The sun was low in the sky, dipping toward the hills as the boys followed the ridge path.

  The air was thick with summer warmth, but the breeze had turned cooler as they climbed higher. Below, the valley stretched out, dotted with farms and winding roads, the lights of Woolhope flickering like sleepy fireflies in the distance.

  The path wasn't exactly dangerous, but it wasn't safe either—rocks jutted out at weird angles, the dirt felt loose in some spots, and every now and then, Mimsy would stumble just enough to make everyone panic.

  Still, the energy was electric.

  Garrick walked ahead, leading the pack. Jory strolled behind him with his hands in his pockets, walking like he had all the time in the world. Benny was breathing heavier than he should've been, and Mimsy—well, Mimsy looked like he regretted every decision he's ever made that led him here.

  The closer they got to Loop Lake, the quieter the world became.

  The sun dipped lower.

  Shadows stretched longer.

  And then, the last streak of daylight disappeared.

  Loop Lake was close.

  No one spoke. Even Garrick, usually the loudest of them, kept his eyes locked ahead.

  The path sloped downward, leading them into the thick woods. The trees pressed in, and for the first time that night, Cooper felt it.

  It was weird.

  Like something was watching.

  The boys stepped into the clearing, and there it was.

  Loop Lake.

  The black water stretched before them, still and glassy, reflecting the moonlight like an endless void.

  A rickety dock extended over the surface, its wooden planks warped with age. An old wooden boat bobbed lazily in the shallows tied to a post.

  And then, off to the side—

  A house.

  Small. Weathered. Dark.

  It stood just beyond the treeline, almost blending into the woods.

  "Okay," Benny whispered, barely loud enough to be heard. "This is actually kinda creepy."

  No one argued.

  They dropped their bags and started setting up camp, working fast—not because they were scared (definitely not scared), but because no one wanted to be the last one standing in the dark.

  Once their tent was up, the boys gathered near the edge of the lake. Cooper kicked a small rock into the water and watched as the ripples spread unnaturally slow.

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  Garrick exhaled. "So, what now? We sit around until the ghost decides to show up?"

  Benny shivered. "I don't like how quiet it is."

  Then—

  CREEEAK.

  A low, groaning noise echoed from the wooden house.

  All five boys screamed.

  All five boys screamed.

  The front door slammed open, and suddenly—

  More screaming.

  Five girls stood frozen in the doorway, just as terrified as the boys.

  They weren't strangers. Daisy, Hazel, Margo, Cleo, and Sasha—probably the only other group of idiots in town willing to hike this far into the wilderness.

  Daisy, the sharp-eyed redhead, was clearly in charge—arms crossed, already annoyed.

  Hazel, the quiet and thoughtful one, looked ready to bolt.

  Margo, the tall, confident one, seemed more annoyed than scared.

  Cleo, smirking, was already enjoying this.

  Sasha, who was just happy to be there.

  "WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"

  Cooper blinked. "Uh—why are YOU here?!"

  Daisy narrowed her eyes. "We're here to tan."

  Cooper frowned. "At night?"

  Before Daisy could answer, Cleo snorted. "We were here before the sun went down, dumbass."

  Benny, still taking in the whole situation, gestured wildly at them. "And they're not even naked."

  Margo's head snapped toward him. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

  Hazel took a whole step back. "Dude, what?!?"

  Mimsy buried his face in his hands. "We're gonna die here, and it won't even be because of ghosts."

  Cooper grinned. "Relax, it's just Benny. He says dumb stuff when he's scared."

  Benny threw up his hands. "I WASN'T SCARED, I JUST—"

  Jory patted him on the shoulder. "Let it go, man."

  The girls exchanged looks.

  Daisy let out a sigh. "So, let me get this straight. You guys came all the way up here to—what, hunt ghosts?"

  Garrick scoffed. "We aren't here to "hunt ghosts." We are here to investigate supernatural phenomena."

  Margo rolled her eyes. "So, ghost hunting."

  Garrick muttered, "Okay, yeah, ghost hunting."

  Hazel, still eyeing the lake warily, shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think you should mess around here too much. Some stories—"

  "We're not scared." Cooper cut in.

  The girls exchanged another knowing look.

  Then Cleo leaned forward, grinning like this was the best thing to happen all week. "Oh yeah?"

  Sasha clapped her hands together. "Then prove it!"

  The air shifted.

  Daisy crossed her arms. "Alright, boys. If you're so brave… jump in."

  The group fell silent.

  Benny nearly choked on air. "Wait. Wait wait wait. We don't just—just jump into ghost lakes."

  Margo smirked. "Thought you weren't scared?"

  Jory chuckled. "Hate to say it, Coop, but if you're the big adventurer now, I think you gotta go first."

  All eyes turned to Cooper.

  Benny nearly choked on air. "Wait. Wait wait wait. We don't just—just jump into ghost lakes."

  Margo smirked. "Thought you weren't scared?"

  Jory chuckled. "Hate to say it, Coop, but if you're the big adventurer now, I think you gotta go first."

  All eyes turned to Cooper.

  He rolled his shoulders. "Fine."

  Mimsy made a tiny dying noise. "Fine?! That's it?!"

  But Cooper was already moving.

  He stepped toward the dock, pulling off his shoes one by one and dropping them onto the wood with a thud. Next, he yanked off his shirt and tossed it aside.

  As he walked, the dock creaked beneath his weight, some planks louder than others. The lake stretched before him, the twin moons hanging high, their pale reflections shimmering just enough to remind him the water was real.

  From behind him, the murmurs started.

  "Wait… is he actually gonna do it?" Hazel whispered.

  "I think so." Cleo grinned.

  Daisy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Cooper?"

  Sasha leaned in. "I dunno… He looks pretty serious."

  Margo crossed her arms. "Yeah, or he's just too dumb to back out now."

  Jory smirked, hands in his pockets. "Nah. He's just getting started."

  Daisy turned to him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

  Jory stretched, like this wasn't the first time he was about to drop something interesting. "He's leaving tomorrow. Off on an adventure."

  The girls all turned to him at once.

  "Wait—what?"

  "You're joking."

  Sasha's eyes widened. "He's actually leaving Woolhope?"

  "That Cooper?" Daisy scoffed, crossing her arms.

  Cleo grinned. "Well, damn. Guess that makes this his first real test."

  The boys weren't helping.

  "Coop, you know you don't have to—" Benny started, but Garrick cut him off.

  "No, no, let him go. He's gotta prove a point."

  Cooper inhaled.

  He bent his knees—

  And jumped.