Hide and Seek

The familiar scent of laundry detergent mingled with the faint, unsettling smell of dust as I tip-toed through the hallway. My brother, Caleb, his voice echoing loudly, counted to twenty, his innocent shouts a stark contrast to the creeping tension.

Abby, my best friend, grabbed me, pulling me into the laundry room before I could even protest. Darkness enveloped us, thick and absolute, making the air heavy. This was it, the thrill I lived for—hide and seek in the dark. We pressed ourselves behind the dryer, struggling to stifle our giggles as Caleb's stomping feet pounded past the door. The darkness played tricks, twisting shadows into grotesque figures, but I loved the rush, the delicious fear.

Then, Abby's phone glowed, a brief, forbidden beacon. "He's going to find us if you don't turn that off," I whispered, covering the screen. She complied, and the darkness reclaimed us. Quiet giggles escaped, a shared secret. "Let's run to base," I whispered to Abby, a new plan forming in my mind. She stepped out first, trusting me. I shook my head; she was so gullible. To win this game, sometimes you had to eliminate your closest allies.

Behind me, a door led to my parents' bedroom. As Abby ventured into the hallway, I slipped inside, closing the door with a loud click that I feared would give me away. Alone in the profound darkness, the nothingness pressed in. My mind, ever eager to conjure monsters, began its work. I closed my eyes, afraid, yet unwilling to leave. The thrill was too intoxicating.

"Found you!" Caleb's triumphant scream ripped through the silence, followed by, "You're it, Abby!" A silent cheer escaped me. "Yes," I muttered. I darted out, flicking on the light. Abby’s face, a mask of annoyance, made me laugh. Caleb danced around, relieved he wasn't 'it' again. He'd been 'it' three times in a row. Abby glared. "Ha-ha. Hilarious," she said, her voice dripping sarcasm. "It was funny!" I retorted, a smile still on my face. "Abby, it's just a game."