Effy~2

The rain hammered against the car roof, muffling the sound of the music blasting from Katie's carefully curated playlist. The windows were fogged up from the condensation, Emily and Naomi idly drawing shapes on their glass with their fingers. Pandora hummed along happily to the pop beat, swaying slightly in her seat.

Tess, who had been in the bathroom when everyone piled into the car, had ended up squeezed in the back row between JJ and Thomas. Occasionally, her gaze would catch Effy's in the rearview mirror. Effy's expression was as flat as ever, though her knuckles tightened on the wheel as Katie barked directions from the passenger seat.

"This is the turn!" Katie insisted, jabbing at the paper.

"No, it's not," Freddie said, leaning over her shoulder to squint at the map. "You're reading it wrong."

"I am not," Katie snapped. "It says to go left."

"It's upside down," Naomi said lazily from the seat beside her, her head resting against the window.

"It's not upside down!" Katie shot back. "Effy, just go left."

Emily leaned forward, sighing. "It's definitely upside down, Katie."

Effy sighed, her hands tightening on the wheel. "Someone just tell me where to go."

"Left," Katie said firmly.

"Straight," Freddie argued.

"Can we just pick one before we end up in Scotland?" Emily muttered, exasperated.

"This isn't the right way at all!" Katie groaned as Effy reluctantly turned left at the next intersection.

The sudden turn sent everyone sliding in their seats. Tess slammed into JJ, who let out a startled yelp, his crisp bag spilling onto the floor.

"Effy!" Tess shouted, grabbing at the headrest in front of her.

"Sorry," Effy said flatly, though there was a flicker of amusement in her tone.

JJ groaned, looking mournfully at his fallen crisps. "That was my last bag."

"Oh, the tragedy," Tess teased, smirking as she nudged him.

JJ narrowed his eyes at her, clearly considering a retort, but his attention was pulled by the buzz of Tess's phone. She glanced down at the screen, her stomach flipping when she saw the message:

Cook: Where the fuck did you fuck off to then?

Her thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before she hurriedly locked the phone, her heartbeat quickening when she noticed JJ and Thomas craning their necks to look.

Thomas scowled, folding his arms across his chest. JJ, meanwhile, looked conflicted, his gaze darting between her phone and her face. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then seemed to think better of it, retreating into his crisps instead.

The car rolled to a stop at a quiet intersection, rain hammering against the roof. Freddie leaned forward, squinting at the street signs. "Alright, so if this is...where are we, exactly?"

"We're lost," Naomi said matter-of-factly.

"We're not lost," Katie snapped, tossing the map onto the dashboard. "We're just...taking the scenic route."

Tess scoffed, "There's nothing scenic about this road"

"Or that petrol station" JJ said with a shudder

Katie's eyes darted to the petrol station, an idea forming "Great. Let's just stop there ok?"

The car groaned into motion again, the rain finally clearing up as Effy pulled into the sketchy-looking petrol station, deserted and ran down.

"This place is giving me the heebie jeebies," Pandora muttered

"Perfect spot for a break, then," Effy said, cutting the engine.

"Stupid piece of crap!" Katie snapped, slamming the car door behind her. She stormed over to the bin and chucked the map inside.

"What did you do that for?" Tess asked, throwing her arms up in frustration

"Look it's no use, we're just gonna have to ask someone for directions" Katie declared

"Who?" Freddie gestured to the deserted surroundings, earning a very angry shrug from Katie.

Effy got out of the car to pump petrol just as a battered truck pulled up on the other side of the station. Tess craned her neck to peek past Thomas's head. Three greasy-looking men sat inside. One of them stepped out, a cowboy hat perched awkwardly on his head, and leaned against the truck, his jacket stained and filthy.

Katie, ever bold, marched toward them, calling out confidently, "Excuse me gentlemen, could you tell me how to get to Gobblers end please? "

The man in the cowboy hat grinned and walked toward her, his toothy smile making Tess shiver.

"Right," Tess muttered, ducking out of the car. "I'm getting a drink."

She headed toward the small shop attached to the petrol station, pulling her jacket tighter. Inside, it was eerily quiet. The counter was empty, with just a small plate of coins and a sign that read: Honesty, please. The shelves were sparsely stocked with chocolates, out-of-date pastries, and dusty greeting cards.

"Anyone here?" Tess called out, her voice echoing slightly. No answer.

Shrugging, she took a bottle of water from the cooler and a melted mars bar, chucking a few coins onto the plate- it would do. But someone blocked her way out. It was one of the guys from the car- and he didn't look friendly.

"Are you leaving something for me, lovely?" drawled

Tess stared him down, masking her unease. "Let me out," she said firmly.

"Cos I've got something for you" he said, blocking the door with an outstretched arm. His breath smelled sour, and his laugh grated in her ears.

"Get out of the way!" She demanded, her voice much sharper now.

Instead of moving, he leaned closer, trying to grab her arm. "You know you want it," he sneered.

"Get off me!" Tess snapped, shoving him with all her strength. He stumbled backward, and she bolted past him, her heart pounding as she pushed through the shop door.

"Hey-" She barely made it outside when a loud bang froze her in her tracks. A gunshot. Tess's head whipped around to see the man in the cowboy hat holding a shotgun, smoke curling from the barrel. He'd been aiming for a sign across the station, but Tess running out had startled him, and he'd missed.

"You made me miss," he growled, stepping closer. His eyes were cold, sharp, and menacing.

Tess held up her hands, trying to keep her voice steady. "Look, I—"

"I never miss," he said coldly, cutting her off. "I've never missed before."

Tess backed away, only to bump into the man from the shop, who was grinning down at her. Before either of them could say another word, Freddie appeared, stepping between Tess and the men.

"Alright, that's enough," Freddie said, his voice calm but firm. He extended an arm, gently pulling Tess back toward him. "Leave her alone."

The man with the shotgun glared at Freddie but didn't move as Freddie guided Tess away. They hurried back to the car, Tess's hands trembling as she climbed into the back seat. She had never wanted to feel that sense of danger again- like she had felt with Theo.

The man's voice rang out one last time as they drove away: "Beware of the moon!"

"Whatever. Freak," Effy called out, getting back into the car.

There was a tense atmosphere inside the car. Everyone talking over the top of each other.

"Fucking hell," Katie sighed, frustratedly.

"What the fuck is wrong with them?" Tess burst out, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and anger.

"Did you see the size of that gun?" Freddie asked, his voice still tight with nerves.

"Let's just get out of here," Effy said as she focused on the road.

Tess leaned back in her seat, trying to shake the crawling sensation that clung to her skin. JJ and Thomas watched the petrol station fade into the distance, their faces pale. The two men were still standing there, chuckling to themselves like they had enjoyed it.

Fucking creeps.

----

As the tension in the car started to ease (besides Pandora's hyperventilating), JJ's voice broke through. "Uh... Eff..." he said, his tone hesitant as his wide eyes stayed fixed on the back window.

"What?" Effy asked, glancing briefly in the rearview mirror.

Thomas's voice cut in, sharp and panicked. "It's them! It's them! Freds, Freds!" He leaned forward, frantically grabbing Freddie's shoulder.

Tess spun around in her seat, her heart dropping when she saw the beat-up truck from the petrol station speeding toward them.

"Oh my god," Katie gasped. "What the fuck?"

The car erupted into chaos. The squealing of tires mixed with overlapping shouts.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" JJ kept repeating, his voice climbing in panic.

"JJ, snap out of it!" Tess said, trying to keep him grounded even as her own nerves frayed.

Freddie, ever the calm one, raised his hands to steady the group. "Alright, calm down. It's probably nothing. Just chill out."

A blaring horn shattered his reassurance. The truck veered dangerously close, mere centimeters from their car.

Katie and Tess screamed as the man in the cowboy hat leaned out of the truck's window, shouting something inaudible over the rain and rumbling engine. Tess's breath caught when she saw the shotgun in his hand, it's muzzle pointed squarely at their car. They pulled up right next to the group's car.

"Roll that down!" the man bellowed, motioning angrily at Effy. "Roll that fucking window down!"

"No, no way, this can't be happening." Tess whispered, clutching the back of Panda's seat.

The man's hand jerked upward, the shotgun now pointed directly at Effy's window.

"Effy, stop the car!" JJ shouted, his voice cracking.

No one seemed to hear him in the chaos, so Tess yelled louder, "Stop the car now!"

But Effy didn't listen, her knuckles white on the wheel as she pressed harder on the accelerator.

"Effy, stop!" Katie yelled, panic thick in her voice.

The truck swerved in front of them, cutting them off abruptly. Tires screeched as Effy slammed on the brakes, the car jolting to a halt.

"Wankers!" Effy shouted, her voice cutting through the stunned silence.

The group sat frozen, breaths held, as the truck idled in front of them. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a single cigarette butt was flicked out of the truck's window, landing in a puddle on the asphalt. The truck's engine growled as it reversed, turned sharply, and sped off in the opposite direction.

"Are they going?" JJ whispered, his voice trembling.

"Dickheads," Tess muttered, her voice shaky.

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

"I think we should go home," Pandora said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Freddie leaned back in his seat, his trademark calm returning. "They're gone now. We're safe." He smirked. "As long as we 'beware the moon,' obviously."

The car fell silent for a beat before laughter rippled through the car. Everyone except Katie and Pandora cracked up.

"It's not fucking funny!" Katie snapped, her face flushed with frustration.

"Alright, babes, chill out," Freddie said, leaning over to plant a kiss on Katie's temple.

Tess grimaced, her stomach twisting at the sight. She caught Naomi's eye in the rearview mirror, sharing a knowing look.

Effy broke the moment of quiet. "Come on. Not far now," she said, her voice steady and emotionless as she started the car again.

---

Effy pulled the car up to a muddy patch of ground lined with dense trees. Everyone climbed out, stretching and groaning after the cramped ride. Katie dumped some of her bags on Freddie before looking for the right way to go.

"Freds is this the way?" she asked, squinting at the faded signs.

Freddie shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Pretty sure. We're here, aren't we?"

Katie huffed but didn't argue, for once.

Effy stepped away from the car, tilting her head back to look at the clearing sky, streaked with faint hints of starlight. Tess joined her, pulling her jacket tighter against the cool air.

"This is gonna be great, isn't it?" Effy said dryly, her voice dripping with sarcasm

Tess snorted, glancing at the mud beneath her boots. "Oh yeah, can't wait," she muttered.

As they gathered their bags, Tess glanced around the area, frowning. "Wait—there's a walk? To the campsite? No one said anything about that."

Freddie laughed, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "It's not far. You'll survive."

Ahead of them, JJ and Freddie began testing out the echo in the woods, their voices bouncing back through the trees.

"Guys, do you hear that? Echo!" JJ called, grinning like a kid.

"Echo!" Freddie shouted back, laughing as JJ joined in with increasingly ridiculous phrases. Soon, they were yelling random words, their voices blending into the woodland sounds.

Tess rolled her eyes but couldn't help smirking as she trailed behind with Freddie and JJ.

Freddie slowed his pace, falling into step beside Tess. "So, what's the deal with Thomas?" he asked, nodding toward where Thomas walked silently ahead of them, his shoulders hunched.

Tess shrugged, glancing at him. "He was acting weird in the car, all quiet."

JJ piped up, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. "Well Cook had carnal relations with Pandora."

Tess grimaced, "Gross"

Freddie groaned, rubbing his temples. "Don't call it that, mate"

The thought still gnawed at Tess, and her expression must have betrayed it because Freddie gave her a sidelong look.

"I still can't understand that," Freddie muttered.

Tess's voice came out flat and bitter. "I can."

JJ, oblivious to the tension, added, "His girlfriend's a no-good hussy, and he's acting like everything's fine. It's messing with my head."

Freddie gave a small nod, his gaze drifting toward Thomas. "Yeah..." he said, his voice thoughtful. Without breaking stride, he called out, "Hey, Thomas! How you doing, mate? Wasn't expecting to see you tonight... I mean, it's great you're here, just thought... after what Cook said at your gig..."

Thomas stopped abruptly, turning to face them. His expression was hard to read, but his voice was clipped. "I would like that you keep that between us for now, yes?"

Freddie raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Yeah, of course. No problem."

JJ nodded quickly. "Totally. Lips are sealed."

Just then, Katie called out for Freddie, waving the map in the air. "Babes, which way is it from here?"

Freddie sighed and jogged ahead, JJ following to help with the bags. That left Tess and Thomas standing at the back of the group.

She hesitated before speaking. "Why don't you want to say anything?"

Thomas glanced at her, his expression softening. "It's... complicated."

Tess nodded, falling into step beside him. "I get it, I really do. But you deserve the truth... Even if you've already found out" Tess said awkwardly

He looked at her sadly, "What would her telling me do? I already know. It's over now isn't it?"

Tess hesitated, then sighed. "I think so... I hope so" she shook her head, ignoring her inner thoughts.

Thomas gave her a small, sad smile. "It's not easy, is it? Trying to pretend it doesn't hurt."

"No," Tess admitted.

—

The group finally broke through the dense trees into a wide clearing. Freddie was the first to step forward, stretching his arms wide as he let out a loud, enthusiastic howl into the night.

"OWWWWW"

JJ immediately joined in, his voice cracking as he howled back, "AWOOOO!" before breaking into laughter.

Freddie turned to him with a wild grin. "That the best you've got, JJ?"

"Challenge accepted!" JJ howled again, this time louder, and took off running, with Freddie hot on his heels. The two darted around the clearing like overgrown children, their laughter echoing through the trees.

Tess stood watching, shaking her head. "They're like dogs off a leash."

Katie laughed beside her before slipping her hand into Tess's. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm glad you're here."

Tess blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Katie said with a small smile, suddenly tugging her forward. "Come on!"

Before Tess could protest, Katie spun her in a circle, and Tess couldn't help but laugh as they stumbled over each other's feet. Katie didn't stop, spinning them faster until they both lost their balance and tumbled to the ground in a heap, giggling uncontrollably.

The moment didn't last long, as Freddie called over, "Alright, fun's over! Time to set up camp before it gets dark"

Setting up tents proved to be a nightmare. Tess found herself paired with JJ, who insisted there was a "logical system" to assembling the contraption.

"This goes in here, see? It's simple," JJ said, holding up a pole and gesturing toward a fabric loop.

Tess stared at him, unimpressed. "It's not simple, JJ. It's a bullshit piece of crap."

JJ frowned, trying to fit the pole into the loop with increasing frustration. "No, no, it's all about angles and leverage!"

"Angles and leverage my ass," Tess muttered, yanking at the tent fabric, which only made things worse.

Katie and Freddie were already busy cooking sausages on a makeshift stove. The smell wafted through the clearing, making everyone's stomachs growl.

Tess wandered a bit away from the group, finding Naomi sitting against a tree with a cigarette in hand. She walked over, pulling out her own pack and lighting up as she sat down beside her.

"This is great, isn't it?" Naomi said, her voice light but with a hint of something deeper beneath it.

Tess leaned back against the log, looking up at the sky. "Yeah, if you ignore how tense things are between Freddie, Katie, and Effy... or how off Thomas is," she replied, her tone flat as she exhaled the smoke.

Naomi let out a low laugh, a knowing look passing between them. "True. But imagine if Cook was here." She took another drag, eyes glinting with amusement. "That would've been chaos, right?"

Tess' eyes flicked to the ground, her expression shifting for a moment. "Yeah, I guess."

Naomi noticed the shift, her gaze narrowing slightly. "You wanted him to come. Didn't you?"

Tess' breath hitched, and she leaned forward, brushing her hair out of her face. "Don't be stupid. That would've been a death wish with those poachers back there"

Naomi gave her a sidelong glance, clearly not buying Tess' attempt at brushing it off. "Sure, sure"

They sat in silence for a moment before Naomi broke it. "So, about Cook. What happened then?"

Tess winced, debating whether to answer. "Do we have to talk about that?"

"Yes, you never told me!" Naomi said bluntly.

Tess sighed, flicking ash onto the ground. "Well right after I left you, that afternoon we skipped English."

Naomi nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"I went to check on him, which was stupid, obviously," Tess admitted. "He was being a dick, as usual, and we got into this massive argument about the night at the club. And then... I don't know, he kissed me."

"Then the next morning he seemed satisfied, happy or whatever, like everything was fine. but I regretted it... Guess he didn't take that too well either." Tess muttered, looking away.

Naomi leaned back, taking a drag of her cigarette, scoffing. "So, how was he then? The performance"

Tess groaned, covering her face. "Do we have to?"

"Yes, absolutely," Naomi said, grinning now.

Tess froze, not wanting to go down that road. "I don't know... it was fine, okay? Now, will you stop asking?" She tried to brush it off, hoping Naomi would just drop it.

But Naomi wasn't about to back down. She leaned in, looking at Tess with a raised eyebrow. "Sure, sure. It was 'fine'.'" Naomi said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I know you're lying."

Tess took a sharp breath, suddenly feeling the weight of Naomi's stare. She was trapped. She couldn't lie anymore. Not to Naomi.

"Alright!" Tess snapped, her voice rising. "It was good, okay? It was really good. She said, slightly sarcastically. "Is that what you wanted to hear? The fuck was great, best I've had in a long time, can't wait to go back for more! Happy now?"

Naomi sat back, eyes wide, but she didn't look surprised. She let out a low whistle. "Well, well. That's more like it."

Tess slumped further in the ground, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "I shouldn't have done it. But it happened. And I regret it, okay?"

Naomi let the silence stretch for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "You don't have to explain yourself to me, Tess. But you're not fooling anyone, not even yourself."

Tess shook her head, a small smile creeping onto her face despite herself. "You're the worst."

"Probably," Naomi agreed, smirking. "So, what's the verdict? You hate him, love him, bit of both?"

Tess laughed, shaking her head. "I think you know the answer."

Naomi chuckled, then took another drag of her cigarette. "Well, at least you've got taste. Cook's a dickhead." she joked.

"Thanks for the support," Tess said dryly.

Naomi shrugged. "Anytime."

Tess hesitated before changing the subject. "So we're done with me. What about you? Emily?"

Naomi's expression softened, but she shifted uncomfortably. "It's... going well, I think."

"You think?" Tess pressed.

Naomi sighed. "I don't know. She's great, obviously. It's just... weird, you know? Talking about it."

Tess nodded. "Yeah, I get that."

But Naomi's attention drifted, eyes catching on the rest of the group gathering around Panda and Effy. Tess followed her gaze, just as Katie's squeaky voice cut through the night.

"No! How d'you know they're not poisonous? I don't want you ruining my party by, like, vomming blood! And this isn't supposed to be that kind of party, Eff. It's just drinks and sausages. No mushrooms."

Freddie, hearing the word "mushrooms," immediately made his way over, his voice loud and eager. "Whoa, mushrooms! Who's got mushrooms? Give me some!"

"Freddie!" Katie screeched in protest.

"What? Chill out." Freddie said, plopping down beside Effy.

"Did I hear mushrooms?" Emily's voice piped up next.

"Emily! Don't you fucking dare!" Katie warned, but that only made Emily more determined.

"Don't listen to her, Ems," Naomi muttered, clearly amused.

Tess went to sit down next to Panda, who was eyeing a stash of mushrooms that Effy had pulled from her jumper. Freddie had already grabbed some, much to Katie's irritation.

Katie stormed off, her frustration palpable. Tess could've done something to stop it, but she didn't want to miss out. Sure, she had only done shrooms a couple of times, but this felt like the right moment.

Effy was still trying to convince Panda. "Come on, Panda, live a little."

But Panda shook her head, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. "No thanks. Love is our drug!" she said, looking at Thomas.

Everyone groaned in disgust, but surprisingly, Thomas spoke up, his voice casual. "Sometimes, you need a little more sugar in your bowl, though. C'est vrai, ma jolie," he said, taking a handful of mushrooms for himself.

Pandora froze, stunned, but then, as if reluctantly swept up in the moment, she took them too. The disgust on her face was immediate.

"You're not such a good girl anymore, are you, Panda?" Emily sniggered.

"There's so much dirt in them," Naomi laughed, picking up another particularly nasty looking one.

"We're basically eating mud," Tess grimaced, but she didn't care enough to back out.

"How long until it kicks in, Eff?" Panda asked, looking uneasy.

"Not long," Effy said with a sly grin

---

The night was wild, a blur of lights and colour, like a fever dream. The shrooms had settled in, and the whole world felt like it was shifting and warping in unpredictable ways. The sparklers crackled in the air, their glowing trails leaving strange patterns in the sky, like fleeting stars that danced just out of reach. The music warped, bending and stretching in the most delightful way, and Tess found herself lost in the rhythm, her body moving without thinking.

Katie was next to her, both of them laughing as they twirled and spun in the flickering light. They were almost too in sync, their laughter blending with the distorted sounds of the music, their feet moving in time to something only they could hear. Tess's vision was a kaleidoscope of colours, the world bending and pulsing. They danced faster, their movements messy and carefree, spinning and laughing until they were both dizzy.

But then, Panda's strange, jerky movements caught Tess's eye. She was dancing in a way that didn't seem to follow any beat at all, her body contorting in odd, exaggerated motions that seemed almost too fast to be real. Tess blinked, her mind trying to make sense of it.

"Look at Panda," Tess said, giggling, nudging Katie.

Katie glanced over, her eyes wide with amusement. "What the hell is she doing?" she asked through her laughter.

Even Freddie joined in on the dancing, something Tess didn't expect to see. He was spinning around with Panda. The sparkler light flickered, casting strange shadows on the ground as everyone else continued to dance, caught up in the madness of the moment. Tess felt the music in her chest, vibrating through her, distorting everything around her.

But as the music slowed and the dancing became less frantic, things began to settle into a strange calm. The laughter died down, and Freddie and Katie collapsed onto the soft earth, lying down together in a tangle of limbs, their giggles still bubbling up in occasional bursts. Effy and Panda followed suit, lying down next to them, still half-laughing, half-serious, as they took a moment to breathe.

Tess, still buzzing, didn't move to join them. Instead, she stayed where she was, leaning against JJ, her hand still gripping his as she tried to catch her breath. The world was still spinning, but in a slower, more dreamlike way now. JJ's presence was a quiet anchor in the chaos.

She heard snippets of people's conversations, like they were all speaking to her at once, but Emily's voice cut through particularly strong.

"Cos that's what it's about, isn't it? Forget all that other shit, cos it's not about that, it's about everything else. Like when you open your eyes in the night and you see that face... ..you see that face..." Emily said, in a dreamy voice

She could see his face when she closed her eyes, whatever Emily was saying it was making her think about him.

"You ever think about how things could be different?" Tess asked suddenly, her voice soft and almost distant, as though the words were slipping out before she could stop them.

JJ, his face a little blank, gave her a distracted smile. "Different how?"

Tess bit her lip, her eyes flickering over him for a moment before she looked away. Her thoughts were tangled, the shrooms still clouding her mind. "I don't know," she said quietly, almost to herself. "Like... if we were both better people, If he hadn't been who he was... maybe things would be different."

JJ didn't seem to fully grasp what she was saying, but he nodded anyway, his voice a little unsure. "Yeah, I guess. But people are who they are, right?"

There was a long pause before she spoke again, her voice softer now, almost a whisper. "Maybe... maybe I love him, JJ..." but he wasn't listening

His eyes were fixed on Effy who was standing, a look of confusion on her face

"Who moved the stuff?"

Tess blinked, her mind scrambling to catch up. "What?" she asked, disoriented.

"I said, who moved the stuff?" Effy repeated, her tone more insistent now. "The bags are gone."

There was a moment of confusion before Katie spoke up, her voice tinged with frustration. "For god's sakes, this is so not funny, guys." She looked around, thinking it was some twisted joke, but Tess felt a strange prickling at the back of her neck, a sense of unease settling in. The air had shifted, suddenly thick with tension.

Naomi raised a brow, unfazed. "Chill out, somebody must've—"

But she was cut off by a sharp crack that sliced through the night air. A gunshot. Everyone froze, hearts pounding in their chests, unsure of what to do. Another shot rang out, closer this time, and Freddie jumped into action.

"Turn the music off!" he shouted, his voice frantic.

Thomas scrambled to kill the speaker, but the silence only made the tension more unbearable. Then, another shot. Tess's heart skipped a beat. That one had been far too close for comfort.

The rustling in the trees was louder now, closer. Tess's breath caught in her throat as she felt Emily's hand tighten around hers. They clung to each other, fear rising in their chests like an unstoppable wave. Another two shots fired, their sharp cracks echoing through the woods.

Effy was trying to calm down Panda, but it was clear that no one was really calm. Everyone was on edge, watching the trees for any movement, every sound amplifying in the charged air. Freddie's voice cut through again. "Lights out, now!"

"JJ, get that fire out!" someone shouted, but the panic was already setting in. Tess could only hear the rustling of branches and the faint sound of breaking leaves. The wind howled through the trees, carrying with it the sound of distant yells and screams, growing louder as the minutes ticked by.

Tess glanced over at Panda, who was quietly crying, her face twisted in fear. Even Effy, usually so composed, looked rattled, her eyes wide and searching. Another scream echoed through the woods, and the group tensed, waiting for something, anything, to happen.

Then, a shadow darted between the trees. Panic surged through the group, everyone crouched on the ground, when a flashlight flicked on, blinding them all. The beam of light cut through the darkness, casting long shadows on the ground, but it didn't reveal who was behind it. The screams grew more frantic, more desperate, and Tess could feel her heart racing in her chest.

Effy couldn't take it anymore. With a shout, she grabbed a stick and charged toward the figure in the shadows, her movements frantic. She hit them and tripped, both of them falling to the ground. The ski mask came off, and the face beneath it was revealed.

The person stood there laughing.

It was Cook.