He did it again with the same method of ease and calm. But the last two, he threw together, resulting in two simultaneous pops.
The crowd lost its mind.
A massive, furry something that was heavy and ridiculous was shoved into his arms.
A tiny voice squealed beside him, “Wow.”
Gage found her, lowered the prize, and held it out.
“Here you go, sweetheart.”
The little girl clapped her hands. “Mommy, can I have it, please?”
Gage turned toward the mom’s defeated sigh. “Ma’am, please don’t make me walk around with this thing.”
“That dinosaur is bigger than she is.” she laughed, soft and kind. “Yeah, you can have it, honey.”
The girl jumped up and down. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” Gage said, still smiling.
Scar pulled on his forearm, his voice strained and urgent in his ear. “Shadow says we gotta get the fuck outta here.”
Gage blinked. “Why?”
“They don’t like how many people are crowding us,” he murmured. “Everyone’s got their phones out taking pictures and recording.”
Gage’s stomach dipped. “Oh crap.”
“You were the one showing off,” Scar gritted, hurrying him through the throngs of people. “Someone with perfect vision couldn’t do what you just did. They told us to go to the haunted mansion—it’s empty—while they create a diversion to draw attention elsewhere. Callahan’s gonna’ pull the car around the back.”
People were calling out as they hurried through the gathering.
“Do it again!”
“Win one for me!”
Inside the haunted house, the air was cool and damp. The smell of fake fog fluid and dust was thick.
A loud clang sounded over his head before a prerecorded scream blared from a nearby speaker.
He and Scar ignored it all, going deeper inside until the crowd noise dulled behind them.
Scar put his arm around him. “Don’t be scared. I’ll protect you.”
He laughed. “Um, I’m not afraid of the dark. Besides, you’re the screamer.”
“If you tell anyone that, I’ll deny it.”
Scar guided him through a hanging curtain.
The farther they went, the quieter it got, as if the eerie silence was meant to make people more fearful.
A figure burst from an opening on their right side with a blast of cool fog. A strobe light began to flash as someone lunged and roared at them.
Gage raised one brow.
“Uh, I think we’re supposed to jump or something?” Scar droned.
