen creatures skittering through the underbrush sent their hearts racing, though the source always remained hidden in the shadows.

Above them, the gnarled branches of ancient trees twisted like skeletal fingers, their silhouettes forming grotesque shapes against the pale moonlight. The fog thickened, curling up their legs and pulling them deeper into the suffocating embrace of the woods.

Ghostly laughter, distant and haunting, echoed through the trees, faint at first, but growing louder as if the very forest itself was mocking their fear. The sound seemed to come from all directions, disorienting them, and sending icy tendrils of dread clawing at their minds. Shadows danced at the edge of their vision, shifting and flickering in the periphery, always just out of sight, but close enough to make the hair on the back of their necks stand on end.

Lucy hugged herself tightly, trying to ward off the chill that seeped into her bones. “If we get out of this, I’m never stepping foot in the woods again,” she muttered, her breath was visible in the cold air.

Ava walked beside her, her eyes darting warily between the shadowy trunks. “I mean... even after we save Dan, Shoyo and Andy, we still have to figure out a way to seal Dylan, right?”

Noah clenched his jaw, his gaze focused straight ahead. “Don’t think about that right now. We can’t afford to get distracted.”

A voice, low and serpentine, slithered through the fog.

“Dissssstracted?”

They halted, their breath catching as wicked laughter erupted around them, echoing off the trees, disorienting and unnerving.

"Lost, are we?" another voice rasped, this one harsh and gravelly, as if dragged across shards of glass. It seemed to come from behind them, but when they spun around, there was nothing—only the swirling fog and the darkness beyond.

"You look so scared," another voice cooed mockingly, like a mother taunting a child.

"Are you afraid of the dark?"

A slow, menacing chuckle filled the air, followed by a voice that slithered like venom. "Your fear... it smells delicious."

Dwayne’s eyes flashed with defiance as he stepped forward. “Hey! Why don’t you come here and face us instead of sneaking around?”

The voices responded, their tone mocking. “Sneaking… more... fun...”

From the shadows, Zack emerged, his figure twisted and grotesque in the dim moonlight. His teeth gleamed as he grinned, a feral, predatory smile that sent a ripple of fear through the group.

“Going to hurt... break your bones,” Zack hissed, his words dripping with malice.

Ava glanced at Alex, her eyes narrowing in determination. “So... how committed are we to the whole ‘not murdering this guy’ thing?”

Leo crouched down, his hand closing around a sturdy branch lying on the ground. He straightened up, the makeshift weapon gripped tightly in his hand.

“We can’t just kill people, Ava. However, given that this is self-defense... I’m sure the authorities will understand if he loses a few teeth.”

Ava’s eyes lit up with a dangerous gleam as she cracked her knuckles, her gaze fixed on Zack. He chuckled, the sound low and sinister, but she didn’t flinch. Her muscles tensed, ready for the fight that was inevitably coming.

Then, more laughter echoed through the fog. The group spun around to see Dan leaning casually against a tree, flanked by four snarling vine creatures. Their fangs gleamed as they lunged forward, one heading straight for Alex.

Alex stepped up he swung his barbed-wire bat with every ounce of strength he had. The bat connected with a sickening crack, and the creature’s skull shattered, sending shards of bone flying. The headless body crumpled to the ground, twitching once before lying still.

Nearby, Kimmy swung her purse with surprising force, striking another creature across the face. The impact knocked it off balance, and it stumbled backward, dazed.

Noah and Lucy scrambled to find rocks, hurling them at a third creature. Lucy’s aim was true, and the rock struck the creature square in the forehead. It staggered, dazed, giving Noah the opening he needed to finish it off with a heavy branch.

A few feet away, Ava was locked in combat with the final creature. She dodged its snapping jaws and, with a swift, practiced motion, drove her knife into its spine. The creature let out a guttural snarl before collapsing in a heap.

Breathing hard, Alex turned, scanning the area for any sign of Dan, Zack, or the Principal. But the forest was eerily silent, the fog swirling around them like a living thing.

“Guess they snuck off while we—” Alex began, but Kimmy’s sharp gasp cut him off.

“Wait! We’re missing a few people!” Kimmy’s eyes were wide with panic as she looked around.

Alex quickly counted his friends, his heart sinking as he realized the truth.

“Crap. Leo, Dwayne, and Kevin are gone. They were just here a second ago, weren’t they?”

Before anyone could respond, a low, mocking chuckle echoed from the shadows. They all turned just in time to see the Principal vanish behind a tree, his parting words lingering in the air like a curse.

“Three down.”

Ava, seething with anger, took a step toward the tree, but Kimmy grabbed her arm, holding her back. “Don’t! They’re trying to separate us.”

Ava hesitated, her fists clenched in frustration. She knew Kimmy was right, but the desire to chase down the Principal, to confront him and end this nightmare, burned inside her.

“We can’t just leave them,” Kimmy said through gritted teeth.

Alex stepped forward, his bat still dripping with the remnants of the vine creature.

Alex squared his shoulders, determined despite the fear gnawing at him, and said firmly, "We’re not leaving anyone behind. But we have to be smart about this. They’re trying to pick us off one by one." His eyes scanned the shadows for any sign of movement.

Kimmy nodded, her grip tightening on Ava’s arm. “We stick together. No matter what.”

Just as they caught their breath, Lucy’s scream pierced the air. Zack burst from the bushes, locking her in a vicious headlock. The speed and force of his attack left everyone momentarily stunned.

Ava’s eyes blazed with fury as she brandished her knife, advancing toward Zack.

“Hold on, I—” she began, but before she could take another step, a thorny vine snapped around her wrist, its barbs sinking deep into her skin.

Ava gasped, pain shooting through her arm as the vine tightened its grip. Alex darted to her side, his movements swift and precise. He snatched her knife and, with a powerful slash, severed the vine in one clean motion. The severed plant writhed before retreating into the underbrush. Alex tossed the knife back to Ava, who caught it with a grateful nod.

But Zack was already retreating, dragging Lucy toward the shadowy trees. Her eyes were wide with terror, her struggles frantic but futile. Without hesitation, Alex lunged forward, grabbing hold of Lucy’s hands. He dug his heels into the ground, muscles straining as he fought to keep her from being pulled into the darkness.

All around them, the forest seemed to come alive. Tangling vines and brambles erupted from the earth, ensnaring anything within reach. Noah let out a string of curses as vines coiled around his legs, pulling him down.

“I can’t hold on, Alex!” Lucy’s voice was edged with panic, her grip slipping despite Alex’s desperate efforts. Her words struck him like a hammer, dragging him back to that horrific memory of June—of the moment he had lost someone before.

No, not again, Alex thought.

“Lucy, hold on!” he shouted, but his voice felt distant, swallowed by the chaos around them. He gritted his teeth, every muscle screaming in resistance, but it was too much. He could feel Lucy’s fingers sliding out of his grasp, the cold, slick tendrils of fear curling around his heart.

“ALEX!” Lucy screamed as she was wrenched from his grasp. Her cry echoed in the darkness as she was consumed by the shadows of the undergrowth.

Before Alex could react, Kimmy’s scream jolted him back to the present. The very ground beneath them trembled violently, sending him stumbling. The world spun wildly, a dizzying blur of trees and shadows. He felt as though the earth itself was trying to swallow him whole.

“The hell was that?” Ava shouted, her voice laced with shock and confusion as she tried to keep her balance.

The ground heaved again, a sickening lurch that knocked Alex off his feet. He crashed to the ground, the impact driving the air from his lungs. The forest spun faster, the world tilting and swirling until he could barely distinguish up from down. His vision blurred, a wave of nausea washing over him as he struggled to understand what was happening.

“What… what’s… happening…” Alex’s words slurred, his thoughts becoming muddled as darkness crept in from the edges of his vision. The last thing he saw was the ground rising up to meet him, and then everything went black.

The world gradually reformed around Alex, the shadows of the forest pulling back just enough to reveal a desolate clearing.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he pushed himself off the damp ground, every muscle aching from the fall. Panic clawed at his chest as he scanned the area, desperately searching for any sign of his friends.

“Lucy? Noah? Ava? Kevin? Dwayne anyone?” Alex called out, but his voice echoed back to him, hollow and empty. The silence pressed down on him, thick and suffocating, until another voice, dark and menacing, cut through the stillness.

“All gone. Only you and me now.” Dan emerged from the trees, the darkness swirling around him like smoke from a dying fire, his eyes gleaming with something unearthly.

Alex’s heart sank as he faced his friend—or what was left of him. “Dan... I’m so sorry. We should have been there to stop this.”

Dan’s movements were slow, deliberate, as he began to close the distance between them. Alex instinctively took a step back, his mind racing to find the right words, anything that might reach the person buried beneath the malevolent force controlling him.

“I know you’re in pain, but—” Alex started, but Dan cut him off.

“No pain anymore... just quiet dark... Can take your pain too. Your guilt... take it all away.”

Without warning, Dan lunged, his hand clamping around Alex’s arm with a bone-crushing grip. Alex barely had time to react, swinging his fist with all his strength into Dan’s face. The blow landed with a sickening thud, and Dan’s head snapped to the side, but his grip remained unyielding. A low, guttural growl rumbled from his throat as he turned back, spitting blood onto the ground.

Before Alex could react, Dan yanked him across the clearing and slammed him against the rough bark of a tree. The impact sent a jolt of pain through Alex’s spine, and he gasped as the air was forced from his lungs. Smoky shadows began to rise from Dan’s skin, wrapping around Alex, suffocating him, draining his energy with every passing second.

There has to be a way to reach him. Alex thought desperately. Something, anything to break through the darkness that had consumed his friend.

“Dan, I’m sorry,” he rasped, struggling against the growing weakness in his limbs.

“I should have been there for you. I should have helped you.”

Dan’s eyes flickered, a momentary hesitation in his grip. The shadows around him wavered, just for a second. But then he growled again, his grip tightening as he shoved Alex harder against the tree.

Alex winced at the pain but pressed on, hoping to find some spark of recognition, some trace of the Dan he knew. “I know you didn’t want anyone to see how much you were hurting, but we were hurting too, Dan. All of us. We could have helped each other. Maybe it wouldn’t have fixed everything, but it would have been better.”

Dan’s expression faltered, a flicker of sadness crossing his face. For a moment, his grip loosened, the confusion and torment evident in his eyes. The shadows around him seemed to hesitate, swirling slower, less menacingly.

“It’s not too late, Dan,” Alex whispered, his voice filled with earnest hope. “We can still make things better. I promise.”

Dan’s grip loosens, his fingers trembling as they release Alex’s arm. He staggers backward, his eyes wide with fear and confusion, as if he’s struggling to hold onto something real in the midst of a nightmare.

“No... better... stay this way…” Dan stutters, his voice cracking under the weight of his own despair.

But Alex refused to let him slip away again.

“No, Dan,” he says firmly, stepping forward even as Dan shies away, flinching like a wounded animal. Alex reaches out, taking Dan’s clammy hands in his own, feeling the coldness that still clings to his skin.

“I’m not staying away this time.”

With a gentle but insistent pull, Alex draws Dan closer. Tears blur Alex’s vision as he wraps his arms around his friend, holding him tight. For a moment, Dan stiffens, resisting the embrace. But then, slowly, his own arms come up, clutching Alex as if he’s the only thing keeping him grounded. The warmth of their embrace begins to seep into Dan’s skin, driving away the cold darkness that had taken hold of him. The shadows around Dan's body seem to dissipate, retreating back into the depths of the woods.

Dan’s breath hitched as he looks around, bewildered.

“Alex… what? What are you doing here?” His voice is weak, as if he’s just woken up from a terrible dream.

Suddenly, Dan’s legs buckle beneath him, and he collapses to the ground, his whole body shivering uncontrollably.

“You shouldn’t have come! Alex… Dylan is back. We have to—”

“I know, Dan. That’s why I’m here.” Alex kneeled beside him, keeping a steady hand on Dan’s shoulder. “How much do you remember?”

Dan shook his head, his expression clouded with uncertainty. “Not much… except… I think I was attacked.”

Alex nodded, trying to keep his voice calm, even though his heart is racing.

“Okay, the thing is, Dylan’s hurt a lot of people. He kidnapped you from the hospital and Andy from homecoming.”

“Wait… Homecoming?” Dan’s eyes widen with shock. “How long was I asleep?”

Alex replies, rubbing the back of his neck. “Something like two weeks, jeez, it feels like this has been going on forever.”

A rustling sound in the nearby bushes makes Alex pause, his senses on high alert. “But that doesn’t matter right now. You’re back, and our friends need help.”

Dan takes a deep, shaky breath, his hands trembling as he pushes himself up from the ground. His legs are unsteady, but there’s a flicker of determination in his eyes. “Okay… let’s go.”

“Are you sure you’re up for it?” Alex asks, his brow furrowed with concern.

Dan nods, though his body remains tense, as if he’s fighting off a chill that won’t go away. His arms cross over his chest, not for warmth, but as if he’s bracing himself for what’s to come. “Yeah, Alex. I’m fine. Our friends are important… let’s go.”

Alex hesitates for a moment, then gives Dan’s arm one final reassuring squeeze.

“We’re in this together.”

Dan offers a small, grateful smile before they turn back toward the dark, ominous woods. The path ahead is uncertain, filled with dangers they can’t yet see. But Alex walks beside his friend, ready to face whatever comes next. They move forward, side by side, into the heart of the darkness, determined to bring their friends back and end the nightmare once and for all.