She lost a bet.

A week ago, Ashley's new roommate Kelly had bet her that she couldn't watch The Babadook all the way through with the lights off without, pausing the movie, looking away, jumping, or screaming. Ashley hadn't been allowed to watch scary movies at home, but she couldn't imagine they could actually be that scary, it's just a movie, right? She'd lasted about 20 minutes.

The stakes were, if she lost, Kelly would get to choose and design her Halloween costume, which she would wear out to the big, all-campus party at Theta Chi house. Kelly had also stipulated that Ashley wouldn't be able to change clothes or leave the party until at least 2:00, and that she'd have to have at least 3 alcoholic beverages. "You're in college, girl, time to loosen up!"

Every passing day, Ashley's grown more worried about tonight. Kelly hadn't given her any hints about the costume, leaving her to imagine what embarrassing thing she'd cooked up.

And now it was finally time.

"Okay, ready?" Kelly said, "close your eyes and don't open them until I say so."

Ashley could hear a rustling as Kelly pulled something from under her bed.

"Okay, now you can open them."