Greg’s family was pretty secretive about it, which was weird, but that’s a story for another time. The drive there was long and uncomfortable. I had a runny nose and sneezed constantly, which annoyed Greg’s dad, who is afraid of germs. We had to take a ferry to the island, which was actually fun. The house was small but beautiful. Inside, I felt strangely detached from reality, almost like it existed in another world. The island had a dreamy quality, where everyone seemed to know each other, and people would say hello to Greg as we rode around. On the second day, I lost my Barcelona Snapback, and I was devastated because it meant so much to me as a soccer fan. Greg thought I had left it on the beach, but I was sure I had returned for it.

I ended up crying to Greg's dad, who told me not to let it ruin my trip. The next day, after riding all day, I realized one of the pens in my collection was missing. Jay said he had seen me with it, and I felt so devastated, seeing the loss as a great tragedy. I didn't want to cry anymore, so I pretended to be sick and stayed in bed. That night, I woke up at 3am and heard whispering. It was very faint, and I wasn't sure if I was dreaming. The whispering seemed to be coming from Mark's bunk bed, but I was too scared to say anything. I eventually ignored it and fell asleep. The next morning, I wanted to forget about the incident. While playing outside, Mark went to the bathroom and took a long time, which was normal for him. When I glanced back at the house, I saw Mark staring out the second floor window, which confused me because Greg's house didn't have a second floor bathroom.

I then pretended to be sick again to avoid dinner plans. As I lay in bed, I began to feel uneasy about Mark's behavior and whispering. I decided to investigate and searched Mark's bunk bed. I was shocked to find my Barcelona cap in his duffel bag, along with several personal items I hadn't realized were missing, including a pair of my underwear. When I dug deeper, I discovered Mark's notebook filled with scary drawings of monsters, violence, and sketches of me, including one of me missing a leg on a cross. The last page had four words that I will never forget: “I’ll do it tomorrow.” That evening, I confided in Greg’s dad about what I had found. He didn’t believe me until I showed him the notebook, which confused him greatly. He told me to put everything away, but I tore out a page before we left early because of a family emergency.

The car ride home was tense; I could feel Mark’s eyes on me. When I was dropped off, Greg’s dad warned me not to tell my parents anything because they were a close family. However, I broke down and told my parents everything when I got home. They immediately contacted the police, who took my torn page as evidence and obtained a search warrant for Mark’s notebook. Most of my belongings were returned except for the pen, which the police couldn’t find. After that, Mark disappeared and I never saw him or Greg again. I recently received an anonymous letter saying, “I remember everything,” along with my stolen pen. I am concerned about how Mark found out my address and why he is contacting me now. I am considering moving apartments and would love any advice regarding my situation.

My extended family is also quite strange, mostly gun enthusiasts or hunters. Instead of the usual vacations, we rent a large house in the woods every winter. This year, we chose a cabin in Vermont that looked like a castle because of its size. My relatives like to play strange games, especially shooting giant lasers in the woods. The winner gets a prize and bragging rights. When I turned 18, I finally got to participate. My uncle Lucian explained the rules and everyone scattered into the dark woods. I decided to go downhill, hoping to gain an advantage. As I went deeper, I spotted faint footprints leading to someone hiding behind a tree. I quickly ran uphill, thinking that someone might be trying to sneak up on me. Suddenly, I stumbled upon more footprints that looked suspicious.

As I continued to move, I heard someone fall nearby, urging me to return home. I saw my cousin Corbo walking calmly, and I successfully tagged him, feeling very excited. However, while waiting to catch the next person, I noticed that my marker suddenly flashed, indicating that I had been tagged. As I looked around, two strangers appeared with a man in a ski mask running towards me, holding a knife. I ran as fast as I could, screaming for help as they chased me. Luckily, I spotted Lucian coming to my aid with a shotgun. He fired shots into the air, sending the attackers running. Exhausted, I collapsed in the snow. The next morning, chaos ensued as we reported the incident to the police. A snowman appeared outside the house holding my aunt's missing laser gun, causing Lucian to angrily shoot at it.

It's only been a week, and I'll update if anything happens. When I was in college, I couldn't afford extravagant spring break trips, so I spent my first three years in school. During my senior year, I planned a trip with my girlfriend Ally and her friends to a secluded Airbnb in California. The location was remote but charming. The first night, we relaxed by the fireplace. The second night, we enjoyed the hot tub, but during our fun, a bright light went off, followed by strange sounds from the woods. Worried, I called everyone inside as someone pounded on the front door. While Calvin called the police, I prepared to defend us with a knife, lying that I had a gun. Things got worse when a rock smashed through the window, revealing a note stuck on it that said, "Go away, you shouldn't be here." The police arrived shortly after but found nothing. We decided to leave that night because we felt unsafe. The host refunded our money but did not want to discuss the incident.