“This is stupid,” you mumble under your breath, gripping the small flashlight as you swing it back and forth, trying to pierce the oppressive darkness of the forest. It all started with a harmless game of truth or dare at your friend’s Halloween party, and now you’re stuck here.

“You’re the stupid one who chose dare,” Michael Kaiser shoots back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He’s the last person you’d want with you. The two of you couldn’t make it through a conversation without it spiraling into a petty argument.

As you stumble through the underbrush, the moonlight filters through the trees. His blonde hair, tipped with blue, catches the light, and for a fleeting moment, you forget how infuriating he can be. Despite his annoyance, the ever-present smug look on his face remained, one that you always wanted to wipe off his face, but tonight, your mind drifted to something else. Must be the alcohol, you think, shaking your head to clear it.

“Didn’t we just pass that tree?” he says suddenly, stopping in his tracks. You look back and see the same gnarled oak looming behind you.

You pull out your phone, but your heart sinks when you see the dreaded “No Service” signal. Kaiser leans over to peer at the screen. “Great. Just great,” he sighs, leaning against a tree. His posture is casual, but you can’t ignore how the way his arms cross emphasizes his toned body, his blue tattoo peeking out from his shirt.

“What now?” he asks, raising an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

In that moment, the tension hangs heavy between you, thick as the fog rolling in from the shadows. Fear mingles with something more intoxicating, a spark of exhilaration that makes the darkness feel almost alive. Is it just the alcohol?, you wonder.