“Hey, Grayson,” his mum called, her voice warm and slightly teasing. “Are you ready for your playdate with Steven?”
Grayson sat cross-legged on the carpet, twisting a Rubik’s Cube in his hands with absentminded precision. The cube was old, its stickers peeling at the edges, but it still worked smoothly. He liked to imagine it as an ancient artifact, a relic from before everything had gotten so complicated.
With a faint click, the cube snapped into its solved state, and Grayson set it down on the coffee table. Looking up at his mum, he saw her brown eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and expectation.
“Do I have to?” he asked, twisting his mouth into a half-frown. His tone feigned disinterest, but deep down, curiosity sparked. He hadn’t seen Steven Chen outside of school in weeks, and their last playdate had been anything but ordinary. If Steven’s wild stories about human sightings were true, today could be more interesting than TV or homework.
His mum raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorway. “What kind of question is that? You’ve been asking about Steven all week. Besides,” she added with a smirk, “I think your dad’s ready for you to burn off some of that energy.”
“Burn off energy?” his dad called from the kitchen, where the clatter of dishes punctuated his words. “That kid’s got more energy for curiosity than I’ve had in my entire life. Maybe he could lend me some.”
Grayson grinned. “Sure, Dad. I’ll try not to leave you too jealous.”
His mum rolled her eyes and walked over to ruffle his hair - a habit that, at ten, he found more embarrassing than endearing. “Just grab your jacket and get ready. Steven’s car will be here any minute.”
As she disappeared toward the kitchen, Grayson glanced at the family holo-screen on the wall. Morning news scrolled across the display, a stern-faced anchor reporting on the latest tensions between humans and robots. The same story, over and over: unrest, strange disappearances, and vague whispers of something bigger lurking on the horizon. I haven’t even reached middle school, yet I feel more like an adult.
His chest tightened, but he quickly shook it off. Today wasn’t about the news. Today wasn’t about his mindless thoughts. Today was about Steven - and if past adventures were any indication, things would get interesting, regardless of when.
Grabbing his jacket from the back of the sofa and his boots from the corner cabinet, Grayson hesitated. His jacket’s constellation pattern glimmered faintly in the light, and he felt a strange sense of foreboding. He brushed it off, throwing it on and heading outside.
The quiet hum of an approaching car broke the stillness. A sleek, self-driving vehicle pulled up to the curb, its polished exterior reflecting the soft morning light. Such cars were a rare sight, a symbol of both prosperity and independence. The window rolled down, revealing Steven’s familiar face. His short black hair was neatly combed, and his glasses perched perfectly on his nose - though Grayson knew Steven didn’t really need them. “In case of unforeseen circumstances,” he always said.
“Hey, Grayson!” Steven called, waving enthusiastically.
Grayson jogged to the car and opened the door, his brow furrowing as he took in the scene within. The rest of the gang was already crammed inside. Everett Matsuda sat by the window, his cropped blonde hair catching the light. He wore a jumper over a tunic that made him look more like a schoolgirl than a schoolboy. Noah Park lounged in the middle seat, already fiddling with his Nintendo, while Liam Daiyu and Tristan Han squabbled over legroom.
“Uh… I thought this was just Steven’s playdate,” Grayson said, glancing around in surprise.
Steven grinned. “It is. But what’s a playdate without the whole crew?”
“You’re welcome,” Everett added with a smirk.
“Well,” Steven turned back to Grayson, “looks like the back is full. Mind sitting at the front?”
Grayson couldn’t help but smile as he opened the front door, the others chiming in their complaints, their banter filling the car. It wasn’t the quiet afternoon he’d expected, but maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
~ ~ ~
The group arrived at Steven’s house, a two-story home that stood out with its white siding, dark blue shutters, and perfectly trimmed flower garden. Inside, the house was just as pristine. The living room shelves were lined with books sorted by height and genre, and a soft rug patterned with geometric designs covered the floor. Even the vase of fresh flowers on the coffee table seemed perfectly placed.
The smell of Peking duck wafted from the kitchen, mixing with the scent of freshly baked bread. Grayson’s stomach growled. Loudly. How embarrassing.
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“Dang, Steven,” he said as they filed into the living room. “Your parents really know how to host.”
Steven adjusted his glasses and shrugged modestly. “They like to be prepared.”
The boys quickly settled into games. Liam challenged Steven to chess, while Grayson dealt cards for a game of poker with Everett, Tristan, and Noah. As they played, Grayson noticed a small set of plastic poker chips tucked in a corner.
“Hey, guys,” he called. “We could become mock gamblers! Look at this!” He held up the chips.
“Well, guess this might shape our future careers. Hashtag young gamblers,” Tristan quipped, earning a round of laughter.
Half an hour later, Steven leaned back with a triumphant grin. “Checkmate,” he declared.
Liam groaned. “Aww, I missed the mate! I demand a rematch.”
Grayson chuckled, watching the friendly chaos unfold. It felt good to relax for once, to just be a kid.
Until Everett leaned forward, his tone suddenly serious. “Hey, guys,” he said, lowering his voice. “How about we go to the Whispering Woods?”
The room went quiet.
Grayson froze. Everyone in town knew about the Whispering Woods - the eerie forest on the city’s edge, infamous for strange sounds and darker rumours. The only reason it was still there was because of a precious cave that existed in the heart of it. The rest? All creepy and horrifying to say the least. Parents warned their kids to stay away, which only made it more tempting.
“You can’t be serious,” Tristan said, raising an eyebrow.
“Why not?” Everett smirked. “What’s the worst that could happen? It’s just trees. We’ll stick together, explore a little… maybe tell some ghost stories.”
Noah shot a sideways glance at Grayson, his expression a mix of hesitation and excitement. Steven looked thoughtful, weighing the risks against the thrill. Liam, as usual, seemed ready for anything.
Grayson hesitated. He knew it was a bad idea, but the spark of curiosity in everyone’s eyes was impossible to ignore. He always ended up making the call, and this time was no different.
“This is the worst way you could have possibly ruined the vibe” he said. “But, if we’re careful…”
Everett grinned, clapping his hands together. “That’s what I’m talking about! Let’s go!”
~ ~ ~
They set out from Steven’s house, their laughter and chatter carrying through the crisp autumn air. The straight road connected their homes like a thread through the neighbourhood, an easy path lined with trees whose golden leaves rustled in the breeze. From the entrance point, all the houses were on the left. It was really hard to confuse your own house with another.
Grayson walked at the front, his jacket’s constellation pattern glinting faintly in the sunlight. He kept his pace steady, pretending he wasn’t nervous. It’s fine… The Whispering Woods were close enough to see from here, their dark edges a stark contrast to the vibrant suburban streets.
“Hey, Grayson, don’t forget to save some courage for the woods,” Everett called, catching up to him. His blonde hair was short but untamed, a few locks sticking up as if to match his wild personality. Everett’s strides were quick and confident, as if he was leading an army rather than a group of kids on an adventure.
Grayson shot him a look. “I’ve got plenty. You, on the other hand, might want to save some for the ghosts you’re so excited to meet.”
Behind them, Noah snorted. He walked with a relaxed swagger, his steel-coated boots making a satisfying crunch against the pavement. “If ghosts exist, I’ll just outrun them. Easy.” He spun his Nintendo around in his hands absentmindedly, the screen flickering as he fiddled with it. “Unless they’re gamers. Then we’re doomed.”
Steven adjusted his glasses, glancing at Noah with an exasperated shake of his head. “You can’t outrun ghosts. Theoretically, they’d be faster, assuming their form has no mass.” His glasses caught the sunlight, giving him his natural authoritative look - a vibe that matched his slim, yet tall frame.
“Maybe we can ask them for tips,” Liam chimed in, falling into step beside Steven. His brown hair flopped into his eyes as he grinned. “You know, if they’re not too busy haunting the woods.”
“You mean if they don’t run away first,” Tristan said, his voice laced with mock seriousness. He pulled his jacket tighter around his shoulders as a breeze kicked up. The rich green fabric seemed to catch the light, making him look more put-together than he probably intended. “If anyone’s got reason to be scared, it’s the ghosts. We’re a nightmare squad.”
Everett glanced back, his grin spreading wide. “See? That’s the spirit, Tristan! Stick with me, and we’ll be legends.”
The group’s laughter rippled through the air as they passed familiar landmarks: the faded yellow signpost marking the community park, the local bakery with its shuttered windows, and the ivy-covered brick wall that everyone in the neighbourhood had tried to climb at least once.
The road started to dip, the suburban sprawl giving way to open land. The towering silhouette of the Whispering Woods grew clearer with each step, its dense trees dark and foreboding even in daylight.
“Almost there,” Everett announced, pointing ahead. His tone was triumphant, but the rest of the group was starting to fall quiet. The air seemed to change as they got closer, colder and heavier, as if the woods were breathing them in.
At last, the road ended at a dirt path, marked by an old oak fence. The wood was gnarled and weathered, the planks lashed together with rusting iron bands. A sign hung crookedly on the fence, the paint faded but still legible:
"Go at your own risk."
For a moment, no one spoke. Grayson reached out, running a hand over the rough surface of the fence. His stomach churned, but he didn’t pull back.
“Well, this is inviting,” Noah said, breaking the silence. He shoved his Nintendo into his pocket and stepped closer, peering at the sign as if it might reveal some hidden clue.
“Everett,” Tristan muttered, his voice unusually quiet, “this is starting to feel less like an adventure and more like a bad idea.”
Everett turned to face them, spreading his arms in mock grandeur. “Guys, this is the line between boring and mythical. And guess what? We’re crossing it.”
Grayson looked at the others. Liam was fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, Steven was deep in thought, and Noah was pretending to look cool but had an unmistakable glint of nervousness in his eyes. Sketchy, but there was a definite tone of wonder and curiosity laced within the fear.
“Ok,” Grayson said finally, his voice firm. “This could easily be between the best and the worst experience we’ll probably ever face, but in the face of the odds,” a grin, “I think this might be a chance worth gambling.”
Everett’s grin widened as he stepped forward and swung the gate open. The rusty hinges groaned like a warning, but none of them turned back. Too late anyways.