The dirt path to the Woolhope town square was familiar, but today, it felt different. The breeze was the same. The fields stretched out the same. But for the first time, Cooper wasn't walking into town just to run errands or kill time.

  He was passing through.

  The wooden town sign creaked as he passed:

  "Welcome to Woolhope – Home of Honest Folk and Sheep."

  Just as he stepped through the town gates, a voice called out.

  "Hey, Coop!"

  Cooper turned to see Jory Hayward jogging up, kicking up dust with his boots. The guy was built like he spent his free time lifting boulders instead of doing schoolwork. At this point, his shirt had more patches than fabric.

  Jory squinted at Cooper's pack. "What's with the bag? You running away?"

  Cooper shrugged. "Not running. Traveling."

  Jory frowned. "Where to?"

  Cooper adjusted his strap, staring down the road ahead. "Dunno. Just… forward."

  Jory let out a snort. "Forward? Yeah, you'll be back by the end of the week."

  Cooper grinned. "I don't need a destination. I just gotta keep moving."

  Jory crossed his arms. "Well, before you leave town—even if it's just for the week—you should come with me and the boys. We're heading up to Loop Lake."

  Cooper raised an eyebrow. "Loop Lake?"

  "Yeah," Jory smirked. "Y'know, the lake where that ghost supposedly drags people under?"

  Cooper rolled his eyes. "C'mon, you don't actually believe that, do you?"

  Jory just grinned. "I believe it could be interesting. And if you're gonna start this big adventure of yours, you might as well start with a little interesting, right?"

  Cooper thought about it for a second.

  The lake was a couple hours' hike up into the hills. He'd never been before—his uncle always said, "Ain't nothin' worth seein' up there but your own reflection."

  But he wasn't listening to his uncle anymore.

  He was listening to his heart.

  He looked at Jory and grinned. "Alright. Loop Lake it is."

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  "Come on, we're meeting at Garrick's for lunch. Let's go."

  Jory was already ahead, striding down the road like a man on a mission.

  Cooper followed, adjusting his pack. He hadn't been to Garrick's house in a year or so, but he remembered it well—mainly because it looked like it was held together by sheer luck. The Garricks were a big, loud, red-headed bunch, and their house, while large, had the structural integrity of a stack of pancakes.

  As they rounded the bend, the house came into view.

  Surprisingly, still standing.

  "Didn't expect that."

  Jory smirked. "Yeah. Every time I come here, I take a second to say my goodbyes to it."

  The boys stepped up onto the rickety porch and pushed the door open.

  "Garrick?" Jory called out.

  BANG!

  A loud crash shook the house, followed immediately by a red-headed blur tumbling down the stairs.

  THUD.

  Garrick hit the ground like a sack of bricks, groaned, and pushed himself up like nothing had happened.

  "Welcome, boys." He clapped them both on the shoulders with a wild grin. "Food's on the table. Join the rest of us in the back when you're ready."

  Then, like an unfazed cryptid, he disappeared through the back door.

  Cooper glanced at Jory. "Does he always do that?"

  "Every. Single. Time."

  They grabbed some slightly smushed sandwiches off the table and maneuvered through the tight, cluttered corridors of the Garrick household. The place smelled like wood shavings and questionable decision-making.

  Finally, they pushed open the back door and stepped into the backyard.

  A large tree stood in the center, its thick trunk wrapped in old ropes. A wooden platform had been built around it, creaking under the weight of three familiar figures.

  One—Garrick, their somewhat… aggressive leader.

  Two—Benny, a boy as tall as he was round. (Very.)

  Three—Mimsy, short, skinny, and looked like a strong breeze could carry him away.

  Jory raised a hand. "Lads. Brought a friend."

  "COOP!"

  Cooper grinned. "How's it going, boys?"

  Benny peered at him. "Didn't take you for the haunted lake type."

  Cooper snorted, plopping down on the grass. "Yeah? And I didn't take any of you for it either."

  Mimsy frowned. "Hey, we're plenty brave."

  Jory smirked. "Yeah, Coop. You're the adventurer now. You gotta respect the locals."

  Garrick raised an eyebrow. "Adventurer? You're heading out?"

  Cooper nodded. "Tomorrow morning."

  Benny let out a low whistle. "Man, that's crazy. Where are you going?"

  "Forward. Just forward." Jory said playfully.

  Garrick clicked his tongue. "Just forward, huh?" He crossed his arms. "Anyways, this isn't just some dumb rumor. People have seen stuff at Loop Lake. Lights. Shadows. Freaky noises."

  "Freaky?!" Benny asked

  "FfrReEeAakKyYyY," Garrick said in a ghostly woo.

  Benny nodded. "One time, my cousin's friend's neighbor went up there and saw—"

  The boys all leaned in close.

  Benny hesitated. "...A naked lady."

  Cooper burst out laughing. "Terrifying."

  BAM. Garrick punched him in the shoulder.

  "Listen up, dumbass. You might be off to explore the world or whatever, but for us, this is the closest thing we have to adventure. So if this is your last night in town, we're gonna make it count."

  Cooper rubbed his arm, still grinning.

  Jory leaned back against the tree. "Alright, what's the plan?"

  Garrick slammed a map onto the platform—a hand-drawn mess with way too many dramatic scribbles.

  "We leave before sunset. We'll take the ridge path—less muddy, better view. We bring supplies, stay overnight, and see if anything weird happens."

  Mimsy visibly paled. "Stay overnight?"

  "Yeah, overnight." Garrick shot him a look. "What, you think we're just gonna go up, look at some water, and leave?"

  Mimsy twitched. "...Yes?"

  Jory stretched his arms. "I like it. Let's do it."

  Cooper smirked. "Sounds fun."

  Benny sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I get possessed by a ghost, I'm haunting all of you."

  Garrick grinned, slamming a fist into his palm. "Alright then. Loop Lake, here we come."