One day, deep in the heart of a forest known as Hollowmere Woods, a group of university students planned a camping trip to celebrate the 21st birthday of their dear friend, Angga. Our group consisted of seven people: Angga, who naturally assumed the role of team leader, and the rest of us Meri, Nano, Felix, Agung, Krisna, and myself, Yandi.
We didn't choose this forest at random. Everyone had heard of Hollowmere Woods, famed for its breathtaking beauty and mysterious charm. A hidden gem untouched by civilization, it was the perfect place to escape from our mundane routine. We had collected funds for the trip through pooled contributions, and all that remained was packing our gear and preparing for the adventure ahead.
"Hey, Angga!" Agung called out as he adjusted his backpack straps. "You're leading this whole thing. How often do you actually go to places like this?"
"Why? You scared, bro?" Angga replied with a smirk.
Agung chuckled awkwardly.
"If you're asking how often I go to wild places like this," Angga said confidently, puffing out his chest like a proud eagle, "the answer is a lot! I even climbed to the highest peak in Belmontia. This trip? Piece of cake."
He looked directly at Agung with a confident gaze.
"As the team leader, of course I've got more experience than anyone else when it comes to stuff like this. Makes sense, right?"
Agung fell silent. There was nothing more to say after that.
Once Angga finished packing, he began giving out instructions. "Alright, everyone! Load your bags into the bus. We leave in ten."
Without waiting, he walked off toward the parking lot, where a small white bus with the university's emblem waited for us.
After checking our equipment one last time, the rest of us followed him to the bus our hearts filled with excitement and our minds full of wild expectations. One by one, we boarded, greeted by Angga's commanding presence.
Inside the bus, the atmosphere was lively. We reminisced about last year's camping trip, sharing laughs and embarrassing stories. Felix had been on four expeditions. Nano had gone once. Meri had joined two. Krisna claimed to have done five. Agung and I, though we were first-timers.
"This is your first trip, huh?" Meri asked me.
"Yeah," I admitted. "I've never camped before."
"Don't worry. It's gonna be fun," she smiled.
This wasn't just about Angga's birthday. The trip coincided with the 10th anniversary of our university's founding, so we decided to sing our school anthem in unison our voices echoing through the narrow bus aisles.
And then, like a cherry on top of our joy, Krisna pulled out his guitar. He had brought it along, of course. He strummed skillfully, his voice harmonizing with the rhythm as he played classic tunes and songs we all knew by heart. The bus transformed into a rolling concert hall, filled with music, laughter, and youth.
We traveled for nearly ten hours, the landscape slowly changing from city roads to winding forest paths. Somewhere along the journey, Krisna fell asleep, his guitar resting gently on his lap. He'd sung almost nonstop since we departed.
When we arrived at the edge of Hollowmere Woods, the clock read 4 p.m.
"Hey, someone wake Krisna," Angga said, standing near the front of the bus. "He needs to be alert before we enter."
"Easier said than done," Nano mumbled. "You know how deep he sleeps."
But Angga had a trick. He took out his phone and played a chilling horror video clip an eerie voice whispering through the speaker. He placed the phone near Krisna's ear.
"AHH!" Krisna jolted awake, nearly knocking over his guitar. "What the hell, man?!"
We all laughed, even Krisna, once he realized what had happened.
With our spirits high, we stepped off the bus and into the shadows of the forest. Angga pulled out a printed trail map from his waterproof folder and took the lead.
"I've done my homework. This is the trail we'll be following. Everyone stay together, alright?"
"Yes, sir!" we shouted back in unison, half-jokingly.
We began marching, our school cheer echoing once again through the still forest air. But as the cheer faded, something strange set in.
Silence.
Too much silence.
There were no birds. No buzzing insects. No rustling leaves. It was as if the forest held its breath.
"Is it just me." I asked quietly, "or is this place...too quiet?"
"You're right," Agung said beside me. "Shouldn't there be bugs? Frogs? Something?"
Angga turned to look at us. "Nothing to worry about. Stick to the plan and follow my lead. You'll be fine."
His reassurance gave us comfort but only for a while.
The deeper we went, the more bizarre the forest became. The ground was unusually fertile, teeming with plants we couldn't identify. Some vines formed perfect circular shapes as they clung to tree trunks, glowing faintly in the dimming light.
Still... not a single animal in sight. Not even ants.
An hour passed.
The sun disappeared behind thick clouds, and the air grew heavy.
"Guys," Angga called out, pointing at a massive tree nearby, "we're stopping there for shelter. Rain's coming."
The tree he referred to was colossal its bark dark and gnarled, unlike anything I'd seen before. The air around it seemed thicker somehow. More humid. It made me uneasy.
We all gathered beneath the tree, pulling out ponchos and snacks.
Except for me.
I stayed behind, watching the forest.
There was something... off. My instincts screamed at me, though I couldn't tell why. The way the wind didn't move the leaves. The way the clouds swirled unnaturally above us.
"Yandi!" Angga's voice rang out. "What're you doing? Get over here!"
I blinked and turned.
Everyone else was already gathered under the tree.
With a deep breath, I took one last look at the forest, then walked toward them.
But something was watching us.
I felt it.
Just before reaching the group, I looked back again and this time, I saw it.
A shadow, barely visible, slipped between the trees.
Tall. Thin. Human-like... but not.
It vanished the moment my eyes focused.
I froze.
"Yandi?" Meri called out. "You okay?"
"I..." I hesitated. "Yeah. Just thought I saw something."
Nobody believed me.
They brushed it off.
We sat under that massive tree, waiting for the rain to come.
But it never did.
The clouds just hovered there. Still. Silent.
And somewhere, deep in Hollowmere Woods... something was waiting.
Watching.
And it had already noticed us.