Chapter 15: Trails and Ghost
The forest trail greeted them with birdsong and sunlight filtering through the trees like golden rain. Jake, naturally, made the first complaint.
"Why does hiking feel like slow-motion dying?"
"Because you skipped leg day," Alex said, not even out of breath as he led the group uphill.
Jake groaned dramatically. "I did not sign up for a mountain exorcism."
The others laughed. Some were already panting, others taking selfies with trees. One guy insisted on using hiking poles even though they were just walking on dirt. A girl brought her tiny dog, which rode in her backpack like a smug hiking king.
Despite the chaos, something warm hung in the air—like friendship slowly baking in an oven. The gym members, once strangers pumping iron next to each other in silence, were now talking, laughing, helping each other up the steeper parts.
At a small clearing, they took a break. Jake passed around water bottles and granola bars like a camp counselor. Then he sat beside a guy who looked anxious and quiet.
"First time hiking?" Jake asked.
The guy nodded. "First time doing... anything. I used to just sit in my room. Saw your ad. Thought I'd try."
Jake's smile softened. "You're here now. That's what counts."
Later that evening, they reached the campsite—a wide, grassy spot near a slow-moving river. They pitched tents, started a fire, and cooked simple meals. Jake burned half the sausages, blamed the wind, and somehow turned it into a stand-up routine.
As the night settled in, everyone sat in a circle by the fire. Stories began to come out.
One by one, people share a ghost stories.
A woman talked about seeings a shadow that stare at her. A teen talk about a long hair ghost. A man just make a story how he fight a ghost and win.
There were no judgments—only scared too sleep alone and go to the bathroom.
Jake and Alex sat quietly for a moment, just letting the fire crackle between them.
Then Jake leaned in. "Think this might actually work, Alex."
Alex gave a slow nod. "Yeah. I think... we're really doing something here."
Just then, someone pulled out a guitar and strummed a song. Laughter returned. Marshmallows roasted. A few people danced like goofballs.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was real.