In the summer in New Town, the days were sultry and the nights full of heavy, sticky air. Viktor, Lena and Igor met almost every day - usually on a bench by the skatepark, just at the southern end of the park. That evening, however, Victor was tempted by something: he suggested they walk all the way to the old, overgrown playground that had stood empty in the northern part of the park for years. "You say it's scary up there? Really?" - asked Igor in mild disbelief. "It's not scary, but I've seen some strange lights there recently," replied Lena, correcting her black hoodie. "And someone left imprinted shoe marks around the sandpit. Anyway, everything looks different at night." They laughed, but there was a note of uncertainty in everyone's voice. So they set off through the park in the light of the lanterns, passing crooked paths and abandoned bicycles. The closer they got to the old playground, the more the air seemed thick and heavy, as if someone had stretched an invisible veil over their heads. When they reached the rusty gate, Igor pushed it slightly. The metal squeaked draughty, echoing between the dark trees. Lena blinked, trying to adjust her eyesight to the twilight. The sandpit was empty, but the edges of the sandpit were clearly cut off from the dark grass. Victor was the first to notice something strange: a piece of paper was lying under one of the trees, and someone had scattered fresh twigs around it. Marks were clearly visible on the sand, despite the lack of rain for several days. Someone had walked around the sandpit and then stepped further and further away, leaving irregular footprints. Lena crouched down and touched a piece of paper. "I think it's some kind of drawing.... Or a map?" she whispered. Indeed, someone had drawn on it something resembling a tangle of paths and symbols resembling the letter X. Victor looked around nervously. Suddenly, a quiet creaking sound came from behind the bushes, as if someone had stepped on a twig. They rose abruptly, holding their breath. "Did you hear that?" - Igor lowered his voice so much that he could barely be understood. Their hearts rumbled as a yellowish flicker cut through the air, as if someone had moved a torch just beyond the old swings. The night's silence was abruptly broken. Lena slowed her breathing and clutched the map in her hand. They were no longer sure they wanted to know who or what was hiding in the thickening darkness of the park. Suddenly, another crackling sound came from behind the bushes - this time louder, clearly closer. The three friends turned abruptly and saw a shadow moving across the sandpit. The thing stopped right next to them, completely motionless. For a moment all that could be heard was their accelerated breathing. What would happen next?