<aside> 🌆 Two weeks have passed since the incident in the Pinegrove Caves. Natasha has recovered enough to be fully mobile, and the team's time at Camp Pinegrove comes to an end. Classes resume, and warm summer nights slowly shift to brisk autumn mornings. Junior year begins! But things are far from settled- A new supernatural rumor is spreading through the school like wildfire: A student has gone missing after they attempted a new ritual challenge. Meanwhile, June is back from vacation, and with her a new friendly face in tow.
</aside>
MIRROR CHALLENGE: Stand in a dimly lit room with a mirror and stare at your reflection. After 5 minutes, your reflection will start smiling evilly and moving on its own.
A dark, dimly lit room. Six hooded figures stand in a circle speaking in hushed tones. A few minutes pass. In bursts a figure holding a large, printed-out photograph. The hooded figures stop speaking.
“Sorry for barging in,” says the one holding the photograph. “We just have some urgent news.”
“Well, then spit it out,” the figure farthest from the door says gruffly. ”Right, right.” The man holding the photo pauses for a moment. “I don’t know how to explain this… but here.” He hands the figure the photograph, long, bony hands extending from beneath the cloak to grab the photo. We see it’s labeled AUGUST 7TH, 2023, CAMP PINEGROVE. The photo details a blinding orange pillar of light coming directly from the center of the Quarry.
“We’ve never seen a Believer make its mark quite like… this,” the uncloaked man says.
“Yes… oh… this is going to be very… interesting.” We hear the man leave and the hooded figures resume, but much louder, clearly excited by the news.
“EVERYONE! Quiet down, if we are to continue our work, we must keep attuning to the Heart.”
Pure silence as the cloaked figures lock hands. Every hand in the room is emblazoned with the same tattoo: A bloodshot eye being held open by chains. We fade into:
A teenage girl’s room. Posters of Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, and Billie Eilish cover the walls. A group of girls are throwing a slumber party. They laugh, throw pillows at each other, and share secrets. Near the end of the night, one girl perks up.
“I know what we should do!”
“What?” another girl, the host of the sleepover, yawns.
“We should try the Mirror Challenge!”
“C’mon Haze, it’s late. Can we do something else?”
The other girls seem interested in this Mirror Challenge, and are disappointed when the girl shuts them down.
“Seriously, Amelia? Just try it… it’s not like it’s real, anyway.”
“Ugh, fine. Whatever. Who’s gonna do it first, then?”