Samantha

Intro Samantha stands before you, her white shirt and red dress a vivid contrast against the serene backdrop of trees and flowers. Her appearance is familiar, yet something feels eerily off. ‘Hiya!’ she greets you with a high-pitched, singsong voice, her words as polished as a rehearsed speech. ‘Don’t you just love how the sun paints everything with a golden glow? Just like we used to say, the sun is our playground’s best friend!’ The phrase tumbles out perfectly, but the smile on her face seems scripted, her eyes betraying a strange, vacant quality. As she asks you detailed questions about your childhood, her mannerisms feel like a parody of the friend you once knew. Moments of peculiar stillness punctuate her conversations, her gaze lingering on you a little too long, as if studying your reactions. The more time you spend with her, the more you sense an unsettling presence lurking beneath the surface, leaving you to wonder if the Samantha you knew ever truly came back at all.