There are stories we tell to scare each other—tales of ghosts, curses, and things lurking in the dark. Most of the time, they're just that—stories. But some stories are real. Some nightmares are waiting to happen.
This was supposed to be a fun trip. A weekend escape for four friends—Seth, Brine, Karin, and Rose. They had planned it for weeks, imagining a night of laughter, adventure, and old-school horror stories under the stars. No phones, no distractions, just nature and the thrill of the unknown.
They didn't know the unknown was waiting for them.
Seth gripped the steering wheel tightly as the narrow forest road stretched ahead of him. The car's headlights cut through the growing darkness, making long shadows dance among the tall trees. The four friends had been looking forward to this trip for weeks. A quiet camping spot near the lake, far from the noise of the city. Just them, nature, and a night full of stories and fun.
Brine sat in the passenger seat, scrolling through his phone. "No signal already? Damn, we're really out here."
Rose, sitting in the back with Karin, smirked. "That was the whole point, right? No distractions, no calls, just us and the wild."
"And beer," Karin added, shaking the cooler at her feet. "Lots of beer."
The road turned to dirt, their car bouncing over rough patches until they reached a clearing. The lake shimmered under the fading sunlight, calm and peaceful compared to the thick, dark forest surrounding it.
They quickly set up their tents. Seth hammered in the stakes while Rose collected firewood. Brine and Karin unpacked the food and drinks, cracking open their first beers before they were even done.
By the time the fire was burning strong, the smell of roasting marshmallows filled the air. They joked, teased each other, and took turns telling ghost stories. The mood was light and full of excitement.
Then, as the stars twinkled above them, Brine reached into his backpack and pulled out a Ouija board.
"You actually brought it?" Seth raised an eyebrow.
Brine grinned. "Come on, it's tradition. What's a night in the woods without summoning some ghosts?"
"It's just a game," Karin chuckled, placing the board between them. "Let's ask it something dumb."
After dinner, with the fire crackling and the night growing darker, they sat around the board. At first, it was just for fun. They asked silly questions—who had a secret crush, what their futures would be. The board answered with nonsense, making them laugh. But then Seth, smirking, asked, "Is there anyone else here with us?"
The planchette slowly slid to YES.
A breeze rustled the trees. Their laughter faded. They exchanged nervous glances but tried to shake it off.
"Who are you?" Karin asked carefully.
The board spelled out: DEATH.
A deep chill filled the air. The fire flickered. Shadows stretched in strange ways.
Rose swallowed hard. "What do you want?" she whispered.
The planchette trembled before moving, letter by letter: YOU.
Panic spread through them. Seth pushed the board away. "Forget this! It's just a stupid game."
But the moment the board hit the ground, the flashlight flickered and died. Darkness swallowed them. A bloodcurdling scream ripped through the night. It was Karin.
Their phone flashlights clicked on. Karin lay on the ground, her throat cut open. Her lifeless eyes reflected their shaky lights. Blood poured from the deep wound, soaking into the dirt..
Seth grabbed Rose's arm. "We need to move. Now!"
They ran toward the car, but the forest twisted around them, unfamiliar and endless. The more they ran, the deeper they seemed to go. The wind howled, carrying whispers—low, raspy voices speaking strange words. The trees felt like they were closing in, their branches stretching like clawed hands.
Brine suddenly stopped. "Where's the car? We should've found it by now."
Then, a sickening sound. Brine gasped, clutching his stomach. Blood leaked between his fingers, his eyes wide with shock. Something—someone—had stabbed him from the darkness. He shuddered, struggling to breathe, his face twisted in pain.
"Seth... run," Brine gasped before falling still, his fingers twitching as his life slipped away.
Seth pulled Rose forward, her sobs shaking her body. They burst through the trees, nearly tripping over roots. But the lake lay before them, black and still, its surface too smooth, too quiet—waiting for them.
A whisper slid into Seth's ear: Join us.
Something hit him hard, knocking him toward the lake. He coughed, trying to stand. Then he saw her—Rose, her eyes empty, a rope twisting around her neck as if guided by invisible hands. Her feet barely touched the ground as she was lifted higher, an unseen force pulling tighter.
"No! Rose!" Seth lunged, but the rope yanked her up. Her body jerked, then stopped moving. Her lifeless eyes stared at him, lips slightly parted as if trying to speak one last time.
Terror gripped Seth. He turned to run—but the ground crumbled beneath him. The dirt gave way, opening into a pit of writhing shadows. Hands shot out, skeletal fingers grabbing his ankles. He screamed, kicking, but they pulled him down, deeper and deeper. Cold, decayed hands covered his mouth, silencing him as he disappeared into the darkness.
The next morning, hikers stumbled upon the gruesome scene. The campsite was drenched in blood. Karin's body was cold, Brine's lifeless form was torn apart, Rose dangled from the tree, and the ground where Seth had stood was untouched—except for a single object lying in the dirt.
A Ouija board, its planchette resting on a single word: GOODBYE.
The wind whispered through the trees, and the planchette trembled—as if waiting for new players to arrive.