The girls giggled all night. Hetty’s mom would peek her head into the living room with tired eyes, begging them to quiet down. Her pleas fed the children’s laughter as they danced throughout the room in their pajamas, the movie in the background forgotten. Tears fell from Hetty’s joyous eyes as she rolled on the floor, her crimson red hair so frizzy she looked like a monster. Thea leaped from the couches, a permanent smile strewed across her face. What the girls were laughing about was unknown and unimportant, for summer movie nights were always filled to the brim with joy. However, due to Thea’s insomnia, she couldn’t stay the night. She knew what would commence once the end credits of the movie stopped.

When the time arrived, Hetty’s mom entered the living room and lectured the girls about the food that covered the floor. Hetty giggled at her mom as Thea apologized, holding back giggles herself.

“All right, girls. Time for you to go home now, Thea.” Hetty’s mom exclaimed, making a pit rise inside Thea’s throat. Thea knew she had to go home eventually. The windows shook from the wind as tears filled her eyes. She let her slick, black hair cover her face as Hetty’s mom asked if she needed anything for the journey. Thea gratefully took the flashlight offered and was relieved when Hetty volunteered to walk her halfway down the block.

The path home in the rural neighborhood was stupidly short. However, a tinge of terror coursed through her as Hetty opened the front door, unveiling the chilly summer night. It couldn’t be much after 11 PM, but the inky black sky darkened the flashlight’s attempt to light the way down Hetty’s driveway. Unspoken anxiety was shared between the girls as they clutched their light source like their lives depended on it.

It was cold for a night in July. A full moon slept behind the heavy clouds that hid the starry sky from view. Hetty rubbed her elbows as goosebumps stretched down her arms when a sickening breeze swept through the darkened neighborhood. Silence consumed the air as the girls nervously listened to the frogs stirring behind a neighbor’s house. A bead of cold sweat dribbled down Thea’s back as she approached the flickering street light, marking the halfway point of the dreaded journey.

Hetty gave a nervous laugh as she said good night to Thea. “Have a good sleep, Thea. See you tomorrow?” Hetty’s voice quivered as her teeth chattered.

Thea pulled at her flimsy pajamas, wishing Hetty wouldn’t go. “Thanks, see you tomorrow.” And the girls went their separate ways.

The cold air pierced Thea’s legs as she walked past the streetlight. The wind licked at her face, making Thea squint her eyes in dismay. She clutched her flashlight tighter, for she could no longer hear the fading footsteps of Hetty walking back to her house. Thea hummed an uplifting tune as the rustle in the near woods picked at her ears, daring her to run. It was like the darkness knew she was alone. Thea hummed louder.

She was about five houses away from hers when Thea heard leaves rustling behind the neighborhood. It was then that she realized the nightmare she had the night before, and her mind started racing. The dream always started the same, Thea reminisced.

She stood in the middle of the dense woods, crisp leaves swaying in the summer breeze. The sky was devastatingly dark; surrounding trees swallowed the faint source of light from the illuminating moon. Thea heard a branch snap behind her, and panic spread through her body. Starting to walk away from the sound, she tripped on a root and fell to her knees. Thea whimpered as the footsteps progressed towards her. Thea turned her body to unveil the regretful face of the killer, raising their arm and gripping a blade. This dream was different from the others because Thea got to see the face of the murderer before she jolted up from her nightmare. It was Hetty.

Thea bit her lip, trying to forget the awful vision of her best friend in the woods. It’s all fake. It’s not real. Thea convinced herself. The whole neighborhood was asleep; only silence reached the center of the street where Thea trembled.

With her house in sight, she picked up her pace and pumped her arms as she hummed her happy tune. With the light at the end of the tunnel, Thea accelerated to a run and burst through the door of her home. Despite the fact that the walk was only about five minutes, she tried to catch her breath as her parents greeted her in the kitchen. After saying her goodnights to her family who wished her good sleep, Thea headed to bed. The next morning, Thea had forgotten about the nightmares that damaged her trust and happiness. Thea thought about her defeated fear of the late-night walk home as she headed over to Hetty’s house to play. After knocking twice, Hetty’s mom answered the door with concerned eyes.

“Good morning! Can Hetty play?” Thea peaked through the door. Hetty usually watched TV in
the morning.

That’s when Hetty’s mom’s face was drained of color. Her hand came to her mouth as she whispered, “I thought Hetty stayed the night at your house.”

Thea’s face flushed with terror, and her thoughts of the night before came flooding back. Hetty’s mom looks down at Thea’s muddied feet, leaves stuck to her calves.

“Thea,” Hetty’s mom croaked slowly, “...what happened?”

Thea felt the all too familiar pit in her stomach grow as she stepped away from the welcoming door. She looked down at her hands. A crimson liquid dripped from her shaking fingers. It wasn’t a dream.

“I thought that if she took my place, the nightmares would stop.”