Act 1 | Chapter 7

I slowly removed my wet undergarments, holding them between two fingers. I made a face of disgust as I dropped them onto my jeans on the floor. I couldn't help but feel ashamed of myself that I let it happen. "I'm eighteen and wet myself." Was all I could think of. After changing into a clean pair, and into some pajamas, I left Riley's bathroom, stepping out into the hall where she was waiting for me. When we had gotten back, she told me that she would throw my clothes in the wash. I handed them to her, and Riley nodded as she took them, and walked to the laundry room. "I can't believe that happened. Maybe the movie was too much for me?"

It was late, almost midnight. The distant sound of car's and honking horns had faded as the sun had set. People going back home from long days at work and resting. The couch had already been set up as a bed for me while I was changing. It didn't take long to do. Just pull the bottom out from under it and you were done. I flopped down onto the sofa/bed hybrid and groaned. My stomach still didn't feel all that well, like I had eaten some bad food or something. After a few minute's, Riley came back and sat beside me on the edge of the bed.

"Hey, uh." She started, "Thanks for sticking around." Riley had a small smile on her face. I tried to give her one back, but I'm sure it only came off as a nervous expression.

"N- No problem." I looked away slightly, "Did you like it?"

"Yeah, the movie was pretty intense." Riley chuckled.

"No kidding." I tried saying, optimistically. "It was... horrifying."

"I'm honestly surprised you even stayed for the whole movie."

"M- Me too." My voice cracked, "W- Why did the kid have to die?"

"Because the killer was mentally deranged. He needed a car to drive away, and the kid was in the way I guess." She shrugged.

"But it was a kid. I thought they couldn't kill kids in movies."

"Guess movies are progressing. No one has plot armor anymore." She chuckled.

"But the killer isn't dead... right? He wasn't in the trap at the end?"

"That really depends on the movie's director, Zoey. They could end the series right then and there, or continue it and make up some plot saying he lived to make another movie."

"Mhm." I nodded, looking up at the bare ceiling above me.

"Oh, by the way, my mom said there's a delay in her shift, so she might be out longer," Riley said, looking back over to me.

"A-Alright," I responded, taking a few deep breaths to help calm my still-beating heart. "What uh, what should we do now?"

"Well, we could go to bed now, or we could spend some time helping you cope with the movie?"

"I don't know. I'm just... on edge, I guess. I've never seen a horror movie like that before."

"You haven't seen any 'horror' movies, period." Riley joked. I chuckled a bit but went back to laying there in silence. "I know what you mean though." She said, "You get all anxious near things that could jumpscare you. We could watch something less scary if that helps?"

"Y- Yeah, sure." I nodded, "Please." She turned the living rooms tv on, and scrolled through the various channels, stopping on some childish action show. I leaned up against Riley as the two of us watched the television. Over time, I did relax a bit more, being near Riley and knowing that she would protect me in case anything happens, helped. Though, I still couldn't shake the feeling of being on edge. The only time I was given a break from the feeling, was when my eyes closed, and I slowly drifted off to sleep.

It was quiet that night. The sound of the tv faded. All I could hear was the timing and rhythm to the clock's ticking on the wall above me. There was one point that night, that I suddenly sat up, quickly gasping. With my hand to my heart, I scanned the darkroom and soon remembered where I was. "Was that a nightmare?" I wondered. Not to sure on the thought, I laid back down and tried closing my eyes again.

There was a sudden sound from the front door that woke me up not to long after. I opened my eye again and looked over at it. I could see two pairs of feet casting shadows under the doorframe. My heart beat faster, and as the door opened, I quickly hid under the covers. "No, it can't be anyone here to hurt me." My blood began to pump faster as my heart began beating rapidly. The light from the outside hallway shinned into the room. It felt like an eternity, though soon enough, the door closed and the room was once again consumed by the darkness outside. Footsteps slowly approached my bed. I could hear them. A looming figure was standing over my bed, I could tell. The footsteps soon turned and faded. Another door opened and closed. "It was Riley's mom." I thought, groaning quietly. "I'm such an idiot."