Chapter 1: Chatty Cinema goers
Dim lights bathed the cozy confines of the Little Light Cinema, each red velvet seat decked out with armrests to mitigate the occasional jostling between neighbors. The room was strewn with cushions, plush and round, molded by sleepy heads nestled within.
Gary, stalwart in a plain t-shirt, found himself wedged awkwardly into the corner of a seat between Penny and another moviegoer. His arms clung possessively to the armrests, gripping anxiously as the silver screen flickered to life before him.
He couldn't believe he'd convinced Penny to go on a sort of date with him, and here they were, tucked away in the corner of the cinema, her soft shoulder brushing his own.
"You look happy," she said, breaking the silence between them.
"I am," he confessed, his voice barely audible.
"I like you, Gary," she admitted, "But I don't know if it's like... something more than friends."
His heart swelled in his chest, and he dared to hope that maybe she did feel something for him. "You don't have to decide now," he said, trying to keep his voice even, "I just wanted to spend some time with you, that's all."
She smiled, leaning her head against his.
"I know, and I appreciate that. But you've been quite awkward around me, and I know it's because you like me."
Gary swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "I do," he confessed. "But I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I just want to be near you, to get to know you better."
Suddenly, Penny sat up straight, her pose looked uncomfortable. "Gary! I need to pee real bad" she whispered.
Gary's heart leapt to his throat, panicked thoughts flooded his mind. This wasn't the moment he was hoping for. Not that he would ever wish for such a moment, but with their closeness, their banter, he was hoping that maybe he could gather the courage to confess his feelings; to tell Penny what she meant to him.
But she was going to leaving him, in search of a restroom, and he wanted the movie to be perfect for her, but it couldn't be if she missed any of it. Irritated and seeing an opening for a joke, he loudly suggested ,"I wish I could pee for you." The moviegoer next to them shot him a disapproving glare as Penny gave him an odd look of amusement followed by a slight shake of her head. "Very funny, Gary. I came here to watch a movie, not hear weird jokes about me using the toilet"
Given the innocuous nature of their banter, it was easy to miss the anger that simmered in the room afterward. A specter of a woman, invisible to the naked eye, watched with growing frustration. Penny continued, "Besides, you're only saying that to get in my pants anyway." Gary's face flushed in embarrassment. "No! I swear I'm not! I just wanted to make the experience easier for you." Gary whispered, still feeling the heat of embarrassment on his cheeks. Little did they know, an ancient witch named Isabella was getting sick of their loud talking. The witch, hidden in the shadows, had been enjoying the movie until these two youngsters started their noisy chatter. She had tried to ignore them, but their conversation was getting increasingly irritating. She had heard enough. With a wave of her hand, she muttered an incantation under her breath, her eyes narrowing on Gary. "Idiota," she hissed, "you want to help her urinate? Be my guest." As Gary turned to face Penny, suddenly he felt a strange sensation in his lower abdomen. It was like a warmth spreading through him, a peculiar pressure building. He gasped, clutching his stomach, "Penny, I... I don't feel so good." Penny turned to him, concern etched on her face. "Gary, what's wrong? You're pale as a ghost." She grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. "Let's get you out of here." Gary tried to stand, but the pressure in his abdomen intensified, and he let out a groan. "Something's not right, Penny. I can't... I can't move." He looked up at her, panic in his eyes. "It's like... it's like I'm trapped." Penny's eyes widened in alarm.