The Big Book of Horrors. The Scariest Vacation (collection)

Zoyka Semenova didn’t even notice how she got herself into a terrible story. She, of all people—someone who her whole life believed that “being afraid is shameful!” First, new tenants appeared on their floor: a father with a teenage son. They seemed perfectly ordinary, but somehow pale—as if faded. Then Zoyka found a precious locket on the staircase. The thing belonged to the new neighbor—and of course the girl would return it to its owner if only he hadn’t suddenly disappeared. A few hours later, strange creatures began hunting Zoyka—ones that no one else can see… The whole world drowned in fog.

Valerka sat on an old pier, staring into the thick white haze… Then he heard a strange conversation, and after that he saw a boat left unattended. Where had its owner gone? And who would even dare to swim in a river in such weather?! Deciding to find answers, the boy learned: something very serious was happening. During the fog near their city, people disappear, and the special services haven’t found any trace of the missing yet. Valerka is afraid he knows who might disappear next…

This quiet place didn’t seem scary at all—it felt more like a garden than a cemetery. Thick trees, old marble slabs, vases with elegant stone flowers… Even upset Yulechka, who loved horror stories. Still, she wasn’t too upset, because summer vacation in France is the dream of any teenager! Yulya toured sights, chatted with friends, made acquaintance with local kids, and had a great time. She didn’t know that the ghosts of the old cemetery had already started paying attention to her…

How could something like that even happen? A moment ago Volodya was sitting next to his grandpa in a helicopter… and now he stands all alone in the dense, impassable thicket! And he has absolutely no idea what to do, where to go. And the taiga around whispers in a thousand voices, trees reach out with sharp predatory claws toward the unexpected guest, and the eyes of a beast burning in тревожний жовтий вогонь, hidden by forest shadows… It seems Volodya’s trials are going to be harder than school exams!