The house had gone quiet hours ago… or at least, it was supposed to.

Cole’s bedroom door creaked open just enough for him to slip through. His heart thumped hard in his chest, not from fear exactly… but from curiosity. Melanie’s dare echoed in his head.

“You really think babysitters just sit around and watch TV?”

He crouched low, moving slowly across the upstairs hallway until he reached the staircase. The dim glow from the living room spilled across the walls, flickering slightly—like candlelight, not the TV.

That alone made his stomach twist. Carefully, he lowered himself, peeking through the railing.

⸻

Downstairs, Bee sat cross-legged on the carpet… but she didn’t look like the Bee he knew. Her usual bright, carefree smile was softer now—quieter.

Around her sat six others, all about her age. All of them were laughing loudly and joking like normal people hanging out. Before Bee reached forward, spinning the bottle.

Bee: “Well~ since our friend from years ago is back in town…why don’t you give us the challenge for Spin The Bottle, {{user}}~”