The night had grown cooler, a gentle wind rustling through the trees around the twins' vacation house. The group sat around the dimly lit fire pit, the faint crackle of flames filling the silence between their laughter. They had set up sleeping bags in a loose circle, their phones tucked away per the "no phones, no plans" rule.
Jordan leaned back against a log, staring at the stars. For once, the night felt peaceful — no shouting, no pressure. Just them.
"Okay, we've officially survived two hours without our phones," Michelle announced dramatically, earning a few claps from Mia and Kora.
But Michael wasn't laughing. His eyes had flicked toward the walkie-talkie sitting beside the snacks. While the others were still talking, he quietly picked it up and slipped into the darkness.
He walked a few meters away, stopping near a tall oak. Pressing the button, he whispered, "Hey, Collins, it's me. Could you bring my laptop and gamepad from the house? And maybe some snacks too. Please hurry."
Static. No response.
He frowned, tapped the device, and tried again. Still nothing.
"Maybe he fell asleep," he muttered, glancing around. The woods seemed to stretch endlessly, shadows twisting with every flicker of moonlight. He decided to walk a little farther — just enough to get a better signal.
Back at the campsite, Michelle noticed the empty spot beside her. "Wait… where's Michael?" she asked, looking around.
Kora shrugged. "Probably snuck off to call his precious butler."
Jordan smirked. "Bet he couldn't survive one night without service."
They all chuckled, but when Michelle reached for the walkie-talkie, she realized it was gone. Her smile faded. "He took it. That idiot actually took it."
Mia frowned. "Should we go look for him?"
Michelle waved it off, though worry pinched her voice. "Nah, he knows this place better than anyone. He'll find his way back."
But ten minutes passed. Then fifteen. The jokes stopped.
Out in the trees, Michael's breathing had grown uneven. "Collins?" he called again. The silence was too heavy now, too deliberate. He turned to head back, but then—
Crunch.
A twig snapped behind him.
He froze, his pulse thudding in his ears. "Hello?"
No answer.
He started walking faster, glancing over his shoulder — and saw movement. Someone — or something — was following him.
He broke into a run, the flashlight on the walkie-talkie flickering weakly as branches whipped past him.
Finally, the glow of the campfire came into view. He burst into the clearing, gasping, startling everyone.
"What the heck happened?" Jordan asked, standing up.
Michael's face was pale. "I—I don't know. I went to call Collins, but he's not answering. And then I think… I think someone was following me."
The others exchanged uneasy looks.
"Probably an animal," Mia said, though her voice wasn't convincing.
Michelle reached for the walkie-talkie and tried again. Static. No signal.
The night suddenly felt colder.
Jordan poked at the fire, trying to break the tension. "Well," he said softly, "looks like this night adventure just got a little more interesting."