The van came to a dusty stop at the edge of the forest clearing. Evelyn leaned forward from the backseat, her breath catching as she took in the campsite ahead. Surrounded by towering pines and bathed in the golden light of the afternoon sun, it was the perfect spot for an evening celebration. The cool, crisp air carried the promise of a fun night.
Her friends piled out of the van, their chatter filling the stillness as they began unloading coolers, tents, and bags of supplies. Evelyn stayed seated for a moment, gripping her phone tightly, her thumb hovering over Liam's name.
"Hey, Evelyn, help us out here!" Riley's voice broke through her thoughts. Evelyn forced a small smile, slipping out of the van to grab a few items. But her gaze kept darting to her phone. It wasn't like Liam to miss something like this. He'd promised to join her for her birthday celebration, yet the sinking feeling in her chest told her something was off.
While her friends worked on setting up the campsite, Evelyn stepped aside, her phone pressed to her ear. She tried calling him again.
The first ring.
The second.
Straight to voicemail.
Anxiety twisted in her stomach. She glanced over her shoulder at the others—they were laughing and focused on their tasks, oblivious to her growing unease. She lowered her phone and stared at the blank screen, chewing on her bottom lip.
"Hey."
The soft tap on her shoulder made her flinch. Evelyn turned quickly to see Riley standing behind her, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Were you calling Liam again?" Riley asked, folding her arms across her chest.
Evelyn nodded, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "He's not answering. It's just... not him. He was supposed to be here by now."
Riley let out a small sigh, her lips pulling into a wry smile. "Ev, don't you think you're overthinking it? You know how Liam is—he's probably just running late. He'll show up."
Evelyn frowned. "I don't know... He's never this quiet. It's like he's avoiding—"
Riley raised a hand, cutting her off. "He's not avoiding you. You're reading too much into it, like always. It's your birthday, okay? He'll come, I promise."
Evelyn hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. "What if he doesn't?"
Riley softened, giving her wrist a gentle squeeze. "Ev, don't worry. If something's wrong, we'll figure it out. But let's not ruin your birthday, okay?"
Grabbing Evelyn's wrist gently, Riley tugged her back toward the campsite. "C'mon, we need your help, birthday girl. The fire pit isn't going to build itself."
Evelyn hesitated but let Riley guide her away, tucking her phone into her jacket pocket. The knot in her stomach didn't loosen, though. As she joined her friends in unpacking the rest of the gear, her mind lingered on Liam's silence.
The sunlight began to fade, and while her friends' laughter filled the clearing, Evelyn's gaze kept drifting to the trailhead, hoping—praying—to see Liam walking toward her.
~~~~
The hum of a video game console filled the dimly lit room, accompanied by rapid button clicks and the occasional burst of digital explosions. Liam sat slouched on a worn-out couch, eyes glued to the screen, his fingers moving with practiced ease on the controller. Beside him, his friend Noah leaned forward, engrossed in the match but still glancing occasionally at the ringing phone on the coffee table.
"Hey, man," Noah muttered, nudging Liam with his elbow as he glanced at the screen of the buzzing phone. "That's Evelyn calling."
Liam didn't even flinch. His gaze stayed locked on the game as he tightened his grip on the controller. "Yeah, I know," he said flatly, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.
Noah frowned, shifting his focus from the game to Liam. "So… aren't you gonna answer? That's your girlfriend, dude."
"She'll be fine," Liam replied, dismissing the concern with a wave of his hand. "Probably just calling to check where I am. She knows I hate those dumb camping trips." He lied.
The phone lay silent on the couch between them, but the unease in the room lingered like a shadow neither of them could ignore.
Liam exhaled sharply and finally glanced at the phone, but his expression wasn't indifferent—it was troubled. "Just... don't answer it," he muttered, his tone clipped.
Noah frowned, sitting back. "What's with you? It's her birthday, man. You should at least pick up and tell her you're running late or something."
Liam didn't respond right away. He stared at the screen, his thumb hovering over the pause button. A strange unease crept into his features, and for a moment, Noah thought he might actually pick up the phone.
But then Liam shook his head and let out a tense laugh. "She's fine," he said, though his voice sounded forced. "Probably just wants to check in, like always."
Noah wasn't convinced. "You've been weird about her all week," he said, folding his arms. "Did something happen between you two?"
Liam's jaw tightened again, and this time, he didn't even look at the phone. "Nothing happened. Just drop it, okay?" His tone was harsher now, almost defensive.
Noah studied him for a long moment, then glanced at the phone, which had started buzzing again. He picked it up, holding it toward Liam. "Dude, if you don't answer, she's just gonna keep calling. What's the big deal?"
Liam's gaze flickered to the phone, and for the first time, Noah noticed something odd in his eyes— something almost like fear. Without a word, Liam grabbed the phone, pressed the power button, and tossed it onto the couch beside him.
"What the hell, man?" Noah said, leaning back in surprise. "Why are you acting so shady? Did something happen?"
Liam's hands gripped the controller tightly, his knuckles white. "I said, drop it," he snapped.
Noah shook his head, but his curiosity got the better of him. "Is this about Evelyn? Did she do something? Because you're acting like you're... I don't know, scared or something."
Liam stiffened, his shoulders rigid. His gaze stayed fixed on the TV, but the game was long forgotten.
"Noah, I'm serious," he said, his voice lower now, almost a whisper. "Just let it go."
But Noah wasn't ready to drop it. "Liam, come on. She's your girlfriend. What's going on?"
Liam hesitated, his fingers loosening on the controller. His mind flashed back to the other night—the moment he'd been trying to push out of his thoughts ever since.
It had been late, and he'd stopped by Evelyn's place unexpectedly. He saw her through the window, standing in the kitchen. For a moment, she looked perfectly normal, but then... something shifted. Her reflection in the window didn't match her movements. It had stared directly at him, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
It was brief, but it was enough. Enough to make his blood run cold.
"I..." Liam started, but then he stopped, shaking his head as if trying to dispel the memory. He couldn't tell Noah— he couldn't even explain it to himself. Instead, he turned his attention back to the game, gripping the controller like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.
"Nothing's wrong," he finally said, his voice flat. "Just... leave it."
Noah frowned, still watching him closely. But Liam didn't say another word. The phone lay silent on the couch between them, but Noah could sense his unease.