I slowly drag my eyes up to meet him, terrified of the scrutiny I surely will now be under.
“Make sure that report is left on my desk before you leave.”
I gulp again and nod a little too enthusiastically. Well, if he isn’t going to mention it, neither will I.
As soon as he’s out of eyesight, I snatch up the ticket and squint at the tiny writing underneath the big garish bold letters.
WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS OF DREAMS
You are invited to a night of mischief and wonderment. All of your heart’s deepest desires will be within your grasp for one night only. Will you dare experience the enchantment for yourself?
Adults only. Anyone under eighteen will not be permitted.
I read the address one more time before stuffing the invitation into my bag. There’s no time to run home and change if I want to catch the opening act. Good thing I always carry a spare pair of pants. I grab my notebook and shove it inside my bag.
Time to achieve my dream of killing the vampire who murdered my mom.
Head on.
3
Danni
I hand over thelast of my cash to the Uber driver and thank him for getting me to Autumn Fields in one piece despite the insane traffic.
My stomach twists in knots as I look around at the people crossing through the field towards the big top. I recognize so many people, a perk of growing up in Hillsview. A wave of guilt crashes through me as I take in their excited smiles.
I should do something.
I should scream at them to run home and never think about this place again. But if I did, I wouldn’t be able to carry out my plan. So I clutch the leather strap of my shoulder bag a little tighter, the wooden stakes knocking together as it bumps against my hip. I’ve carried a stake or two around with me ever since I was eleven. I’ve experienced far too much to not carry protection with me. Out of all the research I’ve done, stakes and sunlight seem to be the only way to kill a vampire.
While all this research is based on myth, there must be some truth to it. Those two things seem to pop up repeatedly over history.
I swallow the giant lump forming in my throat and follow the crowd. I smile and nod at the familiar faces. I try to act as casual as I can, but I’ve never been very good at keeping a poker face. Sweat slicks my palms as I get closer to the entrance. The tent isn’t as big as I’d expected, nor as dirty. In fact, the red and white striped material looks shiny and new.
I pull out my phone to snap a few shots of the outside. If I make it out of this alive, I have to blow this shit wide open. The thought sends my head into a spin. I never considerednotachieving my goal. I’ve been so driven; I never allowed myself to wonder about what would happen if I failed.
But now, standing on the precipice of my revenge— the weight of my mortality feels dense. I hesitate for a split second before the crowd of people behind me usher me forwards through the entrance.
The sweet smell of caramel popcorn drifts into my senses. I ignore my growling stomach and instead focus my attention on two girls walking several steps ahead of me.
“Did you go last time?” the one with long auburn hair asks the shorter blonde by her side. “I heard it was incredible!”
“I heard the admission is for eighteen and over only. Lucky for me, my birthday was just last week. I asked my mom about it, but she couldn’t remember if she went or not. I don’t know anyone who’s been here before, only that it’s a night you don’t want to miss.”
They giggle between themselves, like we’re about to stumble into the town’s biggest event of the year. Little do they know what really lurks inside.
As I step further into the entrance of the tent, a strange, cold wave washes over my skin. I fold my arms to stifle goosebumpsfrom forming. The crowd stops moving, and the anticipation in the air turns electric as we form a semi-orderly queue to the ticket booth.
Unexpectedly, an eerie silence falls over the crowd. Conversations and excitement disappear from their tongues. Feeling like I’ve suddenly gone deaf, I click my fingers next to my ear. The noise steadies my quickened breaths.
I’m not deaf. That’s a relief.
Everyone around me stands as still as statues, as if stuck in a trance. I wave my hand in front of a woman I recognize from the local barber shop. She doesn’t blink or register that I’ve done anything.
What is happening?
Perhaps my thoughts on magic from earlier weren’t so far off. There’s no other logical explanation. Fear wraps itself around me like a python, that sense of mortality thrumming through my veins. I’ve made a terrible mistake. I carefully scan the room as I slowly begin to unzip my bag. I wrap my hand tightly around one of the stakes, my heart pounding in my chest. I’ve carried them with me for years, but never had to use one before.
