---
The moment the signal died, I knew coming into this forest was the biggest mistake.
"Just a short hike," my family said.
Now it's 7 PM. The trail is gone. Every tree looks the same.
"Am I losing it?" I asked myself.
An answer came. But it wasn't human.
_Creeek... creeek..._
Someone was walking between the trees. Like a knife being dragged against bark.
I turned around.
A tall guy. Pale face. A scar across his lips like a cut grin. His eyes gleamed like a madman's. In his hand, a knife.
_Jeff the Killer._
"Stop," he said. Voice low, flat.
My legs went numb.
"I... I'm lost. Please let me go."
Jeff stepped closer. He raised the knife to my cheek.
"You shouldn't be here. No one should."
"Everyone who comes here screams."
I shut my eyes. I thought it was over.
A second passed. Then two.
No pain.
When I opened my eyes, the knife had stopped right by my ear. Jeff was staring at me. Confused, almost.
"Why aren't you scared?" he murmured.
"They all scream. You're weird."
"I _am_ scared!" I shouted.
"But I need to get out of here!"
Jeff watched me for a moment. Then he stepped back.
"Run then. Let's see how far you get."
I ran.
---
I slammed into trees, leapt over bushes, running until I heard a crazy, high-pitched laugh behind me.
_Ticci Toby._
He jumped in front of me, spinning his knife.
"Jeff left you alive? Boring. I'll finish it."
I backed away.
"Stay away from me!"
Toby laughed.
"Make me."
He stepped forward, stopped, stepped forward again. Like it was a game.
"Run! Run faster! I love the sound!"
I screamed and darted to the side, running again.
Toby followed, laughing. But he wasn't actually attacking.
"Jeff's gonna be mad I played with his toy first!" he yelled.
"Don't die yet! I'm not done!"
My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.
These guys were insane. Both of them wanted to kill me.
Right then, I crashed into a tree and fell to the ground.
Toby leaned over me.
"Gotcha."
He raised his knife...
"HEY!"
A shout from behind the trees.
Toby turned. Jeff was running toward us.
"Get away from her!" Jeff roared.
Toby laughed.
"Aw, our psycho's jealous. You want her for yourself?"
Jeff stopped between me and Toby.
"She's not a toy. Back off."
Toby spun his knife and pointed it at Jeff.
"Make me, freak."
Jeff's grip tightened on his knife.
The two stared at each other. The air felt like it was sparking.
I sat on the ground, watching. They'd already forgotten about me.
"Enough."
Another voice.
A tall, skinny guy in black. Pale face. No eyes—just empty sockets. Blood dripped from the knife in his hand.
_Eyeless Jack._
He stepped between Toby and Jeff.
"You're loud. He'll hear you."
Before Toby could ask "Who?",
The entire forest went silent.
Black shadows stretched down from the trees. Too tall. Not human shaped.
_Slenderman._
He didn't speak. He didn't need to. Everyone felt it.
_Don't let her leave. Catch her._
Jack's empty eye sockets turned toward me.
"She's marked now," he whispered.
Jeff looked at Toby.
"Truss. She runs, we chase."
Toby licked his knife.
"Finally. The fun part."
Slenderman vanished. But the pressure in the air stayed.
Jack took one step toward me.
"You can't outrun the forest."
Jeff grabbed my hand. It was cold.
"Run with me. Now."
Toby shouted from behind:
"Last one to catch her buys the drinks!"
I realized.
They weren't trying to kill me.
They were trying to hold me.
I broke free from Jeff's grip and ran.
Three sets of footsteps behind me.
_Creeek... creeek..._
"She's fast!"
"Get back here!"
The deeper I ran, the thicker the trees got. No path. No compass.
But from every direction, it sounded like they were calling my name.
[Your Name]... [Your Name]...
Jack's voice.
Jeff's voice.
Toby's laugh.
I turned around.
All three of them.
All three smiling.
The hunt had begun.
---
