The Lost Campers

First exploring

The guide introduced himself as Mr. Sam Grayson, a 34-year-old with a rugged demeanor and a confident stance. His face bore the tan of someone who spent most days outdoors, and his clothes—sturdy boots, a well-worn jacket, and a wide-brimmed hat—added to the air of experience around him. He explained that he was one of the few people who knew the forest well, as it had only opened to the public a year ago.

"It's a place like no other," he said, his voice both inviting and serious, "still raw and untouched."

Mr. Grayson went on to share a bit of the forest's history. When the area was officially designated as a public camping ground, it stirred a lot of excitement in the nearby town, but that enthusiasm was tempered by an unspoken sense of mystery. Only one other group had dared to camp here since the forest opened, he explained, and they hadn't stayed long.

"you guys are the second group to venture out here," he noted, looking around at each of us with a piercing gaze.

Tressa glanced uneasily at Sam, her gut telling her something was off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why. She leaned close to Zara, whispering, "I don't know, something about him just feels... strange."

Zara rolled her eyes, brushing off Tressa's concern. "You worry too much. He's just a guide—this is probably how he always acts." Zara's voice was calm, as if she was completely at ease, but Tressa still felt a knot of unease in her stomach as they continued down the narrow forest trail.

Sam moved ahead with practiced steps, his eyes scanning the path as though he knew every twist and turn. The students trailed behind him, each absorbed in their own excitement. Finn had his camera out, snapping photos of everything—the towering trees, the dappled light, and even a squirrel darting across the path. His camera clicks echoed softly in the evening air, capturing the adventure unfolding around them.

Beside him, Jax was reaching out to touch every tree trunk he passed, his fingers brushing over the rough bark and tugging at leaves, his curiosity boundless. "Careful, man! You don't know what's out here," Oliver warned, gently pulling Jax back whenever he strayed too close to the thickets, where shadows seemed to pool and shift mysteriously.

A little farther back, Kaitlyn was visibly tiring, dragging her feet with an exaggerated sigh. She swatted at the bugs that buzzed around her, her face twisting into a scowl. "Are we seriously not stopping soon? I'm not cut out for this nature stuff," she grumbled, batting away a mosquito.

Ashley, meanwhile, stuck close to the group, glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one had wandered off. The glow of the sunset cast her in warm tones, but her face betrayed a hint of tension. She watched the others, especially Finn and Jax, as though afraid someone might get left behind.

The sky above had shifted into deep shades of pink and orange, the sun dipping lower with every passing minute. The forest was bathed in the glow of twilight, and the trees, so tall they almost blotted out the light, loomed like silent guardians. Shadows stretched across the path, making it feel like they were heading deeper into another world, a place where time seemed to slow and the ordinary rules of reality didn't quite apply.

As they walked, Tressa kept her gaze forward, feeling that strange sense of foreboding tugging at her. The forest was beautiful, almost enchanting in the dying light, but it also held a haunting stillness that set her nerves on edge. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were going somewhere only Sam knew.

After what felt like hours of trekking through the shadowed woods, the group finally emerged into a clearing, and the sight took everyone's breath away. Before them stretched a scene so stunning it felt almost unreal, like a hidden paradise tucked away from the world. A wide, sparkling river flowed lazily across the landscape, its crystal-clear water catching the sunlight, which filtered down in golden beams through the trees. The air was alive with the fresh, earthy scent of wet soil mingled with hints of pine and wildflowers. The sound of the river babbling over stones filled the clearing, a peaceful, rhythmic hum that felt both calming and mysterious.