Digital Shadows

Episode 2

[FADE IN]

[Location] TRENDY RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Neon lights cast a vibrant glow on the exposed brick walls of the restaurant. Maya, Ben, Millie, and Alex sit around a table, half-eaten pizzas and empty soda glasses scattered before them. They're still buzzing from the horror movie they just watched.

MAYA
(grinning)
So, who's still traumatized?

Millie shrinks back in her seat, clutching her napkin.

MILLIE
(whispering)
Don't even say that word.

ALEX
(laughing)
Come on, Millie, you know it wasn't that scary.

BEN
Yeah, it was more predictable than anything.

MILLIE
Predictable? Did you see that jump scare with the clown? I almost died!

MAYA
(teasingly)
Oh, come on, it was a cheap jump scare. You're usually so brave.

MILLIE
I AM brave! But clowns are just... creepy.

ALEX
(holding up a slice of pizza)
Here, have some pizza. It'll chase away the clown demons.

Millie takes a hesitant bite, her eyes darting around the restaurant as if expecting a creepy clown to pop out from behind a booth.

BEN
(chuckling)
You know, you could always sleep over at my place tonight. We can watch a comedy to cleanse your palate.

MILLIE
(eyes widening)
No way! I'm not sleeping alone after that movie.

MAYA
Don't worry, Millie. You can crash at my place. We can have a sleepover and watch something funny.

MILLIE
(relieved)
Really? Thanks, Maya. You're the best.

ALEX
(waving a hand dismissively)
Fine, fine. But don't expect me to watch anything with talking animals.

BEN
(grinning)
You're just jealous you can't handle the emotional depth of a Disney movie.

ALEX
(scoffing)
Please, I'm a man of sophisticated taste. I only watch movies with explosions and car chases.

The friends continue to banter and joke, the lingering fear of the movie slowly fading away with each shared laugh and bite of pizza. The neon lights seem less threatening, and the restaurant feels more like a safe haven than a potential haunted house.

The friends were having a blast, giggles bouncing around the room. Leo, the biggest joker of them all, saw his moment to scare Maya. He snuck behind her, puffed out his cheeks like a balloon, and yelled, "Boo!" right next to her ear.

But Maya barely even flinched! Leo looked like he ate a sour pickle, all scrunched up with his funny scare face. Guess who jumped instead? Millie, next to Maya, shot straight up in the air like a scared cat! Her scream was loud, and her eyes got as big as plates.

Millie was so surprised, she spun around and threw a used napkin right at Leo's head! Ketchup splattered between his eyebrows, making him look even sillier. This time, everyone laughed SO hard, their bellies hurt! It was a way funnier surprise than Leo planned!

Leo also joins them and sits next to Alex and starts eating pizza. The camera buzzed in Millie's hand, perfectly primed to capture that awkward group photo vibe. Everyone squeezed in, Maya flashing a cheesy smile. Just as Millie declared, "Alright, cheese!" a mischievous glint flickered in Leo's eyes.

With lightning speed, he snatched Maya's eyepatch right off her face. Maya shrieked, flinging her hand up to shield her exposed eye. The photo captured the exact moment where Millie's mid-grin morphing into a groan, Maya mid-scream with a surprised hand in the air, and everyone else frozen in various states of confusion.

"Leo!" Millie shrieked, dropping her phone (thankfully, onto a soft pillow).

Leo, doubled over with silent laughter, wheezed, "Sorry, sorry! Couldn't resist. You looked like a pirate captain about to give a motivational speech!"

Maya, peeking through her fingers, glared. "It's not funny! My eye is still sensitive!"

Leo, wiping a tear from his eye (of laughter, not sympathy), held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, truce! But seriously, that picture is gold."