Y/N's heart thundered in her chest, each beat a deafening drum against the overwhelming silence of terror. The creature loomed larger with every second, an unnatural abomination that defied comprehension. Its elongated body writhed as it advanced, eight grotesque, spindly legs slicing through the dirt like knives. The glow of its hollow, malevolent eyes burned into her mind, searing through the fog of her panic. It was impossible to look away, as if the very act of staring at it was some primal compulsion born of fear and revulsion.

Her stomach churned violently, threatening rebellion. She clasped a trembling hand over her mouth, but the visceral reaction wouldn't subside. The creature's twisted head hung upside down, moving in a jerky, sickening rhythm that defied every natural law. A gnarled, spined appendage twitched unnervingly, its movements unpredictable and alien. Y/N felt the air leave her lungs in a sharp gasp as the realization set in-they couldn't fight this thing.

Behind her, the group was frozen in shock, the weight of the nightmare sapping their ability to act. Logan's voice cracked the stillness, trembling as he gasped, "What is that thing?" His wide eyes darted between the monstrosity and the jeep, as if seeking some kind of reassurance that didn't exist.

Y/N's voice slipped out in a breathless stammer, her fear making her tone sharper than she intended. "I-I don't know, but it's coming right at us!"

Ashlyn's knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel, the jeep bouncing over uneven terrain. "Can this thing go any faster?!" Y/N cried out, her voice edged with rising hysteria. Her gaze flicked between the dashboard and the monstrosity that seemed to gain on them with every passing second.

"I'm trying!" Ashlyn's voice cracked, raw and strained, as she wrestled with the wheel, her body tense, locked in a fight-or-flight grip. Sweat beaded on her brow, and every bump in the road seemed to push her closer to breaking.

Y/N turned her attention back to the creature, bile rising in her throat. Its misshapen form moved faster, the skittering of its many legs a maddening sound that sent a chill racing down her spine.

"...There's no way any of our lights are strong enough to do any real damage to that thing..." Tyler's voice trembled, panic threading through every word.

"We're dead," Y/N whispered, her breath shallow and shaky. "We're dead if that thing catches us." The words hung in the air like a grim truth, one she couldn't escape.

Logan clutched the shotgun, his hands trembling. "Should I-should I try shooting it?" he asked, his voice shaky but loud enough to cut through the tension.

"Not yet!" Ashlyn barked. Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, then to the path ahead. "We could end up attracting!"

"More?" Y/N's voice rose, panic flaring as she shot a disbelieving look at Ashlyn. "There could be more of those things?!"

The jeep jolted violently as Ashlyn veered to avoid a sudden dip in the terrain. Up ahead, the landscape shifted dramatically. Towering rock pillars loomed out of the darkness, jagged and ancient, their surfaces warped by time and weather into twisted, almost grotesque shapes. The moonlight cast long, eerie shadows across the barren ground, distorting the already surreal environment into something straight out of a nightmare.

"Ashlyn, we need to turn around! We're going to end up lost and run into more of these things!" Tyler exclaimed, his voice sharp with urgency.

"I know, I know!" Ashlyn snapped, her knuckles white as she gripped the wheel, forcing the jeep forward over the treacherous terrain. Her eyes darted to the towering rock formations ahead, her thoughts racing. "Those pillars look wide- if I were to circle around one, would it be enough to block the phantom while we turn?" The idea was reckless, but desperation clawed at her, pushing her to act.

Y/N whipped her head toward Ashlyn, voice tight with urgency. "What's the plan?"

Ashlyn's knuckles tightened around the wheel. "The pillars. If I can weave through them, maybe it'll lose us-or slow down. It's risky, but it's all we've got."

"That's insane!" Tyler shouted, his voice raw with fear. "If you screw up, we're done for!"

"Then you'd better hang on," Ashlyn snapped, her voice a brittle edge of tension. "Unless you've got a better idea?"

The creature's presence was overwhelming, a suffocating force that twisted Y/N's stomach into knots. It was as if its very existence drained the strength from her limbs, leaving her weak and breathless. She glanced back, and instantly, regret gripped her. The creature was closer now, its hollow eyes fixed on the jeep, its movements erratic and unnervingly fast, closing the distance between them with relentless pursuit.

"Ashlyn, whatever you're gonna do, do it now!" Y/N screamed, her heart racing as the monstrous hybrid closed in.

"Hold on!" Ashlyn shouted, yanking the wheel hard to the side. The jeep lurched violently, tires screeching as she aimed for the nearest pillar. The creature twisted unnaturally, adjusting its course. It bore down on them with terrifying speed.

Y/N clutched the edge of her seat, her knuckles white, eyes locked on the looming rock formation. For a split second, everything seemed to freeze-the creature's pursuit, the bouncing of the jeep, the desperate gasps of her friends. Then, with a sickening lurch, they plunged toward the pillar, clinging to the faint, desperate hope that Ashlyn's gamble might save them.

Y/N's heart pounded against her chest as her eyes locked onto the back window, her breath catching in her throat. The creature was there-its jagged appendages scraping across the terrain like claws on a chalkboard, a grotesque silhouette against the darkened landscape. The air seemed to tremble with its presence. Y/N's stomach twisted in knots, dread gripping her like a vice. The creature's hollow, black eyes bore into the back of the jeep, its unnatural speed closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

"Ashlyn, turn right!" Y/N shouted, panic thick in her voice. Her hands gripped the seat in front of her as she stared, wide-eyed, at the creature's nightmarish form. The appendages gleamed with an unnatural, predatory sheen, sharp enough to shred anything in their path. "NOW, Ashlyn! TURN!"

But the words barely left her mouth before it was too late.

The jeep lurched violently, Y/N's body slamming against the side as the phantom centipede struck with blinding speed. Her breath was stolen from her as the creature's claws scraped along the left side, the sickening crunch of metal grinding against metal reverberating in her ears. The force threw her back into her seat, and her heart skipped a beat, fear clawing at her insides.

"GAH!" Tyler's shout filled the air as the shockwave of the impact sent him careening sideways, his body jerking before he narrowly avoided the centipede's next strike. His hand reached out instinctively, barely managing to steady himself against the chaotic shaking of the jeep. A jagged dent marred the door where the creature had struck, its presence almost suffocating.

"Is everyone okay?!" Ashlyn's voice cracked, her desperation bleeding through as she fought to regain control of the vehicle. Her knuckles were white against the steering wheel, sweat beading on her forehead. The jeep swerved again, narrowly avoiding another attack, but the road ahead seemed to twist and bend with no reprieve.

"The door's banged up pretty bad, but we're fine!" Tyler shouted, voice hoarse as he shifted closer to Taylor, his eyes flicking nervously to the rearview. His breath came fast, shallow, his gaze still locked on the phantom's relentless pursuit. The sound of its claws scraping against the earth was deafening, like nails on a blackboard, a constant reminder of their only choice-run.

Y/N tried to sit up, her wrist throbbing as pain flared through her body. Her heart still raced from the close call. Her hand instinctively pressed against her side, but Logan's eyes were already on her, filled with concern. Before either of them could speak, the jeep jerked again, and the sudden force sent both Y/N and Logan slamming into the side, the cold, unforgiving metal biting into her skin as she braced herself. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, the air stolen from her lungs.

The engine roared as Ashlyn swerved to avoid a massive boulder that seemed to materialize out of nowhere, but the rough terrain only made the situation worse. The jeep bounced violently, sending them all ricocheting in their seats. "These freaking rocks and roots!" Ashlyn cursed through gritted teeth, her voice strained with frustration as they were forced to fight the unforgiving path beneath them.

The phantom's relentless pursuit echoed through the jeep's chassis, each jolt mirroring the frantic rhythm of Y/N's pounding heart. Her breaths came in shallow bursts, chest tightening as fear clawed at her with every passing second. The creature was closing in, its sinister presence bearing down on them like an unbearable weight.

Another sharp swerve. The jeep lurched violently, and Y/N's stomach twisted as everything seemed to slow for a fleeting moment. Her gaze darted to the others, their backs hunched and gripping whatever they could to steady themselves. Though she couldn't see their faces, the tension in their bodies said everything-the same terror constricted all of them like a vice. Behind them, the centipede's grotesque silhouette loomed, its massive form devouring the dim light, a chilling reminder of their fragility.

The jeep bucked again, wheels spinning on the uneven ground as it fought for traction. Each jarring impact sent shockwaves through Y/N's body, making it harder to think, harder to breathe. The chaos swallowed everything but one singular thought: survival.

Through the haze, Y/N's blurred vision flickered as she struggled to steady herself. Her body was still reeling from the chaos of the jeep's violent swerving, but her eyes locked onto Tyler, his hair whipping wildly as he braced himself against his seat. Her heart raced in her chest, and her ears faintly picked up the sound of the door's latch clicking, signaling that the safety mechanism had engaged.

The warmth of Tyler's embrace, something Y/N never thought she'd feel, lingered even now. The memory of his soft, steady presence surrounded her, an anchor in the storm of everything that had just happened. She could still recall the feeling of his arms around her, her own breath ragged, her face wet with tears as she clung to him in desperation. It was the last touch, the last connection she had. And now, all of it was slipping away.

Then, the door's latch clicked open, pulling Y/N's attention back to the present. Her pulse spiked, her body tensing. She saw Tyler's eyes widen, panic flashing across his face as the reality of their situation hit him. It all happened so fast-a violent jerk of the jeep, his body slamming against the door, and then the force of the impact sent him hurtling out of the vehicle.

The world seemed to freeze in that moment. Y/N's breath caught in her throat. It was as though everything slowed down, and she was unable to comprehend what had just happened. Her heart thudded in her chest, too loud, too fast. Tyler... Tyler was gone.

"TYLER!!" Taylor screamed, her voice cracking in desperation, the rawness of her pain cutting through the night air. Her hand shot out, as if trying to reach him, but it was already too late. Tyler was slipping further away, vanishing into the darkness, his body consumed by the creature's unblinking eyes.

"Ashlyn, stop the jeep!" Y/N screamed, panic rising in her chest. She struggled to sit up, her mind racing. She needed them to stop. They needed to go back. They had to save him.

"What-Are you crazy?!" Ashlyn shouted back, her voice thick with disbelief.

"YES!" Y/N's voice cracked with raw emotion, trembling as she fought to be heard. "PLEASE, ASHLYN!"

Taylor's voice broke in desperation. "GO BACK, ASHLYN! GO BACK!" Her plea was deafening, a desperate cry into the night, but it felt like the words couldn't reach them.

"I can't!" Ashlyn's voice was thick with regret, the strain evident as her hands gripped the wheel, unwilling to stop.

Y/N was in shock, her mind a whirlwind of disbelief. She shook her head in denial, each second that passed making it harder to breathe. She moved toward the window area of the trunk, her body stiff, as she watched Tyler slip further away. Her hand shot out instinctively, fingers trembling, but it was useless. Her voice cracked as she screamed, raw and desperate, "Please... Please... please..." The words caught in her throat, fading into the wind, her heart breaking with the truth that she couldn't reach him. The world felt like it was falling away, the distance between them too great. Tyler... Tyler was gone.

Logan's arms wrapped around her, steadying her trembling form, but she couldn't focus on him. Her body shook as she fought to break free, but his grip was firm, like a lifeline she couldn't escape. His voice was a whisper, distant yet heavy with sorrow. "Y/N... it's too late," he murmured. But she couldn't hear him. She couldn't hear anything. All that filled her mind was the image of Tyler's terrified face, his body disappearing into the abyss, and the silence that followed. The weight of the moment slammed into her like a cold wave, drowning everything else. Tyler was gone. Gone.

"No..." Y/N's voice was barely a whisper, fragile, consumed by the emptiness that surrounded her. She lowered her head, the weight of the reality settling into her chest like lead. Her body trembled, and she felt the cold sting of tears pricking at her eyes. "It's not..."

But her heart refused to accept it. The truth was undeniable, but her heart was too broken to let go.

Her eyes fell unfocused, her vision blurry as the grief overtook her. Her sobs racked her body, each breath shaky as the images of Tyler's fall replayed in her mind-his face, the shock in his eyes, the sickening thud of his body slamming into the ground. It was as if the memory was etched into her very soul, each repetition of it a fresh wound tearing her apart.

"It can't be..." she whispered, her voice breaking under the weight of her guilt. The words felt small, useless, and yet they held all the pain she couldn't express. She had failed him. She couldn't protect him. She couldn't save him.

Logan's grip tightened around her, pulling her closer. His arms weren't just trying to steady her-they were trying to hold her together, to give her something to anchor to in this storm of grief. His voice was thick with sorrow but gentle, warm, trying to comfort her in the way only he knew how. "Y/N, it wasn't your fault."

But the words didn't reach her. The guilt had taken root, suffocating her, drowning out everything else. She couldn't hear him. The jeep lurched forward, the ground beneath them uneven, but to Y/N, it all felt like nothing. Like the world had stopped turning.

Nearby, Taylor struggled against Ben's hold, her body wracked with panic. "Let me go!" she screamed, her voice breaking in anguish. "We can't just leave him! We can't!"

Ben's face was pale, his usual calm demeanor shattered as he tried to keep Taylor restrained. He, too, was breaking, his heart torn just like hers. They all were.

They couldn't undo what had already happened.

Tyler....

What do I do now...?



Finally! I'm done!

Season One is officially wrapped up! Yeah, I know I ended at episode 47 instead of 48, but honestly, I kind of lost track. Anyway, I finally kept the one-year promise I made to myself. So, here it is-time for a Q&A! Whether you guessed it or not, I've been planning this for a while. I'm exhausted, but I'm ready to dive in!

Ask away! Whatever you've been wondering about me, the characters, or the story itself, I'm here for it. I might not be able to answer everything, but I'll do my best to cover as much as I can. Let's turn this Q&A into a little celebration of everything we've been through together!

Also, I know some of you might be a bit disappointed with how things turned out, but hey, I stick with my ideas. Honestly, I didn't see how Y/N falling out of the car would've worked. I totally get why it would've been an interesting twist, but in my mind, Tyler and Taylor's bond is super strong and unbreakable. With their history, I just didn't see them being separated like that when they were together. Tyler is incredibly protective of Taylor, and he'd do anything to keep her safe.

Huge thanks to all of you for the awesome comments and suggestions, especially as we got closer to the end. I really appreciate all of your thoughts. To show my thanks, I'm planning an alternate ending. It won't be exactly like the original, but I'll make it worth it and hopefully not disappoint those who were hoping for a different twist. Just need a little time to work it out.

Thanks again for all your support! I really hope you keep reading and enjoying the story. I'm gonna keep doing my best to make it a great experience for everyone! ❤️❤️❤️