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 misunderstood," Molly said with a laugh. "Come on, Vanessa. It'll be fun!"

"I'll do it just to prove it's not real," Gina said.

"I'm in, too," Liam decided.

I sighed as Danny looked at me expectantly. "Alright, fine," I agreed. "Let's do this."

Danny grabbed four black candles. He turned off the lights before lighting them just like they'd done in the movie. I felt ridiculous as we began to recite the "spell" they'd used.

"Rise up, rise up, Darkness Man! I summon you to hold my hand. Help me now to understand the secrets of your Darkness Land," we chanted as we held hands. We repeated it four times.

Suddenly, the candles went out, plunging us into darkness. Molly and Liam screamed. I tensed, suddenly terrified.

"Relax," Gina said practically. "Danny blew them out just to freak us out."

"I did not," Danny protested.

"Nice prank, man," Liam said nervously. "You can let go of my hand now."

"I'm not holding your hand," Danny replied in confusion.

With a horrified scream, Liam vanished from my side. "He's gone!" I cried.

"Just like in the movie..." Molly whispered in shock.

"No," Gina said. "No way. This isn't real."

"Then where is he?" I asked.

"I don't know, Vanessa, but movies aren't real. There has to be a logical explanation for this. I mean-" Her words were cut off as she began to make small choking sounds.

Danny flicked his lighter to help us see. I stared in horror as blood poured out of Gina's throat.

"Liam, what have you done?" Danny demanded as he spotted the person standing behind Gina holding a bloody knife.

"Do you still think I'm boring and predictable, Danny?" Liam's body asked in a deep voice that was definitely not his own.

Molly screamed as Liam tossed Gina's body aside. Danny grabbed the two of us and we ran for our lives toward the basement.

"He's possessed, just like the kid in the movie," I realized aloud as Danny slammed the door shut behind us.

"Danny, can't you, like, do an exorcism or something?" Molly demanded.

"You do realize I'm not actually a Priest, right, Mol?" He replied.

"Well, you're the only one with a crucifix! Do something!" She shouted as Liam tried to tear the basement door off of its hinges.

"The Power of Christ compels you!" Danny exclaimed as the door was torn open. He waved his crucifix in Liam's face.

"Seriously?" I asked.

"What? It's what they did in The Exorcist!" Danny replied with a shrug.

Liam tore the crucifix from my brother's hand, angrily tossing it aside as it burned his flesh. "You'll pay for that!" He said. Instead of going for Danny, he grabbed Molly. He snapped her neck and killed her before I could even process what was happening.

"Molly!" Danny screamed. He pulled her body into his arms, taking a moment to grieve before realizing he and I were still in danger. "Vanessa, run!" He shouted.

"I'm not leaving you!" I told him.

"This was my idea, Ness. You shouldn't pay for my stupidity." As Liam grabbed him from behind and stabbed him in the chest, Danny groaned out, "I'm sorry..."

I screamed as I stared in horror at my brother's corpse. He fell beside Molly. I tried to make myself run, but I couldn't move. Liam slowly came toward me.

"Darkness Man," I said softly, "we never meant to disrespect you."

He paused, seeming to consider my words. "You were opposed to summoning me here," he said.

"I was," I admitted.

"You are the only intelligent person here." He studied me. "Only one can survive the game, Vanessa."

"I know," I replied. The movie had stated as much.

He nodded. "Very well." He raised his knife.

I tensed, waiting for it to be plunged into my chest, but that didn't happen. Instead, Liam slashed his own throat, covering me in his blood before his body fell to the floor.

I screamed and fled up the basement stairs before running out of the house. I took several deep breaths as I told myself that it was over, and I had survived.

At night, I still hear the screams of my brother and our friends. It's like a nightmare, but I know I'm never going to wake up.

It was just supposed to be a game. I guess I won, but it will never feel that way to me.

© All Rights Reserved