WESTVIEW

Episode 5: Family Game Night

The living room buzzed with the excited energy of friends gathered for a game night at Wanda and Vision’s house. The scent of popcorn mixed with the festive autumn air filtering in from the open window. Laughter echoed as Monica, Herb, and Norm playfully argued about the next game they should play, their voices rising over the soft crackling of the fireplace.

Wanda stood near the kitchen, holding a tray of snacks while Vision adjusted a board game on the coffee table. It was a perfect Halloween night, one filled with candy, costumes, and laughter. But Monica had come up with a new idea—one that promised a bit of mystery and fun for the evening.

“Guys, why don’t we kick things up a notch?” Monica suggested, raising an eyebrow mischievously. “I brought something a little spookier this time.”

Wanda turned to her, curious. “Oh? What do you have in mind?”

Monica reached into her bag and pulled out a wooden Ouija board, the dark letters glinting in the firelight. A hush fell over the room as she placed it on the table with a playful smirk. “How about a little chat with the other side?”

Vision tilted his head, eyeing the board with curiosity. “I assume this is a form of entertainment, yes? Communicating with... spirits?”

Monica grinned. “It’s all in good fun, Vision. People have been doing this for ages—it’s tradition! Besides, it’s Halloween. What better time to give it a try?”

The group exchanged amused glances. Herb, always up for a laugh, chuckled. “Oh, this should be good. Let’s see what the spirits have to say to us tonight!”

Wanda, although usually up for any fun, felt a slight unease creep over her. She knew it was just a game—something to entertain her friends—but the board stirred something in her, a sensation she couldn’t quite shake. Nevertheless, she pushed the feeling aside, not wanting to spoil the mood.

“Alright,” she said with a small smile, settling down on the floor beside Vision. “Let’s see if we can get any answers.”

Monica placed the planchette in the center of the board. “Okay, everyone. Fingers lightly on the pointer.” They all gathered around, touching the edge of the planchette as Monica’s voice lowered to a spooky tone. “Is there anyone here who wants to speak with us tonight?”

The room fell quiet, the flickering of the flames casting long shadows along the walls. For a moment, nothing happened, and the group exchanged glances, suppressing laughter.

“I guess the spirits are shy,” Norm teased, his grin wide.

Just as the joke landed, the planchette moved ever so slightly. Herb’s eyes widened, and he glanced around suspiciously. “Okay, who’s messing with us?”

“No one!” Monica insisted, though her grin betrayed her excitement. “Let’s ask something else. How about… ‘Are you friendly?’”

The planchette hovered for a second before slowly spelling out ‘YES.’

Everyone chuckled, except Wanda, whose eyes remained fixed on the board. She felt a strange buzzing in her ears, the world around her growing distant as her mind seemed to drift.

Monica, oblivious to Wanda’s growing discomfort, laughed and continued. “Alright, let’s ask something spooky—something that’ll really give us a scare. How about… ‘Who are you?’”

As the planchette began to move again, spelling out a name, Wanda felt an icy chill run down her spine. The letters formed a word: ‘W-A-N-D-A.’

A sharp intake of breath escaped Wanda’s lips, though the others seemed not to notice the tension creeping into the room. They giggled, believing it was part of the game.

“Hey! That’s a little too creepy,” Monica laughed, nudging Wanda. “Someone’s trying to mess with you.”

But Wanda’s fingers tightened around the edge of the board, her eyes darkening as the room seemed to warp. The flickering lights of the candles danced in unnatural patterns, and a low hum filled her mind. She could hear whispers—distant, indecipherable voices, as if they were coming from somewhere deep within the shadows of her own consciousness.

“Wanda, you okay?” Vision’s voice brought her back, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

She blinked, shaking her head to clear the fog. “Yeah… yeah, I’m fine,” she said softly, forcing a smile. “Just got a little spooked.”

The group continued to play, oblivious to the growing darkness that seemed to cling to Wanda. They laughed, joked, and asked silly questions, but each time the planchette moved, Wanda felt another ripple of something sinister pressing against her mind. She glanced at the clock, noticing how the hands seemed to shift too slowly, as if time itself were bending.

Monica, sensing the group's excitement starting to wane, decided to end the session with one last question. “Alright, spirits! Tell us something fun—what’s the best thing about Westview?”

The planchette hesitated before sliding to spell: ‘N-O-W.’

Monica chuckled. “Well, I guess it’s all about living in the moment, huh?”

But Wanda could barely hear her. The voices had returned, louder now, and one of them called her name—a voice too familiar to be ignored. Her breath hitched as she felt the world around her slip away, replaced by the echoes of something she thought she had buried long ago.

Wanda forced a smile, hoping no one noticed her sudden withdrawal. But Vision did, and his eyes lingered on her with concern. He placed a hand over hers, grounding her back to the present.

As the game night wound down and the others began chatting about which movie to watch next, Wanda quietly excused herself, stepping out onto the back porch to catch her breath. The cool night air hit her face, but it did little to shake the unsettling feeling that had lodged itself deep in her chest.

From the living room, she could hear her friends' lighthearted chatter, the clinking of glasses, and the hum of the television turning on. The laughter and warmth inside stood in stark contrast to the chill she felt wrapping around her, like an invisible hand gripping her heart.

She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, trying to push the unease away. But when she opened them again, she swore she saw a figure—a shadow standing at the edge of the yard, watching her from the dark.

Wanda blinked, and the shadow was gone. She let out a shaky breath, brushing it off as her mind playing tricks on her. After all, it was almost Halloween.

But deep down, she knew something had shifted.