The Horror

Part I

Why, oh why, had you ever thought this would be a good idea?

It was no one's fault but your own of course that you were currently huddled in a blanket on Dan and Phil's couch, eyes darting about the dark lounge with crazed abandon. But this knowledge didn't stop you from bemoaning the fact that you were on edge and more paranoid than you had any right to be. All because you had been trying to act far braver than basically everyone knew you were.

A small-time YouTuber yourself, you had become good friends with Dan Howell and Phil Lester over the last couple of years. So when you had told them you would be in London for a week or two, they had offered up a spot on the couch for a few days to spare you the pain of a massive hotel bill. Reticent at first to impose, you had conceded after much pestering (mostly from Phil, though it was obvious Dan was just as happy to have you along), and had been making their lounge sofa your home for the last couple days.

Things were easy and fun between the three of you since your open schedules allowed you to more or less hang out as you pleased. Of course there was work to be done, too, but the more easygoing feel of the Lester-Howell flat was a welcomed change of pace to your busy life back home. You had fallen into a comfortable pattern of waking up whenever your body felt like, casually consuming a bowl of cereal in front of your laptop, and then doing... well, whatever, until the next time your body reminded you of one of its basic needs, typically for food.

Tonight the guys had suggested a movie, since none of you could be bothered to think of something else to do, and you had agreed. When Dan eagerly told you the name of the film he had in mind, however, you felt yourself go white. You had never been good with horror anything, though you somehow managed your way through a few tamer anime series or video games. And the film up for debate was something you were fairly certain would probably have you a sobbing mess before it was anywhere close to over.

"The Conjuring?" You asked tightly. Phil understood your uneasiness immediately, since you both shared a general aversion to spooky anything, though he certainly handled it better than you did, and replied,

"We can always pick something else. Right, Dan?" He gave the brunette a pointed look. He understood and gave you an apologetic grimace.

"Yeah, of course. Is there something you'd rather watch [Name]?" Though he seemed amiable about the whole thing, you felt a bit guilty being the wet blanket for the whole affair. Besides, it was just a bunch of gore, right? What could be so bad about that? Surely you could handle it after having watched all of Elfen Lied.

"No, it's okay," you assured, causing both boys to give you startled looks. "What? I've heard it's not too scary." A blatant lie, everyone knew it was terrifying. "I-I'll be fine!"

"You sure about that?" Phil didn't seem convinced in the slightest. You smiled bravely.

"I swear! You guys have popcorn, right?"

Even as Dan was putting the movie on, Phil eyed you nervously clutching your bowl of popcorn like a lifeline, a blanket wrapped tightly around yourself.

"You don't have to force yourself, [Name]," he said again. You rolled your eyes and tried to look confident.

"It'll be fine, promise," you shot back as Dan plopped himself down next to you, and the movie started.

It turned out it was anything but fine, really.

The movie was riveting, of course, but you ended up spending a majority of it wincing, hiding behind your bowl, screeching, or with your eyes shut. Only when the credits were rolling did you allow yourself to open your [e/c] orbs and slowly uncurl from your upright fetal position. Phil looked a bit ill, and Dan had clearly enjoyed himself. You decided not to say anything, lest you have flashbacks or, worse, get sick yourself.