Happy Birthday, Lindsey!

Lindsey pulled her hair back. This wasn't the situation she expected to be in for her sixteenth birthday at all. She expected some tacky presents that she'd never open, and a terrible dinner at some vintage family steakhouse. That's not what Lindsey came home to that night.1

The house was dark. She was hoping that her friends had put together an extravagant party for her. She would step in, act surprised, and say something like, "Oh, I had no idea." She would look even more flabbergasted when she saw the gift table in plain view. She would have spent the night, drinking some bud light, and talking to some cute guys from her school. She would end the night, slightly drunk, satisfied, and one year older. Maybe, she would even get to kiss Will Tanner, the smart, gorgeous guy she'd loved for so long. It would be perfect.2

When she flipped the light switch up so hopefully, nothing happened. The dusty light didn't even flicker. She sighed annoyed by this minor inconvenience. It didn't bother her as much as none of her friends greeting her cheerfully. Lindsey involuntarily drug herself up the oak staircase to her cold bedroom. 3

"Man," she thought to herself, "not even one happy birthday." It was at this exact thought that out of the corner of her eye she saw a shady figure slide by at the top of the stairs. She stopped shakingly.4

"Hello?"5

No answer, just profuse breathing dripping from her pouty red lips. Her icy blue eyes were wide open, but she saw no more odd movement upstairs. She shakily took a step up.6

She laughed darkly. This was exactly what she had chastised all of those oblivious celebrities portraying victims in slasher flicks about. She realized she hadn't seen her favorite type of movie, the horror slasher in a long time. She had considered the same thought a while ago. "Maybe, they ran out of good ideas. Now, all they like to make are movies with ghostly beings that show up in the form of children killing people," she told her friend, Kristy. 7

She shrugged it off. This wasn't the time to consider the irony of this situation. She was already at the top of the stairs before she knew it.8

She heard a floor creak in her sister's bedroom two doors away. She trembled as she idly stood in the hallway. Her hand limply felt for the hall lightswitch. When she flipped it, the same results as before met her.9

She almost moaned. She felt two tears trail out of her eyes. She ventured again.10

"Hello?! Kayla?! This isn't funny!"11

Behind her, at the other end of the dark hall, a door swung open. Before Lindsey could ask any questions she ran for the stairs. Her fingernails scratched the oak stair rail. She barely touched any stairs as she sprinted down them. 12

As she ran toward her kitchen, she tried to focus past her panicked breath and listen to the staircase. She couldn't tell if the intruder had followed her or not. 13

So, this is where we began. Lindsey huddled under the counter in the kitchen, her shiny black hair pulled back, fumbling with her dead cell phone. Her breathing was hushed as she tried to listen to the noises around her. 14

The heater's rumble, the dogs barking outside, and the wind seemed to be amplified. 15

"Happy Birthday, Lindsey," she thought scaredly. She considered standing up. Maybe, the killer (or whatever) is gone by now. She smiled. "I hope they all feel terrible for deserting me now. Mom in Atlanta, Dad at Grandma's, Kayla still at college, and all of my friends, no shows. I'll show them. I'll win this fight," she exuberantly decided.16

She slowly stood up. She heard a floor board creak in the other room. She grimaced. Her hands eternally trembling, she reached for a kitchen knife off of the counter. She heard the intruder enter the kitchen. She jumped up with a screech. 17

The knife stuck out a foot in front of her as she ran at the intruder in the kitchen entrance. She heard them say something, but it was muffled by her adrenaline rush. She felt the knife pierce the stomach of the intruder.18

She heard the pleading screams as angry shouts. She stabbed again, this time a little higher. Right in the heart. The perfect slasher ending!19

She pulled the knife out, and thrust it in again. This time into the neck of the assailant she believed was after her life.20

She panted loudly as lights flickered on all around her. The door in her view shot open as guests flooded out yelling, "surprise!" And with good reason. Lindsey's friends and family thought it was a perfect idea to put her in a slasher film before they showed up. However, they never expected this.21

Lindsey began to cry. She couldn't help herself. She slowly looked down at the angelic face that was once owned by Will Tanner. It's afraid eyes were now lifeless as they stared down at the haphazard knife protruding out of his tan neck. 22

The guests stared forward, not believing what had happened. And three years later, on televisions across America, flickered an AD.23

The movie, based on true events, will be released this October.24