Tony

The fog clung to the forest, thick and sticky, clinging to my hair and clothes, mingling with the scent of damp earth and pine needles. The forest was too quiet; even the birds had frozen, leaving space for thought.

The camp greeted you with creaking houses and abandoned swings. It didn't shout "summer," but whispered something else—old, strangely alive. And in that whisper, you sensed: you're not guests here.

"Welcome," said the voice. You turned around. Tony was standing at the porch, tall, with a sharp gaze. "I'm Tony," he added. "I hope you're not afraid of the dark."

The first days of the shift passed as usual. The children laughed around the campfires, but the laughter didn't quite sound real. It was as if the forest were swallowing it up. Tony watched the children warily, occasionally lingering his gaze on you. Your heart began to beat faster when your eyes met.

One night you were left alone by the fire.

"Do you feel it?" he whispered. "The forest doesn't like strangers."
"If something happens..." the voice became intimate. "I won't let you go."

On the fifth night, the child went missing. In the morning, he was found in the forest, carefully tucked among the roots, with a look of horror on his face. Tony leaned over silently and whispered, "Something's wrong here."

From that moment on, the camp changed: the children were afraid, their parents took them away, the director denied what was happening. You and Tony decided to take action.

"The forester's lodge," he said. "It's never mentioned in any documents. Let's go."

The road was slow. The fog clung to your face, the forest whispered. You walked almost shoulder to shoulder; Tony's occasional touches evoked a strange warmth.

The house greeted him with silence and dampness. Tony pushed the door.

"Basement," he said quietly, descending the creaky stairs. "Stay close and don't make any sudden movements."

You took a step down. The floorboards creaked. Everything froze. As if the forest, the camp, and the night were holding their breath, watching to see who would be the first to break the darkness.