Emily's scream ripped the night apart.
Her parents burst through the door within seconds, faces pale, voices colliding in panic.
"Emily! What is it?" her mother cried, rushing to her side. Her father's hand was already on the lamp switch, flooding the room with weak yellow light.
Emily sat on her bed, fists clutched into her blanket, chest rising and falling in ragged bursts. The diary lay facedown on her desk, innocent, quiet.
Her parents knelt beside her. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
Emily swallowed, her throat dry. If she told them the truth, they'd never believe her. Worse, they might take the diary away—and she couldn't allow that. Not anymore.
She forced a shaky laugh. "It's… just a nightmare. That's all. I'm fine. I'm sorry for scaring you."
Her mother searched her eyes, unconvinced. Her father's brow furrowed. They knew something had been off for weeks—her moods, the strange silences, the shadow under her eyes. But they exchanged only a glance, silently agreeing not to press tonight.
Her mother kissed her forehead gently. "Try to sleep, darling. We'll talk tomorrow."
Emily nodded, smiling faintly. "Goodnight."
The door closed. Darkness reclaimed the room. The diary's edges pulsed faintly as if mocking her lie.
Morning came, and with it the illusion of normalcy.
Emily trudged toward her classroom, her backpack heavy on her shoulders. Suddenly—whack!
A playful slap landed on her shoulder. She spun around to see Lily darting past, laughing like a maniac.
"You little scoundrel! Wait for me!" Emily shouted, chasing after her down the hall.
The two of them bolted through the corridor like children, ignoring the exasperated glares of other students. Lily squealed as Emily lunged for her but missed, both of them doubled over laughing by the time they reached the classroom door.
It felt… good. Like the world wasn't falling apart for once.
Class began, and boredom settled like dust. Their teacher, Mr. Grayson, droned on about historical trade routes in a voice so flat it could sedate an army.
Emily rested her chin on her palm, eyes drifting toward Lily.
Her short hair framed her slim face perfectly, strands catching the weak sunlight. Her smile—faint, distracted—was radiant in its simplicity. Lily's beauty wasn't loud; it was the kind that crept up on you, that made your chest ache if you thought about it too long.
What would I do if I lost her? Emily thought, a cold ache stirring beneath her ribs.
A whisper brushed her ear.
"She's gorgeous, isn't she?"
Emily nearly jumped out of her chair. She spun to see a girl she didn't recognize, grinning mischievously.
Lily turned, noticing the exchange, and smiled knowingly.
The stranger chuckled. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I'm Jenn."
Emily blinked. "I've never seen you before."
Jenn shrugged. "Been sick for a while, but finally back." Then her grin widened. "I've heard a lot about you, though. People say you're cursed—that everyone around you dies."
The words stabbed. Emily's face went pale.
But before Lily could leap to defend her, Jenn laughed and raised her hands. "Relax, it's just stupid gossip. People always need someone to blame. Don't take it to heart."
Emily's lips trembled, but she nodded faintly.
Lily pouted. "That's mean, Jenn."
"Oh, please," Jenn rolled her eyes. "Like you're one to talk. You still tell everyone the story of me tripping in front of the whole class."
Emily's laugh burst out before she could stop it. Lily grinned. Jenn groaned dramatically. Soon, all three were giggling loud enough to earn a glare from Mr. Grayson.
For the first time in months, Emily felt… normal.
Recess came, and the trio stuck together like magnets. Jenn suggested shopping after school to catch up with Lily.
"It'll be fun! Come on, Emily, you too," Jenn urged.
Emily shook her head. "Sorry, I have things to—"
"Nope!" Lily grabbed her arm, dragging her forward with mock seriousness. "You are coming with us."
Jenn clapped. "Settled then!"
The mall buzzed with neon lights and chatter. The three girls darted between stores, buying cheap sunglasses for each other and laughing at how ridiculous they looked. They crammed into a photo booth, making faces—cross-eyed, puffed cheeks, hair mustaches—and laughed until their stomachs hurt at the strip of photos that spat out.
Bowling came next. Emily and Jenn teamed up against Lily, crushing her score.
"That's cheating!" Lily complained, hands on her hips.
"Not cheating," Emily teased. "Teamwork."
"You're both dead meat!" Lily shouted, chasing them around the arcade until they collapsed laughing again.
The last game was air hockey. Lily leaned too far and nearly toppled over, making Emily and Jenn howl. By the end, they were breathless, happy, and Emily felt a strange warmth bloom in her chest.
I finally have another friend.
But the warmth didn't last.
The evening crept in unnoticed until Emily's phone buzzed. Her mother's name lit the screen. Her heart sank—she was late.
"Guys, I need to go," Emily said quickly.
Jenn glanced at her phone and cursed. "Crap! My parents have been blowing me up too. Gotta run." She waved, hurrying off in the opposite direction of their homes. "See you next time!"
Lily and Emily waved back, then began walking together.
The streets grew quieter. Too quiet. The kind of silence that prickled the skin.
Emily's backpack vibrated. Once. Twice. Harder.
Her heart slammed against her ribs. The diary.
Suddenly—a roar of an engine. Headlights blazing. A speeding car tore down the street, aimed straight for them.
Emily didn't think. Her body moved on instinct. She grabbed Lily and yanked her out of the way, both of them tumbling hard onto the pavement as the car thundered past.
For a moment, silence returned. Emily gasped, clutching Lily tight. She had beaten it. She had won.
But then—
The screams.
They turned. A crowd was gathering at the end of the street, horrified faces staring at the road.
A body lay crumpled on the asphalt, broken, blood pooling beneath.
Jenn.
Emily's breath caught in her throat. Lily's scream split the night.
And from her backpack, the diary pulsed violently, vibrating with a sickening glee.
As if it had chosen.
As if it had laughed.
Fade to black.