The Last Message

Characters:

• Aarav: The calm and logical one, usually the peacemaker.
• Ishaan: The hot-headed, quick-to-react member of the group.
• Meera: Witty, sharp, and fiercely independent, with a soft side.
• Riya: The heart of the group, warm and empathetic, hiding a secret.
• Group Chat: Mystic Valley Squad — Named after their college trip to the mysterious Mist Valley.

📱 WhatsApp Group Chat: Mystic Valley Squad

Aarav: Guys, weekend meetup? It’s been too long.

Ishaan: Finally! I was starting to think y'all vanished like ghosts.

Meera: Ghosts? Are we still stuck on Mist Valley stories? 😂

Riya: Don't start, Meera... you know what happened that night.

Ishaan: Oh, come on! There's no proof anything weird happened.

Aarav: Let's not go down that rabbit hole again. Meetup or no?

Meera: I’m in. Aarav’s place?

Ishaan: Works for me. Saturday night?

Riya: …Not sure. Might be busy.

Ishaan: Busy again? What's going on, Riya?

Meera: Yeah, you’ve been distant lately. Everything okay?

Riya: Just... stuff. I’ll try to come.

📱 Private Chat: Aarav & Riya

Aarav: Hey, you okay? You’ve seemed off lately.

Riya: I’m fine. Just tired.

Aarav: You know you can talk to me, right?

Riya: I know... thanks, Aarav. You’ve always been sweet.

Aarav: Maybe after the meetup, we can take a walk? Just us?

Riya: I’d like that. 😊

📱 Private Chat: Ishaan & Meera

Ishaan: Why is Riya acting weird again?

Meera: Maybe because you’re always pushing her to explain everything.

Ishaan: Seriously? You’re taking her side now?

Meera: It’s not about sides, Ishaan. Not everything’s a fight.

Ishaan: Whatever. You always think you’re right.

Meera: Maybe because I usually am. 🙄

📱 Group Chat: Mystic Valley Squad

Aarav: Chill, guys. Don’t start another war.

Ishaan: Meera started it!

Meera: Classic Ishaan—always blaming someone else.

Riya: Can we not do this tonight? Please.

Aarav: Let’s focus on Saturday. 7 PM, my place.

Riya: Okay… I’ll be there.

Saturday Night - 11:32 PM

📱 Group Chat: Mystic Valley Squad

Aarav: Where are you, Riya? We’ve been waiting.

Meera: Yeah, you said you’d come.

Ishaan: Don’t tell me you ghosted us for real.

Riya: Sorry, I can’t make it. Something came up.

Aarav: Everything okay? Need a ride?

Riya: No… I just… I need to go back to Mist Valley.

Meera: WHAT? Why would you go there at night??

Ishaan: Is this a joke, Riya? It’s dangerous out there!

Riya: I have to find out the truth. About that night. About what happened to Maya.

Flashback

A year ago, the group had visited Mist Valley for a weekend trip. On the last night, Riya’s cousin, Maya, had wandered into the woods and vanished without a trace. Despite search parties and investigations, Maya was never found. But Riya had always felt that the valley still held answers.

📱 Private Chat: Aarav & Riya

Aarav: Riya, don’t do this alone. I’m coming to get you. Where are you?

Riya: Please don’t. I need to do this myself. There’s something… calling me back. I’ve been dreaming about it. About her.

Aarav: Riya, this isn’t safe. Listen to me—

Riya: Goodbye, Aarav.

Aarav: Riya!!!

📱 Group Chat: Mystic Valley Squad

Aarav: She’s gone to Mist Valley. I’m going after her.

Ishaan: WHAT?! At this hour? It’s dangerous!

Meera: I’m coming with you.

Ishaan: Me too. I’m not letting you two go alone.

Mist Valley - 1:07 AM

Fog clung to the trees like ghostly fingers as Aarav, Meera, and Ishaan made their way through the woods. Their flashlights cut thin beams through the darkness, but the silence pressed in around them. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, but beneath it lingered something… older.

Aarav: Riya!

Meera: Riya, where are you?

Suddenly, a faint light flickered through the trees—a distant lantern swaying between the branches.

Ishaan: Is that her?

Meera: I don’t know... it’s moving too fast.

They broke into a run, dodging roots and branches as they chased the light deeper into the forest. The ground sloped downward, and soon the fog thickened until they could barely see a foot ahead. The distant hum of whispers floated through the air—indistinct but growing louder.

📱 Private Chat: Riya & ???

???: You’ve come back to us...

Riya: Who are you?

???: One who watches. One who waits.

Riya: Where is Maya?

???: She never left.

Aarav: Riya, step away from the tree!

But as he moved toward her, the ground beneath his feet seemed to vanish. The fog twisted into shapes—faces with hollow eyes and mouths open in silent screams.

Meera: Aarav! Watch out!

Ishaan: This place is cursed! We need to leave NOW!

Riya turned to them, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t leave her here… I have to bring her back!”

Final Mystery Climax:

Suddenly, the earth trembled. The oak’s branches twisted as if reaching for Riya. Before anyone could react, a shadow emerged from the mist—tall and draped in tattered black, its face hidden beneath a hood. It raised a skeletal hand toward Riya.

Aarav lunged, grabbing her wrist. “Come with me!”

But Riya hesitated. The shadow’s voice echoed inside her mind: “Stay, and she will return.”

Meera: “Don’t listen to it!”

Ishaan: “It’s lying!”

Riya’s eyes locked with Aarav’s. In that moment, all the unsaid words between them hung in the air. His grip tightened.

“I can’t lose you,” he whispered.

For a heartbeat, the world held its breath—then Riya stepped back.

“No… I have to do this.”

The shadow enveloped her in its cloak. The fog surged, swallowing her whole. Aarav shouted her name as Meera and Ishaan pulled him back. The earth cracked beneath the oak, and with a final, thunderous roar, the tree split apart—spewing light and shadow into the sky.

Then... silence.

Riya was gone.

Epilogue - One Year Later

📱 Group Chat: Mystic Valley Squad

Aarav: Still no sign of her…

Meera: I miss her every day.

Ishaan: We should never have let her go alone.

Aarav: …Sometimes, I still hear her voice in my dreams.

📱 Private Chat: Aarav & Riya

Aarav: Wherever you are… I’ll find you.

Riya: Don’t come looking. I’m part of the valley now.

Aarav: Riya?! Is that really you?!

Riya: Some doors, once opened, can never be closed.

Seen at 3:17 AM