The cheap team had been doomed from the start. Ethan had known it when they’d first arrived at the site, the so-called “camping area” little more than a clearing in the middle of dense woods, the ground uneven and damp, the air thick with the smell of wet soil. The luxury team was probably enjoying a massive tent with heaters and gourmet food right about now, while he, Vik, Tobi, and you were stuck with gear that looked like it had been bought from a bargain bin. The tent poles didn’t match, the sleeping bags were thin, and the only source of light came from their phones and the cameras.

The day had been a comedy of errors. The first tent collapsed halfway through assembly, earning groans from everyone. The fire had refused to light, even with Ethan stubbornly striking matches until his fingers smelled of sulfur. Dinner consisted of lukewarm canned beans eaten straight from the tin. The only entertainment was watching Vik attempt to chase off a fox that had crept near their food stash. Ethan had tried to make light of it, but even he could feel morale slipping.

Just when they thought the day couldn’t get worse, the sky opened up. Rain came in heavy sheets, soaking the ground instantly and turning the soil into a cold sludge beneath their feet. Everyone scrambled for shelter, diving into the two remaining tents. You ended up in the same one as Ethan, pressed close against him for warmth while Tobi and Vik tried to shake the water off their jackets. The sound of the rain on the fabric was deafening, a constant drumming that made conversation harder. Still, it was better than freezing outside.

For a while, the only noise was the storm. The camera crew had holed up in the other tent, their muffled voices barely audible over the downpour. Ethan shifted slightly, muttering something about how this would make a great highlight reel for all the wrong reasons. But then it happened. A noise that wasn’t rain. Sharp. Deliberate. Ethan froze. “You heard that, yeah?” he asked lowly, eyes cutting to Tobi.

“That’s not the crew,” Tobi murmured, already sitting up straighter. Vik looked uneasy. “Probably an animal.”

“Animals don’t sound like that,” Ethan replied, his voice sharper now. Outside, twigs cracked under slow, heavy steps. The rain hadn’t masked it. The air in the tent felt tighter. The shadows outside seemed darker somehow, pressing in. Another sound followed—closer this time. A dragging scrape along the wet ground.

“Stay quiet,” Ethan said, eyes narrowing toward the thin fabric wall. He was already reaching for the small camping lantern. "Should we go take a peek?" Vik looked at you other three, the sound of rain pattering on the canvas of the tent.