Elara's POV
They said it was just a game. A campfire dare. A little fun in the woods. They smiled when they said it. Laughed. Held hands and whispered like we were still children playing flashlight tag. I followed them into the trees because I trusted them. Because they were my friends. Because I didn't know what real monsters looked like. It started with Ash. He touched my shoulder, whispered, "Come with me. It's a surprise."
I smiled like a fool and followed. Then I saw Brooke waiting by the tree line, holding a torch, her eyes gleaming with something I didn't recognize. Behind her stood Luke, Mason, Jenna, and Ty, all the kids I'd grown up with. All the ones who used to sneak candy into the cabins. The ones who knew my favorite songs. They watched me without blinking.
"You guys are being weird," I laughed. "What is this?"
Ash leaned in close and the he kissed me and whispered in my ear:
"You shouldn't have kissed him back."
"What?! I asked and Something sharp cracked against the back of my head. The world tilted sideways. I tasted blood before I hit the ground. When I woke up I was in dirt, my hands were tied, my mouth was gagged and my Knees was bleeding.
They had dragged me deep into the woods. Past the trails. Past the lake. Past everything familiar. Only the trees remained tall, dark, suffocating. A circle of torches surrounded me, flickering with unnatural light. The flames hissed like they were alive. The smoke smelled like rot. I tried to scream, but Brooke laughed and tightened the gag. Ash crouched beside me, his face was inches from mine. "Don't be scared We're making you eternal."
He lifted a hunting knife. The firelight reflected off the blade. My breath stopped.
"This isn't a sacrifice," Mason said. "It's a gift."
"She's the last," Luke muttered. "Just like the book said. Virgin. Born on the blood moon. Right age. Right name."
My blood ran cold. This wasn't a prank, It was a ritual.
They stripped me naked and tied me down. Ash pressed the knife into my chest not hard, just enough to break skin. My scream came out a choked gargle behind the gag. Brooke painted symbols on my stomach with my blood. Her hands didn't shake and Jenna read from a weathered journal, words in a language that twisted the air.
"Bound in flesh,
Freed by blood,
The hunger wakes
To drown the flood…"
The ground trembled.
The trees moaned. My skin burned where they carved the final mark. Ash leaned down and said, "Don't worry, Elara. We'll keep a piece of you with us forever."
He meant it literally and the rest started laughing.
"The sacrifice is complete, it's time to have fun with her" Mason said.
They all looked at each other and nodded, the girls shifted back Brooke was holding a camera. Let the fun begin, she said giggling. Mason was the first to drag my week body down, he pulled his pants down and with one thrust he was inside me, I screamed but the gag held back the sound. He continued for thrusting in and out of me for ten minutes before he finally released inside me. He brought his mouth closer to me ear and whispered, "you are so sweet Elara. And with that he stood up. His penis was stained with blood from my vagina.
"Look guys, I popped the cherry" he said while showing his penis to the others like he had just won a trophy.
"Next Brooke said laughing and bringing the camera closer to my face.
"It's my turn Luke said, he was already naked, "you will enjoy this Elara he said and the rest laughed.
"I want the video to be clear Brooke said bringing the camera even closer.
"Watch this guys Luke yes, and with that he thrust into the with full speed. The pain was unbearable but there was nothing I could do.
"She's very tight just the way i like it. He continued for another ten minutes before he finally stood up.
"My turn Ty as he dragged Luke out of the way. When they were done raping me to there satisfaction. The formed a cycle around me again. Brooke was holding the knife
"Now it's time to take a pice from her" she said handing the knife to Luke.
They started with my thigh. I watched Luke slice a strip of flesh from my thigh and place it on a flat stone. He looked nauseous until Mason laughed and dared him to eat it. He ate it raw. and I vomited through the gag. Brooke followed. Then Ty. Then Ash and Mason. One by one, they tore pieces from me and swallowed. Like wolves. Like demons. Like they had been waiting to do it for years. The pain was unbearable. My soul left my body long before my heart stopped. But some part of me stayed, some part of me watched as they butchered me. And when I died, I didn't see light.
Instead I saw a figure that's without a face, it has roots, teeth, horns, and fire.
"Do you want them to suffer?" it asked me.
My soul was floating now, above my body. The smoke curled around me like fingers. My blood painted the leaves. The ritual circle pulsed like a heartbeat. Ash and the others danced. They laughed. They said my name like it belonged to them.
"Elara. Elara. Elara…"
"Yes," I whispered. "Make them scream."
The creature smiled and turned towards them and nodded as it unleashed terror on the camp.
That night, lightning struck the woods. The storm that followed burned half of the camp. The summer camp director couldn't control what was happening, they had to call for help to move the campers to another location.
The director and the staffer told the the campers to form a line and he started calling out their names one after the other the he called "Elara Lutheran" but there was no response, he called again this time his voice was higher. Still no response. "Does anybody know where Elara Lutheran is? He asked.
"Yes, she went home already. Brooke said raising her hand as everyone turned to look at her.
"Why did she leave without notifying the camp authorities? The director asked her.
"She left a note in our room Brooke said handing a small note to the director.
"Liars. i yelled, they killed me, and eat my flesh I yelled.