We make our way to the front of the line and before we get on the ride a killer clown jumps out of the bushes next to Ellie making her scream and bury her face in my chest. I bite my lip to keep from laughing and wrap my arms around her. We move like this Ellie’s face buriedin my chest and me awkwardly walking while guiding her until we are seated on the hayride.
The hay is lumpy and uncomfortable and the tin awning above us makes me feel closed in. I’m not normally claustrophobic but this might be an exception. Once everyone is seated, the wagon creaks and groans before it begins lumbering down the path. The moonlight cuts through the fog in slivers of light illuminating the cornfield up ahead. Ellie has my hand in a death grip as the rusty tractor lurches to a stop. The engine sputters and hisses and I hear Sadie whisper something to Ty.
Then a scream pierces the air. We all jerk around looking for the direction in which the scream came from. Then another scream closer this time. From the corn, a figure emerges, dragging something behind it. Its eerie mask is illuminated by the moonlight. It stands at the edge of the field, head tilted, watching us. Ellie stills next to me, her breathing shallow. I try to calm my nerves and remind myself that it’s not real. It almost works until the figure lunges toward us.
Several of us gasp and Ellie and Stephanie scream as it vanishes under the wagon and reappears on the other side, tapping long, metal claws along the wooden slats. I’m breathing heavily, every muscle taut. Turns out, I don’t like haunted houses anymore.
The tractor roars back to life, and we jerk forward, leaving the cornfield. The trail twists through the woods now, deeper into the dark. Lanterns flickered dimly along the path, casting long shadows that move when nothing else does. An old house appears in the trees, its windows shattered, door hanging off its hinges. As we pass, lights flare in the windows and afigure throws itself against the glass, shrieking. Ellie has herself buried in my chest and I’m holding on just as tight. My heart is pounding. Another figure bursts through the door, screaming.
The wagon doesn’t stop. It just keeps creaking, dragging us deeper through this nightmare fuel.
After what seems like an eternity we circle to the drop off point, which is out of sight from the loading point. Ellie looks at me, her big hazel eyes wide. “Can-can we sit the next one out?” I nod, relieved I don’t have to go through another one of those.
“We’re going to the asylum next!” Sadie exclaims; Ty has his arm around her. That’s interesting. I’ll grill him about that later after I’ve had time to recover from that hellscape.
“You go ahead. Ellie and I are going to sit this one out.” I rub her shoulder trying to get her to relax.
“Alright! Suit yourselves!” The rest of the group splits off to go to the asylum.
With my arm around her I feel her muscles slowly begin to relax as we find the retail area. Vendors and concessions line the cobbled paths, offering warm apple cider, kettle corn, fresh donuts, and Halloween trinkets.
“Do you want something to eat? Or some hot apple cider?” I ask. Ellie nods. “Bring on the snacks. That’s why I’m here if we’re honest.” She’s not as pale as she was when we got off the hayride.
We go through and sample something from each of the vendors. About a half hour and six donuts later Stephanie and Cameron join us, they get some snacks as well. Stephanie takes pictures of the food and the atmosphere; Cameron is taking in all the sights and Ellie seems to be enjoying herself a lot more in this part of the festival. There are still actors over here, but they’re more easy going and more for ambiance than scaring the pants off the guests.
Eventually the rest of the group joins us. Deej and his boyfriend, Mack, settle in next to us. “Ty and I are going to go into the circus next. Does anyone want to join us?” Sadie’s eyes are bright as she asks.
“I think we’re going to head out here soon actually.” Deej says as Mack lays his head on the shoulder. “I’m done screaming my head off. These things are not for the faint of heart.”
“I don’t remember these things being as scary when I was a teen.” Mack comments. “I mean seriously, that asylum will ensure I don’t sleep for the next several weeks.”
Ellie nods her head. “I was done after that haunted hayride.”
“Boo you’re no fun!” Sadie teases before she leaves with Ty, Vi and Phoenix.
“Speaking of the hayride, that house we passed was the asylum, I appreciate them pulling double duty for those things.” Mack explains.
“I’m glad you were done. I would have acted brave and gone with you through the other ones, but I don’t know if I would be sleepingtonight if we did.” I whisper as I kiss the side of her head. She leans into it. Taking a steadying breath I get a whiff of her signature scent through the smells of the festival; instantly transporting me to a memory I had long forgotten about— Halloween night our freshman year.
Halloween- Freshman Year
No Handsby Waka Flaka Flame pulses through the air. The senior lacrosse house is nestled at the end of the block, lights glowing orange and purple through spiderweb-covered windows, dry ice producing mist down the porch steps. The front yard is a mess of gravestones, beer cans, and half-hearted jack-o’-lanterns. Someone duct-taped a skeleton to the roof. Its hands flipping off everyone who approaches. I adjust my fake parrot on my shoulder and walk in with my roommate Nash. I am fully committed to this pirate look. Eyeliner, fake sword, hat, the whole nine yards.
We make our way inside, the air is thick with the scent of sweat, cheap tequila, and pumpkin spice vape. The living room is packed with people dancing. I turn to my left hoping to find somewhere to get a drink to see and a sexy devil grinding on a banana. Nash and I make our way to the kitchen passing a werewolf at a homemade DJ booth controlling the music. A guy in a blood-stained lab coat passes out solo cups with something neon green and ominously bubbling. “It’s punch,” he says. I take it, I’m not one to turn down free booze.
The kitchen has been turned into a DIY horror lab, Jell-O shots served in syringes, the neon green bubbling “punch”, which I suspect is actually jungle juice.Various mixers are thrown haphazardly on the counters with cheap tequila and vodka. Someone rigged a motion sensor to a speaker that screams every time the fridge opens. I don’t know how Lab Coat Guy can handle the incessant screaming, but he’s probably so wasted it doesn’t register.
“Hey, Kate’s friend just texted me. Kate’s throwing up in the bathroom upstairs. Do you mind helping me get her out of here?”
“Course, man.” I say as I put my cup down and head upstairs with him.
Upstairs, the hallway is pitch black except for a strobe light going off every couple of seconds. Couples slip in and out of rooms. Doors slam. Someone yells “Don’t come in here!” which, of course, means someone immediately walks in and walks out gagging.
“Where’s the bathroom?” Nash asks a guy in Ghostface. Ghostface points and we follow his directions to find Kate huddled over the toilet. Ellie is here holding back her hair.
“Oh thank God. You found us. I had to yell at so many people to stay out of here. I don’t know how much she’s had to drink, Jessica, her roommate said they’ve been drinking since two. Kate seemed fine when we got here, had a Jell-O shot and then immediately puked in the trash can. I got her up here and we’ve been camped out ever since. I finally got her passcode out of her so I could text you.” Ellie is either nervous or grossed out by the puke and desperate to get out of here. I don’t know which, but I don’t blame her for wanting to get out of thisdisgusting bathroom.
Nash sighs. “I got her, thanks so much for taking care of her.” I help Nash get Kate downstairs. The three of us get Kate settled on the sidewalk while Nash orders an Uber.
