BloodHill Forest | Horror | Ishman

The jeep, packed with eight lively boys, vibrated with laughter and chatter. They were on their way to pick up Ishan, the youngest and most adored of the group, for their first-ever campfire in the infamous Bloodhill Pines forest.

"Where is Ishan? I told him to stand outside his house," Virat frowned, peering out the window. Hardik quickly dialed Ishan's number.

"Ishu tu kaha hai? Aya kyu nehi abhi tak?"

Ishan's voice, barely audible, replied, "Ata hu bhaiya ruko." He quickly ended the call. As he emerged from his house, Shubman opened the car door, a gentle gesture that made Ishan blush faintly. Soon, they were all inside, the jeep once again filled with the easy camaraderie of childhood friends.

Their destination, the Bloodhill Pines, loomed ahead, marked by a weathered road sign. The chill November air added to their excitement, yet a subtle nervousness hummed beneath the surface, especially for Ishan. He'd never camped before, and the forest's reputation was unsettling. But with Shubman by his side, he’d found the courage.

The jeep stopped at the forest edge, the road impassable further in. They ventured into the dense woods on foot, Abhishek holding Mayank's hand as they navigated the wet, dewy grass. Ishan stumbled, but Shubman caught him, their hands intertwining for a moment, sending a quiet thrill through Ishan. They soon found a suitable clearing, a temporary haven against the wilderness. As the fire crackled to life, casting dancing shadows, a sense of warmth and normalcy settled over them.