The Ritual (Preview)

It was on a Sunday night that I was camping, not by myself but with a group of kids. Why am I here? Well, I'm glad you asked my friend, there's no other way I can explain it... I go to a camping club. It's my first time camping. So far I like it. We found this base point about ten minutes ago. As it was already dark, we had to go to our camps and sleep. I have a buddy sleeping in the same tent as me. His name is Meraaj, I feel like he's sort of a weirdo...

I awoke to the sound of Meraaj shouting at me that it is breakfast." What do you guys have for breakfast anyway? There better be something I like otherwise I'm not eating!" I yawned.

"Well, someones been having a moody sleep last night haven't they? Well, there are eggs with beans and bread, Coco Pops, Rice Crispies and chocolate spread on toast. Ooh, sand! I like sand; it's squishy!" Meraaj drifted off. Told you. I put on my suitable garments and came out of the tent. This could be a chance to make some more friends. I made myself some egg, beans (with pepper sprinkled on top) and soldier bread (strips of bread). I sat at the same table as Meraaj as he is the only friend I've got and could make more friends through him as there were boys he was talking to. I slowly sat down on my seat." 'Ello there mate! The name's Junayd. I hope you have a lovely few days at Woodland Camps!" he spat at me.

" Oh hello there and my name is Jake and you can call me Jake! What's your name exactly?" he asked politely.

" M-my name is H-Harris. Tha-thank you for asking..." I stuttered. I couldn't control myself, I was scared!! I don't know why though. They were welcoming people.

Later that day, we went to go fetch some sticks, rocks and shale outcrops for each person. Each child had to collect one of those specific items. Everyone came back one by one. After getting these very items; we learnt how to make a campfire with them. 99% of the camp-mates were able to do it and I was the remaining one per cent. All I had to do was to make a pile of rocks and sticks. Take one stick and slide the whole shale outcrop rapidly! 3... 2... 1... Nothing! Let me try one more time. I MADE IT!!! I was finally done. Everyone cheered for me. Man, I want to come here next summer.

Jake dared all of us (meaning me, Junayd, Meraaj and himself) to go out to the forest at eighteen hundred hours. Hours later, it was finally 6 pm. We set out to finish off the dare once and for all. It was dead dark because the canopies were hiding the moon, making the light worthless to us. We got our torches out and they flickered to life at once.

" Do you know da wae?" Jake asked. Silence followed. " You lot do not know da wae. I shall show you da wae. Follow me!" Jake said in a strange accent.

" What was the dare again?" asked Meraaj, I have forgotten too, in fact, everyone has except for Jake.

" It is to go somewhere extremely dark in the forest and stay there for a bit and wait for somethin' weird to happen!" Jake explained.

" I now regret coming here with you people. Thanks, Jake," cried Junayd.

We later found a pitch-black, eerie spot where we stayed as Jake said. So far, nothing strange happened. We switched off our lights to make anonymous, strange creatures welcome as they probably didn't like the light. I then saw Meraaj fidgeting a lot around the grass. " Meraaj, yeah you! What are you exactly doing?" I asked curiously, wanting to know what on Earth he was doing.

" Wait for it... wait for it... done!... Jake, stand right there in the dead centre. Junayd, stand over there where that tree is. Finally, Harris, you stand there, next to the flower bed. (Now, I should stand here)!" Meraaj ordered. Only then I saw what he drew... He drew Illuminati!!!

We then heard a rumble. " Hold your horses! What's happening! Look, the lines of the Illuminati are starting glow and the ground is moving down!" shouted Junayd, petrified of what he was witnessing right now.

"Tanks-a-lot Meraaj!" said Jake.

" Hey, It's not my fault. You (Jake) said that we were waiting for something weird and freaky to happen!" cried Meraaj. There was an awkward silence... The ground stopped at a level that none of the moon's light could reach.

Chapter IV

It was pitch black...