CHAPTER TWO: THE DISAPPEARANCE

Morning light broke through the trees, casting shafts of golden light into the cabin. Breakfast was a mix of laughter and chaotic energy as they planned their day hikes. However, the mood shifted dramatically when they discovered Ben's empty room. A single note lay on the bed, hastily scrawled: “You won’t get away with it.”

“Where’s Ben?” Ella’s voice trembled with concern. They searched the cabin and the outskirts, calling his name into the forest, but only silence answered.

Panic rose as they decided to check deeper into the woods where Ben had gone off the previous night. Each footstep felt like a descent into an unseen trap, a dark history that seemed to pulse beneath their feet.

Eager to find him, the group swiftly resolved to follow the narrow trail that led deeper into the woods. The morning light, once warm and inviting, now cast eerie shadows that danced among the trees. Ella led the way, her heart pounding as she called out Ben's name repeatedly. The sound felt hauntingly lonely in the vastness of the forest, swallowed by the thick foliage that surrounded them.

“Maybe he’s just playing a prank,” Mark suggested, trying to sound optimistic, though his furrowed brow betrayed his worry. “You know how he likes to mess with us.”

But Ella shook her head, glancing back at him with wide eyes. “This feels different. It doesn’t make sense, Mark. Ben wouldn’t leave without telling us.” Her mind raced with possibilities, images of their friend appearing suddenly from behind a tree, grinning as he gauged their panic. But the longer they searched, the less likely that seemed.

As they ventured further into the heart of the forest, the undergrowth became denser, and the gentle sound of birdsong faded, replaced by an unsettling stillness. Only the crunch of leaves underfoot broke the silence, each snap echoing their growing anxiety. They headed toward the small gorge where Ben had mentioned finding something intriguing the night before — a small cave hidden behind a waterfall, according to his excited recount of the previous evening.

“Remember?” Tom chimed in, trying to redirect the group's focus. “He said it wasn’t far off the path. If we can just get there, we might find something.” The faintest flicker of hope ignited among them as they moved with greater urgency, their eyes scanning the trees.

The trail soon narrowed, and the air grew cooler, tinged with the earthy scent of damp moss and fallen leaves. As they reached the gorge, the sound of rushing water greeted them. They paused at the edge of the sloping rocks, peering down at the waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear pool below. The hidden cave mentioned by Ben should be just around the bend.

“Let’s check around the waterfall,” Ella suggested, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins. They carefully made their way along the slick stones, water spraying lightly on their skin as they approached.

As they rounded the falls, their hearts sank. The cave entrance loomed ahead, dark and foreboding. Flickering shadows danced along its mouth, tugging at their instincts to turn back. But they had no choice. They had come too far, and deep down, they felt that Ben might be just beyond in the darkness.

Ella swallowed hard, nodding at her friends. “We have to go in. Ben wouldn’t have run off. Something’s wrong.” They entered the cave cautiously, each step echoing ominously against the stone walls. The musty smell inside was overpowering, and the sound of dripping water added to the eerie atmosphere.

Using their phones as makeshift flashlights, they illuminated the way forward. The cave twisted and turned, with jagged rocks jutting out like the teeth of some long-forgotten beast. “Ben!” they called, voices trembling in the cavernous space, but silence filled the void, mocking their cries.

As they ventured deeper, a sudden chill swept through the cave, causing them to shiver involuntarily. Mark spotted something on the ground — a torn piece of fabric, unmistakably from Ben’s jacket. “This is his!” he exclaimed, picking it up gingerly, his heart racing. “He was definitely down here.”