Sarah, the adventurous spirit of the group, unrolled her sleeping bag, her eyes twinkling with excitement. Alex, the skeptic, poked at the fire, sending a shower of sparks into the air. Maya, the storyteller, leaned forward, a mischievous grin on her face. Jake, the quiet observer, sat slightly apart, his gaze drifting to the darkening forest.
"Have you guys ever heard of Slenderman?" Maya asked, her voice low and teasing.
"Oh, come on, that's just an internet myth," Alex scoffed, though he couldn't hide a slight shiver.
"I don't know," Sarah chimed in, her tone playful yet curious. "There are so many stories about him lurking in woods just like these."
Jake stood up suddenly, his eyes fixed on a distant point between the trees. "Did you see that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sarah followed his gaze, squinting into the shadows. "See what?" she replied, her excitement now tinged with apprehension.
"I thought I saw something... tall and thin," Jake murmured, his expression serious.
"It's probably just your imagination," Maya said, though her voice wavered slightly.
Alex tossed another log onto the fire, trying to stoke the flames back to life. "Let's just enjoy the night and not scare ourselves with silly stories," he suggested, though his hands trembled slightly.
Sarah laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Alright, alright. But if Slenderman shows up, I'm blaming you, Maya," she joked.
"Deal," Maya replied, though her eyes darted nervously to the forest.
Jake stood abruptly, pointing towards the darkness. "There! I saw it again!" he exclaimed, his voice edged with fear.
The group huddled closer, peering into the forest. Sarah's heart pounded in her chest as she whispered, "What if it's real?"
"Impossible," Alex insisted, but his voice lacked conviction.
Maya gasped, clutching Sarah's arm. "Oh my god, it's him," she breathed, eyes wide with terror.
Jake backed away slowly, whispering, "We need to get out of here. Now."
Alex, for once, had no argument, nodding silently as he grabbed his backpack.
Sarah led the charge, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Keep going! We can't stop," she urged, glancing back at her friends.
Maya struggled to keep up, fear lending her speed. "I never should have told that story," she panted, guilt mixing with her terror.
Jake and Alex brought up the rear, their faces pale in the moonlight. Together, the friends raced through the forest, the legend of Slenderman now a terrifying reality they could no longer deny.