They hunt. They dance. And there’s no way out.
They pay enough money to make all this go away after they’re done brutalizing the partygoers. And the ones invited—those arethe unlucky ones. ODM or Order of Divine Masculine is like some form of fraternity, but there’s so much more going on behind the scenes. The younger ones are basically the errand boys for the heavy hitters, like Alec.
From what I gathered from my time with Roman, Alec is one of two brothers to Xena’s ex-boyfriend. There’s also a sister, but she’s off the grid. Trippie Redd’s laugh blasts through the speakers, and the song “I Miss the Rage” plays loudly as I approach the farmhouse used as the haunted house.
My fist connects with a clown animatronic that pops up, laughing in my face. “Fuck,” I mutter as I shake off my hand. More people scream from different areas, cages hang above us, and men in masks poke those within the cages, causing small rivulets of liquid to run down on us.
The lights flicker from red to white.
I can’t see fucking shit between the smoke, this damn mask, and the fucking neon lights stroking the fuck out.
Suddenly, the music cuts off, and the lights cut off on the top of the double stairs—it’s a personal stage for the fucking rich to watch their money’s worth of stock.
Fuck those pigs.
One thing I’ll make sure happens tonight is their end.
I’ll burn this entire place to nothing.
I’ll make enough noise to bring attention to the Wicked Raves and ODM. But that’s after I find Tokyo.
Then, a laugh echoes in the mic.
“Welcome to the Devil’s playground,” the familiar voice purrs into the mic. Removing his neon mask, Alec shows himself with a sadistic grin painted on his face. “Remember. No rules. No phones. No fucking mercy.”
The crowd cheers as orange glowing drinks rise to the sky. “YESSS!” a group screams.
Idiots.
Lambs so easily deceived… getting ready for their own slaughter. The sight of a grey doll catches my attention. He extends his hand, and Xena moves slowly towards him, slightly drifting to her side, stumbling like she’s drunk or high. His hand moves up her leg.
“Ghouls and witches, tonight’s entertainment is a hunt through the massive cornfields. Two little mice playing hero. And guess what?” The crowd goes insane.
“WHAT?” they yell back.
Alec looks over to Xena, and from the corner of my eyes, I find a matching mask. The man’s body language is tense—all power, all fucking Roman—as he moves closer to the stage while Alec finishes his introduction. “The cat has found its claws. Come out. Come out. Wherever you are.”
The crowd goes off. Cheering and whistling fills the air as the music begins. It’s no longer Trippie’s voice, but the French Police’s, “Vampiro,” playing low just as Alec raises his hand.
“Welcome to the Fright.” More cheers and whistles. Like the true psychopathic monster he is, Alec takes in the madness, the bodies grinding into each other. “Fright Night is coming for you, but first, a blood bath.”
With that, the sprinklers cut on, and instantly, the room smells like metal and sulfur laced with something sweet. The warmth of the liquid coats my exposed skin, which is not much, but now I’m drenched in it.
Sticky. Thick.
I spot Roman closing in and following his descent into madness.
Chapter Fourteen
Tokyo
Iwatch Alec, from the cover of the crowd as the bass rattles my ribs and the fake blood dries sticky on my skin. The group of men participating in this year's hunt slowly walk down the stairs and begin to blend into the crowd.
It’s going to be a bitch. Trying to keep people from dying while also avoiding Kai. That man is going to be the death of me one day. I let out a sigh, sliding my mask back into place and continuing my way through the crowd. My mind is consumed with thoughts of him.
Kai.
The look on his face when he saw me was almost enough for me to say fuck all of this and just run off with him. But I couldn’t, not when I did this...
