FLASHBACK;
Hazel remembered the night clearly. It was supposed to be fun—one of those spooky, exaggerated videos she made for her YouTube channel with the twins, something dramatic enough to rake in views but silly enough to keep her loyal fans entertained.
She had picked the park on purpose. It wasn't exactly haunted, but at night the shadows tangled around the trees, and the faint echo of laughter from the city streets made it the perfect stage.
"Alexa!" she hissed, spinning on her heel when she noticed the glow of their equipment wasn't right. "Geez, you're so dumb! How could you have left the torch?"
Alexa froze like a scolded child, clutching her phone like it might shield her. "I—I thought Alexis brought it!" she stammered.
"Of course you did." Hazel rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. "Alexis? Where the hell is she anyway ?"
"She's bringing it," Alexa mumbled, already scrolling through her phone to avoid her Hazel's glare.
