Laura’s heart raced as she groped around in the dim theater, trying to find the dice. Kaitlin, sitting beside her, leaned over and whispered, “Relax, they can’t have gone far.”
“I’m not leaving without them,” Laura hissed back. The glow of the horror film illuminated their faces in brief flashes, heightening the tension in Laura’s mind. She knelt on the sticky theater floor, her hands brushing against discarded popcorn and crumpled napkins.
"Found one!" Kaitlin whispered triumphantly, holding up a die as its faint shimmer caught the light.
“Great, but where’s mine?” Laura asked, her voice tinged with urgency. A sudden scream from the movie made her jump, her knee hitting the underside of the seat in front of her.
"Shh!" came a sharp hiss from a fellow moviegoer.
“Sorry,” Laura muttered, her cheeks flushing.
Kaitlin tried to stifle her laughter. “You really are jumpy tonight.”
Ignoring the comment, Laura kept searching. Finally, her fingers brushed against something cool and smooth near the edge of the aisle. She grabbed it and sighed in relief. “Got it.”
Kaitlin smirked. “Good, because I was about to start rolling it again just to annoy you.”
Laura shot her a glare. “Don’t even think about it.”
As the movie continued, Laura couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine. It wasn’t just the film—it was the dice. They felt heavier in her pocket now, almost pulsing with energy, as if eager to be used again.
During a quiet moment in the movie, Laura leaned over to Kaitlin. “We should be more careful with these. Losing them would be... bad.”
Kaitlin shrugged. “Relax. We’re fine.”
But as the movie reached its climax, Laura found herself gripping the dice tightly. Kaitlin might be treating this like a game, but the implications were beginning to weigh on her. They had played fast and loose with their newfound youth, and while it had been fun, it was also dangerous.
When the credits rolled and the lights came up, Laura stood and stretched, feeling a pang of relief that the film was over. Kaitlin, ever the thrill-seeker, looked more energized than ever. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” she teased.
Laura shot her a look. “If I never see another jump scare again, it’ll be too soon.”
As they walked out of the theater, Kaitlin nudged Laura playfully. “So, what now? Return the dice? Or... one more roll?”
Laura hesitated, the dice in her pocket practically burning against her palm. "Let’s just get some fresh air first."
Kaitlin laughed. “You’re no fun.” But the glimmer in her eye suggested she wasn’t ready to call it a night.
The dice hummed faintly, as if sensing their indecision, waiting for the next move.