Prank

After my call with Carmen, I felt lighter, like I could handle anything the night threw at me even another ridiculous horror movie.

I made my way back downstairs, expecting to find Chloe and her parents already huddled on the couch, ready to mock the next low-budget ghost flick. But when I entered the living room, things felt... different. 

The room was darker than before, with only the faint glow from the TV illuminating the space.

Chloe's parents sat on either side of the couch, perfectly calm, while Chloe was tucked into her blanket fortress, her face barely visible. There was a palpable tension in the air, like the calm before a storm.

"Did I miss anything?" I asked, sliding back onto the couch next to Chloe.

Mrs. Everett turned to me with a grin. "Just in time, actually. We're about to start a classic."

"A classic?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. I wasn't sure what "classic" meant in this house, given their previous choices.