A Camping Trip

Have you ever did a camping trip with friends? It's a memorable experience. Especially in the infamous Odith Forest. A memory which will haunt you forever.

It was early in the morning, still 7 am. One of the rare moments when I wake up early because today, I had a camping trip with my friends. I had to reach my friend Drake's house by 11 am, and here I was waking up at 7 am and still packing my stuff. But the most interesting thing? I didn't know where I was going. I just knew it was a camping trip. To where? Well, I forgot to ask Drake.

'Well, where are we going Sally?' I asked my friend who came early at my home, ofcourse to wake me up.

'You are something else. Ofcourse you don't know' She looked at me with a bored expression.

'Well..' i chuckle awkwardly

Sally sighs and says ' Odith Forest. We're going to the Odith Forest. It's at the outskirts of the city, 4 hour drive from the main city.'

'Odith Forest? Sounds odd. But I guess it's good, at the outskirts of the city. No population to disturb us. Just our group' I reply packing my stuff.

'Good? Not just good... it's great. At the outskirts of the city where no one could help us if we needed. No one to save us- a perfect target for the killers and mythological creatures. ' She said in a low voice .

I roll my eyes. ' Here we go. Sally and her wild imagination. You truly are a paranormal fan. '

' You're right. But I have a reason this time. Do you know a thing about this Odith Forest?'

I stay silent. Looking up at the sky acting innocent. 'Wow, the sky is so beauti-'

She cuts me off before I could continue. ' 'Don't try to change subject now. I have no hopes for you. I knew you don't know anything.' She looks at me, her arms crossed.

I clear my throat. ' Fine Ms. Sally. Could you honour me with your knowledge?'

Sally suddenly laughs. 'Sorry, i couldn't keep my act anymore.' ; she composed her face and continues 'Sure, Ms. Sae. I will honour you with my knowledge. '

I stay silent, urging her to continue.

' So, here it is. For starters, Odith means Death. '

'Now let me guess, this forest has some supernatural stories related to it. Am i right?'

' How did you guess?..'

' I'm smart-' she again cuts me off

'So moving on, as you said this Odith Forest has some stories related to it. There have been several instances of people, along with groups going missing.' Sally turned serious

' What? How's that?'

' That's for the trip. I'll tell the story at the camp' Sally stood up and walked to the window.

' Hey! No you can't keep me hanging like this! Tell me- Wait no, I'm not coming to such a Forest. I'm too young to die!' I stopped packing my bag and picked up the phone to call Drake.

' Don't be a scaredy cat, Sae. Grow up-' i cut her off before she could continue.

' If growing up means going to an unknown forest to die, then I'm not growing up' I was just about to call Drake when Sally snatched the phone from me.

'You're so easy to scare Sae. I was just joking.. there are no such stories nor is the forest cursed.' Sally laughs

' And do i believe you? No.'

' Just beleive me. I'm not lying. I was just messing with you.'

I look at her, my eyes narrowed in skeptism. After a moment i sigh and throw a pillow at her which she successfully dodges. ' I'll take my revenge Sally. Might become the killer tonight '

' And I'll be waiting ' replied Sally. Clearly not taking me seriously.

In the car

Total of 6 people were going to the trip. Me , Sally, Drake, Roman, Kai and Luna.

'Drake, you're a terrible driver.' I say leaning back on my seat

' Oh spare me , Sae. You worry too much. I'm driving perfectly. Better than you've ever seen. What do you say Kai?'

' Shut up Drake. For god's sake you are not on a racing path. ' Kai replied

'Oh , me too, for once I agree with Sae. She's not being an overthinker.' Sally chimed

' You guys are seriously ganging up on me! Never thought I would grow up to see this day! ' Drake started his drama .

Roman as usual was sleeping and absent from the conversation. I wonder whether he knows there's a world around him.

' Guys what's that?' Luna pointed to the forest

We all turned to see where she pointed but we didn't saw anything.

' I thought I saw something there.. it wasn't human.…Luna continued.

' More unusual if you saw a human in this isolated area.' I joked

' You guys never take me seriously! You all are the worst ' luna huffed

'We don't see anything luna. Maybe you saw an animal ' kai reasoned.

Before i could say something.

Suddenly, Drake applied the breaks and everyone was thrown frontwards. The break was soon followed by a loud crash.

Have you ever had your things missing out of nowhere? It is said that ghosts do it to draw your attention. Hear my theory. It happens just because you're forgetful, like me.

For a moment there was complete silence. One of the rare moments when I see my group deathly still. Even Roman, the absentee was back into the world of living.

' Drake, you idiot! Who did you hit with the car!' Kai shouted in panic.

' Drake's gonna go jail now— ' again my words were cut off by Sally. This girl.

' Let's first get off the car ! Let's see the situation! ' Everyone agreed and Luna was the first to jump out of the car. Everyone else still seated.

I saw Drake . He was still frozen at his place, as if he couldn't believe he just hit someone. But I was wrong, he had another reason to be so terrified.

' I swear on my driving skills. I saw no one. No one, the road was all empty as long as I could see! It was all empty when suddenly a figure emerged out of nowhere and collided with the car! Beleive me, don't go out!' Drake was panicking. Never had I seen him so scared. He had that terrified look on his face, practically sweating.

Nobody assumed he was joking. Infact luna, who had jumped out of the car just after Sally's words was also sitting inside the car now. She didn't dare to see who had been hit.

Nobody dared to make a sound . Maybe it was just my brain, but I felt nausea. The air around was so uncomfortable, I felt as if I'm choking on air. Ridiculous. Isn't it? How can someone feel so suffocated by breathing. Or maybe they can. Because that was exactly what was happening to me ; or maybe to everyone? I looked around and saw everyone deathly pale and uncomfortable.

It was then. We heard a scream. It was shrill, so full of pain and fear. But somehow it felt familiar. Why would a scream feel familiar?... Because clearly all my friends were here, in the car. My thoughts were interrupted, because by now luna had started crying. Sally comforted her by wrapping her in a embrace.

Roman for the first time spoke. 'Lets check who's been hit .'

And as expected. It was followed by a series of rejection. Nobody was ready to check who had been hit by the car.

It's abnormal, isn't it? In this situation. Roman was being so suspicious… Why didn't I notice… Even in all this circumstances he was calm. In this situation, how can a normal human ask to go and check the situation outside?

'Fine then. I'll go check it alone.' Before anyone could interject Roman was already out.

By strange enough, this time nobody was desperate enough to stop Roman,

Maybe, just like me, they were suspicious of him too. Except luna, she started crying again.

' Don't go out Roman! Please don't' he didn't listen to her, and walked to the front of the car .

We couldn't see his expression, as his back was facing us. Then strange enough Roman started to circle around the car. Everyone was spooked by his creepy behaviour. Why was Roman behaving this way. And as expected, Luna was still the most worried about him. She looked nervous.

Then Luna suggested. ' Drake, I think we should go further… I think I know a way out of this forest. It's a shortcut! But for it we have to go through the forest.'

' Do you mean. That we have to enter the forest for it? Isn't it dangerous!' I opposed the idea. But to my surprise everyone didn't seem to think the same way as me.

' I think we should trust luna… let's enter the forest if luna says she knows a way' kai agreed to her.

Sally and Drake were also desperate for any way out so they agreed to her. But then Roman broke his silence.

'There is a deer's dead body '

Everyone was relieved. They didn't hit any supernatural creature or a human.

'But' Roman continued. ' The body is decomposed. Meaning, it was dead at least a week ago. '

I told you… I didn't see anyone. No deer or human. Alive or dead. The road was completely empty .' Drake again repeated his words.

For the nth time all the arguments died and there was silence. Everyone was shocked and confused. Clearly, an accident had happened. How did a dead deer body appear out of thin air? All that was left, were questions. Which nobody knew, if they Even had any answers.

' About people and groups going missing from this forest. It was true, Sae. I just lied so you won't cancel coming here' Sally turned to speak to me.

' How can you lie to me! Why did everyone even wanted to come to this dangerous forest!' I shouted in frustration.

Drake answered ' Thrill and adventure-'

'Do you know Why this forest is dangerous?' luna interrupted.

'There's a story related to this forest, it says an unknown cult did a summontion ceremony here. But it failed, and instead, blood thirsty creatures were summoned. Nobody knows their exact number. Some say it's 3 to 4 but exact number is unknown.'

' I think I've heard it somewhere' Sally confirmed.

' This is just going from bad to worse ' Kai said staring outside.

' It's dangerous staying here any longer, let's follow through the shortcut i know!' luna panicked .

By this time everyone was scared of this unknown creatures and just wanted to get out of the forest.

Then weirdly enough. Roman urged Drake to let him drive the car. Drake rejected and an argument started between them. Roman was acting wierd enough. Was something wrong?

It was then my glance fell upon Luna's fingers. And at that time my mind stopped working.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. At this point, i thought that my mind was playing games with me. So I did what anyone else would do. I turned to Sally and pointed swiftly at luna's fingers. Seeing her expression. It's was confirmed. It wasn't my mind playing games. But something else has been playing with us.

' Let's not go through the shortcut! It's dangerous! Let me drive' Roman argued.

Kai and Drake were getting angrier at Roman as the moments were passing.

' Don't listen to Roman guys! He's just confused in this situation! Let's go through the shortcut I suggested!' Luna was getting visibly aggressive now.

As Roman glanced at mine and Sally's faces . He got the idea, that we knew. He motioned us to distract luna.

' Fine. Follow through that frekin shortcut.' Roman backed away.

' Where's your thumb ring, Luna?' I asked, looking at her empty thumb fingers.

Everyone looked at her finger, and it seems that something clicked their mind.

Luna looked at me. She had a blank stare, silently looking at me. That gaze was enough to make my stomach churn in terror. I was frozen. Just as I thought I was almost on the verge of trembling. Roman opened the door where Luna was sitting at. And, he dragged her out of the car. He threw her as far as he could and simultaneously Sally shouted at Drake to start the car in the opposite direction. Out of the forest.

As the engine started, Drake took a U turn and simultaneously Roman jumped into the car.

Everything was so chaotic. Our hearts were beating fast , threatening to burst out of our body.

Body high on adrenaline.

After we made a considerable distance.

' Did I tell you? There's another rumour. It says, those creatures can shapeshift ,turning into their prey' Sally filled the silence.

'How didn't we notice. Luna...To begin with ,she had no thumb fingers since birth' I added.

' But how did you know? Roman.. You knew she was not luna before we even noticed her finger'

' Luna. She's dead. When I circled the car, I saw her body.' Roman replied

It must've killed her when she jumped out of the car after the crash..' Kai added with a hint of sadness.

' That means. All that time... She wasn't luna sitting with us. '

' If we would've taken her shortcut..' i trailed. Nobody dared to complete the sentence. What would've happened If we would've taken the shortcut Luna— or should I say that unknown creature had suggested….through the forest.

No information about this forest and its mysterious creature was available. Because nobody survived them to tell the tales, just rumors circulating, that is till now.

But the problem is, who's going to beleive us?

|THE END |

ODITH FOREST

Have you ever had such experience, which can't be explained in words? Or which people don't believe?