The Perfect Prank

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting silvery fingers of light through the tangled web of tree branches overhead. The woods, alive with the sounds of crickets and rustling leaves, stretched out in every direction like an endless labyrinth of shadows. It was the perfect setting for a spooky season hike, and Julia Wells couldn’t have asked for a better night—or a better opportunity.

“Spooky season, folks! Embrace it,” Jay declared, as he walked ahead, hands tucked in the pockets of his hoodie. His voice carried a little too loudly through the otherwise silent woods. Julia smirked, knowing he was trying to keep the mood light. Jay always did that—pretended he wasn’t scared when, deep down, he was probably the most jumpy of the group.

Kierra shot him a skeptical look, her eyes scanning the dark trail ahead. “Jay, I swear if anything jumps out at us, I’m using you as a human shield.”

Jay scoffed, but Julia could see the way his shoulders tensed slightly. “Please, I’m not scared of anything out here. It’s just trees and squirrels. Maybe a raccoon, if we’re lucky.”

Julia, walking right behind them, tried her best to look casual as she suppressed a grin. She had been planning this for weeks, ever since the three of them had decided to take a late-night hike to celebrate the Halloween season. The woods behind their small town were infamous for ghost stories, and she knew her friends were a mix of excited and nervous about being out there at night. So, naturally, she had decided to have some fun with them.

She waited until they were a good mile into the woods, where the trail became narrower and the trees clustered together so tightly that it felt like they were closing in. Then, with the lightest step, she veered off to the side, careful not to make any noise. She bent down, grabbed a fallen twig, and snapped it sharply.

Crack.

Kierra stopped mid-stride, her head whipping around so fast that her ponytail swung out. “Did you hear that?” she hissed, grabbing Jay’s arm.

Jay turned, squinting into the darkness behind them. “Yeah, I heard it. Probably just a squirrel or something.”

Kierra’s eyes remained wide, her grip on Jay’s arm tightening. “Squirrels don’t make noises that loud.”

Jay shrugged, though Julia could tell he was trying hard to keep his cool. “Or maybe it was, like, a deer. Or a branch falling. Chill, Kierra.”

Julia kept her face neutral as she joined them, pretending to scan the trees as if she were just as confused. “Guys, it’s nothing. Don’t freak out yet.” But inside, she was grinning like a maniac. They had no idea what she was up to.

The trio continued down the trail, the soft crunch of leaves underfoot the only sound. Julia waited until their conversation picked up again, until they seemed to forget the noise from earlier. She then pursed her lips and let out a soft, ghostly whistle. It was a delicate sound, the kind that could have easily been mistaken for the wind, except for the way it seemed to echo just a bit too long.

Kierra froze. She turned to Jay, eyes wide. “Okay, tell me you heard that.”

Jay paused, his brow furrowing. “I… yeah, I heard it. But it’s probably—”

“I swear, if you say ‘the wind,’ I’m leaving you here,” Kierra snapped. “Wind doesn’t sound like that.”

Julia bit her lip to keep from laughing, making sure to keep her face serious. “Hey, maybe it’s an owl? They make weird noises, right?” she suggested, feigning innocence.

Kierra didn’t look convinced, but she let out a sigh and kept walking. “I swear, I’m gonna end up on one of those true crime podcasts—‘Three Friends Lost in the Woods.’”

“Yeah, except I’ll be the survivor,” Jay said with a smirk. “I’ll make sure they tell your story.”

Kierra smacked his arm. “Not funny.”

Julia pretended to be deep in thought, giving herself time to compose her next move. As they walked further into the woods, the trees seemed to thicken, and the air grew colder. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting eerie shadows that danced as the wind picked up. She waited until they were passing a particularly large tree, then dragged a stick slowly along its bark, creating a long, drawn-out scratch that echoed unnaturally in the quiet.

Kierra jumped, her flashlight beam swinging wildly as she spun around. “Okay, what was that?” she whispered.

Jay’s eyes darted around, his confidence starting to waver. “I… I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure it’s just animals, okay? The woods are full of them.”

Kierra wasn’t buying it. “Julia, are you hearing this?”

Julia gave an exaggerated shrug. “I mean, yeah, but it’s like Jay said, right? Animals.” She made sure her voice sounded as casual as possible, but her heart was racing with excitement. They were falling for it perfectly.

Kierra’s eyes darted from Jay to Julia and back to the trees. “I don’t like this. What if it’s, like, a bear?”

Jay groaned. “If it was a bear, we’d have bigger problems. We’d hear it, not just weird noises like that.”

Julia’s grin grew wider. “Or maybe it’s one of those forest spirits. You know, the ones they talk about in the old town legends?”

Jay shot her a look. “Not helping, Julia.”

Kierra swallowed hard. “Yeah, and not funny. Let’s just keep moving. The sooner we get out of here, the better.”

The trail twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the forest. The moonlight barely pierced through the dense canopy now, and their flashlights cut thin beams through the dark. Julia slowed her pace, letting her friends get just a bit ahead of her. She found a spot hidden behind some thick bushes and crouched down, waiting.

She picked up a handful of dry leaves and crumpled them loudly. Then, just for good measure, she whispered in a low, breathy voice, “Kierraaaa…”

Kierra let out a shriek and stumbled back into Jay, nearly knocking them both over. “Okay, that is not funny! Who’s doing that?”

Jay held up his flashlight, his eyes searching the darkness. “I don’t know, but we’re not alone.”

Julia almost lost it right there, covering her mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. She watched as Jay and Kierra huddled together, their flashlights darting around like they were on a paranormal investigation show.

“This is why I hate woods at night,” Kierra muttered, clutching Jay’s arm.

“Hey, if something’s out there, I’ll fight it off,” Jay said, puffing up his chest. It might have been more convincing if his hands weren’t shaking slightly.

Julia crept out from her hiding spot, moving silently through the brush until she was just a few feet behind them. She waited for the perfect moment, and then she let out a long, echoing groan.

Jay and Kierra screamed simultaneously. Jay spun around, flashlight shaking, while Kierra’s eyes were so wide Julia thought they might pop out of her head. “Nope. Nope. Nope!” Kierra practically dragged Jay forward, nearly tripping over roots as they bolted down the trail.

Julia couldn’t hold it in any longer. She burst out laughing, doubling over as she watched them stumble and panic. “Oh my God! Wait, wait—guys, stop!”

Jay and Kierra stopped, turning around in confusion. Kierra’s face was a mix of terror and irritation. “Julia, what the hell?”

Julia was still laughing, tears forming in her eyes. “It was me! It was me the whole time! The noises, the whispers—everything!”

For a moment, there was silence. Kierra stared at her, mouth open in shock. Jay blinked, processing her words. “You—wait, you were doing all of that?”

Julia nodded, wiping her eyes. “Yeah, and you two are way too easy to scare!”

Kierra’s face turned red. “I knew it! I knew it was you! Oh my God, I’m going to kill you!”

Jay crossed his arms, though he couldn’t hide the smile breaking through. “I was this close to calling the police, you know. Or a priest.”

Julia finally stood up straight, still grinning from ear to ear. “Worth it. Totally worth it. Your faces were priceless.”

Kierra, despite herself, started to laugh too. “You are the worst. I mean, you got us good, but I was about ready to run all the way home.”

Jay shook his head, smiling. “Next time, you’re walking in front. We’ll see how brave you are then.”

Julia winked. “Oh, I’m not scared of anything.” But as they all started walking back down the trail together, their laughter echoing through the night, she couldn’t help but feel a tiny chill. After all, it was spooky season—who knew what might really be lurking in the woods?