Sometimes I Scare Myself Characters

The protagonist of the first part, Erica plans an elaborate thirtieth birthday dinner and tries to keep the evening controlled because plans make her feel safe. She wears her deceased sister Joslyn's ring on a chain and is drawn into a séance after Zach hires the medium Elias. She hates surprises, and guilt over Joslyn's death weighs on her.

Arc: She moves from reluctant host and skeptic to volunteering for the séance, hearing Joslyn's forgiveness, and then leading a reverse ritual and Ouija session to close the door they opened. After the massacre she realizes they invited something to stay and that Beckie is its host.

• Chad — her romantic partner
• Joslyn — her deceased sister
• Zach — friend and collaborator
• Liv — friend and co-owner of an event-planning company
• Beckie — college friend and fellow survivor later revealed as host
• Derek — birthday dinner guest
• Elias — medium hired for her birthday
• Ron — building management who comes to the condo door

The protagonist of the Tillington/Nightmare House section, Kristin moves from Chicago with Patrick, Hailey, and baby Henry after finding their front door open. She is postpartum, fragile, and increasingly encounters supernatural events in the house: whispers, casseroles, a fogged mirror, wet footprints, and ghosts. She is also referred to as Mom in later notes.

Arc: She goes from trying to explain away the house as old and exhaustion to being dismissed as sick, then discovers its deadly history and resolves to burn it down. She kills Judi Vee with a pitchfork, sets the house on fire to save her family, and escapes into the SUV before a white truck collides with them.

• Patrick — her husband
• Hailey — her teenage daughter
• Henry — her infant son
• Judi Vee — neighbor who brings casseroles and later leads the attack
• Eddie — ghost boy who warns Hailey
• Lanie — her Realtor
• Sheriff Kohler — sheriff who cites her after the crash
• Rick — driver who hits her SUV

The protagonist of the cabin section, Blair has just broken up with Jake and travels with Jake, Noah, Maddie, and Ricky to a remote cabin in Northspyre, Minnesota. She finds a souvenir hockey-stick pen she did not pack and becomes convinced the group is cursed by it. She is also the narrator in the final notes.

Arc: She moves from uneasy ex-girlfriend to survivor, insisting the stolen pen must be paid for to lift the curse. After Jake kills Ricky, she fights Jake, stabs his eye with the pen, kills him with a knife, pays for the pen at One Stop Shop, and walks away with grief and unwanted relief.

• Jake — her ex-boyfriend
• Maddie — her friend
• Noah — her friend
• Ricky — her friend and ally
• Bill — cabin neighbor she distrusts

The protagonist of the final Tillington vignette, Connie tours a renovated house with her husband Jeremy and son Riley. She hears that the previous family died in an accident and sees a teenage girl's reflection in the window that vanishes. She wants a new home after cramped apartment living.

Arc: She remains unsettled by the house and the neighbors' casseroles, forcing a smile when Lanie says the neighbors left casseroles.

• Jeremy — her husband
• Riley — her son
• Lanie — her Realtor

Erica's romantic partner in the first part, Chad grabs his buzzing phone too fast, flirts with Beckie, and mocks Elias as a hack. He is skeptical of the supernatural and treats the séance as entertainment. He is later revealed to be sleeping with Beckie.

Arc: He goes from skeptical guest to violent captor: he shoves Elias to his death, pulls a gun, directs the group to dispose of the body, and denies the supernatural. He is lifted to the ceiling and dismembered by an unseen force, then shot through the mouth with his own gun.

• Erica Hine — his romantic partner
• Beckie — his affair partner
• Elias — the medium he shoves and kills
• Zach — conflict; Zach reveals his affair
• Liv — he takes her phone
• Derek — conflict over cleanup

A Tillington neighbor also called Ms. Buckner, Judi Vee brings casseroles, watches Kristin through the kitchen window, returns for her dishes, and later holds Henry while threatening to call CPS. She claims the house was never Kristin's and says the neighbors must keep their traditions. She leads the crowd that attacks the Nightmare House.

Arc: She goes from eerie neighbor to leader of a murderous mob, stabbing Patrick in the cheek with a fork. She is impaled on Kristin's pitchfork and burns to death when Kristin ignites the gasoline-soaked rug.

• Kristin — neighbor and antagonist
• Patrick — she stabs him
• Henry — she holds him
• Hailey — neighbor
• Eddie — ghost tied to the town she enforces

Blair's ex-boyfriend at the cabin, Jake bickers with her, leads a game of Truth or drink, and bites her lip when she kisses him goodbye. He dismisses the curse and accuses Bill of taking Maddie. Later he appears controlled or enraged, attacks Ricky and Blair, and says he does not want to kill them but has to.

Arc: He goes from resentful ex to violent killer, murdering Ricky before Blair stabs his eye with the cursed pen and kills him with a knife. His body is left in the snow, and Blair sees he is just dead.

• Blair — his ex-girlfriend
• Ricky — friend he attacks and kills
• Noah — friend
• Maddie — friend
• Bill — neighbor he accuses

Erica's college friend, full name Rebecca Marie Halstead, Beckie arrives late with wine, flirts with Chad, and argues that mediums are con artists. Elias chooses her first and calls her 'Bad Girl Beckie,' burning her hand. She later admits she slept with Chad six times and apologizes while helping clean.

Arc: She goes from performative skeptic and affair partner to apologetic helper, but after the officers are killed she reveals she was the last to leave the slab and is the host of what they invited. She treats the horror with bored flippancy and says being watched is how it is supposed to be.

• Erica Hine — college friend
• Chad — affair partner
• Elias — chooses her and speaks as hostile spirit toward her
• Liv — argues with her
• Zach — fellow survivor
• Derek — she threatens to accuse him

The medium Zach hires as a birthday surprise for Erica, Elias arrives late, sets up candles, tarot cards, scarred wood, and a brass bell, and says belief is not a requirement. He channels Joslyn for Erica and then a mocking woman's voice that humiliates Beckie. He warns the group to leave.

Arc: He goes from performing medium to real channel of spirits, then is shoved by Chad, strikes his head on the coffee table, and dies. His duffel bag later provides the Ouija board, and his body jerks during the ritual.

• Zach — hired him
• Erica Hine — medium for her birthday
• Chad — shoves him to his death
• Beckie — chooses her first
• Joslyn — channels her

Kristin's husband in the Tillington section, Patrick is optimistic and wants the move to work for the family. He dismisses the supernatural as rational, refuses to move the family, and later says he believes Kristin before joining Hailey in an intervention. He is stabbed in the cheek by Judi Vee.

Arc: He goes from skeptical, reassuring husband to apologizing for not believing Kristin, helping fight the neighbors, escaping with Hailey and Henry, and ramming the locked gate until it breaks. He is driving when the white truck hits them.

• Kristin — his wife
• Hailey — his daughter
• Henry — his son
• Judi Vee — she stabs him
• Lanie — his Realtor

Kristin's teenage daughter, Hailey resents the move to Tillington and keeps her hood up and earbuds in. She meets Eddie on the road, learns the Thorn Manor history, and later learns from Eddie and the ghosts that the house must be burned. She escapes with Patrick and Henry.

Arc: She goes from sullen, withdrawn teenager to warning her family and siding with Patrick in an intervention, then to a terrified witness who tells Kristin they have to burn the house and run. She watches from the SUV as they flee.

• Kristin — her mother
• Patrick — her father
• Henry — her infant brother
• Eddie — her friend and ghost who warns her

Kristin's twelve-week-old infant son, Henry sleeps through odd baby-monitor cries and remains unharmed through the car accident. He is held by Judi Vee when Kristin wakes and is passed through the window to Patrick during the escape. He is carried against Patrick's chest as they flee.

Arc: He remains a passive infant carried between family members, from the new house to the SUV during the fire and attack.

• Kristin — his mother
• Patrick — his father
• Hailey — his sister
• Judi Vee — holds him

Erica's friend and collaborator, Zach hires Elias as a birthday surprise because Erica wishes she could talk to her sister again. He reveals he hired the medium to force secrets into the open, including Chad and Beckie's affair. He supports Erica's ritual plan and survives into the interrogation.

Arc: He goes from well-meaning surprise-giver to revealer of secrets, then helper in hiding bodies and supporter of Erica's reverse séance and Ouija session. In interrogation he warns Liv to stop talking and witnesses Beckie's smile as officers are killed.

• Erica Hine — friend and collaborator
• Elias — hires him
• Chad — conflict; reveals his affair
• Beckie — reveals her affair
• Liv — fellow survivor; warns her
• Derek — helps wrap Elias's body

Erica's friend and co-owner of an event-planning company, Liv defends mediums after her mother died and argues with Beckie. She later panics, holds a gun, accuses Chad of killing Elias, and accidentally kills Derek when the gun fires in the dark. She joins the ritual and is killed in interrogation when her neck twists.

Arc: She goes from defender of the medium to terrified gun-holder and accidental killer, then ritual participant, then victim of the entity in the interrogation room.

• Erica Hine — friend and co-owner
• Derek — her boyfriend, killed by the gun
• Chad — accuses him of killing Elias
• Beckie — argues with her
• Zach — fellow survivor

Liv's boyfriend at Erica's birthday dinner, Derek brings dessert, jokes about the devil, and offers his keys as a personal item. He checks Elias's neck and declares him dead, refuses to help dispose of the body, and protects Liv. He is killed when the gun fires in the dark.

Arc: He goes from dinner guest to protective partner who refuses a felony, then is accidentally shot and killed by Liv during the blackout.

• Liv — his girlfriend
• Elias — declares him dead
• Chad — refuses to help cover up
• Zach — helps wrap Elias's body
• Erica Hine — birthday dinner guest

Erica's deceased sister, Joslyn is present through her ring on Erica's chain and through Elias's mediumship and the Ouija board. She tells Erica there is nothing to forgive and that it was not her fault. Through the board she gives instructions to close the door and says she loves Erica.

Arc: She goes from an absent source of guilt to a communicating spirit who absolves Erica, helps her lead the ritual, and urges her to hurry.

• Erica Hine — her sister
• Elias — channels her

A boy Hailey meets on the road in Tillington, Eddie tells her the Thorn family was murdered and warns her not to trust the neighbors. He later comes to her window, reveals he died in 1965 and is tethered to the town, street, and house, and says the family must burn the house so the ghosts can leave. He wants to help Hailey avoid what happened to him.

Arc: He goes from mysterious neighbor boy to ghost ally, revealing the town's curse and guiding Hailey toward burning the Nightmare House.

• Hailey — her friend and ghost who warns her
• Kristin — warns the family through Hailey
• Judi Vee — opposes the town's traditions

The cabin owner/neighbor in the Northspyre section, Bill arrives during the storm, says he owns the place, locks the access-road gate, and warns the group not to wander outside. He brings firewood, drinks coffee, helps pull the SUV free, and says he will return. He is found dead on the porch with an axe buried in his chest.

Arc: He goes from ominous authority to practical helper, then murder victim; Jake accuses him of taking Maddie, and Blair later finds his body.

• Blair — neighbor she distrusts
• Jake — accuses him of murder
• Ricky — helps free SUV
• Noah — Noah confronts him
• Maddie — learns of her death

Blair's friend at the cabin, Ricky jokes about the curse and beer, but later apologizes to Blair for not shutting down the truth-or-drink game. He searches for Maddie, goes to Bill's cabin, and supports Blair's plan to pay for the stolen pen. He is killed by Jake when Jake attacks them.

Arc: He goes from joker to loyal ally, helping Blair trek to One Stop Shop and fighting Jake to protect her, then is killed.

• Blair — friend and ally
• Jake — friend who kills him
• Noah — friend
• Maddie — friend
• Bill — helps free SUV

Maddie's boyfriend at the cabin, Noah drives the group, assigns bedrooms, and wants rest, relaxation, and an irresponsible amount of alcohol. He searches for Maddie and collapses sobbing beside her body when she is found. He is later found dead in the shower with a gash across his throat and a knife near his hand.

Arc: He goes from host and grieving boyfriend to another victim; Jake calls his death suicide while Blair questions it.

• Maddie — his girlfriend
• Blair — friend
• Jake — friend
• Ricky — friend
• Bill — confronts him

Blair's friend and Noah's girlfriend, Maddie tries to keep peace in the group and talks with Blair about the breakup. She goes missing after the truth-or-drink game, and Blair later trips over her body buried in the snow with dried blood on her temple. Her death fuels the group's suspicion.

Arc: She goes from peacekeeping friend to missing person and then victim, found dead in the snow.

• Noah — her boyfriend
• Blair — friend
• Jake — friend
• Ricky — friend
• Bill — neighbor Jake suspects

The Realtor who sells the Tillington house to Kristin's family and later shows a renovated house to Connie, Jeremy, and Riley. She reveals the previous family died in an accident and says the neighbors left casseroles. Her rehearsed friendliness sometimes wavers and she leaves quickly.

Arc: She appears in both Tillington house tours, repeating the role of a realtor who glosses over or reveals danger and whose smile falters.

• Kristin — client
• Patrick — client
• Hailey — client's daughter
• Henry — client's baby
• Connie — client
• Jeremy — client
• Riley — client

Connie's husband in the final vignette, Jeremy tours the renovated Tillington house and asks Lanie what the neighbors are like. He says they have everything they need right there and pulls Connie closer when Lanie leaves.

Arc: He remains a minor supporting presence in the coda, focused on the house and his family.

• Connie — his wife
• Riley — his son
• Lanie — his Realtor

Connie and Jeremy's son in the final vignette, Riley presses his hands against the window, asks if he can go swimming, and asks whether there are kids his age around. He pouts when told maybe later, then perks up with a new question.

Arc: He is a minor child character in the coda, focused on swimming and meeting other kids.

• Connie — his mother
• Jeremy — his father
• Lanie — his Realtor

The sheriff who arrives at Kristin's car accident, accepts Rick's and the witnesses' version, dismisses Kristin's account, and cites her for red-light violation and reckless driving. He later stands with the crowd outside the Nightmare House and says he will determine whether they are trespassing.

Arc: He goes from biased lawman at the crash to aligned with the mob outside the house.

• Kristin — cites her and dismisses her account
• Rick — knows him by name
• Patrick — present at the confrontation

The driver of a white truck who barrels through an intersection and hits Kristin's SUV. He claims Kristin ran the red light and accuses her of driving recklessly. Sheriff Kohler knows him by name and sides with him.

Arc: He remains a minor antagonist in the crash sequence, avoiding blame and contributing to Kristin's outsider status.

• Sheriff Kohler — known by him
• Kristin — crashes into her and blames her

Building management in the first part, Ron knocks on the condo door after a neighbor reports a loud bang and screaming. He demands the door be opened and leaves to call the police when it will not open.

Arc: He appears briefly as protocol-following management, then exits to call police.

• Erica Hine — building management where her condo is

A forum commenter on the Nightmare House stories who suggests a GoFundMe for the family's funerals. The comment helps Kristin realize the town expects the family to die.

Arc: No change; a brief online voice revealing community knowledge.

• Kristin — online commenter about her house
• ROOTROT — fellow forum commenter
• JVNEIGH — fellow forum commenter

A forum commenter on the Nightmare House stories who bets the family will not last a month. The comment helps Kristin realize the town expects the family to die.

Arc: No change; a brief online voice revealing community knowledge.

• Kristin — online commenter about her house
• PINENEEDLER — fellow forum commenter
• JVNEIGH — fellow forum commenter

A forum commenter on the Nightmare House stories who gives the family a week. The comment helps Kristin realize the town expects the family to die.

Arc: No change; a brief online voice revealing community knowledge.

• Kristin — online commenter about her house
• PINENEEDLER — fellow forum commenter
• ROOTROT — fellow forum commenter