"They say that a demonic spirit lives in the Phantom Woods, the one which has killed many tourists already."

"Yeah right!" Steve shook his head while driving the car. "These are nothing but stories, urban legends we call them."

"Oh c'mon!" I exclaimed. "Isn't that the reason why you're coming with us as well?"

"Don't forget that you guys dragged me along into this!" Steve complained. It was true. July, Ryan and I had forced Steve into this trip. How could we let our best friend miss out on all the fun?

"Don't you remember our childhood pact?" I reminded. "No matter what, wherever we go, the four of us go together!"

"Mary is right buddy," Ryan hit Steve's shoulder playfully. "It never sucks to explore such places with our very own childhood friends."

Steve was the most practical friend in our group. He never believed in the supernatural while the rest of us did to an extent. We would always drag him into our endeavours, even though Steve would refrain from coming.

"So what else do you guys know about this demonic spirit?" Steve asked mockingly.

"Well," I looked at the browser, "it says that the spirit is of a butcher, a scary man, giant like a...a sumo?"

Steve laughed. "This already sounds like a huge waste of time to me!"

"It also says that he carries his machete to-"

"Omg! This sounds so scary already!" July exclaimed with pleasure. "I'm so hyped!"

"And here we are," Steve said as he stopped the car. "To your so-called haunted place."

The four of us exited the vehicle as we embraced the lovely aroma of Phantom Woods. Finally, we were here.

Soon, we had set up our camp deep inside the forest and had lit a bonfire. The four of us were college going students and knew much about camping, thanks to have been going on those occassionally.

"If you guys plan for anything more than a night, I'm out," Steve spoke sternly as he sat on the carpet that we'd laid on the forest floor.

"We don't have supplies enough to last more than this night," I stated the obvious.

"Stop being so grim all the time!" July berated. "You'll ruin the mood!"

Steve sighed while the rest of us shared drinks and chewed on snacks. It felt lovely and heartwarming to be surrounded with friends in the vibe of the forest.

Ryan protruded a pair of speakers from his backpack and connected it with bluetooth. Soon the atmosphere was ringing with melodious and peaceful music, making the forest appear almost enchanting.

"So what is it that you said about this butcher man with machete?" Ryan asked me.

"Oh yeah, probably an urban legend. People say that those who encounter him they don't make it out alive."

"Then how come do we know this story?" Steve laughed while drinking soda. "Nothing but stories."

"Not really," I replied. "There have been one survivor each time any group encounters him."

"And why just one?" Steve asked. "Let me guess. The guy decides to leave a lucky person to tell his tale while chopping up others! How ridiculous."

I rolled my eyes. Could this guy ever get sarcastic?

We chatted further, spending hours and hours discussing things. The conversation changed by the second and by the time we'd realized it, it was already three in the morning.

"Guys, I hate to break it to you but we really need to sleep now," July suggested. "We need to be up by eight to get back to the city."

"You guys are really going to ruin my sleeping schedule," Steve said as he went off to sleep with Ryan in their tent. July and I got up next while Ryan remained seated.

"I'll stay up for little more," he said. "Don't feel like sleeping at all."

"As you wish," I said. "Good night."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I woke with a start. What was that? A scream. Such a horrifying and blood curdling scream.

I turned to my left but couldn't find July next to me. Where could she have gone?

"NOOOO!" That scream again! I glanced at my mobile. Three thirty three in morning? What a weird time.

Immediately I got out and what did I witness? July was standing, crying and screaming in terror as she looked at something extremely disturbing. A butchered arm.

The forest floor was soaked in blood as the arm lay unmoving on the ground. A watch, an identical one, was tied around its wrist. Ryan.

The scene brought up nausea within me and I immediately wrenched my gut out. Everything I had drunk and snacked on had been puked out.

"What the hell?" Steve exclaimed as he saw the arm after emerging from the tent. "What happened?"

"I-I dunno!" July replied while shivering. "I-I just c-came out t-to pee and I-I saw this!"

"Where is he?" I asked in horror. Sweat trickled down every inch of my body and I felt like I would collapse any moment. This was beyond horrifying.

"I DON'T KNOW!" July screamed as she fell on ground. "I FUCKING DON'T KNOW!"

"H-Hold on," Steve patted her back. "We need to stay calm and look out for Ryan. He mustn't have gone far."

"NO!" July shook her head vigorously as she shivered in Steve's arms. "NO, I CAN'T! I JUST CAN'T!"

"A-Alright July," Steve said. "I and Mary will go. You stay here."

"NO!" she screamed. "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"

Slowly, I approached her. Bending down and with much resolution, I said, "You'll be safe here, don't worry. Just stay inside the tent and keep your eyes shut. We'll be back in no time."

Slowly, with the help of Steve, I carried her back into the tent and covered her up in blanket. She shivered and kept her eyes closed as we exited the tent.

"This is insane," Steve spoke. "Who could've done this?"

"Maybe an animal?" I wondered.

"Probably," he thought. "Look there, it's his blood trail." He indicated towards the drops of blood which led further into the forest. I picked up a torch while Steve did the same and together we began following the blood trail.

The deeper we ventured into the forest, the more anxious I got. What could've happened to Ryan? It seemed weird that if an animal might've attacked him, Ryan would've made some sort of noise. Yet, it had been all quiet. Something was strange, very strange.

Suddenly, Steve stopped in his tracks. He stood a few steps ahead of me, his gaze high up on a large tree. I wondered why he was standing so awkwardly for no reason.

"Steve?" I asked as I stepped ahead. "What happened?"

He raised his finger up towards the tree but due to the dark, I could hardly make out anything.

I raised my torch in that direction. "What are you trying to-" I was frozen. This...this was not real. This couldn't be.

Up from the tree hung a head, and that of none other than Ryan. His severed body lay motionless just below the head on ground, blood having stained the soil.

"AAAAARRRGGGHHH!" I screamed loud in terror. This was not true...this couldn't be!

What was that? Another scream?

"JULY!" Steve yelled and ran back to the direction we came from. I couldn't let myself remain there hence I followed him.

We ran as fast as we could. My heart was racing miles an hour. What could've happened to her? Was she alright? I did hope so.

We reached the camp and hurried into the tent. The scene made me wrench out even more.

Her body lay still inside the tent, her head been sliced off from her body entirely. The entire tent floor was drenched in incessant blood while there was no apparent trace of her head.

"Th-There," Steve stuttered as he pointed his torch somewhere. Looking outside the tent there stood a tree from which hung a her head. Fresh blood poured down as I watched her head flay around lifelessly in mid air. But there was something more.

A figure, a giant figure stood behind the tree. It was tall, probably seven foot tall. Extremely stout and probably bald, all he wore was a massive apron and rugged pants. Its eyes shone red in the dark which was unrealistic for any human.

As it slowly stepped out from behind the tree, I could see it holding a large machete in its tight arm. Blood smeared on it, the machete was definitely hungry for more.

"RUN!" Steve yelled and immediately we ran in the opposite direction as of the monster. Tears kept rolling down my eyes as I made my way through the forest with Steve beside me.

'He forms a polygon,' I had read it on the blog. 'A polygon of his victims' heads. One is left to tell the tale, while the others are a sacrifice to his longevity.'

"This can't be happening," I said to myself while running as fast I possibly could. "This is not real!"

An opening came, a wide space for us to have a good view of our surroundings. But before I knew it, Steve had tripped and fell on ground.

"NO!" I yelled. I looked at him from afar, he was out of my reach. Within matter of a second, the butcher was right on top of Steve, his machete raised high up in the air. No...this couldn't be happening!

It came down as a strike, Steve's eyes focused at me as he called out for help. I could do nothing except watch as the machete came down. The force with which it struck flew his head off his body, and struck right at my face.

It fell to my feet, Steve was dead.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I stare out of the window. The sky is blue. A lovely day for anyone to venture out there into the unknown just like we had an year ago.

I don't know what happened, but the last thing I remember was his head. And next thing I knew, I was here at the hospital.

Ever since then, I've remained here, at the asylum. The horrors of that night still haunt me and I can't get myself to forget them. This is now my reality. To have survived and to live the rest of my life with that camp's memories, the camp that failed.