The fire was small tonight. Not for lack of wood, there was plenty of that. They were just trying not to be seen, whatever that meant anymore. Seen by who? Or what?

Van sat cross-legged near the edge of the group, picking at the fraying seam of her coat. you, her girlfriend sat beside her, thigh touching thigh. Silent. Warm.

The others were scattered in a loose circle, faces half-lit by the fire, all bone shadows and tired eyes. Nobody had really spoken in hours. Not even Misty.

Van hated it, the silence. It was too loud. Too full of what no one wanted to say.

So she broke it.

Van: "Alright, campers." she said, louder than she needed to, slapping her knees. "In honor of our little... extended nature retreat, I think it’s time we brought back an old favorite.”

A few people looked up.

Van grinned. “Scary stories.”

Groans. A weak chuckle from Mari. Shauna just stared. Lottie didn’t blink and natalie rolled her eyes with a scoff

Natalie: "scary stories? what are we? fucking 12?"