the summer of 2018 my parents thought it would be a good idea to send me to a camp in Utah it was a camp with a bunch of boys and girls from different schools so we were divided into groups under the supervision of the guides the girls were on the left side of the camp and the boys were on the right we were all teenagers between 13 and 15 years old so you can imagine how hormonal out of control we were the boys spent all their time flirting with the girls and the girls enjoyed the
attention while I who have always been a bit of a loner and not at all outgoing felt a bit left out like I was behind the bus but everything changed when I met Angelina I remember that day like it was yesterday I was sitting behind a tree trying to make a catapult with a twig when I heard a girl yell give me back my glasses curious I looked over and saw shook a kid from my school who was a complete jerk picking on Angelina he was a bully who always took advantage of his size to
pick on others Angelina with her hair and two pigtails and braces on her teeth looked lost and vulnerable at the mercy of that Ruffian so I got up walked over to Shook and knocked his glasses out of his hand hey leave her alone I said shuk never messed with me we are both about the same height and in the past we practiced martial arts together and although he never talked about it I defeated him on several occasions wow looks like someone has a girlfriend shook said laughing as he walked away kicking and splashing mud all
over Angelina's pink dress thanks for helping me he said ignore him he's an idiot I'm Jack by the way I told her she smiled and replied I'm Angelina it's nice to meet you and that's how our friendship began Angelina and I spent that day together talking and exploring the camp but that night during the campfire something strange happened while we were enjoying a delicious roast chicken that the guides had prepared she got up and went into the woods a few minutes passed and she didn't come back so I decided to go look for her I
walked down to the lake and to my surprise found Angelina next to shuck and no one else was there at first I thought I was bullying her again but then I saw that in an unexpected moment she gave him a kiss on the cheek I was shocked just minutes before he was making her cry and now I saw her smiling with him girls are a mystery I will never understand I went back to Camp feeling weird and went to my bed without waiting for Angelina to return the next morning my roommate Carl woke me up
yelling dude wake up they killed shook in the woods frankly I had a hard time reacting what do do you say I asked still half asleep yes the camp leaders found his bloody body under a tree this morning we were all called to the mess hall where Shuck's mysterious death was announced our counselor Mr Russell informed us that it had been an animal attack as he had cutting wounds on his face and body that appeared to have been made by sharp claws the police took the body away and we were forbidden to leave the camp
after dark I was left with a strange feeling in my stomach and that evening I decided to go to Angelina's room to talk to her about what happened I felt almost obliged to do so because I was the only one who had seen chuck with her before she died but when I knocked on her room I heard her roommates laughing at her they opened the door and yelled Angie your boyfriend although it was a little awkward what happened next was even weirder how are you going to make out with your boyfriend if you can't even
change your clothes in front of us one of them said as they laughed Angelina blushed and stood Motionless in the room completely embarrassed while the girls left laughing I felt bad for her I told her it was okay and hugged her I didn't want her to feel bad so I decided not to mention anything about shuck we spent the rest of the day planting trees and to my surprise she smiled again later Angelina came up to me and with that mischevous look she said Jack you're my only friend here would you help me play a
prank on Camille I stood there thinking for a moment Camille was the girl who had been teasing her in the morning what did you have in mind I asked her a little hesitantly she led me to the outside of the girl's bathroom and we stopped in front of a window then she pointed that way and said all you have to do is lift me up and let me climb in through there without thinking I carried her on my shoulders as she asked but at that moment I noticed a beehive near the curtain of the little
window and warned Angelina to be careful going in but just when I thought I was going to help her pull the prank she threw the hive into the bathroom and instantly thousands of bees started fluttering all over the place Angelina closed the window cover in the blink of an eye and then we heard Camille's piercing screams from the other side at that moment we looked at each other and without a second thought ran out before anyone saw us when we finally reached the safety of a remote location I I was shocked what did you just
do I yelled at him that was a completely sick joke our friendship is over I told her but my Fury grew as I remembered that I had seen her with shuck the night of her death I know what you did Angelina you were with shuck before he died at that moment her eyes grew wide with surprise and fear but I didn't wait for her response and stormed away the night passed and Camille ended up in the medical room passed out from the pain that morning I decided I should alert councelor Russell about Angelina something was
very wrong with her that night a thunderstorm blew up and we were sent to our cabins early my roommate Carl was with some friends so I was left alone around 2:00 a.m. I woke up feeling a heavy pressure in my chest my eyes were blurry and although I couldn't see well I could make out Angelina sitting above me with a disturbing smile and a knife in her hand I thought we were friends Jack she whispered and before I knew it she raised the knife ready to stab me however I managed to react quickly and before
she could plunge the knife into me I pushed her off the bed onto the floor as she screamed like a mad woman but she didn't give up she lunged at me and tried to stab me again there we started to fight and I was surprised to see how strong she was but in the middle of the chaos she tried to bite me and I grabbed her by the hair to separate her mouth from me that's when the unthinkable happened her wig fell to the ground what did you do Jack she screamed terrified and her body
began to shake and in a second she collapsed on the floor in a panic I ran to the counselor's room and told him everything that had happened he called Angelina's family and the police and what I found out next was shocking Angelina was actually a boy named Albert who had changed his name after the tragic death of his sister in in an accident after the girl's death his mother had raised him as if he were her twin and in the midst of her Madness she had subjected him to multiple physical and psychological abuses since he
was a child Albert ended up in a juvenile Rehabilitation Center facing charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder I really felt bad for him because deep down it was his mother who ruined him and turned him into the monster he was the truth is that I never went to another summer camp after that that the experience left deep marks on me and I had a hard time trusting girls for years that summer changed my life forever in the early summer of 2022 my parents had finally put an end to their tent separation and a custody
battle that had been a real mess the judge decided that we would spend Summers with our dad who had moved from Portland to San Diego so on the first day of summer my Uncle Josh showed up at Mom's house to pick us up since Dad was at work he asked Josh to take us with him my brother Jaden was quick to jump in the car he had heard so much about San Diego that he was more excited than a kid in a candy store I on the other hand wasn't too excited about the idea I
had just turned 17 in June and would rather have spent the summer with my friends enjoying the freedom at home the miss Miss was to drive from Oregon to San Diego along the Pacific coast in a week Uncle Josh said he had always wanted to make that trip so there we were at first the scenery was breathtaking the ocean views were Instagram worthy but after a while of sitting in the passenger side looking out the window the scenery started to get a little monotonous how about some burgers for dinner asked Josh snapping me out of
my trance I pulled the headphones out of my ears and replied yeah sounds good how about you Jaden I glanced back seeing my brother so focused on his video game that he didn't even Flinch but just as I looked back out the window I noticed a guy in a cowboy hat on the side of the road the guy was wearing old clothes and a red plaid bandana around his neck and he was hitchhiking on the side of the road Josh didn't even bother to look at him hey Jaden why don't you put the game down
for a second and look out the window you're missing some interesting stuff I said that looks weird he replied I didn't think there were farms around here that was a hitchhiker I remarked he looked like a cowboy how cool a cowboy hitchhiking in the middle of the night interesting Jaden said maybe he has a horse I joked if he had a horse he wouldn't be hitchhiking don't you think said Jaden drawing out Typical Gamer logic meanwhile I looked ahead again and to my surprise I saw the same Cowboy again standing beside the road in front
of us there he is again I shouted who's that guy we sped past him and I glanced in the rearview mirror looking to see him again but when I did there was no sign of him that's so weird I muttered however I was so focused on thinking about it that I didn't even notice Jaden tapping me on the shoulder wow you're a little paranoid aren't you he chuckled still looking out the back window a few minutes passed in silence and I knew we were all thinking the same thing this is weird before I could think
about it anymore I looked out the window again and saw him again far enough ahead that my fellow passengers could notice him too look there he is I said excitedly we walked past it but neither Josh nor Jaden said anything then we passed by an old sign indicating a ghost town soon my eyes caught on a banner that said the town had a craft fair look a fair that should be fun could we stop for a moment and stretch our legs I said to Uncle Josh I bet they'll have food commented Jaden Josh agreed so
we pulled into the parking lot of this town in the middle of nowhere once there I noticed there were quite a few people I tried to ignore the strangers in the place but I couldn't help but notice that many men were dressed just like the cowboy I saw on the road even wearing that red plaid bandana my curiosity increased with every step something strange was going on here and somehow I felt we were soon going to get into a mess we couldn't escape I began to question whether I was losing my mind how weird was
it that so many guys were dressed alike the cowboy I had seen on the road had now multiplied the men looked like a uniformed group on their way to the same Fair while I was thinking about that Uncle Josh was buying corn on the cob for us at a nearby stand he passed me one but I didn't pay much attention until I felt hot butter dripping down my arm let's go sit on that bench he said but I was lost in thought so I just nodded Jaden was chatting with one of the Cowboys not far
from the food stand and his side was a beautiful black horse looking like something out of an old western movie Jaden had always loved horses he dreamed of learning to ride one as they were talking he ended the conversation and started to walk away which made me realize that the cowboy I was talking to was the same one I had seen on the road at this I was startled and the ear of corn almost fell out of my hand I managed to catch it before it hit the ground but when I looked again the cowboy
had disappeared Jaden came over and sat down next to me his face was covered in butter and corn debris all over the place and he kept talking about the Cowboy and the horse he had seen at this Uncle Josh joined in and said to us you guys have been in the car for 2 days straight how about we stop in Santa Cruz tomorrow we can go to the beach and rent bikes I hear they have a boardwalk that's crazy what do you say that sounded great and even though I said yes my mind was still
focused on the cowboy suddenly I spotted the mystery Cowboy again standing near one of the log buildings I couldn't resist and walked cautiously toward him doubting if he would still be there when I arrived as I got closer my hands were shaking and finally I reached out to touch him but in that instant I realized it was just a sign I started laughing out loud oh my God I'm such an idiot what was I doing it was just a sign all those cowboys I saw on the road must have been part of the promotion for
this place what a fool I am suddenly I noticed that my uncle JH had a shocked expression on his face and was pointing toward the entrance of a log cabin inside there was a small Museum dedicated to the family that founded the town on the far wall was a mural and there he stood the same Cowboy he had seen along with his six Sons then Uncle Josh pointed to the picture of the Cowboy's wife I was in shock it was like seeing my own reflection the woman in the painting was identical to me but female
of course of course at that moment I looked toward the cabin door and saw the cowboy standing by the entrance with a gesture he tipped his hat and then disappeared I couldn't believe it I was paralyzed not knowing what to think about all this was this some kind of cosmic joke or something in that instant the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together this wasn't just strange there was something deeper I had to discover for the moment though all I knew was that this fair this place place and all this craziness Were Somehow connected
to my life questions swirled in my mind as I tried to figure out what it all meant and although that was not the time I am sure that someday I will manage to discover the truth behind this crazy mystery this vacation I had to spend an Extended Stay in an Airbnb while my house was being renovated honestly the place turned out to be a bit more expensive than I had planned so in the end I stayed in a rather nice condo that was a bit out of town it was part of a gated community that
had a pool a gym and a nice concentric Garden there were a few long-term residents but most of the neighbors were Airbnb renters like me after unpacking all my stuff I met my nextd door neighbors a young couple named Ethan and Lily they seemed nice at first but I really didn't feel much like making friends while I was there so we chatted for a while and then I decided to stay in my own space that night however I couldn't sleep I'm used to a hard mattress at home and the new bed was so soft it
felt like it swallowed me up I would fall asleep briefly but then wake up with intense pain in my lower back it was around midnight when I noticed a strange movement outside my window I peaked out and looked toward Ethan and Lily's house where I could clearly see their bedroom they had their curtains open and I saw them arguing loudly yes I know what they're thinking but as much as I knew it's not nice to pry into other people's business I had nothing better to do besides they couldn't see me but the more I looked
at them the more the conversation heated up now they seemed to be yelling at each other and waving their hands around a lot suddenly Lily pushed Ethan and he reacted by pushing her too my heart was beating fast as I got out of bed and ran to the window afraid that things would get more violent next door I needed to be prepared to call the police if necessary and things did indeed get out of hand I saw Ethan push Lily to the ground and after a tense moment she stood up holding a lamp against her
chest Ethan hurled a hurtful comment at her and to my horror Lily lashed out slamming the lamp against his head repeatedly and he fell to the ground immediately I couldn't move the shock was too strong I did not know what to do I knew I should hide and call the police but I had never witnessed anything like this before when Lily stood up she dropped the broken lamp on the floor and suddenly turned her gaze to me that's when I knew she had been looking at me she smiled at me and that broke the spell
of my shock quickly I grabbed my phone from my nightstand and called 911 and in less than 5 minutes a patrol car pulled into the driveway of my condo I ran to them with my heart in my hand and told them everything in one breath my heart still pounding the first officer wrote down what I told him while the second one looked toward the house next door nor did I have any doubts I was completely convinced that they were going to find a body and that Lily would be arrested for murdering her husband but just
as I finished my story the front door of the house opened and to my utter surprise Ethan came out alive and kicking he woke up as if nothing had happened and approached the policemen to ask them what was going on instantly Lily also appeared apologizing to the officers for wasting their time and suggesting that she had probably had a bad dream or something obviously the cops were not at all happy with me they pointed out to me that making false 911 calls is illegal and that I was lucky I wasn't arrested at that point they
then got into their p troll car and drove off once the three of us were alone Lily started laughing out loud it turns out that she and Ethan loved to play pranks on their neighbors for fun they would travel to different places and Stage morbid pranks like mock murders just to see how others would react then Ethan pulled out an empty packet of fake blood they had used while Lily continued to laugh non-stop but Ethan didn't seem to enjoy the prank as much as she did he was almost embarrassed by what they had done personally
I didn't see anything cute or funny about what they were doing in fact it seemed somewhat childish and irresponsible of them to do that sort of thing as they could get themselves or others into trouble without saying anything I went back to my condo and in the hours that followed I tried to forget about my strange neighbors and made an effort to go back to sleep it took me a while but I finally managed to fall asleep I would have slept through the night if it hadn't been for a loud creaking sound that woke me
up I opened my eyes and saw Ethan there at my window I opened my bedroom window and looked out I knew this all had to be another one of my demented neighbors pranks so I decided to confront Ethan directly what the hell are you doing I asked him reluctantly then he told me he was running away he had finished molesting his wife that night and just wanted me to help him hide until morning so Lily wouldn't find him no thanks I don't get into that I replied seriously Ethan looked disappointed so he decided to go
out the window again but just then a noise from next door made me pay attention oh no Lily's awake exclaimed Ethan and quickly went back to hide under the window she turned on the light and looked toward my room hey have you seen my husband she yelled please don't give me away Ethan whispered from the floor I almost did being honest but instead I managed to lie no he's not here she stared at me trying to figure out if she could trust me in the end she gave up and went back to her house why
don't you talk to your wife I asked Ethan I can't he mumbled she always makes these morbid jokes about killing me and at first it may seem funny but she said that if I ever leave her she'll really kill me Ethan's expression seemed genuine but I still had a suspicion that this was just another game of him and his crazy wife in the end I decided not to get involved any further and told him that once morning came I had to go settle his affairs with his wife if he tried to do anything I was
sure he might wake me up so I left him lying on my carpet with no blanket or pillow and closed my eyes Strangely I fell asleep instantly I wasn't awakened by anything for the rest of the night and until I finally opened my eyes with a loud bang it was Daylight and sunlight was streaming in through the window as I got up I saw Ethan's feet sticking out of the side of my bed so I knew he was still asleep on the floor the noise must have been someone else I stumbled toward the front door
where I had heard the sound and just as I got there the door burst open and a policeman rushed in pointing his gun at me hands up he shouted I threw my arms up confused I used to drop to the ground at those words but this time I did not the officer told me to stand there while he went into my room through the half openen door I heard him call for backup with my arm still up I peaked through the door and saw the cop Crouch down next to Ethan I froze Ethan had a
knife through his face this was no joke he was definitely dead I wondered how it had happened and even more how Lily had come without waking me the cop turned to me his face serious did you think you could cover Your Tracks by calling in a fake murder yesterday you knew this man was going to die I had no idea what to answer but at that moment I looked through the window looking outside there I saw Lily waiting next to another officer she was hugging him crying I didn't kill anyone I shouted but the policeman
didn't hear me he grabbed me and handcuffed me reading me my rights as he led me outside when I came out I saw Lily watching us she was still in her crying act but stopped for a second to wink at me it was her she killed him I shouted but the officer didn't believe me and pushed me into the backseat of the police car Lily came over letting the tears fall in an almost convincing Act I want to see him I need to confront him face to face she said the cop ignored her and she
leaned against the car window I'm sorry she whispered back this has nothing to do with you without further Ado she went back to the other cops and told them to take me away I was waiting on baale while they prepared me for trial now everyone thinks I'm guilty Lily had planted enough evidence to lock up my bones for a long time when my day in court finally comes I will have a chance to tell my side of the story and I pray that someone somewhere will decide that I will be heard the breeze on the
beach was intense liberating as if it was enveloping me in a wave of Freedom as I enjoyed the sunset I watched as the orange lines of the sun stretched into an infinite Sky the waves broke gently against the shore struggling not to get swept away but in the end they always returned to the Sea it was a fascinating sight to see how everything in the world seemed so free and harmonious I took a deep breath of fresh air it was the first time in weeks that I could inhale something that didn't smell of City smoke
and pollution just an hour ago I still had in my mind that trace of charcoal that had invaded my chest making me feel suffocated amidst the stress and monotonous routine of my life I rolled over in my recliner dropping onto my back and looked up at the sky as a sigh of relief escaped my lips the seab breeze was still caressing me and a sense of Peace enveloped me then I pressed my hands into the armchair which squeaked a little under my weight as my eyes closed and I let myself be lulled into a sense
of calm I felt so at ease that my stress was slowly fading away but suddenly a presence became apparent around around me I opened my eyes and saw a strange girl smiling a smile that looked a little fake honestly it wasn't that I found it threatening but I didn't feel the need to reciprocate either can I help you with anything I asked her as I tried to settle into my chair and keep my distance she tilted her head slightly with a look that tried to be friendly but failed her especially in her dull eyes you're
not alone here are you she said and I felt a twinge of discomfort for a moment I hesitated to answer I didn't like how his tone was so direct I don't think I should answer that I replied trying to sound soft sometimes I'd rather be alone she frowned looking at my face unable to hide her displeasure at my response I noticed that she had blue eyes that seemed to Stand Out Among her messy blonde hair which fell over her shoulders she was wearing a brown bikini that suited her given her tan but I didn't want
to dwell on that I didn't want to give her ideas James I think we've got one here she suddenly shouted breaking the tense atmosphere and gave me a mischievous look the air around us immediately cooled and my heart leapt as I looked back and noticed a guy approaching rapidly down the beach Panic swept over me at that moment and made me feel as if my life was flashing before my eyes [ __ ] I yelled to the girl as the man approached and without thinking I got up from the couch and followed my instinct I
lunged towards her and my feet went straight for her stomach with all my might the blow was so powerful that I felt as if my ankle was going to break adrenaline filled me and even though I felt a stabbing pain I kept going she screamed holding her abdomen and that gave me time to escape come here you little wret this James yelled but I didn't want to look back I knew I had to run as fast as I could my heart was pounding hard as I approached my car which felt farther and farther away I
let out a little silent prayer feeling the tears in my eyes begging to get to my car before he caught up to me it was my only chance I had a Glock always ready between the pedals and I knew it well I just needed to get there as I ran I felt his hot breath on my back hearing him approaching no please I shouted as I took the right direction with a careless motion I threw open the car door causing a thud to Echo in my ears christe he gasped as he pulled my hair I
struggled kicked bit and did everything I could to defend myself and pull out of his grip but it was a more difficult task than I can explain in a second I was already on the floor by the door struggling to take control and in a last desperate attempt I slid down and reached under the seat for the gun James at the time was so busy trying to restrain me that he didn't notice the gun right in front of us and when I found it I felt a shock as I held it in my hand I
knew what I had to do and even though Panic ran through me I did it get away from me I yelled pointing the Glock and pressed the trigger point blank into his chest the sound of The Gunshot echoed in my ears and I saw him fall to the ground struggling for breath and his face in disbelief in the midst of the chaos I realized that I had fired Ed again this time it was at the girl who had once again stuck her nose in the matter oh God I muttered as I picked myself up off
the ground horror filling every corner of my mind she was there lying on the ground and I couldn't process what had just happened I got out of the car with my heart still thuing in my chest as I looked at both James and the girl unable to believe I had Shot Hands shaking I tried to react I felt tears starting to well up but I couldn't afford to Flinch there was no turning back now I had crossed a line and I couldn't stay there so I got in the car and started the engine the roar
was like a cry for salvation I accelerated without looking back feeling the adrenaline still running through my body I had to get out of there away from that place where everything had become so dark and scary as I drove away images of what I had done began to plague my mind had I really shot him was it possible that it had gone to that extreme my hands were shaking on the steering wheel and I forced myself to take deep breaths trying to calm down I knew I couldn't think clearly and that I needed a plan
the beach the breeze the calm I had felt before all of that was gone replaced by the chaos I had created I headed towards the main road trying to continue on my way even as my mind screamed that I needed to do something that I couldn't just sit idly by I had to hide I didn't know how long it would be before the police arrived on the scene but I was sure it wouldn't be long I needed to get rid of the evidence up to that point I had only thought about my impulses and protecting
myself but now I was completely filled with panic I decided to take the car to a more remote area where I could hide I remembered an old shed that belonged to a family friend a place where I could reflect and try to understand what had happened when I got there I secured the car behind some bushes and got out Glock still in hand I looked around and the silence seemed deafening I entered the shed and closed the door behind me and took a deep breath trying to calm myself as I looked around the place was
cluttered and dusty but it was a temporary Sanctuary from the horror outside I sat on the floor the gun still firmly in my hand I didn't know how long long it would be before the police came looking for me and every second was filled with anxiety memories of the beach began to seep back into my mind the girl her strange sense of friendship the guy who seemed out of nowhere and then the rush of adrenaline and the Fateful decision it was too much what should I do I thought wrapping my arms around my knees I
couldn't stay there forever I had to get out but I had to be smart in the end and it all came down to a simple truth I had crossed a line that I couldn't undo however the phone rang in my pocket snapping me out of my thoughts I glanced at the screen and saw that it was a text message from an unknown number with my heart in my throat I opened it we're close don't move Panic filled me again I knew I couldn't stay there I had to escape gun in hand I stepped out of
the shed looking for a path that would take me away from the whole mess my legs kept moving and my mind was complicated with chaotic thoughts hell I had to get out of this nightmare so I jumped behind the brush trying to find my way back to the road without being seen every noise made me stop in my tracks every shadow seemed like a possible threat at the time I didn't know if more people were coming toward me or if it was simply the echo of my own fears but I knew that no matter what
I had to protect myself when I finally reached a side road exhaustion was beginning to take hold of me but the need to keep moving kept my feet moving I started running aimlessly but with terrifying Clarity I had crossed a line of no return and I could never look back when we entered the Bungalow that was to be our home for the next few weeks I was in awe it was small but very cozy full of bright colors everywhere in the middle of the king-size bed which was at least three times bigger than the one
we had at home was a bottle of champagne and a bucket this is going to be amazing I exclaimed as I jumped on the bed grinning like crazy Tomy followed me although he seemed a little uneasy are you okay love I asked still trying to get used to calling him that after 3 years of relationship he nodded but the little frown on his forehead told me something was bothering him this place is amazing I just don't know why it's so cheap you don't think there will be hidden fees or something he blurted out joking deep
down though he was right we really did get a fantastic Place almost for free according to the website it was because it was owned by a new hotel that needed more views and they were willing to lose some money to get it it all made sense I also remembered hearing an old story about the island and its Guardian but I couldn't remember the details let's not think about that now let's explore this place I said as I took him by the hand dragging him out into the heat of the tropics we were both dead tired
from the overnight trip but I was anxious to find out what we had gotten ourselves into it didn't take us long to find the main reception of the resort we were taken straight to our room from the car so that was our first impression it looks pretty empty we said in unison exchanging knowing Smiles I thought there would be more people I muttered then quickly corrected well at least we have plenty of room for us I'll bet we don't need to stand in lines to eat or drink Tomy smiled at me though he still looked
a little nervous this was our first luxury vacation together so we both wanted everything to be perfect being alone wasn't a problem but somehow it was weird oh excuse me a girl who worked there interrupted me her name was Rebecca she was a receptionist and she almost bumped into us when she appeared out of nowhere I couldn't help but take a step back wondering how long we had been standing around like two fools gee I didn't see you I apologized and watched Tomy get more nervous at being so close I quickly grabbed his hand and
gave it a gentle squeeze I knew he could sometimes feel anxious around new people and I couldn't blame him for that don't worry sorry if it's so quiet Rebecca said in a voice that sounded like a learned script we're expecting a large group of guests soon so most of the rooms will be filled for now you can explore the resort at your own pace whether we have two guests or 200 the facilities are always open I couldn't complain too much about his attitude I could tell English wasn't his first language or maybe it was but
I admired his ability to smile even after scaring us do you have any recommendations on where we should go I asked after a brief pause averting my eyes to the Gody Decor of the place some parts of the hotel looked more like a church or a temple with weird paintings that I'd swear depicted Saints not just random people but who was I to judge their style I just wanted to enjoy myself since you're alone now why didn't you take a look at the water you can rent equipment here here whatever you need oh and of
course you also have to try the restaurants he suggested as he smiled at me with a sense of adventure and curiosity we decided to walk around and discover all that this place had to offer the vacation was just beginning and although Rebecca's presence was still fresh in our minds the excitement for what was to come filled us with energy did I just hear someone mention the Japanese restaurant I said to Tomy in a joking tone he smiled and we it over there everything I tasted was delicious I nodded as I remembered the deliciousness of the
food I loved being treated so well but there was something about Rebecca's behavior that struck me as odd she was fidgeting back and forth like she was uncomfortable I don't know maybe it was the heat let's go explore the beach after a quick bite I said to Tomy as he let me go right after Rebecca said goodbye with a huge smile and a few words about enjoying herself to the full fullest he whispered in my ear what's up with this woman that was weird I just Shrugged and told her not to pay too much attention
to her maybe she was one of those weird people but we had come to that place to enjoy ourselves and that was just what we would do as we made our way to one of the bars that supposedly had snacks I had a map that we found in our room so even though it wasn't crowded it was easy to get our bearings I think you're just overreacting I replied it's a new hotel and Rebecca even come commented that they're preparing for a large group but just as I was about to continue talking a strange noise
interrupted me it was a low raspy growl which left me confused I turned around looking for the source of the sound but saw nothing what was that I asked feeling toy tense up more as he bit his lip he moved a little closer to me and his hand felt warm but it trembled it's probably just a weird radio noise or something I tried to suo him though I wasn't sure myself it was weird after all I just want to see the beach first I'm sure we can stop at the beach bar and order some fries
I suggested but before I could continue Tomy started dragging me away I felt bad about how scared he was but there wasn't much I could do I felt just as uneasy however I knew I had to be strong for him to calm down the beach was just as quiet as the rest of the place even the sound of the Waves crashing on the shore wasn't normal everything sounded muffled as if I had cotton balls in my ears Tommy looked around with a strange expression and although the beach was supposed to represent peace and Beauty at
that moment it felt Eerie it was as if the wind was screaming this place is weird Tomy muttered backing up a couple of steps I rolled my eyes thinking he was dramatizing in come on we know that's not true I replied but before I could add anything else an intense pain shot through my head and my vision went black when I regained Consciousness I found myself kneeling in the shallow water my hands and feet bound where was Tomy I looked around in panic realizing that he was nowhere to be found the situation seemed surreal and
terrifying at the same time what was going on this was not the beginning of the vacation we had hoped for desperately I tried to remember how I had gotten there and with my heart beating a mile a minute straining my senses to find some clue the faint sound of the surf seemed distant and now here I was trying to make sense of the chaos that ensued the beach which had promised to be a paradise a place of rest and fun for us was now a place of Anguish I had to find Tomy I needed to
free free myself and get out of this nightmare I took a deep breath to calm myself and the smell of salt peter mingled with the fear pounding in my chest Tomy I shouted but the echo of my voice was drowned in the murmur of the sea the absence of answers increased my Panic so I crawled toward the shore trying to wear down the ropes that held me prisoner suddenly through the foam of the Waves I saw movement a shadow appearing in the distance and my heart raced with hope Tomy I cried out again but the
figure was still advancing toward me with terrifying calm it was Rebecca but she didn't have the friendly smile of before now her face looked pale and rigid and in her eyes there was a disturbing intensity you've arrived just in time for the ritual she said in a voice that seemed to Echo off the ocean Shivers ran through my body the ritual I asked trying to understand as Panic gripped me she nodded slowly arms outstretched as if summoning something we must make a sacrifice to awaken the guardian of the island you and Tomy are the guests
of honor she said in sarcastic mode Terror paralyzed me and I wondered what it was I had heard in that rumor I forgot no please I pleaded but she continued oblivious to my plea but just when I I thought all was lost I heard a scream leave her alone Tomy appeared from behind a clump of trees and with a determined attitude ran to where I was and released me with a tug Rebecca appeared surprised to see him and the adrenaline gave me the strength to run to him together we headed into the jungle with Rebecca
at our heels the density of the vegetation became our Ally at that moment and we hid among some dry logs trying to lose Rebecca as we were catching our breath we heard The Whispers of what seemed to be a strange song it sounded distant as if it was more like an echo rather what do we do asked Tomy looking nervously at me we need to get out of here find a boat or some way to escape I replied feeling time running out several hours passed and the night caught up with us we were completely desperate
and had no idea how we would get out of that place but we didn't dare to take a step knowing that Rebecca and the group of crazies that surely accompanied her could be out there lurking suddenly we heard a noise that sounded familiar it was the sound of a boat engine that seemed to be approaching the beach tamilo and I looked at each other knowing that this could be our chance to escape that is if it wasn't another crazy person from the sect or whatever was in that place knowing that we couldn't stay hidden forever
Tomy and I decided to go out and take a chance when we arrived we realized that it was a fisherman and without hesitation we told the man everything and asked for his help to get out of that place to my surprise he didn't look surprised he just pursed his lips and shook his head from side to side in disapproval of what we were telling him as if he already knew but didn't approve of it at all that was a good sign the man who was an older person motioned for us to get into his boat
and immediately took us off the island and into Porto there we called the police and told them everything that had happened they sent some units to the place but to our surprise they found nothing strange nor any evidence of what we had told them so they just brought our things back and finally we were able to return home but to this day it is a complete Enigma what happened in that place and the secrets that are hidden in that Island I was investigating about rituals or Cults in the area but I found absolutely nothing only
some report of people who drowned in those Waters but in all of them it had been decreed as an accidental death however having lived what I lived I knew that most probably those deaths were not accidental but I did not want to get more involved in the matter I just wanted to resume my life and leave that bitter experience behind as it is logical to think we never went back to that island and every time we take a vacation we feel a little emptiness in our stomach when when we remember what happened to us that
time family vacations have always been our tradition normally it was my wife our two children and myself but this year we decided to take our dog Max because no one could take care of him at first I was hesitant to take him I was afraid the trip would cause him anxiety however I never imagined that without him I would have missed out on the impending dangers that lay in wait for us the first day at the beach house we had rented the kids were hyperactive running along the shore and making sand castles while my wife
and I enjoyed the sun keeping an eye on Max as he splashed in the waves everything at first was perfect but as the days went by a strange feeling began to come over me I don't know how to explain it but it was as if someone was was watching us all the time I didn't know exactly when it started but that feeling intensified with each passing hour I convinced myself that I was crazy as my family seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it so I decided not to say anything one night I decided to take a
walk the children and my wife were sound asleep in the house and I felt exhausted the streets were dark and to my surprise deserted the place felt strange to me suddenly I felt that haunting Gaze on me again I looked around but no one was there that's when I decided to turn around I didn't want to be there a second longer but suddenly Max stopped dead in his tracks his ears perked up and he began to growl in a way I had never heard from him before his body tensed staring into the darkness around us
and my heart began to pound if I was already paranoid before this didn't help matters what's wrong with you boy I asked trying to calm him down as I petted him but it didn't work Max went crazy barking and trying to escape from his leash finally he broke free and ran off into the darkness at that point I didn't care that I was being watched I just felt we had to get away from whatever was making Max behave like that if you have a dog you know they can spot danger long before you can so
I ran after him at full speed as his bark echoed in the night I didn't know where we were going and I was worried about falling behind and losing him fortunately I managed to catch up with him just when he had run a block and a half and stopped we were both tired but Max was barking and looking down a dark alley but when I looked over there I saw something that made my blood run cold a dark shadow-like figure was watching us I was so scared at that moment my body froze the figure had
blurry features but it was obvious that it was stalking us I tried to convince myself that it was just a homeless person or some teenagers but its gaze was fixed on me and showed no fear maybe it was the paranoia of the moment but I really felt a heavy pressure in the air as if I were an animal trapped in front of a hunter suddenly the figure moved quickly toward us and my heart skipped a beat I grabbed Max by the collar and ran back toward the beach house feeling the adrenaline rush through my entire
body I realized I wasn't going to make it home in time so I opted to take refuge in a nearby public restroom my hands were shaking as I entered and reached for my phone to call the police but at that moment my blood froze no no no no where's my phone after a couple of minutes of desperate searching I realized that I had probably dropped it while running I left the house wearing shorts with roomy Pockets but no zipper and I thought my phone might have fallen out because of that but now it didn't matter
on the other side of the door I heard banging and realized the stalker was trying to to get in Max was as scared as I was Max barked nervously as the tension grew but after a while he ducked down and stayed hidden by the bathroom the night dragged on and my fear only increased with each passing second after several minutes of silence the knocking on the door stopped but every now and then I could see a shadow move behind it it could be others passing by or it could be the stalker but I wanted to
risk finding out finally exhausted question and stress got the better of me and I fell into a deep sleep when I awoke the bathroom light illuminated everything and the door had burst open my heart raced faster than ever because to my horror I realized that Max was no longer beside me Max where are you I cried out feeling a shiver run across my skin hearing the echo of a laugh ringing in my ears but in a moment I understood that the laughter wasn't coming from outside the bathroom that laugh after it was right next to
me the light coming in from outside was bright enough that I could see someone in a corner near the door his face was a shadow his smile was maob and his yellow eyes were staring at me the guy who had been stalking me was one step away from me now desperate I ran for the bathroom door but before I could open it a cold firm hand caught me by the shoulder I turned and before I could react a force pushed me back sending me crashing to the floor the guy was still laughing like a madman
and his laughter echoed in my ears but I quickly got up and ran out of the bathroom the stalker didn't try to stop me he just kept laughing I ran toward the house feeling that the danger was gone as I saw no one behind me but I didn't stop I finally reached the beach house where my family slept and as I entered still with my heart pounding I saw Max there safe and sound as if he knew he had to wait for me I called the police and told them everything that had happened to me
when they arrived they found no trace of the guy who had been following me but they did recover my phone that had fallen to the ground the screen was broken but it still turned on just in time to show a video of Max barking at the stalker I kept watching the video trying to understand what had happened that night despite everything I tried not to let those memories affect me but every time I thought about an upcoming vacation I found EXC excuses to take my family somewhere else every night as I lay next to my
wife I couldn't help it I thought about the cold rubbing and what might have happened if he had wanted me not to get out of that bathroom the only reason I'm here is because he decided he should stay alive and next time if something like this happens again I don't know if I'll have the same luck
