[Greeting people ! , english isn't my first language. I have used a translator and some personal assistance to write this story, so I apologize for any mistakes. I hope no one feels offended or sensitive about any cultural references, as this story is entirely fictional and created for imagination and adventure and I don't mean anything bad to anyone. I hope you all enjoy it 🩷.]
No city, no school, no shared timeline had
woven the lives of these five girls together. It was a strange digital coincidence, a chat group created by accident on an otherwise ordinary evening.
At first, it was nothing but fleeting jokes, late-night venting, laughter spilling over sleepy hours, and the quiet comfort of knowing someone was listening. But slowly, the screen became a sanctuary—a small world of safety, where joy, exhaustion, and ordinary days alike could be shared without fear.
⸻
One long, restless night, as their conversation meandered into the early hours, a daring thought surfaced—dismissed at first:
"What if we actually met?"
They laughed, light and nervous, and then the laughter softened into discussion. Discussion bloomed into a plan, and the plan became a fragile, glimmering dream.
Four months of persuasion, hesitation, excitement, and fear passed before the dream could solidify. Before the holiday ended, they would step into a new world together—not seeking bravery, but chasing curiosity, craving the raw, unfiltered thrill of seeing the world as one.
The bus hummed along the winding road, swaying gently as it carried the five girls through misty landscapes that blurred between shades of gray and green. Inside, the air was warm, tinged with the faint scent of snacks—crisp chips, sweet chocolate, and the lingering aroma of coffee from a thermos Mika had brought along. Laughter bounced off the walls as Bellara sprawled in her seat, hair tousled and eyes sparkling, recounting the latest mishap at the airport with her usual dramatic flair.
"…and then, the guard actually asked me to open my bag again for the 5 time ! Can you believe it? I was so ready to cry !.
I thought you all left me alone and go to the airplane without me!!.." she said, wide-eyed, waving her hands in exasperation.
Vincy rolled her eyes mockingly "You make it sound so dramatic. The guard was probably just doing his job . But I admit, I'd have panicked too," she said, her chocolate-brown hair catching the sunlight in messy, elegant waves.
Aurethia smirked, black hair glinting like polished obsidian, her voice calm yet teasing. "Believe me 99,9% bella was the one who made herself suspicious " she said while laughing
Bellara eyes widened and yelled
"What what what??!!...now why the blame on me..? not fair.!!..."
Mika, adjusting her round golden glasses, smiled softly from the corner, her light brown hair falling gently over her shoulders. "It's funny how you all can turn anything small into …big stupid conversation...but I like it haha..Makes the journey feel alive."
Seravina, seated stiffly with her golden-blonde waves falling perfectly over her shoulder, glanced at the window with a faint grimace. She wrinkled her nose slightly at the snacks littering the seat beside Bellara. Amateurs, letting her eyes scan the trees rushing past, clearly disinterested in the chaos.
Hours passed in laughter, teasing, playful bickering, and tiny competitions over snacks and seats. Bellara and Vincy whispered jokes to each other, barely able to contain their giggles, while Aurethia chimed in with sarcastic quips that left Mika covering her mouth to hide her chuckles.
Seravina pretended ignorance when the others did something embarrassing—her gaze skimmed them as if they were invisible, a queen surveying unworthy court jesters.
Outside, the landscape shifted: hills rolled into forests thick with mist, occasional farmhouses puffing smoke from chimneys, and winding streams glimmering in the sunlight. The bus slowed along a narrow dirt road, the world fading into green and silver fog.
Then the village appeared.
Suddenly, like a painting come to life, wooden houses lined in perfect symmetry rose from the fog. Windows flung open, yellow lanterns swaying in gentle rhythm. Children darted barefoot through the streets, squealing and laughing. Villagers carried fresh bread, bundles of vegetables, or tools from their morning work, greeting neighbors in calm, melodic voices.
The girls' chatter quieted instinctively. Bellara's mouth opened, then closed. "It… it's like stepping into another world.!!" she raised her voice happily
Mika's gaze roamed the village, taking in the intricate patterns of life unfolding before them. "So… peaceful. Almost unreal," she murmured.
Seravina's eyes flicked over the streets.
She wrinkled her nose, watching children play in dust and mud. I cannot believe I have to be near this, she thought, shifting her posture in mild discomfort.
Vincy leaned forward, laughing softly at Bellara tripping over a stray basket. Aurethia joined in, her smirk broadening, tossing sarcastic comments that made Bellara squeal in mock outrage. The three of them—lively, mischievous, untouchable—radiated light, undeterred by any onlooker.
The bus rolled to a stop near the center of the village. Villagers approached naturally, smiling and nodding as if the girls' arrival was inevitable. They asked no questions. Their eyes held no surprise. Just calm expectation.
An elderly woman approached Seravina, holding her hand briefly, inspecting her with a gaze that felt both piercing and serene. "Guests always arrive at the right time," she said softly.
The girls exchanged glances, hearts fluttering with a mix of awe and curiosity. Life in the village moved in quiet rhythm, a snapshot of everyday simplicity that still seemed slightly… unreal.
⸻
Needing a moment away from the bus, the girls wandered toward an abandoned cabin on the forest's edge—a quiet, neutral space. Seravina wrinkled her nose in disgust, muttering to herself about the low standards and crude state of the cabin. "Seriously… this is the place?" she murmured, shaking her head but following anyway.
The rest of the girls found it a welcome respite. Bellara flopped onto a fallen log, Vincy leaned against a tree, Aurethia perched gracefully on a rock nearby, laughing at some small, ridiculous joke that had Bellara nearly choking on her laughter. Mika sat a little apart, observing quietly, her hands folded gently in her lap, soaking in the forest's whispers.
From behind the trees, the girls watched villagers perform their mundane routines: a man tilled the soil, women laid out clothes to dry, children chased one another through the grass. The girls whispered and giggled, Bellara and Vincy throwing playful jabs at Aurethia, who returned with her clever, biting humor. Mika occasionally peeked over, smile faint, her voice soft as she chimed in to tease lightly.
Seravina, ever vigilant, maintained her act of indifference when the others went too far, pretending not to know the "idiots" they sometimes became in their own bubble of laughter.
But the village held secrets in its quiet harmony. Branches whispered, lanterns swayed as if alive, and shadows lengthened unnaturally as the sun dipped lower. The girls, even in their laughter, felt a thrill of anticipation—as though the peaceful façade could shatter at any moment.
⸻
When night fell, the girls' curiosity led them to explore further. They wandered quietly through the narrow lanes, taking in the scene: the smell of baked bread, the chatter of villagers, children tucked into beds, and faint lights glowing through windows. Every detail was vivid. Every movement felt… deliberate, watched.
Then, through a break in the trees, they saw strange signs—symbols carved on wooden posts, faint and worn by time. Aurethia's eyes narrowed, sharp and calculating. "Not just decoration," she murmured. Bellara raised her camera to snap a picture, only for the device to die in her hands. Vincy stepped closer, intrigued, a smile playing on her lips. Mika's gentle hands brushed over the carvings, tracing the curves, feeling the history.
Seravina, standing back, observed silently. She wrinkled her nose slightly again, muttering under her breath about the oddity of it all, but kept her composure, watching the others with cool detachment.
The girls, despite their laughter and light-hearted teasing, felt the first stirrings of unease. Something about the village's perfection, its rhythm, and the strange symbols hinted at more than simple serenity.
And yet, in that moment, with moonlight spilling over lanterns and leaves whispering in the night breeze, they were alive, together, unafraid—just on the cusp of adventure.
Vincy and Mika slipped quietly from the cabin, feet crunching softly on the forest floor, careful not to alert the others. Vincy's laughter had faded, replaced by a gleam of mischievous curiosity.
They followed the sound quietly together out of curiosity
The village beyond the trees appeared peaceful at first. Lanterns swayed lazily, smoke curling from chimneys, and the occasional whisper of footsteps on cobblestones was the only sound. But as they crept closer, subtle movements caught their attention—strange, almost ritualistic gestures performed by villagers who should have been asleep.
Near the edge of the village square, Mika's breath caught. Shadows danced unnaturally around a fire pit. A group of villagers, their faces masked by the flickering light, moved in patterns both precise and unsettling. They beat drums that pulsed with low, resonant vibrations, making the girls' bones tremble.
Vincy's wide eyes sparkled—not with fear, but excitement. She whispered, barely audible:
"Do you see that? This… this is insane."
Mika shook her head slightly, fingers tightening around the shirt of vincy. Her voice was a soft murmur. "It's… horrifying vincy !...… what are they doing?!"
The ritual unfolded in terrifying complexity:
Some villagers bound others with thick ropes, their movements jerky and unnatural.
Flames leapt from carefully arranged braziers, casting grotesque shadows across the walls of nearby houses.
Others danced in wide, circular patterns around the fire, chanting in a rhythm that vibrated through the earth.
The girls crouched behind a stack of barrels, leaves brushing their cheeks, hearts hammering. Vincy's grin was fearless, almost defiant, as she whispered jokes about the villagers' clumsy choreography—but Mika's wide eyes never left the scene, taking in every detail, noting each gesture, each symbol painted on wooden posts surrounding the square.
A sudden cry split the night air, sharp and unearthly. A man—barely restrained—struggled in the center of the circle, face pale under the firelight. A child shrieked and darted away, only to be gently corralled back by a the villagers who was screaming
"The demons deserve to die!"
Mika pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the rapid fluttering of her heart. "Vincy… we have to do something!!… we can't just watch—"
But Vincy tugged her by the sleeve, eyes alight. "Shhh shut up!..do you see that?? Do you think we have superpower here?..we need to leave...RIGHT NOW." Her tone was strict enough to make mika follow her quickly
They crawled closer along the shadowed edge of the square. Each step was a careful negotiation with branches, uneven stones, and the occasional stray animal startled by their presence. They recorded small moments in memory in secret , careful to avoid attracting attention.
Meanwhile, in the cabin, Bellara and Aurethia could hear faint echoes of laughter—light, teasing—but mixed with tension that only heightened the thrill. Seravina, squinted toward the flickering lights of the village. Her nose wrinkled, part disgusted at the messy chaos.
"I can't handle this ugly village...why didn't go by the airplane again.?"
Bellara looked back with a smirk
"So we can enjoy this trip~!
And i don't want to :3"
Seravina closed her eyes so she can handle her own emotions and don't blow up.
Back at the square, the ritual reached a fevered pitch: firelight leapt high, shadows twisting across faces painted in intricate patterns. A sudden hush fell, and the masked villagers raised their arms, chanting in a guttural, resonant tone that seemed to pull the very air taut. Vincy stifled a shiver while Mika's hands trembled slightly as she held her camera, snapping only when movement allowed her to remain unseen.
After what felt like hours compressed into minutes, the villagers gradually retreated, leaving the square in an eerie, silent stillness. The fire smoldered, shadows danced weakly on the walls, and the girls exhaled, letting the tension roll off their shoulders.
Mika whispered, voice trembling "We… we saw enough. I think… we need to tell the others."
Vincy's eyes were moving around while talking. "Yeah…i hope they didn't get eaten yet.."
When they returned to the cabin, the others waited, their laughter now tempered with curiosity. Bellara's black waves fell across her face as she grinned. "So? Did you find anything… exciting?"
Vincy said quickly as she entered the cabin . "You have no idea !!… the village?? isn't as peaceful as it seems!!.right ?? " She looked at Mika and the smaller girl nodded, still catching her breath.
Seravina's lips curled in a faint, dry smile."Yes, fascinating. And disgusting." She turned her gaze deliberately elsewhere, pretending ignorance as the others shared details
The conversation quickly shifted from horror to strategy. The girls realized that staying another night meant risking more than just fear. They needed a plan, a way out before the village—or its inhabitants—claimed them further.
Bellara's voice broke the silence, sharp and decisive:
"We can't stay here. We need to move. But there's no transport—no car, nothing. Unless…"
Vincy's grin widened, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Unless we take one ourselves. There's a bus… or maybe one of the trucks. They won't notice until morning."
Mika's voice whispered from the corner, hesitant but hopeful: "We… we could actually do that? But the bus we came with left."
Aurethia's dark eyes gleamed. "We have to. It's the only way!...and i will drive, I know enough"
The decision was made. Their hearts thumped in unison, a combination of fear, adrenaline, and the thrill of impending escape. Outside, the night held its breath as the girls prepared, each movement deliberate, each glance measured. The village behind them glimmered softly under lantern light, unaware that its mysterious visitors were about to vanish into the darknesszz