Little Betty

LITTLE BETTY. Bethany, gifted with the ability to glimpse into the past, yearned for a younger sibling. Her wish was granted, and they developed an extraordinary bond despite the age gap. However, when Bethany declined to spend the night with Betty, a grim incident unfolded - Betty was discovered in a near-lifeless state the next morning. What transpired on that fateful night? INTRODUCTION "It's nine already," Betty said as she leaped onto the large, conspicuously lonely sofa. At seven years old, she stood tall for her age, inheriting her father's deep green eyes. Her face bore a charming chubbiness, framed by curly reddish-brown hair. Her milk teeth danced in merriment, revealing delicate pink lips as she jumped onto the sofa. "That's alright, give me thirty more minutes," Bethany replied curtly from a dim corner of the small living room. She remained engrossed in her laptop, not bothering to glance at Betty's remark. "This is like the third time you've said that," Betty chuckled as she settled onto the sofa, inspecting her neatly manicured nails. "You do know I'm supposed to be in bed by ten," she added with a playful tone. "Of course, I just have to work on this," Beth added. She paused her task and approached her little sister, who was still engrossed in examining her fingernails. "I scored a 1590 on the SAT, and I've been accepted into my dream university, Columbia. Tomorrow, I have to deliver the valedictorian speech at school, and it's incredibly important because there will be many influential people in the audience," Beth explained as she embraced her younger sister and planted a loving kiss on her cheek. Bethany, at seventeen years old, possessed dark blue eyes that were distinctly different from her father's. Her shoulder-length hair was sleek and impeccably trimmed. "I don't know about all that, sis, but can't it wait? Bedtime is calling, and it won't be the same without your goodnight story," Betty mumbled, her eyes reflecting a mixture of longing and understanding. "Betty, I'm the reigning champion of the entire United States. Tomorrow's the big day, and rumour has it the president might grace the occasion. If you let me finish this, I promise we'll have an unforgettable celebration," Beth urged with a sparkle in her eyes. "Alright," Betty conceded, her voice softening. She darted to her room, leaving Beth with a determined resolve. "I can't mess this up," Beth muttered to herself, returning to her laptop with newfound determination. *** The night descended rapidly, bringing with it an icy chill and a relentless downpour. Betty, immersed in her doll play with the soft glow of her bedroom light, couldn't help but wear a radiant smile. Her eyes were a mosaic of emotions too intricate to decipher. Yet, as she glanced up at the pink wall clock adorning her room, it chimed 3:00 a.m. Betty's smile faded, replaced by a sigh of weariness. She turned her back to the clock and, to her shock, discovered a tall, masked figure looming behind her, a foreboding presence in the darkness