This story is dedicated to my very good friends here on 3DSi Paint. I'm very lucky to be in this loving community. You guys helped me when I needed help, You guys listened to me when I was stressed. I know I've been here for only over a month but, this is the closest I've ever felt home...Thank you.

(p.s. I've added characters inspired by people here on paint. try guessing who is who, even though I think it's obvious. BUT as I said it's an "inspiration" I clearly do not know your guys personality and how you guys will react to things so please don't take this personally.)
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"You think this is the right place?" I shrugged, hugging myself.

We were in a forest that was quiet and still. A thick fog hung in the air, making everything look soft and blurry. The trees stood silently , their tops disappearing into the mist. The ground was damp and slippery, and the air was cool and fresh. the first light of dawn began to creep in, the fog glowing faintly.

"I am old enough to know my sense of path, thank you." Chloe exclaimed."there is no way I'm getting lost. Trust me,"

Chloe was 17, a year older than me. She had wavy red hair that she tied in a messy ponytail. Over her white tank top she wore a denim jacket. The way she walked and chewed on her bubblegum radiated confidence. She walked with the grace of someone who had spent years balancing books on her head, her chin always held high, her stride measured and precise.

I followed her through the shallow forest. Shivers ran down my spine.

How can she be so calm? We were heading to a rusty old house. Not just any old house, a haunted one. Rumors say that whoever steps in never comes out alive. We didn't believe it at first, of course, untill the disappearance of Jax's sister, Jade.

Jade disappeared a week ago, she was just twelve. She used to complain every night that she could hear noises coming from the forest, where the haunted house was located, near their home. Jax ignored it, thinking she was just teasing him for halloween untill one night she disappeared into the depths of the darkness.

"You okay, Freya?" a voice blurted out behind me.

"OH MY-" i turned seeing Ethan close to my face, I felt my face turning as red as a tomato.

"Can you not scare me like that?!"

"Ah," He smirked, "I knew you guys were up to something so I came by,"

Ethan had brown hair and his eyes were pale green, like new leaves in spring, always watching, always calculating.. . He wore a black jacket over his purple t-shirt.He was tall and sharp-minded, always alert and ready for anything. Despite his constant edge, he had a cool demeanor that made him stand out.
"Aren't you suppose to be in school?" Chloe asked him.

Ethan was the type of guy who would never skip a class, no matter what occurs in his life.

"I 'had' to come, Whatever you are planning is dangerous," he looked at Chloe with concern in his eyes.

Planning? I didn't know there was a plan. Was there?

Chloe stumbled on her tracks. making her almost fall down.

"you guys aren't telling me something," I said as I slowed to a stop. They glanced at each other not saying a word. then quickly looked away.

Both of them had been quite secretive since Jade's dissapearance. It kind of made me jealous...

"We will tell you when we get there," Ethan finally spoke.

We kept walking forward, In silence.

Jade is gone, We have no idea what we would find there. A dead body? A super serial murderer? a demon? Jax must be so devistated. If only we could find Jade and make things right again, back how everything used to be. All of us spending time in school, laughing and chatting in the hallways. But now? we all seemed to fall apart since Jade's dissapearance.Even though I didn’t know her well, her absence leaves a hole in my heart. Seeing my friend Jax in pain makes it even harder for me. I remember their laughter, which now feels like a distant echo.

"There it is, the haunted house..."

Suprisingly it didn't seem to be haunted at all.the house was as big as a mansion,standing tall and elegant, its beauty captivating from a distance. The soft light of dawn made it look almost magical, like a scene from a fairy tale. But as I gazed at it, something felt off. It was as if the mansion was calling to me, pulling me closer, hypnotizing me with its charm. Despite its beauty, there was an unsettling feeling that I couldn’t shake off. The sun rays began to curtain through the clouds.The house was calling to me, waiting to be opened. I heard a voice. Something calling my name...

I felt a hand on my shoulder, sending a warm jolt through me.

"careful," Ethan said.

Before I even realized it, We were already by the gates. I didn't seem to remember we walked up this close to it already.

"h-how-" I stuttered. I was confused. We were at the edge of the forest, a mile away from the house, how did I-

Ethan shook the big black fenced gate. It wouldn't budge.

"-as I ways saying, maybe we should just climb over the gates," Chloe said.

"climb over?" I said. Even though my mind was stil spinning. I had no idea how I can forget I've walked a mile ahead. I was beginning to get a headache.

That's when we heard a scream from the inside. A scream that was very familiar to us...