One Tiny Secret - By Adam Kunz Page 0,1

your father?” After I hit save, I close the file and put it out of my mind.

I reach for the TV remote on the nightstand next to my bed and press the power button. The iconic theme song for the movie Halloween flows through my room as it turns on, and I grin since it’s one of my all-time favorites.

My attention is suddenly drawn to my cell phone lying next to me on the bed as it pings, signaling an incoming notification. Unlocking the phone, I see the little Facebook icon at the top of the screen and swipe my finger down it to reveal the notifications’ menu. Under the icon is a little message that says I have a friend request waiting for my approval, but leaves off the name.

Before I have a chance to see who sent the request, my eyes dart over to the window when I hear a faint sound. My mind immediately thinks it’s just some branches from the trees outside brushing up against the house, but the little voice at the back of my head has other ideas. I push the thought away and refocus on the phone in my hands. The strange noise grows louder, almost as if in protest of me trying to ignore it.

Putting the phone and laptop onto the nightstand, I slowly raise myself from the reclining position and slide off the side of the bed. The wooden floor feels cold the moment my bare feet touch down, causing goose bumps to form all over my legs. I immediately leap into my slippers to ward off the sudden chill.

I hear the sound again, but this time it’s even louder and more distinct. It’s definitely coming from the window. From a distance, I peer outside and see the large trees in our side yard swaying eerily in the night breeze. “It has to be the trees making that noise,” I tell myself.

My focus is so concentrated on the window that I jump and let out a gasp when someone screams on the TV.

“Dammit, I really need to stop watching these movies at night,” I mutter with a nervous laugh.

The scratching sounds again, pulling my gaze back outside. I hesitantly make my way over to the window, the entire time listening to the unnerving theme music playing in the background. I should have turned the damn TV off.

Standing in front of the window, I look around outside for any sign of what could be causing the noise. There’s a branch from one of the large trees lodged in the lattice fence, scaling up the side of the house, that’s brushing up against the window. As I unlatch it and slide it open, I’m immediately enveloped in a gust of frigid wind, causing me to shudder. I regain my composure and slowly reach out to dislodge the branch. The moment I do, a hand shoots out of the darkness and grabs my arm.

“Boo!”

A scream erupts through my lips, and I hear laughter sound below me. I can barely make out the features of my two best friends who are there hanging out on the lattice, but I know it’s them. I want to slap the grins off their faces, but instead find myself laughing off the rush of fear.

Breaking free of Rory’s grip on my wrist, I playfully glare at him, and he resorts to sending me puppy-dog eyes, complete with a pouty lip.

“I can’t believe you two. You scared the shit out of me,” I whisper harshly, hoping my father didn’t hear me scream.

“Sorry, but I couldn’t resist,” Rory laughs.

“It’s Halloween. Everyone’s entitled to one good scare, right?” Alex quotes from the movie Halloween with a menacing smile after hearing the music in the background.

“Ha, very funny. Now get your asses in here already before you break something.”

“All right, Miss Bossy,” I hear Rory say as I help pull him up with some assistance from his belt loops. Alex follows in closely behind him.

Rory flops down on my bed face-first and lets out a contented sigh. “So comfy,” is all he says. He begins to do a reverse snow angel on my sheets by moving his arms and legs back and forth.

“Hey, no shoes on the bed,” I reprimand, swatting at his red Converse.

“Easy, I paid a good thirty bucks for these babies,” he complains jokingly while trying to nudge away my hand with his foot.

I laugh off his comment and take a seat next to Alex at the foot of the