Lauren ran to grab a new cell phone, claiming her old one broke while Rory sat in Kordie’s chair for an hour. She returned shortly before Rory stood from the chair with a satisfied smile to examine her hair. It was a shiny dark brown and hit just below her shoulders in soft waves.
Her face fell slightly.What would Caius think?
She ignored herself. He could fuck off if he didn’t like it.
“Smile,” Lauren said, snapping a picture when Rory beamed into the camera.
A disgruntled client sat in the waiting room with several chairs between him and Lauren, but when Kordie apologized for running late and offered him three free haircuts, he seemed fine. Not wanting her friend to lose out for helping her, Rory hid enough moedas to cover ten free haircuts in Kordie’s purse.
“We should go to a Phantom House tonight,” Kordie said deviously as she walked the other two to the door. “It’s been a while since we’ve been.”
Rory smirked. Phantom Houses were fun houses whereEidolonstried to scare people, and their group usually went once or twice a year. “I’ll call Dume and Sera, and you tell Keith.”
Kordie nodded. “We’ll meet at the Phantom House on 13th at sundown.”
Rory grinned.This should be fun.
Sera bouncedon the balls of her feet. “I haven’t been to a Phantom House in ages!”
Dume, who had looked disgruntled until then, glanced at Sera fondly when he thought no one was paying attention.
“These places are for kids,” Keith grumbled. “Let’s go for a drink instead.”
Lauren looked bored, and Rory thought theAngelwould scare theEidolons, not the other way around.
After paying for their tickets and waiting in line for half an hour, they finally entered the dark hallway filled with artificial fog. A dim red light lit their way, and the air filled with screams, banging, and evil laughter.
As they made their way through the dark maze lined with creepy props, Rory’s heart raced at the prospect ofEidolonspopping out at any moment.
The girls forced Dume and Keith to the front of the line, and when they turned a corner, anEidolonfell through the ceiling with a loud screech. Dume jumped a foot in the air, and Keith screamed like a child.
The girls all doubled over with laughter until Rory’s side hurt. Seeing the boys scared shitless never got old.
Rory caught Lauren videoing them on her phone and waved. “Text that to me. I want to remember that scream for the rest of my life!”
“It’s not fucking funny,” Dume hissed from the front, causing them to laugh harder.
“I hate you all,” Keith shot over his shoulder at the girls.
Clapping as she laughed, Lauren said, “This is the best idea you all have had yet.”
AnotherEidoloncrawled through the wall and stood with a wicked grin. Dume slammed into the opposite wall with a terrified look, Keith froze, and the rest of the group bumped into him from behind.
“How much longer is this stupid thing?” Keith griped. “This is ridiculous.”
When they made it to the end of the house and stepped outside, a masked man with a chainsaw ran around the side of the building.
Keith and Dume hollered and took off running, leaving the girls behind. It didn’t matter how many times they came; it was funny every single time. Once the girls rounded the corner to the front of the building, they found both men with crossed arms and sour expressions.
“We’re not doing this again,” Dume informed them gruffly.
Reaching up to pat his cheek, Sera wore a sugary sweet smile. “Yes, we will.”
Dume tried to look annoyed but failed.
“Can we get a drink now?” Keith griped. “I deserve one after that torture.”
Kordie snaked her arm around his waist and leaned her head against him. “It was worth it.”
