“Do you think we can do s’mores?” McKenzie asks, revealing a box of graham crackers from her bag.
Iris shoots her an annoyed look. “Are you serious? We weren’t supposed to bring outside food, Kenz. You always do this. Can’t you follow the rules for once?” She storms outside and McKenzie tossing the graham crackers back in her bag with a noticeable tear streaking down her cheek.
Guess they’re off again, I think. I can never tell with them honestly, and they stopped keeping us in the loop around their fifth break-up.
“You good?” I ask McKenzie but she just plasters a fake smile on her lips and waves me off.
“All good,” she vows, even though I know it’s bullshit. She knows we’re all here for her if and when she wants to talk.
A loud moan erupts from the couple, and I turn to see the man snaking his hand up the woman's chest, gripping onto her breast hard enough to bruise. My eyebrows shoot up in surprise and my mouth drops open.Okay... maybe they totally plan tofuck even with all of us in here.The sight is a shock to my system and has me questioning when evenwasthe last time I was laid. It’s been… I count back four, five, no… six months. That guy in the bar at New Years. I shake my head remembering the foul taste of his kisses. Just once I would like to know how it feels to be properly fucked. None of this faux orgasm bullshit I’ve had to do with everyone I’ve taken to my bed. I want to be with someone that knows exactly what they’re doing and how to get me to come. Maybe even be rough for once. Is that too much to ask for?
"We're not shy," the woman says catching me staring. I feel my cheeks warm as I quickly look away. Her laughter rings in my ears as her husband goes in to attack her neck with passionate kisses.
"I'm just gunna... yeah," I gesture to the outside, grabbing my pack. Standing up, I need to take a moment to get my bearings before stumbling forward. That blue drink was stronger than I realized.
There's a fire pit a few feet away from the cabins with some Adirondack chairs situated in a circle all around it. Iris is already sitting in one, and I take the open seat next to her, plopping down with a sigh. She’s staring off into the distance and I can tell from all the years I’ve known her— she just wants me to sit here. If I ask, she’ll hide away in that shell of hers.
In the distance, I can see the gentle water from the lake glistening in the sunset. It's gorgeous, and if I were anywhere else, I could relax and enjoy it. But the fact that nothing had jumped out and scared us yet, makes me think that they're waiting and watching. My shoulders feel tense as I sit in the chair. I don't know what's worse the anticipation of being scared or the swarm of mosquitoes that buzz around me despite the heavy amount of bug spray I'm wearing.
One goes for my knee, and I slap it quickly.
Definitely, the mosquitos.
"Boo!" Fay calls out from right behind me as she grips my shoulders. I nearly jump out of my skin. I take it back. The getting scared is worse.
"Jesus Christ, Faye!" I whack her on her forearm, and she laughs, taking the open seat next to me.
"It's a good thing you left when you did, they started rolling around on the bed, dry humping each other in there. Oh! You’re sooooo big!” She mimics and I let out a laugh then a shudder. I can’t fathom trying to get it on in a room full of strangers, but who I am to yuck anyone’s yum.
The rest of my friends join us out here, but there's only five chairs. McKenzie opts to sit on Faye's lap, drinking out of her water bottle. I don’t miss the daggers that Iris shoots at McKenzie. The tension palpable.
As we sit, that feeling of being watched creeps back in and has me swiveling my head to see where it's coming from. I squint my eyes trying to see in the dimming light past the tree line. A skittering of what sounds like feet shuffling around in the foliage hits my ears. My senses are tingling. Someone, or multiple someone’s, are watching us right now. Waiting for the right time to strike.
"Kenzie, do you hear that?" I ask.
Her oversized red glasses slip down her nose, making her push them back up.
"Hear what? Is it the Australian couple?"
"No, no, In the trees," I jerk my head in the direction. She turns around, looking to where I'm gesturing.
"Ohhh, do you think it's the scare actors?" Kenzie practically squeals. If McKenzie could make Halloween every day of the week, she would. She loves anything that goes bump in the night and spends a ridiculous amount of time watching paranormaldocumentaries, which I won't watch with her anymore because, I value my sleep too much.
The rustling intensifies, and it’s loud enough that Stephanie, Faye, and Iris have all stopped talking.
A low growl rumbles from the edges of the trees, and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge.
"Run!" Stephanie screams just as a bloody clown comes barreling straight towards us with a bat. Not only is he holding a bat, but there are large spikes jutting out from the end with a scrap of what looks like bloody flesh hanging off one of the spikes.
"Oh, fuck this!” I exclaim, scrambling out of the chair. It scrapes the backs of my thighs, but I don't care because following the nightmare clown are a host of creatures dug from the darkest parts of my nightmares.
Fear, hot and potent grips my chest as I take off in the opposite direction.
"They look so lifelike!" Faye exclaims with a laugh, loving every second of this.
"Audrey, I swear to fuck, I'm going to kill you for dragging us here," I say already feeling a stitch form in my side.
“Hey, don’t blame me! McKenzie was the one who asked for this!” She responds, running right alongside of me.
