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Seeing Jeff just casually standing full view in my Kitchen is not something I'm used to yet, going from 4 years of stalking in the shadows and just seeing him briefly out the corner of my eye, to making popcorn for a movie night “date” THAT I INVITED HIM TO, something definitely is wrong with me for even thinking that this is a normal thing to do.
The low buzzing of the microwave mixed with the kernels popping and the scent of fresh popcorn makes me nostalgic, for when we used to have sleepovers as kids before he moved and everything went wrong. The loud beeping of the microwave snapped me out of my thoughts and I walked over to help by grabbing a bowl. I didn't want him to do all the work even though it's not much.
He handed me the bag Which I almost spilled not knowing he’d already opened, as he grabbed a few spices out of the cupboard to add to the popped corn, the first two were fine, garlic salt and movie theater popcorn powder. But the last one was chili flakes. “Um… maybe we could not do that one. I'm kinda a baby when it comes to spice.” he put it away and I got to putting the others on.
Going back to the couch and setting the bowl between us, he then grabbed the bag he brought and pulled to the movies which are almost all b horror movies he told like collecting these. But only three of them were one I recognized: Jennifer's body, Cabin in the Woods, and Slender Man? “Hey didn't you say you know this guy?” I look at him and he has an excited look on his face then holds up a finger to indicate giving him a moment.
Pulled out his sketchbook to write me, his answer, this is going to take a minute so I look back to the movies and pick up the cabin one which the name alone makes me think it’s a Jason-esque slasher film. I turned to him but before I could ask him if he’d want to watch this one, he takes it from me then hands me the sketchbook to read what was written.
“I know him, but this is more like the operator who is mean and haunted my friend Brian for years, some of it was filmed for YouTube but that guy died and Brian also almost died too. The guys who made the movie didn't know it was real”
“Huh… I don't really know who any of these people are.” I confess while handing him the sketchbook. Looking over to the screen I see that the movies main menu has come up. “Oh… ya ready to start it?” he nods then presses play.
All I hear is the soft white noise of static, opening my heavy eyelids. I find myself facing the backrest of the couch, pale blue light washing what little I can see. When did I fall asleep? I know finishes that cabin one, I think he put another one on, it's blurry as I was probably dozing off when that happened.
Wait, where's Jeff? Why isn't he here? Slowly and tiredly I began to get up… he is still here just, sitting unmoving on the carpet watching the static filled screen. “Jeff…?“ I barely squeak out my throat feeling unreasonably dry, what's going on, why does everything feel so… wrong?
Jeff hasn't moved. I try and fail to call out to him again, nothing. But On the table there sits the remote. If I can just grab I can then get his attention, and maybe he’ll know what to do or if not I'll at least feel less isolated, despite the fact he is not even 5 feet away.
I just need to reach it but with how heavy I feel, its like it’s impossibly far away, right before i could grab it my arm slipped and THUD slamming myself on the carpeted floor then all went black but i can still open my eye does that mean the TVs been turned off? But why can't I move was that not it?
Before my growing panic could reach its boiling point, I feel a gentle Touch on my shoulder then he picked me up. This oppressive wrongness didn't leave but now I'm not alone right? But he takes me up to my room and lays me down, before starting to leave. ”n-no“ I feebly choke out.
He look back down to me, and I notice this glazed look in his eye, like his in a trance, he then kisses me of the cheek and walks out, leaving me isolated and alone once again, at least I feel safer, my room feels normal, but right outside my door whatever causing the “wrongness”, I try to keep my eyes locked on the door for as long as i can but the exhaustion of this awfully night finally gets to me.
I wake up to the sound of my phones alarm, and I can move again. I feel like I just ran a marathon, and as stupid as it sounds I rush to open my door, no longer feeling the presence of whatever was here last night. I need answers and Jeff is going to give me them.
When I get down stairs everything's where it should be: the bowl of popcorn, the remote, even my half empty can of soda. The only things missing are Jeff and the thing he brought with him. Pissed and defeated, I go back to my room. I just want to know what the hell happened last night? What was that thing? DID LET WHATEVER IT WAS IN!?
I grab my phone ready to text him all my thoughts, questions and rants! But stopped when I saw he had sent a message.
“sorry you had to see that.” I sighed I do not have the energy to deal with this. I think I’m just going back to sleep.