Harper moved schools after her last year of elementary school and is finally free of the bullies. She is afraid of being bullied for her clothes. This is her first year in middle school. She is so excited that she can't sleep. It's still somewhat snowy and her school is not too far so she was planning to walk in the snow. After a long time begging her mom to let her walk alone she heads to bed. When she wakes up she plops her school outfit, a simple pair of black sweat pants and a sweatshirt from on top of the dresser, she slides her gray and black tenna shoes on and heads out the door. Mom: "Did you eat, be safe please, have a good day love you"

Harper rolls her eyes “I will mom” as she grabs her waffle and replies “love you to” as she side hugs her mom. "That's not a real hug" her mom says "but I'm trying to hurry up and go" Harper wines "Harper, give me a real hug" Harper waddles over and hugs her mom then runs out the door. She pulls up the location on her phone as she starts walking into the woods.The air thickens and becomes cold and smells bitter. She leans on a tree and sits  relaxed in a cave in the woods . Harper is lightheaded, suddenly she is hit by a wave of nausea. She falls to her knees as she pukes under the tree. She stands slowly and walks weakly along the trees. She catches her breath and looks back at her phone for the map, she walks slowly along the path.

She steps back into the biting cold, her heart racing faster than her footsteps. The sun barely pierced the thick clouds, casting a ghostly light on the abandoned playground. As she sloshed through the snow, the crunch beneath her boots echoed like a warning. Suddenly, she froze. Dead birds and squirrels littered the ground, their lifeless forms stark against the white canvas. Dead bodies clutter the ground in their lifeless forms. Panic fluttered in her chest, the feeling of being watched creeping over her like a shadow. She panicked and looked around. Then she shook it off—this was just a small town, right? Then, she stumbled upon the burned-down building. Its charred remains stood like a warning to the curious. As she approached, an icy gust whipped around her, and she gasped

at the sight of the graveyard just beyond. The headstones, old and weathered, bore names she recognized from her nightmares. “Is this a joke? ” she whispered, her breath visible in the cold air. Panic and fear washed over her. She looks around in a panic “who's there? Please go away” she says frantically. She tears up “please I don’t want trouble, I just want to go home!” she says as her tears roll down her face But then, a rustle broke the silence. Harper turned, heart pounding. A figure emerged from the trees, cloaked in shadows and secrets. “You shouldn’t be here,” it rasped, and Harper’s world tilted into darkness.

. She started to run and didn't look back. The dark shadow grabs her wrist as Harper's screams pierces the cold air and echoes beyond the trees  “please Let me go” she screams hoping someone was there to hear her cries for help. The Mysteries voice is calm yet understanding and somehow familiar. Harper's head snapped back and her eyes widened “AMY” she yelled. Amy looks at her “Go and Don’t come back, Ever, it's dangerous and I can't lose another person” Amy says as she lets go of Harper's wrist. Harper falls back “how did this happen, how many people have you lost” she says scaredly . Amy grabs Harper's left hand. Harper looks scared ”I should really get going” she runs home fast. As she opens the door her mom says ”Your home early”. Harper tells her mom

about everything from Amy to the dead animals along with the playground. Her mom does not believe her so Harper takes her mom there. When they arrive the school is in one piece and is clean and the students are alive and well. Amy runs up to harper and hugs her “You made it”. Harper's mom is mad at her for lying and goes home leaving Harper to deal with this illusion. “Amy! What did you do? Why are you lying?”. Amy glared at Harper and with an evil grin said ‘It's your dads fault. He's the one who burned the school to flames. “I lost my sister to that idiot.” Harper looked destroyed “he did what?” Amy smiled again “you got his eyes, Too bad I will have to take your soul” The trees loomed like dark giants, their branche

clawing at the sky. Harper stumbled deeper into the woods, her heart pounding like a drum. Behind her, Amy’s voice slithered through the shadows. “You can't run forever. It's no good running or hiding. ” Each word dripped with a calmness that sent chills down Harper’s spine. Desperate, Harper ducked behind a gnarled tree, her breath hitching as she pressed her palms over her mouth. The damp earth felt cold beneath her fingers. She could hear the crunch of leaves, the soft whispers of the wind, and then—footsteps. They grew closer, slow and deliberate. Harper's eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but the forest felt alive, closing in on her. “I trusted you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Then silence. The kind that screamed. 

No rustle of leaves, no sound of her heart beat. 

 Just as she dared to breathe, a figure emerged from the darkness, a shadow all too familiar. “Found you,” Amy said, her smile wide and eyes pointed straight at Harper.

“Why are you doing this? ” Harper stammered, backing away, but the trees tightened around her, branches like skeletal fingers. She felt trapped, every path swallowed by shadows.

“I just wanted to play,” Amy said, tilting her head, her grin unnaturally wide. The silence thickened, pulsing like a heartbeat. Harper remembered the stories, the whispers of children lost in the woods, never to return. Panic clawed at her throat. She turned, searching for a way out, but the forest twisted in on itself, each step leading her back to the smiling face that haunted her dreams. “Come on, Harper. It’s just a game,” Amy teased, her voice dripping with mockery. “I don’t want to play anymore! ” Harper screamed, desperation rising. But the forest swallowed her words, leaving only the echo of Amy’s laughter, a chilling reminder that some games have no end. 

The moon hung high, casting eerie shadows among the twisted trees. Harper’s heart raced as she stumbled deeper into the woods. The moon hung high, casting eerie shadows among the twisted trees. Harper’s heart raced as she stumbled deeper into the woods, chasing after Amy’s mocking laughter. “It’s just a game,” Amy had said, but the night felt alive, watching, waiting. “Stop! Please! ” Harper shouted, but the darkness swallowed her voice. The air turned cold, wrapping around her like a damp blanket, suffocating and thick. Branches scratched her arms, whispering secrets she didn’t want to hear. Suddenly, the laughter stopped. Silence fell, heavy and suffocating. Harper’s breath quickened as she turned in circles, the desperation clawing at her throat. A rustle came from behind her, a shadow darting between the trees. “Harper! ” Amy’s voice echoed, but it sounded different—distorted, twisted. Harper’s skin prickled. “Is that you? ” she stammered. The laughter returned.