• The DVD case popped open with a satisfying click, the shiny disk just begging to be put into the Playstation. Tara had seen this movie so many times she knew every line, every scene, and yet she could never get enough of it. She slid the DVD into the console and waited for the disk icon to load up on her dashboard.

    The Ring flickered to life on the screen, followed by the menu options. Tara loaded up the subtitles before starting the film. Her couch was a cosy nest of blankets and throw pillows just begging for her to come curl up. Snacks cluttered the coffee table. Tara put her phone between the bowl of chips and a container of hummus and got settled.

    Rain lashed at the windows beside her, setting the mood perfectly. Tara got excited chills as the intro began. She grabbed the chips and munched away as the movie began to set the scene.

    Tara loved everything about this movie, right down to how corny it was at times. It wasn't the best movie she had ever seen, but she loved it nonetheless. Its Japanese origin was incredibly fascinating, and Tara had seen every instalment in the series, including the recent Japanese remake of the English version. Some might call her obsessed.

    Tara ate and watched with rapt attention as the plot began to unfold on screen. She was content and cosy in her cocoon of blankets with a bowl of popcorn on her lap. About half an hour into the film, Maisey came out of the kitchen with a steaming slice of banana bread for her. She set it amid the other snacks and leaned down for a kiss. Tara savoured the taste of her coconut lip balm for a long time after.

    The movie didn't much scare her anymore, but there were scenes that definitely gave her a chill. One poignant one came suddenly, when she watched poor Samara be pushed into the well on her family's property. What could that have been like? The descent alone would have been hellish, the landing more so. How scraped up had she been from hitting the rock walls on the way down? How deep was the ...
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