Find truth
Everyone knew the story of Mary. The rumors and whispers had traveled far and wide, but there was always one lingering question—what happened to her after that?
Now, standing before the church's ancient ledger, they stared in silence. The only thing written in the brittle pages was a cryptic phrase: Blood Mary. Lumen's fingers hovered over the words, a chill creeping down her spine as she read them aloud.
Nori broke the silence, her voice low but heavy with memories. "I think this belongs to Blood Mary," she said, her eyes distant as if lost in the past. "Remember when we were kids, and that story was everywhere? The one about the bathroom... at midnight... where if you stood in front of the mirror, Blood Mary would appear and drag you into the darkness? They said she killed anyone who dared to summon her. I don't know if it's true, but... if we're going to uncover the rest of this, maybe that's the next step."
The room fell into a thoughtful quiet, the weight of their shared childhood fear suddenly resurfacing.
Nori's voice broke through again, this time with a note of determination. "We need to go tonight, at exactly midnight. We'll meet at 11:50. Get some rest. Tomorrow night, we find the truth."
The group exchanged uncertain glances, but a shared resolve began to settle over them. Something had changed. The air was thick with the promise of discovery... and perhaps danger.
The Midnight Ritual
It was the dead of night when the students, driven by thrill and whispers of an ancient tale, gathered deep within the jungle's shadows. In the center of their small circle stood a medium-sized mirror, its surface catching the faint glimmer of moonlight. A hush fell over them as they began chanting in unison—"Bloody Mary"—three times, their voices trembling more from anticipation than belief.
For a moment, all was still. The wind, once rustling through the trees, slowed to an eerie whisper. Then came the sound—faint, hollow, and chilling—like a scream carried from somewhere far yet all around. No one could tell where it originated.
Then, something changed.
One of the boys squinted into the mirror and gasped. A blurry image had begun to form behind the glass—indistinct, yet undeniably there. Mesmerized, he reached out to touch the surface. The moment his fingers brushed the glass, the mirror seemed to ripple... and in a flash, it pulled him in.
Panic erupted.
Screams tore through the jungle as the rest of the group sprinted toward their tents. But they weren't safe. Not even close.
From the depths of the jungle, a figure emerged—fast, unnatural, and terrifying. It was a woman, or something like one, with hair that moved like living snakes. Her eyes glowed with a hunger that chilled the blood. She darted through the trees, using her long, black strands of hair like ropes, snatching students one by one, dragging them back into the darkness. Their cries echoed as she devoured them slowly, cruelly.
Only a handful managed to flee, heart pounding, breath ragged. Among them were Sky and Nori. Just as they neared safety, the creature's hair lashed out, wrapping around Sky's leg and dragging her backwards.
"No!" Nori shouted, diving toward her friend. Without hesitation, she drew the knife from her belt—one she'd brought on a whim—and slashed through the living hair. The strands recoiled, writhing in pain. Sky was free.
Gasping and shaken, the two stumbled into the tent, bolting the entrance behind them. They were alive—for now. But outside, the jungle was no longer just a place of stories. It was haunted.
And it was hungry.