Afterword:

This middle-grade horror short story was inspired by my love for classic summer-camp horror tales, especially the cult slasher movie Sleepaway Camp and the wonderfully creepy camp-themed books by R. L. Stine. Both capture that eerie mix of childhood adventure, mystery, and nightmare that makes summer camps the perfect setting for spooky stories.

I wanted to take that familiar, sunny camp atmosphere and twist it into something darker and more surreal, where the laughter and games slowly give way to something sinister hiding in the woods. Just like in Sleepaway Camp and Stine’s Goosebumps or Fear Street series, the idea was to blend nostalgia, humor, and terror into one chilling campfire tale.

So next time you pack your bags for camp… maybe take a second look at your cabinmates.