I follow closely behind as her friend group is enveloped by the darkness. The cackle of crones in the first room they pass, sends a shiver even down my spine. Those witches are hell on earth and not to be trifled with. Their spells entrance and mystify, making the guests sluggish and pliable, opening theirminds up just enough for us to fuck with them. That’s why everyone who enters comes through here first.
Watching from the shadows, I see the first crone cast her spell over the group she’s with. They circle the friends hands grasped tightly as they begin to chant. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen their work, and it’s truly something to behold. Impressive, and demanding of my respect. All of us are equipped with our own talents. The witches have their spells, the demons can snatch souls, the vampires can manipulate, the clowns… actually, I’m not sure what the fuck the clowns do other than be fucking creeps. But the ghosts, we can become corporeal, causing things to move without being seen, bending reality at will. Or sometimes, if we wish to be seen, that can be arranged, as well.
“What are you doing down here, ghosty? Don’t you have your own section to stick to?” One of the crones asks as I pass through.
“Found something enticing.” I nod at the group heading up the stairs to the left, running my tongue over my teeth.
“You know he doesn’t like it when we break the rules, Phantom.”
“I don’t give a shit. I’ve done more for this place than most.” I quip, ducking past her to follow the object of my desire and out of the path of the next group being let in.
No one likes to feel stuck. Chained to this small plot of land until the end of time. Or until our contract ends. Whichever comes first. With the way humans are speeding up global warming, it might not be that much longer, honestly. Regardless, I want to enjoy whatever time I have left on this plane starting with her.
I don’t know what it is that calls to me. Something more than just her scent and sweet, fuckable ass. Something deeper that has me ascending the rickety stairs and braving the florescentstrobe lights. It has me following that curiosity, maybe to my own detriment, but I don’t fucking care. I’m entranced.
Hot on her heels, if I wait for the right moment, I can get her alone and right where I want her. Thankfully, I know this place like the back of my hand. The rooms are a labyrinth of terror, each unveiling a new horror. Carefully crafted frights and delights that draws people in from all over. A Venus flytrap disguised as an innocent Halloween past time. Though, the rooms consistently move, they’re like a clock. Turning like a dial, unseen to the human eye, but felt by us monsters.
It's pure genius really. The creatures of the night all being able to gather in a place where humans think they’re interacting with costumes. Not seeing us for what we truly are until it’s too late.
Blending in against the walls, I catch up to where she’s gripping her nails into the arm of her friend. Blonde hair reflecting the blood red lights strobing from above. Like a warning sign that I should stop, but I’ve never been one for listening.
A deranged scream slices through the room as a woman with crooked pigtails and fake blood smeared across her low-cut surgeon’s outfit wields a plastic axe through the air, chopping at the group. It’s clear she’s one of the mortal actors they hired. The group of friends break apart, running to dodge the actor’s wide reach. Perfect, I smirk. Without her friends to cling to, I can corral her into my domain.
She covers her face screaming as the girl chases her into a corner, tilting her head menacingly. “Scared, bitch?” She trails the tip of the axe against my girl’s neck and the fear emanating from the corner she’s in is palpable.
A feeling like a mixture of anger and possessiveness rears up in my chest, and I find myself emerging from the shadowsand becoming corporeal, grabbing onto the shoulder of the axe wielding actor.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
The girl turns, taking me in. It’s unclear in this lighting if she recognizes who I am or not, but I don’t fucking care. I push her against the wall with my arm against her throat. “Don’t fucking touch her again, or next time, that axe will be lodged in your chest.” I warn.
My girl stares at us open mouthed. Eyes wide and bouncing between myself and the axe weilding psycho.
“Th-thanks.” My girl manages to say, peeling herself off the wall, then looking around as if trying to find where her friends have gone. If I had to guess, they’re long gone into the maze by now.
“You can follow me if you want.” I say, trying to act as if being next to her isn’t the whole reason I abandoned my post. She nods. “But keep close. You never know what’s hiding in the shadows here.” I tug her against my side and feel the way she fits perfectly against me. If she only knew what I am. Would she scream in fear? Run for me so I could give chase.
Fuck, the thought of her running from me gets my cock all hard.
I smirk, laughing to myself that she trusts me so freely, following me deeper into my dark playground, and right into my trap.
Chapter 4
Olivia
Nightmare Acres is the perfect name for this house of horrors. Even though, I’ve only been through a few rooms, it feels like it goes on forever. Never knowing what lays behind the corner or what fresh hell I’ll be scared with next. I have no idea where my group is, and now I’m being led by the hand by this admittedly hot as fuck stranger. His hand is firm and calloused against my smaller one, but it’s cold, like he spent too long outside in the line. I’m surprised I didn’t see him while I was out there. I feel like I would remember him because he’s incredibly hard to miss. He has to be at least 6 foot 3. And those broad shoulders make me want to dance my fingertips along them. All dark hair and brooding eyes. A jawline that could cut glass. For the strangest reason, I find myself wanting to lick it. Maybe even nibble down his stubble clad neck a little too.
Fuck, Olivia. You need to calm down, girl. I mean it has been a long time since I’ve been with anyone. The last time was… was it really when I got pregnant with Isobel? It has to be.
That’s just sad.
Maybe letting loose with a stranger is just what I need. And I know Callie would be encouraging the shit out of me to let myinner slut out to play. That part of me has been buried and shut down for such a long time.
The walls around us feel distorted and my vision wobbles with each pulse of the lights. Everything moves around me as I follow this hot stranger deeper into the haunted house. A scream comes from the room we’re headed into and my heart races, preparing myself for the worst.
As if on cue, someone dressed as a bloody butcher wielding a cleaver jumps out at us, causing us to step back. I cling to my perfect stranger burying my face in his well-worn leather jacket.
He wraps his arm around me, pulling me around and into his chest. My fingers find his jacket collar, while my adrenaline pumps feverishly through my veins. The fake blood scent permeates the air around us, but in this moment with him clutching me tightly, everything around us seems to melt away. I forget where we are both in time and space. Nothing exists except me and him. This stranger feels like my salvation when I’ve known nothing but heartache and struggle for years.
