The scenery of the little town of Kangsili was almost dreamlike, the kind of place that looked like it had been painted straight from a storybook. Rolling green fields stretched into the distance, the crops already harvested, leaving behind the fresh color of reborn grass. The roads, pale and sun-bleached, glistened as though baked under a celestial oven. Trees grew in lush clusters, tall and proud, their deep green leaves casting patches of shade across the golden meadows.
The wide river that cut through the valley shimmered like polished glass. It reflected the distant green mountains and cloudless blue sky, a flawless mirror of everything around it. It was this picturesque setting that the school had chosen for its summer camp, and even the most skeptical parents had to admit—it was perfect.
Of course, expensive things always had a catch. That was true here too. While only fifty students and parents had signed up for the program, the school had committed enormous resources: more than sixty teachers, staff, and hired security personnel were dispatched, along with four full-sized buses to carry everyone.
The camp theme was adventure, the school's chosen style this year. There were many kinds of summer camps—residential camps, day programs, themed half-day camps, academic sessions—but this one was special. Parents and children were asked to work together, trekking through forests, learning survival skills, and bonding in a way that city life rarely allowed. It was both recreational and educational, and after the first two days even the strictest parents admitted that the planning was excellent.
The countryside, so different from the suffocating rhythm of the city, brought them a strange comfort. The air itself felt easier to breathe, and the silence carried not boredom but peace.
---
The Camp Begins
On the second day, Angie received a reminder card from one of the supervising teachers. She was assigned to take her younger sister, little Sally, along with their two pets—a massive golden retriever named Cosmo and an elegant blue cat—out to the forested hills a few kilometers away.
Families pitched their tents along the banks of a small lake. Children ran in teams through the meadows, laughing as they played games under the supervision of several mothers. The fathers were busy with the less glamorous work—hammering down tent stakes, arranging gear, and some already setting up campfires to prepare lunch.
The air was alive with chatter, laughter, and the occasional bark of a dog. For a while, the atmosphere was one of perfect harmony.
Yet Angie noticed something strange. Her little sister Sally wasn't joining the other children. Instead, she sat quietly, turning her head often, her jewel-like eyes fixed on the mountains looming in the distance.
Curious, Angie walked over and crouched down, gently adjusting Sally's outdoor jacket.
"What's wrong, Sally? Why don't you go play with Angela and the others? Feeling sick?"
The little girl hesitated, then shook her head quickly.
"It's okay, sister."
Angie smiled warmly and brushed her sister's hair back.
"Alright then. But if you feel uncomfortable, you tell me right away. I'll be sorting the bedding inside the tent, so stay close and don't wander off, okay?"
Sally nodded obediently. As Angie disappeared into the tent, Sally sat on a low rock by the lakeside, holding Cosmo close. The big retriever licked her cheek while she whispered to him in secret tones. The blue cat circled gracefully, pausing now and then to watch the girl and the dog with its sharp, curious eyes.
The day's schedule unfolded slowly, filled with hikes, games, and shared meals. But as evening fell, something shifted. Dark clouds rolled across the sky, hiding the stars. The cheerful warmth of the campfire faded into an uneasy stillness.
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A Midnight Decision
When night finally settled, the camp lay silent. Children and parents, exhausted from the day's activities, sank into deep sleep.
But inside Angie's tent, a petite shadow stirred. Sally slipped out quietly, glancing back at her sister who was still fast asleep. Letting out a soft sigh of relief, she signaled to Cosmo. The golden retriever padded after her, tail wagging but ears alert.
Together, girl and dog crept into the dark forest.
"Danger…" Sally whispered to herself. "I can feel it. Sister Bella said I must protect Sister Angie. If something bad is coming, I can't just sit here."
Cosmo tilted his head, whining softly, as though urging her to stay.
"It'll be fine," Sally reassured him. "You're with me. You'll protect me."
The dog barked once, as if agreeing. Sally giggled, climbing onto his back. "Alright then—let's go."
Under the moonless sky, the golden retriever dashed into the wilderness, carrying the small but determined figure on his back.
---
Elsewhere in the Forest…
Thirty kilometers away, the peace of the forest shattered with a scream of terror.
"Damn it! Where are we?!"
Five figures stumbled through the trees: three men and two women. Their clothes were torn, their skin scratched raw by branches, but they didn't stop. Panic was etched across their faces.
"Billy and Mike… they're gone," one of the women cried. "Those things killed them—we'll be next!"
But there was no escape. Within moments, shadows closed in around them. Dozens of grotesque monsters emerged from the trees, carrying chainsaws, rusted machetes, and jagged blades. Some looked human once, but their rotting flesh and blood-red eyes marked them as something else—something undead.
One of the women, blonde hair matted with dirt, collapsed to the ground and sobbed, completely broken. The others tried to fight, their weapons shaking in trembling hands.
"Go to hell, you monsters!" one of the men roared, firing his gun at the nearest figure. But the bullets might as well have been pebbles. The monster didn't even flinch.
The attack was swift and merciless. Screams tore through the night as the five were cut down, their blood soaking into the forest soil. In minutes, the clearing was silent again.
Yet the horror wasn't over. Something impossible happened. The corpses and blood began to sink into the ground, as if the earth itself was hungry, swallowing them whole. Within seconds, nothing remained but tattered, blood-stained clothing.
The monsters dropped their weapons and knelt as one. Their claws pressed against their chests, their hideous faces softening into expressions of reverence. They weren't celebrating the slaughter—they were praying.
---
The Encounter
Rustling echoed in the trees. The monsters turned their heads.
From the shadows stepped Cosmo, fur bristling, lips curled back to reveal his sharp teeth. His growl rumbled like thunder. On his back, Sally sat upright, her eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light.
The grotesque creatures snarled, but none advanced. They could sense something different in this child.
Sally wrinkled her nose. The stench of rotting flesh and blood was suffocating.
"Ugh… it smells so bad."
But she didn't tremble. She had seen far worse. With Bella as her guardian, Sally had already looked demons in the eye. These were nothing compared to that.
Her jewel-bright eyes flashed. A faint red glow shimmered within them.
Suddenly, an invisible wave of energy exploded outward, sweeping across the clearing like a storm. Leaves trembled, the air itself seemed to vibrate, and the monsters froze in place.
For the first time, fear flickered in their crimson eyes.
Sally sat straight on Cosmo's back, her small hand resting on his neck.
"I don't care what you are. If you threaten my sister… I'll stop you."
The night had changed. What began as a peaceful summer camp was now spiraling into something darker, something the families back in town could never imagine.
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