It was just supposed to be a game.

My brother, Danny, and I had invited our best friends over for a horror movie marathon. We had pizza, candy, and an appropriately eerie vibe thanks to it being Halloween night. We'd even dressed up.

Danny was dressed as a zombie Priest. He held a bloody crucifix in one hand and a leather-bound Bible in the other. His girlfriend Molly was dressed as a princess, which suited her personality well. Liam was rocking a pirate costume. Gina had dressed as a "cereal" killer, complete with a box of cereal that had been stabbed with a knife. Finally, I'd gone for a classic costume and was dressed as a witch.

Everything started off normal, but during the second movie, Danny got a bright idea. My brother tended to get distracted easily, so this wasn't especially unusual.

"This movie is boring and predictable," he said. "Let's try it!"

"Try what?" Liam asked.

"The game from the movie! Let's try to summon the Darkness Man."

"Are you stupid?" Gina asked. "You know what? Don't answer that. It's just a dumb movie, Danny. It's not real."

"Then try it with me and prove it. If you're right, nothing will happen."

"I don't know, Danny," I said nervously.

"Come on, Ness," he said with a pout. "Live a little!"

"I'd like to," I replied. "That's why I don't want to summon an evil spirit."

"Maybe he's not evil... Maybe he's just...